Launch platform for an unmanned vehicle

• Main Authors: Luis Fidel de la Torre Ugarte del Castillo, Bert Pasop
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.06.2019
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT CARRIERS; BLASTING; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HAND TOOLS; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MANIPULATORS; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PIPES; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; RELATED EQUIPMENT; SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; SUBMARINES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A carrier vehicle carries an unmanned subsea vehicle along an elongate body from a topside location to a subsea location. The carrier vehicle comprises a support structure configured to carry the unmanned subsea vehicle, and a translation mechanism comprising gripper arms connected to the support structure for causing the carrier vehicle to translate along the elongate body using a hand¬ over-hand action. The carrier vehicle can carry the subsea vehicle through a region of turbulence, such as a splash zone. This removes the need for special launch equipment to be installed on the platform to use the subsea vehicle.