System and method for closing and locking an unmanned underwater vehicle and torpedo clamp

A method for capturing and locking an unmanned underwater vehicle comprising the steps of:

• using a clamp assembly comprising an extending rod coupled to a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm and second arm are configured to open and close, and wherein the first arm and second arm form a hollow chamber upon closure;
• configuring the extending rod to be lowered when first arm and second arm are open and retreated when first arm and second arm are closed;
• when first arm and second arm are open, pushing an unmanned underwater vehicle against the extending rod, forcing the extending rod to retreat and resulting in closure of the first arm and second arm;
• using a spring loaded latch coupled to the first arm and a pin coupled to the second arm to automatically lock the first arm and second arm upon closure, and
• using a release lever coupled to the first arm to unlock the clamp assembly.

A system comprising:

• an unmanned underwater vehicle clamp assembly configured to automatically lock upon closing, wherein the clamp assembly comprises a first and second arm that form a hollow chamber into which an unmanned underwater vehicle can be locked, and wherein the unmanned underwater vehicle pushes against an extending rod coupled to the first and second arms forcing the first and second arm to close, and wherein a spring-loaded latch coupled to the first arm and a pin coupled to the second arm automatically catch and lock when first and second arms close;
• wherein the first and second arm comprises an outer layer and an inner layer;
• wherein the outer layer is a hard substance and the inner layer is a compliant-based substance;
• wherein a lever coupled to the second arm is used to manually release and unlock the spring-loaded latch and pin.