| 摘要 |
<p>A remotely operated submersible vehicle (21), wherein the vehicle includes flotation cells (62) to provide positive buoyancy, and the vehicle is connected to a disposable clump weight (22) of sufficient weight to overcome the positive buoyancy. The connection between the clump weight and the vehicle is by way of a cable (25) which can be wound onto and off from a drum winch (45) within the vehicle to control its height off the seabed (23). The trim of the vehicle is maintained by adjusting the horizontal position of a cable guide (43) through which the clump weight cable (22) passes, the cable guide (43) being moved longitudinally and transversely by hydraulic cylinders (47). Control signals to control and monitor the operation vehicle are provided via an umbilical cable (29) extending from a ship (76) or platform on the surface. As well as operating with the clump weight (22) on the seabed (23), the vehicle (21) can be made to operate in a "free swimming" mode by selecting a clump weight (22) which only just overcomes the positive buoyancy of the flotation cells (62), positioning the weight to provide a bow up attitude and using a vertical thrust component produced by the thrusters (48) when the vehicle is in the bow up attitude to lift the vehicle from the seabed (23).</p> |
