Patent ID: 8770129
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: B63C,B65H,G01L,H02G

Abstract:
1. A cable tension control apparatus comprising: a cable that includes an optical fiber for transmitting data between a controller on a surface vessel and a remotely operated underwater vehicle; a first storage device coupled to the surface vessel for storing a first portion of the cable; a spool mounted on the remotely operated underwater vehicle for storing a second portion of the cable; a release mechanism which controls the removal of the second portion of the cable from the spool; and a tension sensor for detecting the tension in the cable; wherein the first portion of the cable is released from the first storage device when the tension in the cable is lower than a predetermined value and the second portion of the cable is released from the spool by the release mechanism when the tension sensor detects that the tension in the cable is greater than the predetermined value.