Abstract: Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a load (18) suspended from a bearing wire (16) about said bearing wire (16), comprising the following steps: a.—providing a winch arrangement (10), comprising; one master winch (32), one slave winch (34) and a winch control system (31), each of said winches (32, 34) having a winch motor (58) and a bi-directional rotational spool (54) with a tagline (40, 42), wherein the winches (32, 34) are placed on the ground, on the crane or on the load, wherein each tagline (40, 42) is provided with attachment means (44, 46) for attachment to the load (18) and for applying a controlled torque to the load (18) about the bearing wire (16), and wherein the control system (31) comprises tension sensor means (48) for determining tagline tension and spool rotation sensor means (50) for determining spool rotation, and wherein the control system (31) is controllably connected to each winch motor (58) for controlling spool rotation, b.

Abstract: Diving equipment includes a compressed air bottle connected to a breathing apparatus and an inflatable jacket via which buoyancy is balanced by the jacket being connected to the compressed air bottle to be inflated or to an outlet to be deflated. A monitoring device is activated via a control valve as a function of surrounding water pressure and has a time monitoring unit which, after the expiry of a defined time and in the absence of breathing activity in the breathing apparatus, changes to emergency operation and activates an emergency valve via a control line connecting the jacket to the compressed air bottle to force inflation of the jacket. Actuation of at least one regulating valve is influenced during a dive by the monitoring device and/or the control valve. In manual activation, the jacket is inflated via the inflation valve, and the compressed air is bled via the outlet valve.

Abstract: An underwater load-carrier is disclosed that includes an underwater-balloon detachably attached to a container that is loaded with ballast. The underwater load-carrier is lowered into the water of an ocean and allowed to descend to the ocean bottom and there connected a mining-vehicle. The mining-vehicle loads mined nodules into the container while the container ejects ballast to maintain the container at a specified altitude above the ocean bottom. When nodule loading is complete, nodules and/or ballast is ejected to allow underwater load-carrier to rise to the ocean surface where mined nodules is unloaded from the container.

Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle and a method for recovering an unmanned underwater vehicle. The unmanned underwater vehicle (1) is recovered by releasing a recovery buoy (21), which is connected to the vehicle (1) by a recovery line (22), recovering the recovery buoy (21) from the surface, attaching the recovery line (22) to a recovery system and lifting the vehicle (1) by the recovery system and the recovery line (22). To provide a safe recovery of the unmanned underwater vehicle under most weather condition, the vehicle (1) is submerged after releasing the recovery buoy (21) by reducing the buoyancy of the vehicle (1) and providing negative net-buoyancy (29).

Abstract: A tethered buoy housing and deployment system includes a housing for disposition in a vessel, a tether for interconnecting a portion of the housing and a buoy, a reel mounted in the housing and rotatable to unwind the tether, means for maintaining tension on the tether as the tether is unwound, and a platform and linkage assembly adapted to support the buoy and move the buoy between a vertical disposition for storage in the housing and an angled disposition for release of the buoy into an external fluid stream.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for rescuing and recovering underwater vehicles. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a modular rescue device configured to attach to an underwater vehicle, such as with a tow line. The rescue device can include one or more emergency mechanisms that can be automatically and/or manually activated to aid in detecting the location of the underwater vehicle in the event of an emergency. One exemplary emergency mechanism includes a buoyancy mechanism, e.g., an expandable lift bag, configured to be inflated with a fluid to add buoyancy force to the system to pull the underwater vehicle toward a water surface. Another exemplary emergency mechanism includes a signaling mechanism configured to signal the underwater vehicle's location.

Abstract: An underwater investigation system may include a host ship, a UUV including a propulsion device and a steering device, and at least one sonar system. The system may further include a guidance controller configured to initiate sonar range measurements between the host ship and the UUV using the at least one sonar system, and estimate a respective UUV position state relative to the host ship at the initiation of at least some of the sonar range value measurements to define a series of successive UUV position state estimates. The guidance controller may be further configured to update UUV position state estimates in the series based upon completion of their respective sonar range measurements, propagate the updates to subsequent UUV position state estimates in the series, and control the propulsion device and the steering device to guide movement of the UUV relative to the host ship based upon the updated position state estimates.

Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle and a method for recovering an unmanned underwater vehicle. The unmanned underwater vehicle (1) is recovered by releasing a recovery buoy (21), which is connected to the vehicle (1) by a recovery line (22), recovering the recovery buoy (21) from the surface, attaching the recovery line (22) to a recovery system and lifting the vehicle (1) by the recovery system and the recovery line (22). To provide a safe recovery of the unmanned underwater vehicle under most weather condition, the vehicle (1) is submerged after releasing the recovery buoy (21) by reducing the buoyancy of the vehicle (1) and providing negative net-buoyancy (29).

