Patent ID: 8601970
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: B63B,B63G,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A tether buoy housing and deployment assembly comprising: a housing capable of disposition in a vessel; a tether for interconnecting a portion of said housing and a portion of a buoy; a tether reel mounted in said housing and rotatable to unwind said tether; means for maintaining a selected tension on said tether as said tether is unwound; a lift platform disposed in said housing and adapted to rise in said housing as said tether is extended; a buoy cradle for retaining the buoy; and a linkage assembly mounted on said platform and adapted to move the buoy between a substantially vertical disposition for retention of the buoy and a tilted disposition for generally aligning the buoy with external water flow for release of the buoy into a water flow; wherein said housing comprises a skeletal cage comprising rigid bars joined to form an elongated structure; wherein plates are mounted on said rigid bars to form a substantially enclosed box-like structure.