Patent Description:
Many industries require underwater surveillance to track underwater objects and underwater processes. Conventional tracking cameras require complex control systems and equipment. Such conventional tracking cameras require users to submerge the cameras into water via entirely separate and independent equipment, which increases risk of displacement of the cameras relative to the underwater objects and underwater processes. Indeed, such conventional tracking cameras require users to maintain stability of the cameras while ensuring the cameras are correctly positioned and correctly oriented to track the underwater objects and underwater processes. Further, such conventional tracking cameras are expensive to manufacture and difficult to implement. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose such underwater tracking cameras.

Therefore, a need exists for a new underwater imaging system operable to securely position imaging equipment in an orientation that facilitates tracking of underwater objects and underwater processes, that ensures quality of underwater surveillance, that provides increased security of the cameras, that is inexpensive to manufacture, and that is easy to implement.

The present inventive concept eliminates the aforementioned problems associated with conventional coring cameras. The present inventive concept provides a device that is retrofittable to existing equipment, is operable to function as a trigger weight in coordination with the existing equipment, is operable to securely position imaging equipment in an orientation that facilitates tracking of underwater objects, e.g., the existing equipment, and/or underwater processes, and provides increased security of the imaging equipment. The device of the present inventive concept provides higher quality of underwater surveillance relative to conventional equipment, and protects marine environment and/or marine life forms by providing an ability to observe the marine environment prior to employing an underwater tool. The device of the present inventive concept ensures quality of core sampling by providing images of the existing equipment in use, e.g., impact of a corer, and also saves time by identifying problems associated with the existing equipment and/or their processes without requiring physical inspection of the existing equipment, e.g., a failed coring attempt can be identified without moving the corer on board a surface vessel. The device of the present inventive concept is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to implement, and easy to operate from a surface vessel.

The aforementioned may be achieved in an aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a retrofit trigger weight camera device. The device includes a base having a bottom face, a top face opposite the bottom face, and/or a side wall connecting the top face and bottom face. The device includes a central support member having a first end connected to the top face of the base, and/or a second end connected to one or more exterior support members. Each of the one or more exterior support members includes a first and a second end. The first end is connected to the central support member. The second end is connected to the base. The device includes one or more accessory mounts attached to the central support member and operable to mount an accessory to the central support member. The device includes a connector attached to the second end of the central support member.

The base may include a plurality of apertures. The device may not be buoyant. The connector may be a pad eye. The one or more accessories may be a camera. The one or more accessories may be a light. The one or more accessories may be a laser scaler. The one or more accessories may be an acoustic monitoring device such as an echo sounder and/or an acoustic communication device. The one or more accessories may be an optical wireless communication device. The one or more accessories may be an acoustic modem. The one or more accessories may be a power supply. The one or more accessories may be operable for autonomous operation. The device may include a second connection member attached to the base. The one or both of the first and second connection members may be a pad eye. The base may be circular. The apertures may be circular. The base may have a central aperture. The central support member may include a plurality of apertures operable to mount one or more accessory mounts.

The device may include at least one accessory mount base. The at least one accessory mount base may include a first face opposite a second face. The first face of the accessory mount base may be operable to be attached to the central support member. The second face of the accessory mount base may be operable to attach an accessory mount. The device may be operable to be connected to a trigger arm of a piston corer. The first connection member is stationary. The first connection member may be connected to a non-rotating suspension member. The non-rotating suspension member may be a wire. The non-rotating member may be a rope. The non-rotating member may be a chain.

The aforementioned is achieved in an aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a method of collecting coring data according to the appended claims.

