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AssigneeSociete ECA
InventorsXavier Franck Yann Delahousse, David Jean-Pierre Barre, Andre Honore Adolphe Meirier
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A device for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle 20 comprises a submersible assembly comprising a lower chassis 24 and an upper chassis 25, the lower 24 and upper 25 chassis being connected by a flexible connection so that the distance between the said upper 25 and lower 24 chassis is adjustable. The flexible connection and the lower 24 and upper 25 chassis form a receiving cage 23 provided with an opening 28, the vertical dimension of which can be adjusted. Moving the lower 24 and upper 25 chassis apart makes it possible to enlarge the vertical dimension of the said opening 28 so that the underwater vehicle 20 can enter or leave the cage 23 without the movements of the cage 23 due to the heave impeding the entry or departure of the underwater vehicle 20. Moving the lower 24 and upper 25 chassis closer together in the vertical direction makes it possible, in spite of the vertical movements of the cage 23 as a whole as a result of the heave, to support the underwater vehicle 20 on the lower chassis 24 and hold it in place using the upper chassis 25.
Device for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle (20) comprising a submersible assembly, characterized in that the said assembly comprises a lower chassis (24) and an upper chassis (25), the lower (24) and upper (25) chassis being connected by a flexible connection, so that the distance between the said upper (25) and lower (24) chassis is adjustable to make it easier for an underwater vehicle (20) to move towards or away from a zone contained between the lower (24) and upper (25) chassis.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one motor (43) used to rotate a number of pulleys (40) onto which the flexible connection is wound.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connected by at least one flexible connection (38) of adjustable length to a device situated at the surface.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that positioning means (53) are arranged between the upper chassis (25) and the lower chassis (24).
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a lower cradle (1).
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper chassis (25) comprises an upper holding cradle.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises guide means capable of collaborating with guide means belonging to the underwater vehicle (20).
Method for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle (20), characterized in that a launching and recovery device comprising an upper chassis (25) and a lower chassis (24) is submerged, the lower (24) and upper (25) chassis being connected by a flexible connection so that the distance between the said upper (25) and lower (24) chassis is adjustable, the distance between the upper (25) and lower (24) chassis is increased so as to release the underwater vehicle (20), and the distance between the upper (25) and lower (24) chassis is reduced for recovering the underwater vehicle once it has moved into the zone contained between the upper (25) and lower (24) chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.