Ixblue

Exail

Sébastien Grall

Frédéric Mosca

Gildas Touin

Jonathan Laporte

Hervé Arditty

Eric Delort

Christian Giroussens

Carole Chaize

Lionel Secco

Pierre Lallemand

Frédéric Murier

The invention relates to a system () () for handling marine () or underwater () drones, the system () () comprising a drone interface module () and a floating pontoon () with two hulls () and an arch (), the pontoon () is catamaran-shaped and delimits a downflooded reception space (), the arch () comprises at least one device () for attachment to a winch cable, the pontoon () comprises devices () for detachable attachment to a drone interface module () detachably and interchangeably installed in the receiving space (), the drone interface modules () forming an at least partially flooded docking area () for the drone (), the drone interface modules () have a lower portion () configured to rest stably on a flat surface after the drone interface module () has been removed from the pontoon ().

System for handling marine or underwater drones by floating pontoon with removable drone interface module, adapted ship

Disclosed is a system and a method for deploying and recovering an autonomous underwater craft by a ship-towed recovery vehicle. The craft is stored in the recovery vehicle's housing. The deployment is carried out in a first stage submerging the recovery vehicle with the craft stored therein, and a second stage releasing the craft. The ship includes a tilting launch ramp where the recovery vehicle is stored. The launch ramp takes at least a raised position with the recovery vehicle out of the water and an inclined position with the launch ramp rear end immersed. A translational device enables, in the launch ramp inclined position, the recovery vehicle to move along the launch ramp to be submerged and move from the ship while in tow during deployment and to be raised along the launch ramp during recovery. The system and the craft form an underwater exploration assembly.

System and method for deploying and recovering an autonomous underwater craft by a recovery vehicle towed by a ship, underwater exploration assembly

Disclosed is a device for the sealed passage of at least one longitudinal element through a through-hole provided in a partition, including—a frame capable of being permanently fastened in a sealed manner on the partition in order to delimit the hole,—a removable insert, of which at least a central portion is produced by moulding on the longitudinal element in order to produce a sealed connection with the latter, the removable insert being configured to be inserted in a removable and sealed manner in the frame.

Device for a sealed passage of longitudinal elements through a partition

A cleat for mooring a watercraft at a thrown end of a line has a base surmounted by a body, the base being fastenable to a watercraft deck, the line having a rope and stopper formed by a transverse protuberance, the cleat having an engagement part adjoining the base and a funnel-shaped through-opening to an elongate slot in the body, the slot having a height allowing the longitudinal progression and transverse passage of the rope from the opening towards the interior of the body, the slot leading into a chamber having a minimum dimension greater than the minimum slot height, the maximum dimension of the chamber being less than the dimension of the protuberance forming the stopper so the stopper of a line passing transversely through the body can be blocked against a the body side face both with the rope in the slot and in the chamber.

Cleat for mooring a watercraft, and mooring assembly having a cleat and a line having a stopper

A system for deploying and recovering an autonomous underwater device (AUD) using a surface carrier ship, includes, in addition to the carrier ship, a subaquatic vehicle (SV) guided by a connection wire connected to the carrier ship, the SV able to be positioned in a storage configuration wherein the SV is fixedly but removably joined to the carrier ship in a storage zone, or in a configuration for use, in which the SV, separated from the carrier ship, is in the water and at a distance from the carrier ship while remaining connected by the connection wire, the SV including propulsion, guiding and stabilizing systems and a station for receiving the AUD allowing it to be removably attached to the SV, the receiving station and the AUD including a complementary automated docking unit allowing the AUD to automatically dock with the receiving station during recovery and attach itself thereto.

System for deploying and recovering an autonomous underwater device, method of use

Disclosed is a system for underwater exploration using a submerged device towed by a surface vessel, the submerged device being connected to the vessel by a towing line and including equipment supplied by the electricity, characterized in that the submerged device includes at least one device for the local production of electrical energy, the device being an electric hydrogenerator and in that the towing line has no electrical supply cable connecting the vessel to the submerged device.

