System for the deployment of marine payloads

• US 10,112,686 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Original Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Inventors: Austin, Thomas, Purcell, Michael, Littlefield, Robin, Jaffre, Frederic, Packard, Gwyneth, McDonald, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Venne, Daniel V
• Application Number:
  US15/009,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 114238, 114239, 114312, 114313, 114316, 114317, 114318, 114319, 114320, 114321, 114322, 114324, 114325, 114330, 114333, 114 201, 114 25
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2022/006 specially adapted for measuring or watch purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/08 having means to release or urge to the surface a buoy on submergence thereof, e.g. to mark location of a sunken object

Abstract

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as an underwater vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

Claims

1. An underwater vehicle for deployment of at least one payload in water, comprising:

a. a carrier, comprising a deployment chamber, comprising;

i. an electrical port;

ii. at least one valve;

iii. an actuator;

iv. at least one actuator switch;

v. electronics and circuitry;

vi. a vacuum port;

vii. an internal wet space; and

viii. a portal connecting the internal wet space to an external environment; and

b. at least one payload;

c. a vacuum actuation mechanism;

wherein the carrier is connected to the vacuum port;

wherein the vacuum port is connected to the vacuum actuation mechanism;

wherein when the deployment chamber is fully sealed, a vacuum force is created within the deployment chamber;

wherein the payload is held solely by the vacuum force;

wherein fluid is allowed to flood the internal wet space, releasing the vacuum force;

wherein the electrical port is capable of receiving power or data information; and

wherein the actuator and the actuator switch are controlled by the electronics and circuitry.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the carrier may be connected to a vacuum source to create the vacuum force within the deployment chamber.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployment chamber further comprises an O-ring.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises an O-ring.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said carrier further comprises weights or flotation devices.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said payload comprises:

a. a payload circuitry within a water-tight body housing; and

b. a power source.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises:

a. a payload circuitry within a water-tight body housing; and

b. a power source;

wherein the payload is capable of storing data information or location-determining devices.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said payload comprises:

a. a water-tight body housing;

b. a payload circuitry within the water-tight body housing;

c. a power source; and

d. a self-orienting assembly;

wherein the self-orienting assembly is attached to the water-tight body housing.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said payload comprises:

a. a water-tight body housing;

b. a payload circuitry within the water-tight body housing;

c. a power source;

d. a self-orienting assembly, comprising;

i. a leg assembly; and

ii. at least one leg attachment point;

wherein the leg assembly is comprised of at least one leg; and

wherein each at least one or more legs is connected to the water-tight body housing at a leg attachment point; and

wherein the self-orienting assembly is attached to the water-tight body housing.

10. An underwater vehicle for deployment of at least one payload in a body of water, comprising:

a. carrier, comprising a deployment chamber, comprising;

i. an internal wet space; and

ii. a portal connecting the internal wet space to the external environment; and

b. at least one payload, comprising;

i. a water-tight body housing;

ii. payload circuitry within the water-tight body housing;

iii. a power source; and

iv. a self-orienting assembly, comprising;

(1) a leg assembly;

(2) at least one leg attachment point; and

(3) a leg release mechanism;

wherein the leg assembly is comprised of at least one leg;

wherein each of the at least one legs is connected to the water-tight body housing at a leg attachment point; and

wherein the leg assembly remains in a stowed position until the leg release mechanism releases the at least one leg; and

wherein said payload is capable of supporting a vacuum force within the chamber therein; and

wherein the self-orienting assembly is attached to the water-tight body housing;

wherein when the deployment chamber is fully sealed, the vacuum force is created within the deployment chamber; and

wherein the payload is held solely by the vacuum force within said chamber and wherein fluid is allowed to flood the internal wet space, releasing the vacuum force.

11. A method for the underwater deploying of at least one payload in a body of water comprising:

a. placing a carrier that contains a deployment chamber comprising;

i. an electrical port;

ii. at least one valve;

iii. an actuator;

iv. at least one actuator switch;

v. electronics and circuitry;

vi. a vacuum port;

vii. an internal wet space; and

viii. a portal connecting the internal wet space to an external environment;

b. placing at least one payload comprising a self-orienting assembly, comprising;

i. a leg assembly;

ii. at least one leg attachment point; and

iii. a leg release mechanism;

into the deployment chamber through the portal;

c. holding said payload in said chamber through the use of a vacuum force;

d. placing the carrier in a location where the payload will be deployed; and

e. triggering a release of the payload;

f. wherein, upon triggering the release of the payload, fluid is allowed to flood the internal wet space, releasing the vacuum force; and

g. wherein upon deployment of the payload, the self-orienting assembly reorients the payload after deployment;

h. wherein the body of water comprises a water bottom floor; and

i. the leg assembly digs into the water bottom floor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the body of water comprises a water bottom floor, and upon payload release, the payload drops from the carrier through the body of water until it reaches the water bottom floor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the carrier further comprises a vacuum source, wherein the vacuum force is created by connecting the valve to the vacuum source and disconnecting the vacuum source once a seal has been created between the payload and the deployment chamber.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the carrier further comprises a vacuum source, wherein the vacuum force is created by connecting the at least one valve to a vacuum source and stays connected during use to maintain the seal between the payload and the deployment chamber.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the payload is forced out of the deployment chamber by use of at least one spring.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein upon deployment of the payload, the self-orienting assembly reorients the payload after deployment.

17. The method of claim 11, the self-orienting assembly is time-delayed and reorients the payload at a designated time after deployment.