Mooring system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsDaniel R. Tolliver, W. Gordon Haug
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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, and made bottom contact, the mooring system utilizes a first piston assembly in conjunction with a corrodible pin to initiate mooring line payout from a buoyant case to an attached anchor. When the preselected mooring depth is reached, a second piston assembly terminates the mooring line payout and the ascent of the case, thereby resulting in mooring of the buoyant case at the preselected depth.
Claims25
A mooring system for mooring a device in water at a preselected depth below the water surface from an anchor resting on the ocean floor comprising:
- a buoyant device;
- a weight defining an anchor;
- means detachably securing the anchor to the device;
- additional means coupling the device and anchor comprising:
- a resilient line secured at a first portion thereof to the anchor;
- a mooring line secured between a second portion of the resilient line and the device;
- a non-rotating storage spool in the device storing the mooring line;
- means positioned in the device for initiating payout of the mooring line after the device has passed a first depth;
- and
- means positioned in the device for terminating payout of the mooring line at the preselected depth to which the buoyant device has ascended and which is between the first depth and the water surface;
- whereupon after launching of the device and anchor in water, the securing means detaches the anchor from the device permitting the anchor to separate from the device to the extent of the resilient line as the device and anchor descend, said initiating means permits payout of the mooring line from the storage spool after the device descends through the first depth, and said terminating means terminates payout of the mooring line and ascent of the device after the device has ascended to the preselected depth.
A mooring system for mooring a marine mine in water at a preselected depth below the water surface from an anchor resting on the ocean floor comprising:
- a buoyant mine case;
- a weight defining an anchor;
- means detachably securing the anchor to the mine case;
- additional means coupling the mine case to the anchor;
- a non-rotating storage spool in the mine case storing the coupling means;
- a first assembly responsive to water pressure for initiating payout of the coupling means after the case has passed a first depth;
- and
- a second assembly responsive to water pressure for terminating payout of the coupling means at a preselected depth to which the buoyant mine case has ascended and which is between the first depth and the water surface;
- whereupon after launching of the mine case and anchor in water, said securing means detaches the anchor from the mine case as the mine case and anchor descend in the water, said first assembly permits payout of the coupling means from the storage spool after the mine case descends through the first depth, and said second assembly terminates payout of the coupling means and ascent of the mine case after the mine case has ascended to the preselected depth.
A mooring system for mooring a marine mine in water at a preselected depth below the water surface from an anchor resting on the ocean floor comprising:
- a buoyant mine case;
- a weight defining an anchor;
- means detachably securing the anchor to the mine case;
- additional means coupling the mine case to the anchor comprising:
- a resilient line secured at a first portion thereof to the anchor;
- and
- a mooring line secured between a second portion of the resilient line and the mine case;
- means in the mine case for storing the mooring line;
- a first assembly responsive to water pressure for initiating payout of the mooring line after the case has passed a first depth;
- and
- a second assembly responsive to water pressure for terminating payout of the mooring line at a preselected depth to which the buoyant case has ascended and which is between the first depth and the water surface;
- whereupon after launching of the mine case and anchor in water, said securing means detaches the anchor from the case permitting the anchor to separate from the case to the extent of the resilient line as the case and anchor descend, said first assembly permits payout of the mooring line from the storage means after the mine case descends through the first depth, and said second assembly terminates payout of the mooring line and ascent of the mine case after the case has ascended to the preselected depth.
A mooring system for mooring a marine mine in water at a preselected depth below the water surface from an anchor resting on the ocean floor comprising:
- a buoyant mine case;
- a weight defining an anchor;
- means detachably securing the anchor to the mine case;
- additional means coupling the mine case to the anchor;
- means in the mine case for storing the coupling means;
- a first piston assembly responsive to water pressure and positioned in the mine case for initiating payout of the coupling means after the mine case has descended through a first depth;
- a second piston assembly responsive to water pressure and positioned in the mine case for terminating payout of the coupling means at a preselected depth which is between the first depth and the water surface;
- whereupon after launching of the mine case and anchor in water, said securing means detaches the anchor from the mine case as the mine case descends, said first piston assembly permits payout of the coupling means from the storage means after the mine case descends through the first depth, and said second piston assembly terminates payout of the coupling means and ascent of the case after the case has ascended to the preselected depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.