Patent Application
20220306245
The present invention belongs to the nautical field, specifically to the field of buoys for tying vessels. The invention relates to a buoy for checking the condition of a person or an object tied to the said buoy.
A buoy is a floating structure used for different purposes. Several different types of buoys are available: a communication buoy, a navigation buoy, a sonar buoy, a markation buoy, a weather buoy and a diving buoy, wherein they can be anchored or free-floating. A buoy can be used for marking vessel quays, especially outside marina. All buoys have a common characteristic—they mark a certain location, and they can emit and receive data important for navigation, measurements or communication.
The buoy attached to a vessel mooring or in most cases to a vessel, which is anchored with an anchor, it is important to monitor the condition of the mooring as well as the condition of the vessel's anchor. While the state of the mooring (presence of vessel) can be monitored with the solution described in the European patent EP 2 531 981 B1, it does not enable monitoring of the anchor condition or any other events under the water surface. Some other solutions can only monitor the vessel location, which is not important for the underwater condition of anchor, since its micro location can change in such a manner that the anchor may become entangled or stuck. The technical problem, solved by the said invention, is construction of a buoy, which will enable checking the condition of person or object fastened (tied or attached) to the said buoy.
For this purpose underwater drones or cameras, such as described in the patent application US20050036031, may be used, however, they must be monitored by the user at all times otherwise important data is lost in important moments. The preparation of currently known underwater drones is time-consuming. Additionally, they need to locate the desired object or the person in the water in order to allow monitoring. When the drone is back on land or on vessel the monitoring of the person or the object is lost. The camera, as described in the patent application US20050036031 is intended mostly for observing sea life and is connected via cable to a specific device, which requires continuous monitoring. It does not display the object's or person's position and it is very time-consuming for preparation. When the water depth is changing, it is also important to monitor and unwind the cable in order to maintain same position. The present invention solves listed shortcomings and disadvantages.
The patent application US2015116496A1 describes an anchor, equipped with a camera, a sensor and a light. The system connected to the camera, sensor and light on the anchor guarantees anchor monitoring in real time and enables notifications regarding the anchor state.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,253 discloses a system with an underwater housing, which comprises an underwater wireless communication module, connected to the camera and an above-water housing with an above-water wire communication module, wherein both communication modules communicate via a cable. Camera captures photographs or video, which is forwarded via modules to a mobile device to monitor the conditions underwater.
Patent application AU2014100760A describes a safety buoy for use in marines, which has an electronic control unit and a radio transmitter that launches communication with the satellite network and sends out a distress call when activated with the electronic unit.
Document AT517793 describes a device for optical control of water bodies, especially bodies under water, the said device being provided with an attached buoy, wherein the rope of the buoy has a waterproof housing with installed cameras directed in all directions, along with a compass. The device can also include a sensor for determining camera position. An image can be captured with a trigger button via a transponder and suitable electronics.
Patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,780 discloses a buoy for marking, which can be used to simply mark a location at the sea bed. The buoy comprises a control mechanism, which releases a weight by using the optimal rope amount.
Patent application U.S. Pat. No. 7,034,680 describes a device for monitoring anchor or anchor rope, which includes a measuring device, which uses one or more sensors to determine a status of one or more points on the anchor or the anchor rope with regards to the vessel and generates a signal to trigger an alarm when it deviates from the pre-set values.
Patent application CA2088088 relates to a buoy for marking a location of an underwater object, especially a sunken vessel's anchor. A spherical buoy housing is connected via a nylon rope and an attachment to the anchor before it submerges. The length of the unwinding rope is controlled by a mechanism, so that the location of the buoy is not changed due to waves or other water movement, which enables reliable marking of the location of the anchor under water.
The present invention differs from the above solutions in its construction.
