Abstract: An underwater device intended to be deployed in the water, the device includes a set of arms articulated to a support body having a reference axis r, the arms being able to be kept in a furled configuration and able to deploy into a deployed configuration wherein the arms extend about the reference axis r, the arms deploying by distal ends of the arms moving away from the axis r, a set of at least one bending spring stressed elastically in bending when the arms are kept in a furled configuration and able to relax when the arms are released from the furled configuration, the set of at least one bending spring being configured and arranged in such a way as to exert, on at least one of the arms, when the arms are released from the furled configuration, a thrust that instigates the deploying of the arms.

Abstract: A container for maintenance capsule as a component of a maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program. The container transports tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers. The container is seaworthy, watertight and floatable, and can be loaded on a maintenance vessel which carries the container to and from a wind turbine tower.

Abstract: A device for the remote tracking of water masses through a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver equipped with a telecommunications modem and an electronic control board is provided. The device includes GPS locator enclosed within a floating watertight and sealed container or float. A method for the simultaneous management and operation of a set of one or more of such devices is also provided.

Abstract: A mooring system (10) for use in mooring a marine device (24) within a fluid (12) subject to flow comprises a mooring line (16) to be secured to an anchor (18) and defining a tether point for a marine device (24), and a loading assembly (20) secured to the mooring line (16) and configured to generate hydrodynamic lift when exposed to flow to apply tension to the mooring line (16). In embodiments of the invention the loading assembly (20) is configured to also generate a buoyancy force, such that tension is applied to the mooring line (16) by a combination of the hydrodynamic lift force and the buoyancy force.

Abstract: A buoy provided preferably for ascending in the water from an initial submerged position. The buoy comprises a buoyancy element positioned at an upper portion of the buoy in the ascending direction. Further the buoy comprises a storing structure for an elongated member positioned below the buoyancy element in the ascending direction, wherein one end of the elongated member is connected to the buoy and the other end of the elongated member is connected to an object submerged in the water. The buoyancy element is provided to obtain a rotation of the buoy around its central axis thereby paying out the elongated member while the buoy is ascending essentially vertically in the water.

Abstract: A float (1) comprising a hollow pneumatically pressurisable ovoid shell (5) is provided with a damping plate (12) extending laterally outwardly around the shell (5) for damping vertical upward and downward movement of the float in water during stormy conditions, thereby minimising the effect of the buoyant upward propulsion force acting on the float when the float is submerged in stormy conditions. A keel (18) extends downwardly from the float (5) for minimising rolling movement of the float (1). A pair of coupling plates (22) extending from front and rear ends (19,20) of the shell (5) facilitate coupling of the float (1) between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes used in mussel growing. A plurality of the floats (1) may be secured between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes at spaced apart intervals along the tethering ropes for supporting the tethering ropes so that crop ropes impregnated with mussel spawn may be suspended from the tethering ropes for growing mussels.

Abstract: A float (1) comprising a hollow pneumatically pressurisable ovoid shell (5) is provided with a damping plate (12) extending laterally outwardly around the shell (5) for damping vertical upward and downward movement of the float in water during stormy conditions, thereby minimizing the effect of the buoyant upward propulsion force acting on the float when the float is submerged in stormy conditions. A keel (18) extends downwardly from the float (5) for minimizing rolling movement of the float (1). A pair of coupling plates (22) extending from front and rear ends (19,20) of the shell (5) facilitate coupling of the float (1) between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes used in mussel growing. A plurality of the floats (1) may be secured between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes at spaced apart intervals along the tethering ropes for supporting the tethering ropes so that crop ropes impregnated with mussel spawn may be suspended from the tethering ropes for growing mussels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for underwater descent rate reduction are provided. In one embodiment, a method for underwater descent rate reduction for an underwater delivery vehicle is provided. The method comprises: opening a first valve based on a first hydrostatic pressure to permit water to flow into a first chamber of a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; developing a pressure differential across a piston head separating the first chamber from a second chamber of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; pushing the piston head into the second chamber to extend a piston rod from the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; and pivoting a deflecting flap downward into a direction of vehicle descent as the piston rod extends.