System for underwater exploration using a submerged device having local production of electrical energy and towed by a surface vessel

An electrical connector includes an electrically conductive contact element () and a support (). The contact element () is supported by an intermediate element () made of an elastically deformable material and connected to the support (). An electrical connection assembly including a connector of the type is also described.

Electrical connector and electrical connection assembly

A method for connecting a movable connector part to a stationary connector part, the movable part being initially placed on a support and the stationary part being covered by a cap. The method includes gripping the cap by element of a lifting tool (); depositing the cap () on the movable part by element of the lifting tool; and transporting the assembly of the cap and movable part onto the stationary part, by element of the lifting tool, in order to connect the stationary part and the movable part () to each other.

Method for connecting two connector parts

The invention relates to a floating maritime vessel including at least one hull beneath a deck, the hull extending between a bow and a stern in a longitudinal direction of the vessel, the vessel including, on its lower part, a removable keel and, on its upper part, a conning tower erected above the deck, the keel being able to be descended below the hull and raised back through the hull, the keel including a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of the keel connecting to the hull when the keel is in its lowered position. According to the invention, the conning tower contains a keel-storage space and the keel and the keel-storage space of the conning tower are aligned such that the keel can be raised by upward translation at least partly into the keel-storage space of the conning tower.

Floating maritime vessel comprising a detachable measuring keel

Disclosed is a floating structure for an autonomous watercraft with a keel deployed and recovered on a vessel. The longitudinally elongate structure includes a floating port-side and starboard lateral edges and a submersible bottom submerged when the structure is in the water, the lateral edges and the bottom defining an interior space at least partly submerged when the floating structure is in the water, the lateral edges defining a prow at the front and, at the rear, an opening towards the rear of the floating structure, which opening is downwardly limited by the submersible bottom with at least one longitudinally elongate slot open towards the rear for the passage of the keel, and the floating structure is configured in order that at least the front portion of the autonomous watercraft including the keel can engage by floating inside the interior space, with the keel engaging in the slot.

Floating structure for the deployment and the recovery of at least one autonomous watercraft by a vessel, corresponding method, corresponding system and corresponding vessel

Disclosed is a surface vessel with motorised mechanical propulsion including a fusiform hull and a keel in the bottom part of the hull, the hull having an elongate shape in a longitudinal direction of the vessel, the keel including, at the bottom end of same, a bulb linked to the hull by a linking part of the keel, the maximum width of the linking part being smaller than the maximum width of the bulb, the maximum length of the linking part being smaller than the maximum length of the bulb, the lengths and widths being considered respectively in the longitudinal direction of the vessel and a horizontal transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The hull has a total width to total length ratio of less than 0.2 and a maximum length of less than 20 metres.

Surface vessel with motorised mechanical propulsion having a fusiform hull and ballasted keel

An optical connector () includes a plurality of collimation elements () which are associated with a plurality of optical fibres (), respectively, and which are carried by a support (). The support is mounted for rotation in a bearing () about a rotation axis (z), the collimation elements () are arranged in the support so as to be equidistant from this rotation axis, and the support has at least one member for angular positioning () about the axis. The invention also relates to an optical connection assembly () including a first such optical connector and a second optical connector (') which is configured to be nested coaxially with the first one. An electrical connector may be provided with such an optical connector, and a connection system may be provided with such an electrical connector.

Optical connector, optical connection assembly, electrical connector and connection system comprising such an electrical connector

Disclosed is a measurement system for aquatic environments, including a surface vessel and a submersible device, the submersible device including a hull, propulsion, guide, and sensors for taking measurements. The submersible device can either be launched from the vessel in order to then maneuver underwater independently of the vessel during a remote deployment phase, or be stored in a vessel during a non-deployment phase, the vessel including at least one hull and propulsion and guide, the at least one hull of the vessel including a submerged portion located below a waterline. The submerged portion of the at least one hull of the vessel includes a recess designed to receive at least an upper portion of the hull of the submersible device when the latter is stored in the vessel, the recess being arranged entirely below the waterline so that the submersible device remains completely submerged during storage.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Germain-en-Laye, France

Sébastien Grall