Delivery and recovery apparatus, method, and applications
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63B-027/18
G01V-001/38
B63B-027/00
B63C-011/52
B63B-027/30
B63G-008/00
B63B-027/16
출원번호
US-0652262
(2013-12-10)
등록번호
US-9753169
(2017-09-05)
국제출원번호
PCT/US2013/074027
(2013-12-10)
국제공개번호
WO2014/093292
(2014-06-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Jewell, Stephen W.
출원인 / 주소
FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
대리인 / 주소
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
Machinery and methods are described whereby a free flying, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can safely capture and take on board lightly managed seismic sensor devices (payload) while they are in-transit via a surface vessel in a (deep) water column. ROV payload can be replenished without the need fo
Machinery and methods are described whereby a free flying, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can safely capture and take on board lightly managed seismic sensor devices (payload) while they are in-transit via a surface vessel in a (deep) water column. ROV payload can be replenished without the need for the ROV to return to the surface vessel to receive additional payload and to do so without the need for heavy launch and recovery machinery. The reverse process of returning payload from the ROV to the surface vessel is also disclosed.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for deploying and manipulating a payload in an unstable environment, comprising: deploying a plurality of unit payloads from a marine surface vessel, wherein the step of deploying a plurality of unit payloads comprises: providing, on the marine surface vessel, the plurality of unit paylo
1. A method for deploying and manipulating a payload in an unstable environment, comprising: deploying a plurality of unit payloads from a marine surface vessel, wherein the step of deploying a plurality of unit payloads comprises: providing, on the marine surface vessel, the plurality of unit payloads each having a non-removable passive affixment device and a non-removable active affixment device diametrically disposed about a perimetal region of each unit payload;detachably directly, serially linking at least two of the plurality of unit payloads on the marine surface vessel to form a payload chain by directly coupling the passive affixment device of one of the unit payloads to the active affixment device of another one of the unit payloads;detachably coupling the payload chain to a lift line that is controllably deployable from the marine surface vessel into/out of a water column; anddeploying the lift line and the coupled payload chain into the water column. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detachably linking at least two of the plurality of unit payloads comprises detachably connecting a passive affixment device of a respective unit payload with an active affixment device of a respective immediately adjacent unit payload. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing, on the marine surface vessel, the plurality of unit payloads, further comprises orienting each of the plurality of unit payloads in a manner such that its passive affixment device is in a deployment leading position and its active affixment device is in a deployment trailing position. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of detachably coupling the payload chain to a lift line further comprises detachably coupling a first end of a tag line to a terminal trailing active affixment device wherein a second end of the tag line is fixedly coupled to the lift line. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising slidably coupling the first end of the tag line to the lift line. 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising slidably, detachably coupling the passive affixment device of a leading unit payload to the lift line. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: capturing the payload chain in the water column,wherein the step of capturing the payload chain comprises: providing an ROV including a robotic arm and a payload stowage compartment, in the water column in proximity to a leading end of the deployed payload chain;de-coupling the passive affixment device of the leading deployed unit payload from the lift line;starting with the de-coupled leading deployed unit payload, drawing the payload chain into the stowage compartment while controlling the ROV to fly upward and forward; andupon at least partial capture of the payload chain, de-coupling the terminal, trailing, active affixment device of the payload chain from the first end of the tag line. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising unlinking the payload chain in the stowage compartment. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface vessel and the deployed payload chain are in-transit. 10. A method for manipulating and recovering a payload from a submerged ROV in an unstable environment to a marine surface vessel, comprising: providing an ROV including a robotic arm and a payload stowage compartment including a payload chain consisting of a plurality of detachably, directly, serially linked unit payloads each having an active affixment device and a passive affixment device connected thereto;providing a deployed lift line including a tag line having a passive affixment device attached to a first end thereof and being fixedly coupled at a second end thereof to the deployed lift line from the marine surface vessel;capturing the passive affixment device attached to the first end of the tag line with the robotic arm and engaging it with the active affixment device disposed on a leading stowed end of the payload chain; andextracting the payload chain from the stowage compartment of the ROV. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of extracting the payload chain from the stowage compartment of the ROV further comprises controlling the ROV to fly downward and away from the lift line. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the surface vessel, the deployed lift line, and the ROV are in-transit.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Buckley W. Scott ; Lamb Andrew Patrick, Method for recording seismic data in deep water.
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