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. 17, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2014
Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division, Newport, Newport, RI (US);
Scott D Boyd, Portsmouth, RI (US);
Paul V Cavallaro, Raynham, MA (US);
Alyssa A Cosmo, South Kingstown, RI (US);
Donald E Cressman, Saunderstown, RI (US);
Robert F Cutler, III, Tiverton, RI (US);
Kurt M Czepizak, Tiverton, RI (US);
Richard E Dooley, Portsmouth, RI (US);
Ryan F Galego, Barrington, RI (US);
Michael J Kroger, Middletown, RI (US);
Geoffrey R Moss, Portsmouth, RI (US);
Joseph M Muhitch, Exeter, RI (US);
David B Segala, Tiverton, RI (US);
Michael E Werbicki, South Kingstown, RI (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An inflatable launch and recovery system for a towed body is provided. The system is containerized for ease of transport. A container houses a tow body, tow cable, a winch, winch controls, an inflatable ramp, deployment and retrieval equipment, power junctions and air line connections. Inflatable arch shaped tubes and spacer fabric form the ramp structure from which the tow body can be launched and recovered. The ramp can be ballasted to provide hydrodynamic stability and to provide sufficient system depth to accommodate retrieval of towed bodies operating below a liquid medium surface. Additional control can be achieved using inflatable or rigid fin elements or downward lifting surfaces. A rigid clamping fixture connects the ramp structure to the vessel. A snubber element dampens vibrations and transient tow loads.