Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Underwater vehicle docking system
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Application No.: US15836734Application Date: 2017-12-08
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Publication No.: US10384752B2Publication Date: 2019-08-20
- Inventor: Brendan James Reid , Benjamin Jeremy Ash
- Applicant: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
- Applicant Address: NL Leidschendam
- Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
- Current Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
- Current Assignee Address: NL Leidschendam
- Agency: Park, Vaughan, Fleming & Dowler LLP
- Agent Shane Nelson
- Main IPC: B63G8/00
- IPC: B63G8/00

Abstract:
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the docking of an underwater vehicle (such as a ROV) to a subsea structure (such as a basket or cage) for the transfer of payload devices, such as ocean bottom seismic nodes. The ROV may have a docking probe that is rotatable between an extended and retracted position by a rotatory actuator. The subsea structure may have a docking receptacle that receives the docking probe while the probe is in an extended position. The docking probe and receptacle can latch and/or be secured together by a variety of mechanisms. Once secured, the docking probe can rotate thereby changing the relative positions (horizontal and/or vertical) of the ROV and the subsea structure. The underwater vehicle may have an elevator mechanism that may move vertically and/or horizontally and that is coupled to a handler or grabber for handling and/or transfer of the payload devices.
Public/Granted literature
- US20180162503A1 UNDERWATER VEHICLE DOCKING SYSTEM Public/Granted day:2018-06-14
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