Apparatus and methods for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle having a payload deployment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11352106-B2
Application number	US-202016779558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2020
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, in which the unmanned marine vehicle includes a float and a glider connected by a tether. The apparatus includes a buoyant frame having a first frame arm, and a second frame arm spaced from the first frame arm to define a receiving bay between the first frame arm and the second frame arm, wherein the receiving bay is sized to receive the float. A glider retainer assembly is coupled to the buoyant frame and configured to releasably retain the glider. The apparatus further includes a payload deployment assembly having an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below the buoyant frame, and a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive a payload coupled to the glider, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, the unmanned marine vehicle including a float and a glider connected by a tether, the apparatus comprising:
a buoyant frame including a first frame arm, and a second frame arm spaced from the first frame arm to define a receiving bay between the first frame arm and the second frame arm, wherein the receiving bay is sized to receive the float;
a glider retainer assembly coupled to the buoyant frame and configured to releasably retain the glider; and
a payload deployment assembly, including:
an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below the buoyant frame; and
a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive a payload coupled to the glider, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the payload release comprises a pin coupled to the attachment plate and moveable between an extended position, in which the pin engages the payload compartment, and a retracted position, in which the pin is disengaged from the payload compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the pin and configured to move the pin from the extended position to the retracted position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the payload compartment includes a plurality of fluid access ports.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the payload deployment assembly further includes a spool disposed in the receptacle, wherein the payload includes a tow cable wound about the spool in a coil pattern.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , in which the coil pattern is non-tangling coil pattern.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the payload includes a sensor coupled to a tow cable, and in which the payload deployment assembly further includes a separator disposed in the payload compartment, wherein the separator divides the payload compartment into a lower compartment sized to receive the sensor and an upper compartment sized to receive the tow cable.

8. A payload deployment assembly for use with an apparatus for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, the payload deployment assembly comprising:
an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below a buoyant frame of the apparatus; and
a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, in which the payload compartment separates from the attachment plate when released via the payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive a payload coupled to the unmanned marine vehicle, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.

9. The payload deployment assembly of claim 8 , in which the payload release comprises a pin coupled to the attachment plate and moveable between an extended position, in which the pin engages the payload compartment, and a retracted position, in which the pin is disengaged from the payload compartment.

10. The payload deployment assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the pin and configured to move the pin from the extended position to the retracted position.

11. The payload deployment assembly of claim 8 , in which the payload compartment includes a plurality of fluid access ports.

12. The payload deployment assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a spool disposed in the receptacle, wherein the payload includes a tow cable wound about the spool in a coil pattern.

13. The payload deployment assembly of claim 12 , in which the coil pattern is non-tangling coil pattern.

14. The payload deployment assembly of claim 8 , in which the payload includes a sensor coupled to a tow cable, and in which the payload deployment assembly further includes a separator disposed in the payload compartment, wherein the separator divides the payload compartment into a lower compartment sized to receive the sensor and an upper compartment sized to receive the tow cable.

15. A payload kit for use with an apparatus for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, the apparatus including a buoyant frame for receiving a float of the unmanned marine vehicle and a glider retainer assembly coupled to the buoyant frame and configured to releasably retain a glider of the unmanned marine vehicle, the payload kit comprising:
a payload including a sensor coupled to a tow cable, wherein the tow cable is configured for attachment to the glider of the unmanned marine vehicle; and
a payload deployment assembly, including:
an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below the buoyant frame of the apparatus; and
a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive the payload, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.

16. The payload kit of claim 15 , in which the payload release comprises a pin coupled to the attachment plate and moveable between an extended position, in which the pin engages the payload compartment, and a retracted position, in which the pin is disengaged from the payload compartment.

17. The payload kit of claim 16 , further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the pin and configured to move the pin from the extended position to the retracted position.

18. The payload kit of claim 15 , in which the payload compartment includes a plurality of fluid access ports.

19. The payload kit of claim 15 , further comprising a spool disposed in the receptacle and configured to receive the tow cable in a coil pattern.

20. The payload kit of claim 15 , in which the payload deployment assembly further includes a separator disposed in the payload compartment, wherein the separator divides the payload compartment into a lower compartment sized to receive the sensor and an upper compartment sized to receive the tow cable.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Childress Jamie

Classifications

• B63B27/36 Primary

  Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for floating cargo {(deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16) · CPC title

• B63C1/02 Primary

  Floating docks ({externally attached cofferdams and the like B63B17/0018; } ship transporters with adjustable draught B63B35/42) · CPC title

• B63B2035/007

  autonomously operating · CPC title

• B63B2027/165

  Deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts or hoists · CPC title