US 4,301,734 AGranted

Case mounted mooring system

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsFrank Peregrim, James B. Johnson, Gerhard B. Winkler

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Abstract

A system for mooring a buoyant case such as a marine mine or other marine vice at a preselected depth below the surface of the water in which the case was launched. After the case has been launched, together with an attached anchor, the anchor and case separate to the extent of a resilient line as they descend through the water. When the case passes through a first preselected depth the resilient line is released from the case, thereby permitting a mooring line, which is connected in series between the resilient line and the case, to payout. As the mooring line unwinds the anchor descends to the ocean floor while the buoyant case ascends toward the surface. When the case ascends through a second preselected depth a brake assembly is activated to stop the payout of the mooring line. After the case has been positioned at the second depth, a locking assembly fixes the position of the case at the mooring depth.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A mooring system for mooring a case in water at a preselected depth below the water surface from an anchor resting on the ocean floor comprising:

a case adapted to be moored in water;
an anchor;
means detachably securing the anchor to the case;
a line mooring the case to the anchor;
means positioned in said case for storing the mooring line;
means positioned in the case for initiating time delayed payout of the mooring line after said case has passed a first depth thereby permitting the anchor to descend to the ocean floor and the case to ascend toward the water surface;
and
means positioned in the case for terminating payout of the mooring line when the case has ascended through a second depth which is between the first depth and the water surface;
whereupon after launching of said case and anchor, said securing means detaches the anchor from the case as the case and anchor descend through the water, said initiating means begins the time delayed payout of the mooring line from the storage means after the case descends through the first depth, and said terminating means terminates the ascent of the case after the case has ascended through the second depth.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.