Appliance for deployment and tracking of an unmanned underwater vehicle
US7878138B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63G7/02
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An appliance for lowering and tracking an underwater vessel includes a carrier arranged on an end of a holding cable; a holding device on the carrier used to receive/release the underwater vessel with a controllable holding element; and a tracking device arranged on the carrier and used for acoustically determining the position of the underwater vessel lowered into the water. As a result, a light, compact lowering appliance is provided that is suitable for handling vessels on small platforms and ensures acoustically undisturbed operation of the tracking device, which is arranged on one end of the carrier, the carrier being mounted such that it can be pivoted on the holding cable in an articulated manner in a central longitudinal region thereof. Following release of the underwater vessel from the holding element, a pivoting device pivots the carrier including the tracking device out of a lowering position, into a tracking position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.