Inflatable launch and recovery system
First Claim
1. A launch and recovery system for a towed body, comprising:
- a handling system for the towed body;
an inflatable ramp;
a container housing the towed body, said handling system and said inflatable ramp when said ramp is in a deflated configuration, the towed body attached to said handling system when said ramp is in the deflated configuration, said ramp inflated and extending from an aft end of said container and into a liquid medium in a deployed configuration, the towed body detached from said handling system and positioned on said ramp when said ramp is in the deployed configuration;
a first winch positioned within said container; and
a first cable connected between said first winch and an aft end of said ramp, said first cable wound on said first winch when said ramp is in the deflated configuration such that said aft end is proximate to said first winch, said first cable unwound and extending away from said container when said ramp is in the deployed configuration such that said aft end is distant from said first winch.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable launch and recovery system for a towed body is provided. The system is containerized for ease of transport. A container houses a tow body, tow cable, a winch, winch controls, an inflatable ramp, deployment and retrieval equipment, power junctions and air line connections. Inflatable arch shaped tubes and spacer fabric form the ramp structure from which the tow body can be launched and recovered. The ramp can be ballasted to provide hydrodynamic stability and to provide sufficient system depth to accommodate retrieval of towed bodies operating below a liquid medium surface. Additional control can be achieved using inflatable or rigid fin elements or downward lifting surfaces. A rigid clamping fixture connects the ramp structure to the vessel. A snubber element dampens vibrations and transient tow loads.
25 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A launch and recovery system for a towed body, comprising:
-
a handling system for the towed body; an inflatable ramp; a container housing the towed body, said handling system and said inflatable ramp when said ramp is in a deflated configuration, the towed body attached to said handling system when said ramp is in the deflated configuration, said ramp inflated and extending from an aft end of said container and into a liquid medium in a deployed configuration, the towed body detached from said handling system and positioned on said ramp when said ramp is in the deployed configuration; a first winch positioned within said container; and a first cable connected between said first winch and an aft end of said ramp, said first cable wound on said first winch when said ramp is in the deflated configuration such that said aft end is proximate to said first winch, said first cable unwound and extending away from said container when said ramp is in the deployed configuration such that said aft end is distant from said first winch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification