Depth Regulation of Lowered Oceanographic Equipment

摘要

Experimental depth regulation equipment has been developed for the vertical stabilization of oceanographic instruments lowered by wire from free-floating platforms. Surface wave action imparts to such instruments a vertical motion that is sensed with a submerged bellows detector. A synchro motor attached to the bellows develops an error signal which is amplified, reversed in phase, and fed into a power control unit on a winch. The latter automatically pays out and takes in wire as demanded by the pressure sensor. The equipment can be utilized to hold deep sea cameras at specific heights above the sea floor or to hold other devices such as transducers, water bottles, and current meters at constant depths. Dockside tests with the experimental sensor and winch control equipment have been successful. (Author)