The method may include mounting at least one acoustic monitoring device such as an echo sounder and/or at least one acoustic communication device in an accessory mount. The at least one acoustic monitoring device and/or the at least one acoustic communication device in the accessory mount may be oriented in the direction of the piston corer. The at least one acoustic monitoring device and/or the at least one acoustic communication device in the accessory mount may be operable to monitor the piston corer. The method may include mounting at least one optical wireless communication device in an accessory mount. The at least one optical wireless communication device mount may be oriented in the direction of the piston corer. The at least one optical wireless communication device in the accessory mount may be operable to monitor the piston corer. The method may include mounting at least acoustic modem device in an accessory mount. The at least one acoustic modem device mount may be oriented in the direction of the piston corer. The at least one acoustic modem device in an accessory mount may be operable to monitor the piston corer. The at least one acoustic modem device in an accessory mount may be operable to activate other devices near the piston corer or the coring data collector apparatus. The one of more accessories may be operable to operate autonomously. The one or more accessories may be operable to wirelessly communicate with a user of the one or more accessories. It is foreseen that numerous types of underwater wireless communications may be utilized by the present inventive concept including, but not limited to those disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

The method may include activating the at least one camera, the at least one laser, the at least one acoustic monitoring device, the at least one acoustic communication device, the at least one optical wireless communication device, the at least one acoustic modem, and/or the at least one light using a control system. The method may include releasing the coring data collector apparatus, the piston corer, and the trigger arm into a body of water. The method may include allowing the coring data collector apparatus to contact a sea floor before the piston corer contact the sea floor such that, when the coring data collector apparatus touches the sea floor, slack is created in the non-rotating suspension member allowing the trigger arm to raise, thereby causing the piston corer to deploy and begin an underwater coring process. The method may include monitoring the piston corer using the at least one camera, at least one light, at least one laser, at least one acoustic monitoring device such as an echo sounder, an acoustic communication device, and/or at least one optical wireless communication device, wherein the at least one light, and at least one laser, are oriented towards impact of the piston corer penetrating the sea floor, a seafloor environment, and a core barrel exiting the sea floor.

The at least one camera may be operable to record a video of the piston corer before launch. The at least one camera may be operable to record a video of the piston corer after launch. The coring data collector apparatus may be operable to fall to a solid surface underwater before the piston corer is launched. The coring data collector apparatus may be operable to reach a solid surface underwater after the piston corer is launched. The coring data collector apparatus may be operable to capture still images, high definition images, and/or data. The data may be used for optimizing coring operations setup. The coring data collector apparatus may be operable to capture water column video to image gas or bubbles in the water column during deployment and recovery.

The aforementioned is achieved in an aspect of the present inventive concept by providing another method of collecting sea floor data according to the appended claims.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to describe the manner in which the advantages and features of the present inventive concept can be obtained, reference is made to embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept and are not, therefore, to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:.

Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Turning to <FIG>, a retrofit trigger weight camera device <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept is illustrated. The device <NUM> includes a platform base <NUM>, an elongated central or interior support member <NUM> extending from a center of the base <NUM>, and a plurality of elongated exterior support members <NUM> A-D extending between the base <NUM> and the interior support member <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, the base <NUM> is generally circular, but it is foreseen that the base <NUM> may be otherwise shaped, e.g., square, rectangular, or triangular, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. In the exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> includes four of the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D, but it is foreseen that the device <NUM> may have fewer ones of the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D, e.g., three, two, one, or zero, or more ones of the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D. It is also foreseen that the device <NUM> may have more ones of the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D, e.g. five, six, or more, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept.

The interior support member <NUM> includes a plurality of rows <NUM> A-D of apertures <NUM> circumferentially spaced from each other around a circumference of the interior support member <NUM>. Each of the apertures <NUM> is linearly spaced from others of the apertures <NUM> in respect to ones of the plurality of rows <NUM> A-D. Each of the plurality of rows <NUM> A-D is aligned with and directly facing one of the exterior support members <NUM> A-D. The apertures <NUM> extend entirely along the interior support member <NUM>, i.e., from the base <NUM> to an upper end <NUM> of the interior support member <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D are secured to an uppermost portion <NUM> of the interior support member <NUM> and an outermost portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D are secured to the uppermost portion <NUM> of the interior support member <NUM> via the apertures <NUM> using a fastener <NUM>. In this manner, the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D define an interior space <NUM> in coordination with the base <NUM> and the interior support member <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, the fastener <NUM> is a bolt. It is foreseen, however, that the plurality of exterior support members <NUM> A-D may be connected to the interior support member <NUM> and/or the base <NUM> via other fastening means such as, but not limited to, screws, adhesive, welding, and/or the like, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept.