Abstract: A buoyant device has a body and an elongate tail. The body carries a payload. The tail is moveable, e.g. by pivoting, between a closed and an open position. This movement changes the position of the center of mass of the device relative to the center of buoyancy. As a result the device can move through the water, with the tail in the closed position, with minimal drag. However, when the tail moves to the open position, the body pivots in the water so that the body, and hence the payload is supported in a stable manner.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a buoyant structure having a central vertical axis when floating in water and having at least one feature to reduce a rotation of the buoyant structure about the central vertical axis when floating in the water. The apparatus further includes an electronic camera assembly coupled to the buoyant structure. The electronic camera assembly is configured to generate an electronic image signal. The apparatus further includes a tubular structure coupled to the buoyant structure and configured to remain under the surface of the water. The tubular structure includes a watertight compartment and an electronic circuit assembly disposed within the watertight compartment. The electronic circuit assembly is coupled to receive the electronic image signal and is configured to generate an optical image signal representative of the electronic image signal. The apparatus further includes a fiber optic cable configured to carry the optical image signal.

Abstract: A damping (or heave) plate comprises a generally flat plate attached, beneath the surface of a sea, and in horizontal orientation, to a structural member subject to being vertically moved in response to passing surface waves. The plate tends to resist vertical movements and has the effect of adding mass to the structure. A vertically extending structure is added to both major surfaces of the heave plate for increasing the volume of water moved by the plate. For minimizing drag forces generally created by use of the damping plate, the vertically extending structure is shaped to include curved hydrodynamic surfaces for minimizing turbulence in the surrounding water.

Abstract: A buoy is provided with first and second fixed hydrodynamic surfaces (15,16). When the buoy is towed through water by a tether (17), the first hydrodynamic surface (15) generates a downward force that reduces with increased speed through the water. The second hydrodynamic surface (16) generates an upward force that increases with increased speed through the water so that the buoy dives up to an upper critical speed through the water speed and rises beyond said upper critical speed through the water. The downward force of the first hydrodynamic surface (15) overcomes the buoyancy of the buoy at a lower critical speed through the water above, which the buoy dives. The hydrodynamic surface (15) comprises first fins (15) mounted on an outer casing (1) of the buoy and are spaced angularity and extend parallel to the centre axis of the buoy which is substantially aligned with the direction of towing.

Abstract: A float (1) comprising a hollow pneumatically pressurisable ovoid shell (5) is provided with a damping plate (12) extending laterally outwardly around the shell (5) for damping vertical upward and downward movement of the float in water during stormy conditions, thereby minimising the effect of the buoyant upward propulsion force acting on the float when the float is submerged in stormy conditions. A keel (18) extends downwardly from the float (5) for minimising rolling movement of the float (1). A pair of coupling plates (22) extending from front and rear ends (19,20) of the shell (5) facilitate coupling of the float (1) between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes used in mussel growing. A plurality of the floats (1) may be secured between a pair of spaced apart tethering ropes at spaced apart intervals along the tethering ropes for supporting the tethering ropes so that crop ropes impregnated with mussel spawn may be suspended from the tethering ropes for growing mussels.

Abstract: A buoyant device has a body and an elongate tail. The body carries a payload. The tail is moveable, e.g. by pivoting, between a closed and an open position. This movement changes the position of the center of mass of the device relative to the center of buoyancy. As a result the device can move through the water, with the tail in the closed position, with minimal drag. However, when the tail moves to the open position, the body pivots in the water so that the body, and hence the payload is supported in a stable manner.

Abstract: A floating overturn prevention device includes a flat-top base and a pillar coupled to a bottom surface of the flat-top base and extending therefrom. The flat-top base is a floating body for floating desired equipment on the water. The pillar further includes a weight member fixed on the bottom end of the pillar to maintain balance and keep the center of gravity of the floating overturn prevention device under the water. The floating overturn prevention device filter includes a balancing member coupled to the bottom end of the pillar. The balancing member includes a plurality of balancing plates vertical to the water level when the floating overturn prevention device balances on the water level. Therefore, the balancing plates can generate a reaction force to keep the floating overturn prevention device stable.

Abstract: An energy conserving moored buoyant ocean profiler wherein an instrument carrying vertically traversing buoyant member of low buoyancy is interconnected with a second buoyant member of high buoyancy to travel in the opposite direction at lesser distance, such that the potential energy of one buoyant member is increased as the potential energy of the other is decreased, thereby conserving energy as the instrument carrying buoyant member is raised and lowered.

Abstract: A bridge pillar debris deflection apparatus (10), which attaches to a pillar supporting a structure located on a water way, such as a river or ocean. The apparatus (10) deflects debris to maintain the pillar clear from any unwanted build-up of rubbish. The apparatus utilizes at least one finned cylinder (30) that is rotatably held in place in front of a pillar (50) with an upper attachment bracket (26) and a lower attachment bracket (28). The cylinder is rotated by the force of the water impinging on a multiplicity of fins (44) extending from the outer surface of the cylinder to deflect the debris and prevent any accumulation. An axle (38) is positioned between the brackets and extends through the cylinder in the preferred embodiment. Any number of cylinders may be used in tandem, according to the need and environmental conditions.

