Remote sampling system

• US 20030092393A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apprise Technologies (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tokhtuev, Eugene, Owen, Christopher, Skirda, Anatoly, Slobodyan, Viktor
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/14 Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals

Abstract

An automated system for periodically sampling water bodies, such as lakes, and delivering the test results to a remote computer using a communication system. In particular, the system has a variable buoyancy profiler with a dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to a water pressure created by an external water body so as to actively or passively interact with an external force or pressure thereby moving the profiler to a target depth.

Claims

1. A remote sampling system, comprising:

at least one base station with computer and at least one telecommunication device; and

at least one autonomous sampling station having a deployment platform, a power supply, a controller unit, and communication system, a variable buoyancy profiler with at least one sensing device, and an underwater cable connected between the deployment platform and the profiler.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communication system includes at least one of a cellular modem, a radio modem, a radio bridge to a separate landline modem, a satellite, and a fixed or networked communication system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes at least one of a depth sensor and a pressure sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said variable buoyancy profiler has at least one sealed compartment with a control circuit, a water pumping system, an electrical connector for connecting to the underwater cable and one connector for each of said sensing device, and a dynamic buoyancy compensator having at least one sealed rigid compartment connected to the water pumping system and at least one sealed rubber chamber containing air.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said sensing device includes at least one of a depth sensor and a pressure sensor connected to the dynamic buoyancy compensator.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said sealed rubber chamber is pressurized to a different internal pressure therein such that a pressure response therein is close to linear to water has been pumped in.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said variable buoyancy profiler has a base plate having at least one cylindrical groove each with an O-Ring inside, and at least one cylinder each with a close end and an open end which is fitted in the groove and sealed by the O-ring respectively to provide an internal chamber therein, and several coil-type thread inserts therein said cylinders pulled to said base plate with screws.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the base plate has two cylindrical grooves and two cylinders, one of the cylinders accommendates said sealed compartment with a control circuit and the other of the cylinders accommendates the dynamic buoyancy compensator.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein said water pumping system includes input water tubing connected to surrounding water through a water filter, a reversible water pump, at least one electrical valve, and output water tubing connected to said sealed compartment, said control circuit is connected with the water pump and the electrical valve to control pumping the surrounding water in or out of the variable buoyancy profiler.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said control circuit includes at least one adjustable voltage reference for stabilizing a pump current and thereof a maximum output pressure at a predetermined depth, and a semiconductor switch for changing a direction of the pump current.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said control circuit includes at least one modulated voltage reference for periodically changing a pump current and thereof a maximum output pressure.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said control circuit uses a voltage output from a flow meter as a voltage reference to stabilize a water flow from the pump.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the flow meter includes a differential pressure sensor connected to one section of the input or output tubing.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the cylinder accommodating the dynamic buoyancy compensator has a two way valve on the top of the cylinder.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein said base plate has at least one weight holder for adjusting an initial buoyancy of said profiler.

16. The system according to claim 4, wherein said dynamic buoyancy compensator further including at least one unsealed compartment each with one sealed rubber chamber connected to said water pumping system so as to be pumped in or out with water.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said variable buoyancy profiler has at least one dynamic buoyancy compensator made as a cylinder with a sealed piston to be moved therein and an adjustable spring inserted between a bottom plate of the cylinder and said piston.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said piston is sealed with at least one O-Ring.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said variable buoyancy profiler has at least one sealed compartment with a control circuit, an electrical connector for underwater cable, one connector for each of said sensing device, and at least one sealed deformable compartment located within said sealed compartment for providing a maximum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a water surface and a minimum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a maximum depth.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said deformable compartment is provided by at least one sylphon with a spring operating therein.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said variable buoyancy profiler has at least one sealed compartment with a control circuit, a water controlling system, at least one electrical motor connected to said control circuit and a propeller for vertically moving the profiler in a body of water, an electrical connector for connecting to an underwater cable, one connector for each of said sensing device, and at least one sealed compartment connected to said water controlling system, wherein said sealed compartment has one of:

(1) at least one sealed rubber chambers containing air.

(2) a sealed piston to be moved therein and a adjustable spring inserted between a bottom plate of said sealed compartment and said piston.

(3) at least one sealed deformable compartment located within said sealed compartment for providing a maximum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a water surface and a minimum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a maximum depth.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said water controlling system includes input water tubing connected to surrounding water through a water filter and at least one electrical valve, and output water tubing connected to said sealed compartment therein, and the control circuit is connected to the electrical valve to control the electrical valve.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said water controlling system further includes a reversible water pump.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said sealed rubber chamber is pressurized to a different internal pressure therein such that a pressure response therein is close to linear to water has been pumped in.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is directly connected with said sensing device.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said sensing device includes at least one of a geo positioning sensor (GPS), a radiation sensor, a photoactive radiation sensor (PAR), a meteorological sensor, a water temperature sensor, and a temperature sensing array.

