Patent ID: 7347157
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: B63C

Abstract:
1. A static soft rail launch and recovery system, comprising: a land-based launch site; a fixed tie-off structure disposed in a body of water; at least one cable statically attached to the land-based launch point, a free end of the at least one cable being attached to the fixed tie-off structure in the body of water; and a sling carriage slidably mounted on the at least one cable, the sling carriage being adapted for carrying a payload; said land-based launch site including a lifting actuator and a pivoting transfer mechanism, the lifting actuator being attached to the pivoting transfer mechanism, the pivoting transfer mechanism being responsive to the lifting actuator to pivot the sling carriage into a launch position; wherein the at least one cable extending between the land based launch site and the fixed tie-off structure provides sufficient tension to the at least one cable for sliding the sling carriage down the cable to launch the payload from the land based site to the body of water.