Within the interior space <NUM> and securely fastened along different portions of the interior support member <NUM> are a plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B. In the exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> includes two of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B, but it is foreseen that the device <NUM> may have fewer ones of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B, e.g., one, or more ones of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B, e.g., three, four, five, six, or more, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. Each of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B include a plurality of upper apertures <NUM> at an upper end <NUM> thereof, and a plurality of lower apertures <NUM> at a lower end <NUM> thereof. Each of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and the plurality of lower apertures <NUM> extend entirely through a respective one of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B to permit variable mounting of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B to the interior support member <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> includes five of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and five of the plurality of lower apertures <NUM>, but it is foreseen that the device <NUM> may have fewer ones of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and/or the plurality of lower apertures <NUM>, e.g., one, two, three, or four, and/or more ones of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and/or the plurality of lower apertures <NUM>, e.g., six, seven, eight, or more, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and the plurality of lower apertures <NUM> have a same diameter, but it is foreseen that one or more of the plurality of upper apertures <NUM> and/or the plurality of lower apertures <NUM> may have different diameters, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept.

Each of the plurality of mounting plates <NUM> A-B includes an accessory housing <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, the accessory housing <NUM> is elongated and generally tubular, but it is foreseen that the accessory housing <NUM> may be otherwise shaped, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. The accessory housing <NUM> is open at a first end <NUM>, is open at a second end <NUM>, and includes a plurality of elongated slots <NUM> that extend only partially around the accessory housing <NUM> and around top portions of the accessory housing <NUM>. In this manner, the first end <NUM>, the second end <NUM>, and the slots <NUM> are operable to expose an interior <NUM> of the accessory housing <NUM>.

The base <NUM> of the device <NUM> includes a top face <NUM> opposite a bottom face <NUM>, with a perimeter edge <NUM> extending therebetween. The top face <NUM> and the bottom face <NUM> are substantially flat and extend parallel to each other. An array of base apertures <NUM> of the same size and shape extend entirely through the base <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment, the array of base apertures <NUM> is uniform across an entirety of the base <NUM>. It is foreseen, however, that base <NUM> may include only a single aperture extending therethrough, or the array of base apertures <NUM> of the may have a non-uniform distribution across the base <NUM>, and/or any one or more of the apertures of the array of base apertures <NUM> may be of different sizes and/or shapes, without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept.

The device <NUM> includes a connector <NUM> with an aperture <NUM>, which is secured to and extends from the upper end <NUM> of the interior support member <NUM>. The connector <NUM> defines an uppermost portion of the device <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is operable to securely receive a tether through the aperture <NUM>. The tether may be a rope, a chain, or other tethering member extending from existing equipment such as, but not limited to, a tool, e.g., a piston corer. The device <NUM>, via the connector <NUM>, permits a crane or other lifting equipment to simultaneously lift the device <NUM> as well as the existing equipment from a resting or a docked position to an airborne position. The connector <NUM> enables the device <NUM> to be retrofitted to the existing equipment. In the exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> is secured to the existing equipment instead of another piece of equipment. In the exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> is operable to function and be used as a trigger weight in place of the another piece of equipment.

