Autonomous deployment system for seafloor devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11879226-B2
Application number	US-202117538888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2021
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

An autonomous deployment system for deploying systems and a method of deploying a seafloor device. The autonomous deployment system includes a release unit, a support frame, a plurality of mats, a hose, a plurality of weighted bands, a gas supply, a waterproof housing, and a timer. The method of deploying a seafloor device includes spooling a plurality of mats in a rolled-up position, each of said plurality of mats comprising a hose, wherein each mat is adjacent to a support frame, submerging the seafloor device in a body of water, releasing the seafloor device from a vessel via a release unit, supplying gas to each hose of the plurality of mats, unfurling each of the plurality of mats from the support frame, sinking the seafloor device to lay on the seafloor. The invention may also include a microbial fuel cell and support weights.

First claim

We claim:

1. An seafloor deployment system, comprising:
a release unit selectively coupled to a vessel;
a support frame connected to the release unit;
a plurality of mats, each of the plurality of mats having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each proximal end is coupled to the support frame, each of the plurality of mats further comprising:
a hose mounted to the mat for unfurling the mat, said hose spanning the length of the mat, said hose bisecting each mat, wherein the hose has a pin hole at the distal end of the mat for gas evacuation;
a plurality of weighted bands for sinking each of the plurality of mats;

a gas supply coupled to the support frame for inflating the hose, said gas supply controlled by a pressure regulator;
a waterproof housing mounted to the support frame for housing electronics; and
a timer housed by the waterproof housing for selectively releasing gas from the gas supply.

2. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of mats is oxygen impermeable.

3. The seafloor deployment system of claim 2 , further comprising:
an anode layer attached to one side each of the plurality of mats; and
a cathode layer attached to an opposite side of each of the plurality of mats.

4. The seafloor deployment system of claim 3 , wherein the anode layer and the cathode layer compose a microbial fuel cell.

5. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the gas supply for inflating the hose unfurls each of the plurality of mats in non-littoral environments.

6. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator provides a pressure in the hose from 250 PSI to 300 PSI.

7. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of mats have an area from 80 m 2 to 120 m 2 .

8. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weighted bands are comprised of metal.

9. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mats are comprised of silicon.

10. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , wherein the gas supply is comprised of air.

11. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , where the support frame has a bottom, further comprising:
support weights fixed to the underside of the support frame.

12. The seafloor deployment system of claim 1 , further comprising:
coral reef larvae attached to each of the plurality of mats for establishing coral reef structures;
reef supporting nutrients attached to each of the plurality of mats.

13. A method of deploying a seafloor system, comprising:
providing an seafloor deployment system, comprising:
a release unit selectively coupled to a vessel;
a support frame connected to the release unit;
a plurality of mats, each of the plurality of mats having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each proximal end is coupled to the support frame, each of the plurality of mats further comprising:
a hose mounted to the mat for unfurling the mat, said hose spanning the length of the mat, said hose bisecting the mat, wherein the hose has a pin hole at the distal end of the mat for gas evacuation;
a plurality of weighted bands for sinking each of the plurality of mats;

a gas supply coupled to the support frame for inflating the hose, said gas supply controlled by a pressure regulator;
a waterproof housing mounted to the support frame for housing electronics;
a timer housed by the waterproof housing for selectively releasing gas from the gas supply;

spooling the plurality of mats in a rolled-up position, each of said plurality of mats comprising a hose, wherein each mat is adjacent to a support frame;
submerging the seafloor device in a body of water;
releasing the seafloor device from a vessel via a release unit;
supplying gas to each hose of the plurality of mats;
unfurling each of the plurality of mats from the support frame; and
sinking the seafloor device to the seafloor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of mats is oxygen impermeable.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the gas supply for inflating the hose unfurls each of the plurality of mats in non-littoral environments.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pressure regulator provides a pressure in the hose from 250 PSI to 300 PSI.

Assignees

• Us Navy
• USA as represented by Secretary of the Navy

Inventors

• Arias-Thode Yolanda Meriah
• Stevens-Bracy Alexander
• Ameen Bashar Dhurgham

Classifications

• E02D29/06 Primary

  Constructions, or methods of constructing, in water (E02D15/00 takes precedence; submerged foundations E02D27/52) · CPC title

• A01K61/70

  Artificial fishing banks or reefs · CPC title

• H01M8/16

  Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts · CPC title

• H01M2250/10

  Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant · CPC title

• A01K61/60

  Floating cultivation devices, e.g. rafts or floating fish-farms · CPC title