Method and apparatus for remote monitoring of the position or. Posture of a low water - the towing object in the case of a low water - drag

摘要

The tow line system permits a determination of the direction and magnitude of tow line forces on the underwater tow. The response of the underwater tow to the tow line forces is also monitored. The system is adaptable to any system capable of measuring forces and angles remotely and transmitting these values to the surface by means of electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic signals. The underwater tow can be any object which responds to the force of gravity and which is directed by one or more tow lines. The system consists of symmetrically placed horizontal and vertical load cells, two each in number, at the base of an isosceles triangle formed by a chain or cable tow bridge, the vertex of which is connected by means of another cable or chain or combination thereof to the tow vessel which also houses the display console. The underwater tow further contains a gravity oriented pitch angle detector whose plane is parallel to the bisector of the vertex of the tow bridle and whose zero index identifies the normal posture of the underwater tow when resting on a horizontal reference surface. The vertical load cells are perpendicular to the horizontal reference surface and parallel to the direction of zero index of the pitch indicators. The response of the underwater tow is compared to a level plane and any deviation of the underwater tow or the forces upon it is immediately detected.