Deployment apparatus for an unmanned marine vehicle
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJamie Childress
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water are disclosed. The unmanned marine vehicle includes a float and a glider connected by a tether. The float is selectively retained in a buoyant frame by a float clamp assembly. A glider retainer assembly is coupled to the buoyant frame and selectively retains the glider. The glider retainer assembly and the float clamp assembly execute a deployment sequence for deploying the unmanned marine vehicle from the apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus is self-propelled to permit remote operation and deployment of the unmanned marine vehicle.
Claims40
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 float clamp assembly coupled to the buoyant frame and having an extended configuration, in which the float clamp assembly is configured to retain the float within the receiving bay, and a retracted configuration, in which the float clamp assembly is configured to disengage from the float;
- and
- a glider retainer assembly coupled to the buoyant frame and having a secured configuration, in which the glider retainer assembly is configured to hold the glider below the buoyant frame, and a released configuration, in which the glider retainer assembly is configured to disengage from the glider.
A method of deploying an unmanned marine vehicle from an apparatus into water, the unmanned marine vehicle including a float and a glider connected by a tether, the method comprising:
- releasing a front portion of the glider from the apparatus;
- after a glider delay period of time, releasing a rear portion of the glider from the apparatus;
- and
- after a float delay period of time, releasing the float from the apparatus.
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 lift assembly coupled to the buoyant frame, the lift assembly including:
- a first column coupled to and extending above the first frame arm;
- a second column coupled to and extending above the second frame arm;
- a cross-support extending between the first column and the second column to span across the receiving bay, the cross-support being positioned above the buoyant frame;
- a pair of first lift rails slidably coupled to the first column;
- a pair of second lift rails slidably coupled to the second column;
- and
- a lift actuator operably coupled to the pair of first lift rails and the pair of second lift rails and configured to move the pair of first lift rails and the pair of second lift rails between a raised position and a lowered position;
- a float clamp assembly coupled to the lift assembly and having an extended configuration, in which the float clamp assembly retains the float, and a retracted configuration, in which the float clamp assembly disengages from the float;
- and
- a glider retainer assembly coupled to the lift assembly and having a secured configuration, in which the glider retainer assembly holds the glider, and a released configuration, in which the glider retainer assembly disengages from the glider;
- a motor coupled to the buoyant frame;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the lift actuator, the float clamp assembly, the glider retainer assembly, and the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.