US 11,535,345 B2 · Portable UUV launch and recovery assembly

Abstract

An apparatus and method transports, launches, and recovers an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) on a boat. A pair of support rails secures the UUV to the boat during the transport across a body of water on the boat. The support rails support the UUV in sliding movement along the support rails during the launch from the boat into the body of water and during the recovery from the body of water onto the boat. A ramp is deployed that extends the support rails into the body of water through a stern of the boat. The ramp includes a pair of alignment rails for aligning the UUV with the support rails during the recovery. A winch pulls the UUV out of the body of water during the recovery, with the winch pulling the UUV into the alignment rails and then onto the support rails in the boat.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for transport, launch, and recovery of an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) on a boat, the apparatus comprising:

a pair of support rails for securing the UUV to the boat during the transport across a body of water, and for supporting the UUV in sliding movement along the support rails during the launch from the boat into the body of water and during the recovery from the body of water onto the boat;
a ramp for extending the support rails into the body of water in a deployed state, the ramp including a pair of alignment rails for aligning the UUV with the support rails during the recovery from the body of water;
and
a winch for pulling the UUV out of the body of water during the recovery, the winch for pulling the UUV into the alignment rails and then onto the support rails in the boat during the recovery.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable UUV launch and recovery assembly

Life of this patent

Portable UUV launch and recovery assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20