27. A dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to a water pressure created by an external water body, comprising at least one sealed rigid compartment with one sealed elastic chamber having a valve and containing pressurized air therein, wherein said sealed rigid compartment is connected to each other, and a volume between an inner wall of said rigid compartment and an outer surface of said sealed elastic chamber is filled with water and connected to the external water body through at least one electrical valve.

28. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 27, further comprising a pressure sensor connected to said sealed compartment so as to output a signal indicating a pressure inside said sealed compartment.

29. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 27, wherein said electrical valve is controlled by an external control unit.

30. A dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to a water pressure created by an external water body, comprising a sealed compartment with at least one sylphon having a spring member therein, wherein a volume between an inner wall of said sealed compartment and an outer surface of said sylphon is filled with water and connected to water body through at least one electrical valve.

31. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 30, further comprising a pressure sensor connected to said sealed compartment so as to output a signal indicating a pressure inside said sealed compartment.

32. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 30, wherein said electrical valve is controlled by an external control unit.

33. A dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to a water pressure created by an external water body, comprising a sealed rigid compartment with a piston moving therein and being urged by a spring member, wherein a volume between an inner wall of said sealed rigid compartment and an outer surface of said piston is filled with water and connected to the external water body through at least one electrical valve.

34. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 33, further comprising a pressure sensor connected to said sealed compartment so as to output a signal indicating a pressure inside said sealed compartment.

35. The dynamic buoyancy compensator according to claim 33, wherein said electrical valve is controlled by an external control unit.

36. A method for controlling a depth of a variable buoyancy profiler in a body of water comprising the steps of:

attaching the variable buoyancy profiler with a dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to an external pressure created by the body of water;

connecting the dynamic buoyancy compensator to the body of water to receive the external pressure therefrom;

moving the profiler to the depth with an external force;

maintaining the profiler at the depth for a period of time to equalize an internal pressure of the dynamic buoyancy compensator with the external pressure at the depth;

terminating the external force; and

isolating the dynamic buoyancy compensator from the body of water to disconnect the external pressure.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the dynamic buoyancy compensator provides at the surface a maximum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a surface of the body of water and a minimum buoyancy when the profiler is set at the maximum depth in the body of water.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the external force is provided via a propeller drive.

39. The method according to claim 36, further comprising connecting an underwater cable with buoyancy between the profiler and a floating buoy set on a surface of the body of water, and varying the internal pressure of the dynamic buoyancy compensator thereby adjusting the buoyancy of the profiler against the buoyancy of the underwater cable so as to control the depth of the profiler.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is positive and set to be equal to half of the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is negative and varies to zero to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

41. The method according to claim 39, further comprising attaching an anchoring device to the underwater cable to cancel out buoyancy of the floating buoy, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is positive and set to be equal to the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is negative and varies to zero to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

42. The method according to claim 39, further comprising attaching an anchoring device to the underwater cable to cancel out buoyancy of the floating buoy, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is zero and set to be negative and equal to half of the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is positive to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

43. A method for controlling a depth of a variable buoyancy profiler in a body of water comprising the steps of:

attaching the variable buoyancy profiler with a dynamic buoyancy compensator responding approximately linear to an external pressure created by the body of water;

connecting the dynamic buoyancy compensator to the body of water to receive the external pressure therefrom;

pumping water inside or outside of the buoyancy compensator to equalize an internal pressure of the dynamic buoyancy compensator with a predetermined pressure or the external pressure at the depth; and

disconnecting the dynamic buoyancy compensator from the body of water to insulate the external pressure.

44. The method according to claim 43, the dynamic buoyancy compensator provides at the surface a maximum buoyancy when the profiler is set at a surface of the body of water and a minimum buoyancy when the profiler is set at the maximum depth in the body of water.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the pumping is conducted via a pump.

46. The method according to claim 43, further comprising connecting an underwater cable with buoyancy between the profiler and a floating buoy set on a surface of the body of water, and varying the internal pressure of the dynamic buoyancy compensator thereby adjusting the buoyancy of the profiler against the buoyancy of the underwater cable so as to control the depth of the profiler.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is positive and set to be equal to half of the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is negative and varies to zero to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising attaching an anchoring device to the underwater cable to cancel out buoyancy of the floating buoy, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is positive and set to be equal to the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is negative and varies to zero to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

49. The method according to claim 46, further comprising attaching an anchoring device to the underwater cable to cancel out buoyancy of the floating buoy, wherein the buoyancy of the profiler is zero and set to be negative and equal to half of the buoyancy of the underwater cable which is positive to bring the profiler to the maximum depth.

50. The method according to claim 43, further comprising collating the depth with a volume of the pumped water the thereby sending the profiler to the depth subsequently by pumping the volume of water therein.