The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
Coflexip, S.A., Paris, FR;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B63G 8/41 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B63G 8/41 ;
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.