Abstract: Flocculation apparatus and flotation apparatus useful in flocculation apparatus for floating paddles upwardly and allowing gravity to move paddles downwardly through a liquid to agglomerate particles suspended in the liquid.

Abstract: A debris shedding buoy having a float body with a top and a bottom is provided. The buoy includes a slide rail, adapted for slidable engagement to a mooring line, is attached to the bottom of the float body. The slide rail is located in a generally centered position beneath the float body and is oriented in a first direction. A rudder device is affixed to the float body and adapted to produce a stabilizing force to maintain the float body in a quasi stable orientation with respect to a current direction, with the first direction being generally aligned to the current direction. Debris lodging against the float body overcomes the stabilizing force produced by the rudder device, causing the float body to rotate from the quasi stable orientation to a second orientation to shed the debris whereupon the float body rotates back to the quasi stable orientation.

Abstract: A low drag buoy uses diameter reductions and spoilers of a buoyant body surface to reduce the drag. An end structure at one end of a buoyant body allows connection of that end to a line, and a number of different diameter portions are provided between the ends of the body, a step reduction in diameter being provided at a juncture between each of the different diameter portions. A spoiler is provided on the larger diameter portion at each juncture, the spoiler typically being a flipper extending circumferentially outwardly from the larger diameter portion at each juncture, with a ramp surface leading from the body to the flipper, and a substantially flat and radially extending surface of the flipper opposite the ramp. The flipper typically extends outwardly from the body about 0.04-0.08 inches, and the step reduction at each of the junctures (not counting the flipper) is about 0.1-0.125 inches. The body may have a generally ovoid, cylindrical, or other body of revolution configuration.

Abstract: A spar buoy is so arranged that a buoyancy body (1) is provided halfway on a marker mast (2), the lower end of the marker mast (2) being moored to a sinker (7) sunk at water bottom by a mooring device (6) and that the buoyancy body 1 is pulled in the water so that the water line comes to halfway on the marker mast (2) above the buoyancy body (1), the spar buoy comprising at least two arms (8, 8) protruded in opposite directions to each other from the marker mast (2) below the buoyancy body (1), and blades (9, 9) attached to the end of each arm (8) so as to have a positive angle of attack .alpha. toward the center of the buoy.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the stabilization of drifter buoys and the like and more particularly to surface or near surface Lagrangian Drifter Buoys launched from aircraft or surface vehicles and to an underwater suspension system adapted for stabilizing and maintaining the buoy at a predetermined depth in an upright position. The suspension assembly for use in combination with a buoy, having a generally elongated cylindrical hull, is comprised of two main components including 1) a collapsible longitudinal stabilizer means for providing horizontal drag and 2) a vertical stabilizer means suspended below and transverse the axis of the buoy. These two components act together to maintain the buoy in an upright position and to maintain it within the layer of water in which it is placed. The assembly is also compliant and as such the assembly has the ability to function for extended periods of time without the need for the use of inordinately strong or expensive materials.

Abstract: An elongated buoy with protruding external ribs extending about the circumference of the buoy. The ribs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the buoy and create turbulence when the buoy is dragged upon the surface of the water. The turbulence results in decreased drag and permits easier and faster retrieval of the buoy by a crew member hauling in by hand a line attached thereto.

Abstract: In a sonar buoy suspended from a helicopter, the lower stabilizing ring of a buoy of this type is replaced by a set of fins which get folded against the body of the buoy during its descent into the water and get unfolded when they are raised again to form a stabilizing crown around the bottom of this body, thus enabling a buoy of this type to be stabilized both during descent and when being raised again.

Abstract: A system for aerating in a programmed manner the desired areas of a water pond to enhance the environment for marine life in the pond; said system including a propelled boat with an aerator mounted thereon and having direction control apparatus including a rotating beam-sending component, a plurality of beam-reflecting posts located in predetermined fixed relationship around the shore line of the pond, and a beam-receiving component mounted on the boat to receive the beam reflected back from each of the reflecting posts, whereby the position of the boat can be determined automatically by angle determining components combined with a microprocessor programmed to calculate by triangulation computation the position of the boat and produce a signal which is connected to a servo system which controls the direction of travel of the boat in its aerating path around the pond.