A plurality of accessories is securely received by the device <NUM>, which each one of the plurality of accessories received within a respective one of the accessory housing <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The plurality of accessories may include one or more imaging devices, e.g., one or more cameras, one or more laser scalers, one or more lights, one or more acoustic monitoring devices such as an echo sounder, one or more acoustic communication devices, one or more optical wireless communication devices, and/or one or more power supplies. In the exemplary embodiment, the accessory housing <NUM> A is operable to securely mount a camera and the accessory housing <NUM> B is operable to securely mount a laser scaler. The accessory housing <NUM> A includes a secondary accessory housing <NUM> secured thereto, which is operable to securely mount a light therein. In some embodiments, the accessory housing <NUM> A-B and/or the secondary accessory housing <NUM> is operable to securely mount an optical wireless communication device, a power supply, an acoustic monitoring device, such as an echo sounder, and/or an acoustic communication device. The accessory housing <NUM> A-B has a universal configuration for mounting a wide array of accessories. Each of the accessory housings <NUM> A-B and the secondary accessory housing <NUM> are operable to orient one of the plurality of accessories in an orientation to facilitate imaging, monitoring, and collecting data associated with underwater objects and/or underwater processes.

In use, the device <NUM> is provided in a docked or initial position, e.g., on a deck of a drilling rig, dock, or boat. Each of the plurality of accessories is installed into a respective one of the accessory housing <NUM> A-B and the secondary housing <NUM>, so a face of each of the plurality of accessories extends into the interior <NUM> of housings <NUM> A-B through the first end <NUM> and is directed toward the second end <NUM>. Once installed, each of the plurality of accessories is activated. In this manner, after activation, the accessories are operable to autonomously image, autonomously collect data, and/or autonomously track underwater objects. Next, the device <NUM> is retrofitted to the existing equipment via the tether. In the exemplary embodiment, the existing equipment of the piston corer and the device <NUM> is secured to a piston corer trigger arm of the corer in place of a part of the piston corer. In this manner, the device <NUM> is operable to be used with the piston corer as a trigger weight to cause the piston corer to begin an underwater operation, e.g., a coring operation.

Then, upon connection of the piston corer to the crane via a non-rotatable tether, the device <NUM> and the piston corer are simultaneously moved into the airborne position and then submerged. Once deployed into the water, the piston corer is triggered when the device <NUM> contacts the sea floor via the base <NUM>. While deployed in water, the accessories of the device <NUM> operate autonomously, in the exemplary embodiment. It is foreseen, however, that one or more of the accessories of the device <NUM> may be controlled by a user, e.g., wirelessly or wired. It is also foreseen that numerous types of underwater wireless communications may be utilized by the present inventive concept including, but not limited to those disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

The piston corer is used to perform its desired operation while images of the piston corer as well as an underwater environment and/or the seafloor are collected using the plurality of accessories. The non-rotatable tether advantageously ensures the accessories of the device are aimed at the piston corer. The images are stored using a memory of one of the plurality of accessories, e.g., a memory of the camera. When the desired operation is completed by the piston corer, the crane removes the device <NUM> and the piston corer from the water, returns the device <NUM> and the piston corer to the airborne position, and returns the device <NUM> and the piston corer to the initial position. When the device <NUM> is in the initial position, the memory of the one of the plurality of accessories may be accessed, and the images may be transferred from the memory to a display, e.g., of a computer of an operator for review of the operation completed by the tool, the underwater environment and/or the seafloor.

Claim 1:
A retrofit trigger weight camera device (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>) having a bottom face (<NUM>), a top face (<NUM>) opposite the bottom face (<NUM>), and a side wall connecting the top face (<NUM>) and bottom face (<NUM>);
a central support member (<NUM>) having a first end connected to the top face (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>), and a second end connected to one or more exterior support members (<NUM> A-D), each of the one or more exterior support members (<NUM> A-D) include a first and a second end, the first end connected to the central support member (<NUM>), the second end connected to the base (<NUM>);
one or more accessory mounts attached to the central support member (<NUM>) and operable to mount one or more accessories to the central support member (<NUM>); and
a connector attached to the second end of the central support member (<NUM>).