Abstract: A submarine (1) has an assembly (3) for deploying a life raft (5), the assembly (3) being located in a well (7) formed outside the submarine's pressure hull (11). The assembly includes a pressure vessel (4) for storing the life raft (5) in a pressurized state. To deploy underwater, a lid (71) covering an opening to the well (7) is released to permit the assembly (3), which is buoyant, to ascend towards the water surface. A sensor (43) determines proximity to the water surface, whereby a pneumatic ram (42) in the pressure vessel is activated to eject the life raft (5) from the pressure vessel (4).

Abstract: A system configured to power a vehicle or vessel. The system may include an enhanced power control system. The enhanced power control system having a distributed architecture such that power conversion and/or management is provided for individual energy supplies and/or system loads. The distributed architecture of the power control system may enhance the power efficiency of the vehicle or vessel. The distributed architecture of the power control system may enable a plurality of different energy supplies and/or system loads to be incorporated into the power system in a selectable, configurable manner. This may facilitate the addition and/or subtraction of energy supplies and/or system loads from the system to customize the vehicle or vessel for a specific use and/or mission without having to reconfigure the power control system as a whole.

Abstract: A system for deploying a wave energy converter including a submersible structure having a buoyancy chamber sufficiently large that when filled with gas it enables the submersible structure to float. The wave energy converter is transported to a site on the submersible structure and launched by releasing the gas from the buoyancy chamber. The system also includes three tethers operatively coupled to the submersible structure for tethering the wave energy converter to the submersible structure; and a docking station provided in connection with the submersible structure for mechanically coupling the wave energy converter to the submersible structure during transportation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices for underwater deployment of a structure. For example, the embodiments described herein are particularly focused on sonobuoys that are configured for autonomous deployment in an underwater environment. One embodiment provides a sonobuoy having a plurality of arms, which are in some embodiments telescopic. The sonobuoy is configured such that, upon deployment in an underwater environment, the arms extend and rotate from a collapsed storage configuration to an operative configuration. The rotation is brought about by way of tension in petal lines, which extend between an innermost telescopic segment of each arm and a central tether line intermediate the arms and a buoyancy device.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a recoverable tethered optical fiber buoy and winch assembly that is mounted to the back of the sail or the back of an aft non-moving surface of an underwater vehicle and housed in a configuration to provide very little additional drag to the underwater vehicle when the assembly is not deployed. The invention provides a capability to connect ocean surface visual or radio frequency sensors to an underwater mobile platform with a very high data rate link that is retrievable.

Abstract: A freeze resistant buoy system includes a tail-tube buoy having a thermally insulated section disposed predominantly above a waterline, and a thermo-siphon disposed predominantly below the waterline.

Abstract: A decoy capable of assuming the shape of a water craft comprises a maneuvble vessel, having a tubular body portion which defines an enclosed interior region. The vessel further has an opening formed in the body portion and a hatch door which covers the opening. An energy source powers the operation of the vessel, and a drive module propels the vessel under the water. A selectively deployable bladder is stored within the vessel in its interior region and is selectively deployable from a stowed position in which the bladder is contained within the interior region of the vessel to a deployed position in which the bladder exits the vessel through the opening and is inflated with gas for assuming the shape of a water craft. An inflation system inflates the bladder with gas when deploying the bladder. The decoy can also be provided with electromagnetic, infrared and acoustic decoy projectors for projecting the characteristics of the water craft.

Abstract: A sonobuoy comprising: a sonobuoy body; a main cable having a proximal end secured to the body and a distal end; a spool on which the cable is wound from the distal end toward the proximal end; and release means securing the spool to the body, and operative in response to immersion in water to release the spool from the body.

Abstract: A sonar array connected to a data unit includes a substantial number of hydrophone units distributed along a small diameter cable having a substantial number of connecting wires, a center strength member and a tough polyurethane jacket. The hydrophone units each include a strong metal bracket bifurcated at each end and fastened to the strength member. A generally cylindrical hydrophone member is fastened to the bracket as is a circuit board including a preamplifier and the entire unit is sealed with paraxylene resin and then molded into a smooth generally cylindrical unit which is tapered at the ends and sealed to adjacent parts of the cable jacket. To minimize the cross-sectional area and the effects of cross currents, the cable is composed of a plurality of interconnected sections, each of which is of smaller cross-section and carries fewer conductors than the section next closer to the data unit.

