Patent ID: 8146527
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B63B,B63C

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a cable that depends from a mother ship; a cable tensioner that is operable to apply tension to the cable; a first coupler associated with the mother ship, wherein the first coupler is slideably mounted to and freely rotates about the cable; a fixture that depends from an auxiliary craft, wherein the fixture is suitably configured to engage the cable, thereby tethering the auxiliary craft to the mother ship; a second coupler, wherein the second coupler is rotatably coupled to the fixture, wherein the second coupler has an aperture, and wherein, when the cable tensioner applies tension, the aperture enables the cable to move radially inward through the second coupler to be coincident with the longitudinal central axis thereof, thereby axially aligning the first coupler and the second coupler.