# US 11,441,531 B2 · Self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of underwater fixed foundation

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,441,531 B2
- Document ID: US11441531B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/634,751
- Filed: 2018-02-02
- Published: 2020-06-25
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-28
- Assignees: Hunan Institute of Engineering
- Applicants: Hunan Institute of Engineering
- Inventors: Wenxian Yang; Kexiang Wei; Xiaofeng Geng; Liewei Ning; Xuejun Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441531B2

## CPC

- F03B 13/14: using wave energy
- F03B 13/16: using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, {i.e. a "wom"} and another member, {i.e. a reaction member or "rem"}
- G01L 5/0033: {applying a pulling force}
- G01N 17/00: Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
- F03D 9/00: Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12)
- F03D 9/008: {the wind motor being combined with water energy converters, e.g. a water turbine}
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- F03D: WIND MOTORS

## Abstract

Disclosed is a self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation. Said system converts wave energy into electrical energy by means of a wind energy capturing module and a wave energy capturing module, and then uses the electrical energy to supply power to a settlement monitoring module, achieving the reduction of power consumption of the settling monitoring module during the detection of underwater surface settlement at the periphery of a fixed foundation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation, comprising:
a fixed foundation,
a permanent magnet generator that comprises a generator rotor, and
a wave energy capturing module;
the permanent magnet generator is mounted on the fixed foundation, one end of the generator rotor is transmissively connected to a transmission unit of the wave energy capturing module;
a bracket is attached to one lateral of the fixed foundation, a supporting structure of the wave energy capturing module is mounted on the bracket, the transmission unit is mounted on the supporting structure; a floating unit of the wave energy capturing module is transmissively connected to the transmission unit; the floating unit is a ringlike member, the bracket having an extension column passing through the floating unit; and
the floating unit is configured to float with waves, thereby driving the generator rotor through movement of the transmission unit to generate the electrical energy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a settlement monitoring module,
the settlement monitoring module comprising: a tension sensing module, a data collecting and processing module and a tugging portion; a container is attached to a bottom end of the extension column, the tension sensing module and the data collecting and processing module are arranged in the container;
one end of the tugging portion is slidably connected to the tension sensing module and the other end of the tugging portion is connected to a settlement probe; the settlement probe is freely laid on the underwater surface around the fixed foundation along a positioning sleeve;
the positioning sleeve is fixed to the fixed foundation; the settlement probe is configured to settle with settlement of the underwater surface due to its own gravity; and
the tension sensing module acquires real data about the settlement of the underwater surface as the tugging portion settles with the settlement probe, the measured data is analyzed and processed by the data collecting and processing module, and wherein the data collecting and processing module is connected to the tension sensing module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a battery, the battery is configured to store the electrical energy and supply power to the settlement monitoring module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a wind energy capturing module, the wind energy capturing module is transmissively connected to the other end of the generator motor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 4, wherein the transmission unit comprises a transmission rack, a gear assembly and a transmission chain assembly, the transmission rack and the floating unit are fixedly connected, the gear assembly connects the transmission rack and the transmission chain assembly, the transmission rack uses gear components to convert wave energy into mechanical energy and transmit it to the transmission chain assembly, and the transmission chain assembly and the generator rotor are connected through an overrunning clutch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 5, wherein the transmission chain assembly comprises a chain, a driving gear and a driven gear, the chain is mounted around the driving gear and the driven gear, the driving gear is fixed to the connection shaft, and the driven gear is connected to the generator rotor through the overrunning clutch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 6, wherein there are two said transmission racks located at two sides of the through hole of the floating unit, respectively; in which
the extension column is located between the two transmission racks and passes through the through hole of the floating unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 4, wherein the tension sensing module comprises at least one tension sensor and at least one spring, in which
the tension sensor is connected to a first end of the spring, and a second end of the spring is connected to the tugging portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation of claim 8, further comprising a second bracket, in which
the positioning sleeve is fixed to second bracket, and the second bracket is fixed to the fixed foundation.

### Claim 10

A transmission unit used for a wave energy capturing module which is especially configured in a self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation,
wherein the transmission unit comprises a transmission rack, a gear assembly and a transmission chain assembly, the transmission rack is fixedly connected to a floating unit, the gear assembly connects the transmission rack and the transmission chain assembly, the transmission rack uses gear components to convert wave energy into mechanical energy and transmits it to the transmission chain assembly, and the transmission chain assembly is connected to a generator rotor through an overrunning clutch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The transmission unit of claim 10, wherein the transmission unit is mounted on a supporting structure of the wave energy capturing module, a floating unit of the wave energy capturing module is transmissively connected to the transmission unit; the floating unit is a ringlike member, and an extension column of a bracket passes through the floating unit;
the floating unit is configured to float with waves, thereby driving the generator rotor through movement of the transmission unit to generate the electrical energy.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The transmission unit of claim 11, wherein the transmission chain assembly comprises a chain, a driving gear and a driven gear, the chain is mounted around the driving gear and the driven gear, the driving gear is fixed to the connection shaft, and the driven gear is connected to the generator rotor through the overrunning clutch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The transmission unit of claim 12, wherein there are two said transmission racks located at two sides of a through hole of the floating unit, respectively; in which
the extension column is located between the two transmission racks and passes through the through hole of the floating unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The transmission unit of claim 13, wherein the self-powered real-time monitoring system for fluid flushing of an underwater fixed foundation further comprises a fixed foundation, a permanent magnet generator that comprises a generator rotor, a battery, a wind energy capturing module and a settlement monitoring module;
the permanent magnet generator is mounted on the fixed foundation, one end of the generator rotor is transmissively connected to the wind energy capturing module and the other end of the generator rotor is transmissively connected to a transmission unit of the wave energy capturing module;
a bracket is attached to one lateral of the fixed foundation, the supporting structure of the wave energy capturing module is mounted on the bracket,
the battery is configured to store the electrical energy and supply power to the settlement monitoring module;
the settlement monitoring module comprises: a tension sensing module, a data collecting and processing module and a tugging portion; a container is attached to a bottom end of the extension column, the tension sensing module and the data collecting and processing module are arranged in the container;
one end of the tugging portion is slidably connected to the tension sensing module and the other end of the tugging portion is connected to a settlement probe; the settlement probe is freely laid on the underwater surface around the fixed foundation along a positioning sleeve;
the positioning sleeve is fixed to the fixed foundation; the settlement probe is configured to settle with settlement of the underwater surface due to its own gravity; and
the tension sensing module acquires real data about the settlement of the underwater surface as the tugging portion settles with the settlement probe, the measured data is analyzed and processed by the data collecting and processing module, and wherein the data collecting and processing module is connected to the tension sensing module.