Patent ID: 7418914
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: B63G

Abstract:
1. A device for vehicle deployment in an undersea environment, said device comprising: a canister that is capable of stowing a plurality of vehicles; a signal receiver within said canister, said signal receiver operationally controllable of the vehicles such that upon detection of an acoustic signal said signal receiver can initiate the release of a vehicle from said plurality of vehicles from a first end and from a second end of said canister; wherein said canister includes a plurality of deployment tubes with each of said plurality of deployment tubes comprising: (1) a release device controllable by said signal receiver, (2) a cord releasably secured at one end to said release device, (3) a plunger plate positioned transverse to a longitudinal axis of said deployment tube and secured at another end of said cord, said plunger plate movable along the longitudinal axis, and (4) a spring positioned between said plunger plate and said release device; and wherein said signal receiver initiates the release of the vehicle from said deployment tube and said canister by actuating said release device to release said cord thereby allowing said spring to uncoil with a resultant energy on said plunger plate to move against the vehicle to exit from said deployment tube and said canister.