Abstract: A radar reflector (4, 5) comprises a hollow, generally spherical or conical radar transmitting housing (6) containing a radar reflecting assembly (10) having a number of trihedral cube corner reflecting elements arranged in strings one above the other and with a number of the strings arranged side-by-side around the inside of the housing (6). The radar reflecting assembly (10) may comprise strings of reflecting elements with the origins of all of the reflecting elements lying on and being arranged around a frusto-conical surface and with all of the reflecting elements facing outwards. Preferably, the radar reflecting assembly (10) comprises at least three strings of single or double-handed helical reflecting element arrays (20) arranged side-by-side.

Abstract: An energy generator of a Sonobuoy is overlapped by a sleeve or chimney guiding gas bubbles given off by the generator to a sufficient distance from an electro-acoustic transducer of the Sonobuoy, to prevent such bubbles from coming into contact with the transducer under heaving effects. The result is suppression of unwanted noise produced by the contact between the bubbles and the transducer.

Abstract: A method of delivering to the ocean bottom and raising to the surface of a station provided with instrument packages for deep-water researches is realized by way of free submergence of the station in a water mass under the action of negative buoyancy of a ballast weight, landing of the station to the bottom, dropping of the ballast weight upon completing the bottom researches, and free emergence of the station under the action of positive buoyancy of a float module. In the course of free submergence, the station is divided into a unit comprising the instrument packages and a unit comprising the ballast weight and the float module, the unit comprising the instrument packages is directed along a path differing from the path of the free-falling unit comprising the ballast weight, thus ensuring the landing of the instrument packages at a predetermined distance from the ballast weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for lifting an immersed device and returning it into position, and to a device for carrying out the method, wherein the device to be lifted up is provided with a locating buoy and a wound up guide line whose ends are connected to the buoy and to a locking member connected to the base on which the immersed device is mounted; the buoy is released, taking with it the guide line, along which the device is raised. The device to be replaced in position is provided with a new buoy, guide line and locking member and is lowered along the first mentioned guide line, which is severed after the device to be replaced in position has returned to the base. The method is applicable for example to lifting and replacing a remote-control pod for an underwater well head.

Abstract: A marker buoy attached to an object such as a lobster or crab trap by a latch and released by a trigger struck by a falling weight. A sealed buoy compartment contains a first permanent magnet holding the weight in upper position by a supportive pole relationship to the poles of a second permanent magnet on the weight and releasing the weight when the first magnet is pivoted to a relative position of poles not sufficiently supportive of the weight. The first magnet is pivoted by an electric motor controlled by an electric clock. Setting of the clock and other operations are accomplished without disturbing compartment seals by an external hand-held magnet operating on internal magnetic reed switches. A line tethers the buoy to the object when the latch is released.

Abstract: A system for measuring ocean characteristics. The system includes a sensor assembly and an associated means to control the system buoyancy to achieve cyclic ascent and descent at controlled speeds, either along a mooring line or free-drifting. Buoyancy control is provided by a pump assembly including two rolling diaphragm-sealed, low friction displacement pistons driven by a high torque d.c. motor operated at low speed. There are four functional groups of data gathering instrumentation. The first group measures horizontal water transport, and includes sensors for current (flow velocity), system azimuth, system tilt, and vertical velocity. The second group provides a determination of salinity, and includes sensors for conductivity, temperature and pressure. The third group monitors conditions within the system, and includes sensors for internal temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A system for measuring ocean characteristics. The system includes a sensor assembly and an associated means to control the system buoyancy to achieve cyclic ascent and descent at controlled speeds, either along a mooring line or free-drifting. Buoyancy control is provided by a pump assembly including two rolling diaphragm-sealed, low friction displacement pistons driven by a high torque d.c. motor operated at low speed. There are four functional groups of data gathering instrumentation. The first group measures horizontal water transport, and includes sensors for current (flow velocity), system azimuth, system tilt, and vertical velocity. The second group provides a determination of salinity, and includes sensors for conductivity, temperature and pressure. The third group monitors conditions within the system, and includes sensors for internal temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A launching mechanism is provided for ejecting a small buoy from a high sd deep depth submersible. The buoy is held in place and constrained by a pair of latch levers that lock into a groove in the buoy tail piece. The latch levers are held in place by locking pins. On launch a solenoid valve is operated allowing ambient sea pressure to actuate a release system. The sea pressure retracts a release piston assembly to which the locking pins are attached. Upon withdrawal of the locking pins, the latch levers are released by the force of neg'ator ejection springs. The ejection springs accelerate an open ended cage containing the buoy through a four foot displacement. The buoy strikes a plunger actuating a muzzle plug release mechanism that permits ejection of the buoy from the launch cage.

Abstract: A float and flag assembly for use by divers includes a buoyant annular ring or member mounted on an elongated staff. A flag or signalling device is mounted on the staff at one end thereof. A lead weight or the like is secured to the other end of the post.