Systems and methods for launching and recovering objects in aquatic environments; platforms for aquatic launch and recovery
AssigneeOceanGate, Inc.
InventorRichard Stockton Rush, III
Life of this patent
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AssigneeOceanGate, Inc.
InventorRichard Stockton Rush, III
Estimating the term…
Systems and methods for launching and retrieving payloads in aquatic environments employ a platform that is both floatable and submersible at the discretion of and/or under the control of a user, on which submersible objects to be launched, delivered to a subsea location and/or retrieved (the payload) may be located. The submergible platform has a plurality of sealed and/or sealable buoyancy chambers and at least one low pressure gas storage tank having associated fixtures and valves providing introduction of gas to the buoyancy chambers. One or more buoyant elements may be coupled to the submersible platform to support the platform in a submerged condition. A payload docking system providing secure docking of a payload on the platform deck is also disclosed.
A submersible platform comprising a deck, a plurality of sealed and/or sealable buoyancy chambers, and at least two low pressure gas storage tanks located on or in the submersible platform, each low pressure gas storage tank having associated fixtures adapted to provide introduction of gas into one or more of the plurality of sealable chambers under control of a user, wherein the at least two low pressure gas storage tanks store gas at a pressure of less than 300 psi, and wherein the at least two low pressure gas storage tanks are positively buoyant.
A method for recovering a submersible platform located underwater, comprising:
A method for launching a payload docked on a submersible platform, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.