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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8087372 | Fairlead for a tow cable handling system A handling system with an improved fairlead is provided for protecting a tow cable wherein the cable breaking strength exceeds the system-rated tension load; the fairlead being positioned collinearly between the system bellmouth and winch. A guide slot passes throug... | 01/03/2012 |
| 7954442 | Towed array deployment system for unmanned surface vehicles A towed array deployment system is provided that uses the flow of fluid through the interior of a tube to deploy a towed line array. The system includes a small surface water craft such as an unmanned surface vehicle having a length between seven and eleven meters a... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7415936 | Active steering for marine sources A seismic survey system includes a winch having a winch cable coupleable to a source array towable between two deflected lead-ins, a positioning system for determining a current position of the source array and a controller for adjusting the winch to modify the curr... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7350755 | Watercraft accessory tower mount The watercraft accessory tower mount may be used for attachment of watercraft accessories to a watercraft tower structure. A clamp bracket may be attachable to a clamp base. An accessory attachment may have a rotational shaft disposed for insertion in a rotational a... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7334808 | Tow device A tow device having a mounting bracket adapted for vehicle mounting, a spring-loaded bobbin, a hollow telescoping rod, a tow line, and a handle. The hollow telescoping rod, which can be automatically extended, has one end attached to the mounting bracket while the o... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7316368 | Direct current powered hose rewinding apparatus The present invention relates to portable hose carts for handling and storage of flexible hoses, such as garden or air hoses. The cart is primarily constructed of plastic components having a centrally rotatable spool for winding of the flexible hose, an enclosure fo... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7299761 | Water sport towing apparatus Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel which is fitted with a skeletal towing frame having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a horizontal bridging portion, to which a tow rope ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7264227 | Self-climbing stage light support A self-climbing stage lighting system having a self-climbing apparatus and a light bar is disclosed. The self-climbing apparatus is hung from cables that extend approximately vertically from a fixed endpoint. The self-climbing apparatus includes an elongated support... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7252046 | Apparatus for deploying and recovering a towed acoustic line array from an unmanned undersea vehicle A free flooded section of an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) contains a rotating cylindrical drum, which serves as a spool for a towed line array cable. At the end of the cable is a reverse thruster with the ability to propel itself away from the UUV when the UUV is... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7234408 | Water sport tow attachment with recoil A pivot is coupled to a water craft. A lever arm is pivotally coupled to the pivot at one end. A tow spool is coupled to the lever arm at an end opposite the pivot. The tow spool is configured to provide an attachment for a towline. A recoil device is coupled to the... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7201365 | Apparatus and a method for use in handling a load Apparatus for use in handling a load where a load-bearing rope and a service cable are inter-wound as they are being paid out, having a wrapping device for wrapping a securing member around the service cable and the load-bearing rope, and to unwrap the securing memb... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7197998 | Apparatus for supporting and pulling a tow rope Tow rope rewinder apparatus includes a spool driven by an electric motor. The motor becomes deenergized after tension of the tow rope reaches a predetermined magnitude. ... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7156036 | Launch and recovery system The launch and recovery system provides a dive wing and drogue assembly that is towed behind a ship by cables. The dive wing imparts a downward thrust to the drogue, so that the drogue is towed underwater, placing tension on the cables. The cables become stiff due t... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7028988 | Cable handling system A system or apparatus and method for retrieving cable from water during marine operations is provided that reduces damage to the cable from pulling forces during the retrieval. A pulling device distributes the forces and stresses all along the cable components. In o... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7025254 | Non-visually identifiable fishing gear A non-visual identification apparatus includes aquatic gear. At least one water-resistant device is joined with the aquatic gear. The water-resistant device stores information. A reader is provided that is capable of non-visually reading the information stored by th... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7025014 | Sea vessel retrieval of unmanned underwater vehicles One or more docking cages releasably attached to a tow line extending from the stern of a retrieval ship, emit tracking beacon beams picked up by sensors in unmanned underwater sea craft vehicles being approached, for steered propulsion thereof into rammed hook atta... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7000561 | Mast device for a submarine The mast device for a submarine comprises a guiding means, a vertically traversable mast guided therein and information means which are provided at the mast upper end and which are in electrical interaction with the inside of the submarine for emitting and receiving... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6698374 | Design for tugboat The invention relates to a tugboat. The design comprises a towing installation which can turn through 360° in the horizontal plane about a vertical shaft. Above the towing installation there is a pilot house, and beneath it there are one or more propelle... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6698722 | Apparatus and method for use in handling a load An apparatus and a method for use in handling a load includes a load-bearing rope, and a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope. There is also a drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending from the drum. A wrapp... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6672238 | Towrope retriever for watercraft A towrope retriever system for a watercraft for simplifying and improving the safety of the towrope handling, storage, reeling out, and reeling in of a towrope, in which the towrope retriever is connected to or integrated into a support unit such as a tow... