Global Patent Index - EP 2681591 A2

EP 2681591 A2 20140108 - DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL OF SEABED DEVICE

Title (en)

DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL OF SEABED DEVICE

Title (de)

EINSATZ UND BERGUNG EINER VORRICHTUNG AUF DME MEERESBODEN

Title (fr)

DÉPLOIEMENT ET RÉCUPÉRATION DE DISPOSITIF DE FOND MARIN

Publication

EP 2681591 A2 20140108 (EN)

Application

EP 11815771 A 20111222

Priority

  • GB 201021902 A 20101223
  • GB 201101861 A 20110203
  • GB 2011052572 W 20111222

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO2012085590A2] A method of deploying a device on the seabed. The device is towed behind an undersea vehicle with a flexible tether, generating hydrodynamic lift with the device as it is towed behind the vehicle. The vehicle is decelerated the vehicle so that the hydrodynamic lift reduces and the towed device sinks to the seabed. The device can also be retrieved from the seabed by pulling the device off the seabed with the flexible tether and towing the device away from the seabed. The device may be a sensor node for acquiring seismic data from the seabed, with at least one seismic sensor; means for generating hydrodynamic lift as the sensor node moves through the water; one or more coupling devices for coupling the sensor node to the seabed so that the seismic sensor can acquire seismic data from the seabed; and a flexible tether for towing the node through the water. The device is towed by a submersible vehicle with an annular hull; a flexible tether for towing an object behind the vehicle; and a harness coupling the tether to the annular hull. The harness has two or more flexible harness lines which are coupled at one end to the hull and at the other end to the tether. The harness lines are coupled to the hull at different points round the circumference of the duct.

IPC 8 full level

B63B 1/04 (2006.01); B63G 8/00 (2006.01); B63G 8/18 (2006.01); B63G 8/42 (2006.01); G01V 1/38 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B63B 1/047 (2013.01); B63G 8/001 (2013.01); B63G 8/16 (2013.01); B63G 8/18 (2013.01); B63G 8/42 (2013.01); G01V 1/3852 (2013.01); B63B 21/26 (2013.01); B63B 2241/12 (2013.01); B63H 5/15 (2013.01); B63H 2005/1254 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 2012085590A2

Citation (examination)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 2012085590 A2 20120628; WO 2012085590 A3 20130530; EP 2681591 A2 20140108; EP 3835834 A1 20210616

DOCDB simple family (application)

GB 2011052572 W 20111222; EP 11815771 A 20111222; EP 21155332 A 20111222