Abstract: A sonobuoy having a terminal weight and sensor for deployment beneath the surface of the water after the buoy has been launched from an aircraft and impacted the water. A circuit assembly and antenna for processing output from the sensor and for transmitting a signal is provided. A cable for connecting the sensor and circuit assembly is also included. A housing for the sonobuoy is a blow molded seamless thermoplastic shell which surrounds the circuit assembly.

Abstract: A buoy having a mainly circular upper surface and on this surface an auxiliary circular float body located at the center of this surface, the dimensions of the this upper surface and the auxiliary float body being such, that the buoy in rough water restores automatically its original position after it has been reversed and that wind forces create pressure deviations on this surface that compensate the tilting momentum exerted by the wind on the auxiliary float body itself and even the rest of the buoy.

Abstract: An aspirating horizontal mixer for aerating and liquid mixing includes a float with tiltable supports extending downwardly into a body of water and an air delivery conduit which are connected to a mixer unit supported below the liquid surface by the supports and tiltable therewith. The mixer unit includes a submersible motor powering a propeller and a nozzle member situated in the flow path of liquid from the propeller. The nozzle member has an internal venturi for mixing air from the air delivery conduit with the liquid flowing therethrough and includes a converging wall formation forming a constriction and a diverging wall formation leading downstream and merging with the interior wall of the nozzle member. An air injection port extends through the diverging wall formation adjacent the constriction and is in communication with the air delivery conduit for mixing air with the liquid as it flows through the venturi.

Abstract: A marker bouy to positively mark positions on a water surface with respect to the bottom. The marker includes a generally hollow body with line wound around the approximate center thereof with a weight on the end of the line which will cause the marker to rotate when the marker is placed or thrown onto the water surface to cause the line to unwind from the marker. A line stop flange is provided on the marker to stop unwinding of the line when the weight strikes the bottom. This flange comes into effect when water partially fills the marker which will cause the marker to shift from a position of lying on the water surface to being erect within the water. When the marker is in the upright or erect position, the line is engaged by the line stop flange. When the marker is in this erect or upright position, one end will be above the surface of the water and therefore easily visible.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic erosion control unit comprises a hollow submersible body the buoyancy of which can be regulated. Arms projecting radially from the body carry paddle-like blades in at least some of which there are openings provided with flapper valves for permitting water to flow through the openings in one direction but not in the other. The unit is submerged in the water and rotatable about a vertical axis. When water flows past the unit, it exerts greater force on blades at one side where the valves are closed than on blades at the other side where the valves open, thereby causing the unit to rotate. The units can be used to protect a shoreline from erosion by creating turbulence which dissipates wave and current action and on the other hand can be used to effect local erosion below the units to protect waterways, harbors and moorings from silting-up.

Abstract: A portable self-setting marker buoy (10) comprises an elongate float body (12) having a pair of spherical end portions (14) secured to opposite ends of a tubular intermediate portion (16), to which one end of a line (20) is attached. A sinker (24) is attached to the other end of the line (20). Laterally projecting paddles (18) stabilize the body (12) to minimize drifting of the buoy after it has been thrown into the water and the line (20) unwinds as the sinker (24) hits bottom. An internal battery operated light source (26) is preferably included for illuminating the buoy during periods of low visibility or darkness.

Abstract: A suspension system for an air-dropped sonobuoy includes a transducer housing wherein the upper portion is emptied upon deployment of a float. The weight distribution of the transducer and housing provide for a center of mass and a center of buoyancy at a location beneath a pivot in the upper portion of the housing. A suspension line connects the pivot with the float, and a pair of opposed extensible fins at the top of the housing locate the center of hydrodynamic pressure at the pivot. Thereby, the housing is maintained in a stabilized vertical attitude during descent through the water and during deployment at a predetermined depth independently of a difference in velocity of fluid movement at the float and at the sonobuoy.

Abstract: A stabilizer or drogue, packageable in a minimal volume, which can be auttically deployed to dampen horizontal, vertical and rotational motion of a device, such as a hydrophone, operating in a relatively viscous fluid. The stabilizer is disposed on a line or cable connected between the device and a surface float, and includes a horizontally oriented fabric fin extended and supported by a plurality of rigid arms, and a plurality of vertically oriented perpendicular fabric fins connected to, extended and supported by the arms and by a rigid vertical tube slidably disposed on the line. The arms are adjacently pivotably connected to a rigid body loaded by the device. Before deployment, the fabric is wrapped around the tube, and the arms are in a raised position substantially adjacent and parallel to the line and the tube, all stowed within a cylindrical container having an open end. The closed end of the container is fixedly connected to the line.