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6662741 | Emergency towing system for ships An emergency towing system for vessels. This system comprises a return guide fitted to the vessel to be towed; a closed ring-cable is fitted around this return guide, wherein this ring-cable comprises a coupling-member which, when the ring-cable is heaved... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6606958 | Towed acoustic source array system for marine applications A marine towed array has a plurality of tow bodies of positive buoyancy each containing a marine acoustic source, such as a vibrator source. Each tow body uses a reel containing an electro-mechanical tow cable connecting the sources, whereby reeling and u... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6536365 | Shock-mitigating nose for underwater vehicles A flexible nose assembly for an underwater vehicle provides increased energy-absorbing capabilities and facilitates recovery and handling of the vehicle. The flexible nose assembly includes a flexible nose cap, at least one retrieval device, and at least ... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6505573 | Towrope retriever for watercraft A towrope retriever system for a watercraft for simplifying and improving the safety of the towrope handling, storage, reeling out, and reeling in of a towrope, in which the towrope retriever is connected to or integrated into a support unit such as a tow... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6474588 | Motorized retractable ski tow rope A water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system is disclosed. The system includes a reel having a quantity of tow rope wound therearound. The reel is powered by an electric motor through a drive shaft which is also coupled to an electrically controlled b... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6463868 | Tether retraction device The present invention relates to a tether retraction device having particular utility with multi-line towed arrays. A system for retrieving and deploying a multi-line towed array having a plurality of array lines has at least one tether joinable between t... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6431105 | Method for bringing people in life boats aboard a support vessel and a support vessel A method for bringing people in life boats in the sea aboard a support vessel, in which a rescue craft is launched from a ramp in the stern of the support vessel. The rescue craft carrying a rope from a winch in front of the ramp. The rope is attached to ... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6418872 | Underwater exploration device A device for performing yo-yo seismic shooting on the sea bed by means of a sled. An umbilical traction cable connecting the vessel to this sled passes over a set of sheaves whose relative distances apart are controlled by an actuator enabling a determine... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6394016 | Deployable net for control of watercraft A system and method for the capture of a target surface vessel by a second vessel. The system includes an initially stowed deployable net, means for deploying the net, a tether coupled to the net, and a winch for drawing in the tether to pull the target v... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6216627 | Seismic survey vessels A seismic survey vessel having a displacement monohull is provided with a streamer deck which width increases progressively from amidships towards the stern of the vessel, on both sides of the centerline of the vessel. This increased width of the streamer... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6109199 | Capture and alignment mechanism for use on board an ocean going vessel A capture and alignment mechanism which locks a deployable body to a sheave assembly. The sheave assembly is connected to a carriage which rides on a boom positioned above the deck of a ship and extends over the ship's st. The mechanism includes a capt... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6085682 | Strap assembly for parasailing A parasailing assembly to suspend a rider from a parachute which is being towed by a boat, with the rider supported by one of various rider support structures, such as a body harness or a seat assembly. The parasailing assembly includes an improved connec... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6044786 | Seismic cable retrieval system An apparatus supported by a vessel for removing a seismic cable and attached buoy from water. A clamp for gripping the cable and attached buoy is connected to a boom. The boom manuevers the clamp into engagement with the floating buoy, lifts the buoy from... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6012406 | Portable seismic vessel A portable seismic vessel which is truck transportable to remote survey sites. The vessel is assembled with multiple self-contained, autonomous modules. Different modules provide crew quarters, dining facilities, propulsion, fuel and equipment storage. Th... | 01/11/2000 |
| 6009042 | Marine seismic web A system for supporting marine seismic equipment such as sensors and positioning equipment deployed behind a marine seismic vessel. The vessel tows a lattice like web instead of individual streamer cables to carry hydrophones, and can deploy a geophone su... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5971243 | Storage pocket for inflatable towable vehicle A storage pocket for an inflatable towable vehicle that includes an inflatable member and a protective outer shell. The storage pocket includes a flexible panel attached to the outer shell by sewing or other suitable methods. The flexible panel comprises ... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5967076 | Device for emergency towing of vessels A device for emergency towing of vessels. The device has a structure and function for storage where active parts are protected against adverse external influence, thereby making the device ready for use without the risk of jamming or other malfunctions. T... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5957077 | Guide tube bend fluid bearing Disclosed is an apparatus for deploying and retrieving a towed array from a ehicle. This apparatus includes a cable storage device positioned inside the vehicle hull. A winch is positioned adjacent this cable storage device for paying out the array and ret... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5906170 | Automatically length adjustable water ski tow rope Water skiers towed behind a boat can be towed by varying lengths of rope automatically adjusted by letting out or reeling in the rope to provide different lengths. The rope, trailable aft of the boat having a first boat-connecting end and a second termina... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5855179 | Mid ships tow point for single line and multi line towed arrays A towed array handling system is provided for installation within the enled sails of future submarines. The system has a large diameter reel which provides storage for the entire array and tow cable when not deployed. The area within the enlarged sail is... | 01/05/1999 |