In a broad aspect of the invention, embodiments of the buoy comprises:
The essence of the buoy according to the invention is in that it comprises a casing, which floats on the water surface, a capsule with camera and lights, which can be separated from the casing with a UTP cable and lowered down to an anchor, an object or a person. The wire rope, which is connected to the lower part of the capsule can be connected to any anchor, fixed object on the sea bed or it can be attached to a person (diver) with the wire rope. The camera captures images and/or video and sends data via UTP cable to the processor, and the processor emits data via wireless network (WiFi or similar) to the mobile application installed on the user device, which is preferably a smart phone, a tablet, computer or a similar device. The user can visually check the condition of the anchor and simultaneously monitor the anchor position via one or several satellite systems for global navigation (GNSS), e.g. GALILEO, GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU, and the position is displayed graphically and numerically on an application on mobile telephone, tablet or computer. The buoy sends out images and video to the application, as well as telemetric data on battery condition, turning on and off the camera and lights, and sends out data to the server online or in a computer cloud, making the data, images and video available via any device connected to the internet.
The buoy according to the invention preferably comprises:
The buoy casing is primarily made from ecologically processed, strong and resistant plastic mass, and both parts are assembled with threads and seals. The buoy is designed to preserve buoyancy even in case it submerges, because the watertight chamber for the key components in the buoy interior is an airtight sealed space and the air inside the buoy maintains it above water.
The upper part of the buoy can be partially transparent and can additionally comprise signal lights in case of danger or anchor movement. The upper part may also comprise solar cells for charging the battery, which is installed in the waterproof chamber for key components, wherein the solar cells can be installed on the casing, but are preferably provided in the interior under the transparent material of the upper part of the casing.
The lower part of the buoy has an opening at the bottom for the UTP/Ethernet cable. The bottom part of the buoy casing can have small holes at the bottom part, which enable draining of excess water, which remains in the buoy when lifted. The bottom part of the casing is designed to have a movable capsule with the camera and lights, or the casing is in its bottom part designed as a cavity, which can partially hide the capsule with the camera and lights.
The capsule can be separated from the buoy casing by unwinding the cable using the rotating mechanism, which operates in such a manner that upon attaching a load on the wire rope the capsule is lowered due to gravity, while in case the load is removed from the wire rope the UTP cable is automatically wound on the reel due to the tensile spring, which is attached at the end of aluminium shaft in a fixed manner. The latter is attached to the two holders and together with the bushing enables the reel to be stable and attached in the interior of the buoy casing, wherein the bushing enable shaft rotation of the shaft without traction. The sliding bearing is made from highly resistant plastics and ensures mechanical stability with lowest coefficients of traction without additional greasing and is resistant to sea water. One end of the aluminium shaft is attached to the sliding bearing, and the other part is installed to the spring with constant force in a fixed manner. The spring is made from a coiled steel wire, and its coils enable stretching and automatic contraction. In case the load from the wire rope is removed, the UTP cable is automatically wound back on the reel. In case the cable retracts, i.e. it is pulled out of the buoy casing, the pulling force must be higher than the force of the spring. This causes that the UTP cable is constantly tensed and that the buoy above the anchor is always in the same position above it. Even in the case of waves the spring is loosened and automatically winds the cable back to the reel. The holders of the aluminium shaft are attached with screws to the bottom part of the buoy casing, said holders being made from stainless steel.
The watertight and/or waterproof chamber for key components for buoy operation is installed in the interior of the buoy casing, preferably the chamber of key components is made from two parts and the bottom part is with screws attached to the bottom part of the buoy casing, and the cover is tightly attached with screws and seals to the bottom part of the chamber of key components, which are the battery, the processor, the positioning module for determining geographic position with one or more systems GNSS, radio WiFi transmitter and receiver and a module for data transfer vial networks of mobile communication (LTE, 5G). On the inner part at the side of the chamber cover an opening is provided, through which the non-rotating part of the slide ring is installed, said non-rotating part leading the UTP cable from the processor via the rotating mechanism to the capsule.
The watertight capsule is made from two parts, i.e. the upper part and bottom part of the capsule, which are connected to each other with screws and a seal. The bottom part, from the internal side, has a space for the camera and lights, preferably which are preferably IR and LED lights. The bottom part has a suitably designed opening and sealed transparent part so that the camera can take images, while the lights emit light through the transparent material. The entire capsule is covered in rubber (except the opening for camera and lights), which absorbs hits and protects the plastic part of the capsule mould from external influences. The external part of the bottom part of the capsule has an attachment element for the wire rope, which can be approximately 2 m long, and its free end is provided with a ring or any other suitable element to which an anchor or any other object or a person in the water can be attached or tied.
