Method of deploying cable

• US 6,691,636 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert King
• Original Assignee: American Systems Corporation
• Inventors: King, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, ANDREW D
• Application Number:
  US09/916,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 114/312, 114/321, 114/322, 114/244, 114/254, 114/330, 114/331, 405/154.1, 405/158, 405/190, 405/191
• US Class Current: 114/331
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/04 Cable-laying vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42

Abstract

A method of deploying cable in a body of water comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, and placing cable in the body of water with the AUV. The cable, usually a cable sensor array, is released from a cable storage section of the AUV as the AUV glides horizontally. Vertical motion can be provided by buoyancy change, by dropping the AUV into the water, or by release of the AUV from a weighted bunker at the bottom.

Claims

1. A method of deploying cable in a body of water comprising:

providing an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, wherein the vertical motion is provided by changing buoyancy of the AUV; and

placing cable on a bottom of a body of water with the AUV during the conversion of the vertical motion into the horizontal travel;

wherein substantially all the horizontal travel is achieved by converting the vertical motion.

2. Method of claim 1 wherein after placing the cable on the bottom of the body of water, the AUV retains one end of the cable and is sunk to form an anchor for the cable.

3. Method of claim 1 wherein the vertical motion is provided by sinking the AUV from a surface of the body of water, and the conversion of the vertical motion into the horizontal travel is provided by wings on the AUV.

4. Method of claim 3 wherein the AUV becomes buoyant after sinking and then rises, and the conversion of the vertical motion into the horizontal travel is provided by the wings during both the sinking and rising.

5. Method of claim 3 wherein the AUV is placed on the surface of the body of water by dropping the AUV from an airborne vehicle or a vessel on the surface of the body of water.

6. Method of claim 1 wherein the cable is housed at or near a stem of the AUV, wherein a first end of the cable is anchored at a first location on the bottom of the body of water, and cable is released from the AUV as the AUV glides.

7. Method of claim 1 wherein the AUV is dropped to the bottom of the body of water in a weighted bunker and released from the weighted bunker.

8. Method of claim 7 wherein at least two AUV'"'"'s are released from the weighted bunker and cable is released from each AUV.

9. Method of claim 1 wherein the cable is a sensor array comprising fiber optic cable having a plurality of sensors arrayed on the cable.

10. Method of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy is changed by use of compressed gas to produce flood and blow cycles.

11. Method of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy is changed by use of mechanical pump.

12. Method of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy is changed by means of a chemical gas generator.

13. Method of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy is changed using an essentially noiseless orifice and valve system.

14. Method of claim 1 wherein release of cable from the AUV changes the center of buoyancy of the AUV.

15. Method of claim 1 wherein one end of the cable is connected to the AUV and is released from a housing on a deployment platform by the horizontal travel of the AUV.

16. Method of claim 1 wherein AUV position is determined by using a global positioning system (GPS) and the direction of glide is corrected using the GPS.

17. Method of claim 1 wherein the AUV is positioned in the body of water by a submarine.

18. Method of claim 1 wherein the body of water is an ocean.

19. Method of claim 1 wherein the body of water is a harbor.

20. Method of claim 1 wherein the AUV is adapted to be expendable and is used as an anchor for the deployed cable.