System for effecting underwater coupling of optical fiber cables characterized by a novel V-probe cable capture mechanism
US5396859A · kind A · utility
7Cited by
6References
15Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2027/165
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by conventional homing means. A forked cable pickup device in the nose of the AUV captures the suspended cable segment directing it into a slot so a male socket in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in the slot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.