The camera in the capsule has the UTP cable that runs from the buoy casing, which fuels the camera with PoE (Power over Ethernet) electric current, which is used for sending image and video signal from the camera to the processor, which can send the data via WiFi to the application and via the module for data transfer via mobile network on the server. The camera is controlled via the cable with the processor and the application. The camera records in high resolution, and has an option of recording and saving individual photographs. All videos and images can be archived in the processor, the application and on a server. The camera enables visual control/monitoring of a certain object or a person underwater in real time. Preferably the camera has three modes of function. If the LED lights are on, the camera functions as usually, and if only IR lights are on, it operates in a night mode, wherein the camera can operate even with lights off if the visibility is suitable and enough natural light is available. The lights are charged with the UTP cable, and their function is controlled with an application on mobile devices or remotely via the server. Preferably, the application allows to choose turning on or off lights, which is communicated to the processor via a wireless connection, which forwards the information via the UTP cable to the camera in order to follow the processor commands. The camera is suitably connected to the lights so that it can adjust their function or light.
The application performs the following steps:
For the preferred use of the buoy in monitoring the anchor condition and checking the anchoring at the same location, the application is used to set a geolocation, defined with a circle from 1 to 20 metres. In the moment the position is set it is archived by the positioning module, and fencing is implemented by a programme equipment with the processor. The drawn circle of the limitation is displayed on the map, and any potential additional movement of the buoy is monitored by the positioning module after setting up the position. If the anchor leaves the pre-set circle limit the alarm s triggered, and the processor acts accordingly. The buoy efficiently monitors the anchor movement on its own, its movement and together with capturing images and/or video enables safer anchoring of any vessel in any water, preferably in the sea, where movements, waves and tide are important factors for movement of vessels and anchors.
The process of using the buoy according to the invention comprises the following steps:
a) registration into the application with a username and a password,
b) connecting with the buoy or a specific buoy, if there are more, and naming the buoy;
c) displaying location of the selected buoy on a map;
d) connecting an anchor or an object tied to the buoy and lowering the anchor or the object into water, which causes automatic lowering or unwinding of the cable from the buoy;
e) once the anchor or the object is d on sea bed or at a certain depth, the unwinding stops or it winds back and lowers further via the self-winding system if needed, depending on the waves or movement of the anchor or the object;
f) if needed activation of lights and capturing image or video of object, connected to the buoy;
g) displaying image or video, wherein the lights can be controlled or adjusted (IR, LED and intensity) as described above;
h) if desired or optionally, allowing magnification, storing the images to a smartphone and access to gallery;
i) optional setting of geographic limits (geofencing) from 1 to 20 metres, which generates a circle around the buoy position;
j) possible triggering of the alarm if anchor moves out of the set circle;
k) if desired, turning off a camera and/or lights;
l) if necessary, lifting the anchor or object from the sea bed towards sea surface, which causes automatic winding of the UTP cable using the self-winding system; and
m) lifting the buoy out of the water.
The buoy according to the invention can be used to monitor underwater activity, especially on sea, lake or river bed. It is primarily intended for observing and monitoring the condition of the anchor, which is tied to the buoy, ensuring safe anchoring of the vessel anywhere in the sea, lake or river. Simultaneously, the buoy can be used to observe underwater life, a visual or image depiction of sea, lake or river bed. Nonetheless, the buoy according to the invention improves the safety of divers, since it can constantly monitor their dive and/or work and in case of problems ensures quick reactions.
The buoy for checking the condition of person or object tied to the said buoy according to the invention will be described in further detail based one exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:
A possible embodiment of the buoy is shown
The buoy casing 8, 9 is made from ecologically processed, strong and resistant plastic mass, and both parts are assembled with threads and seals. The upper part 8 also comprises solar cells 18 for charging the battery, which is installed in the waterproof chamber 10 for key components 3, wherein the solar cells 18 are installed below the transparent material of the upper part 8 of the housing. The bottom part 9 of the buoy casing has an opening at the bottom, through which the UTP/Ethernet cable 2 runs, and at the same time the bottom part has a designed cavity to hide the capsule 12 with the camera 13 and lights 16, 17. The capsule 12 can be lowered as shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-202100061 | Mar 2021 | SI | national |
