Patent ID: 6600695
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B63G

Abstract:
A method for retrieving a first untethered submarine tube-retrievable unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), said untethered submarine tube-retrievable UUV having a capture cable extending therefrom, said capture cable having attached thereto intermediate said first UUV and said capture cable's trailing end a sender transducer unit for producing a homing beacon signal, said sender transducer unit being housed in a pod which additionally serves the purpose of being a first mechanical jam, said capture cable further having attached at its trailing end an element for exerting a cable extending force on said capture cable and which in addition serves as a second mechanical jam, said method comprising the steps of:attaching a winching cable to a tethered homing signal seeking unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV); launching said tethered homing signal seeking UUV from a UUV retrieve tube of a submarine with said winching cable being towed by said tethered homing signal seeking UUV; receiving said homing signal for guiding said tethered homing signal seeking UUV toward said capture cable; providing one or more capture arms that extend laterally from said tethered homing signal seeking UUV to form one or more respective apexes between said capture arms and a body of said tethered homing signal seeking UUV; providing a cable snagging eye-member at each of said one or more apexes, each cable snagging eye-member having formed therein a eye-opening of sufficient cross-sectional size to allow said cable snagging eye-member to freely slide along said capture cable when said capture cable is snagged therein; impinging a capture arm against said capture cable to guide said capture cable to a respective apex and into snagged condition within said eye-opening of said cable snagging eye-member; and retrieving said untethered submarine tube-retrievable UUV by pulling said winching cable to slide said cable snagging eye-member along said capture cable until said cable snagging eye-member engages a one of either of the first or second mechanical jam, whereupon continued pulling hauls said untethered submarine tube-retrievable to into said UUV retrieve tube of said submarine.