NZ749446B2 - An unmanned marine sailing vessel - Google Patents
An unmanned marine sailing vessel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ749446B2 NZ749446B2 NZ749446A NZ74944617A NZ749446B2 NZ 749446 B2 NZ749446 B2 NZ 749446B2 NZ 749446 A NZ749446 A NZ 749446A NZ 74944617 A NZ74944617 A NZ 74944617A NZ 749446 B2 NZ749446 B2 NZ 749446B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- winch
- keel
- cavity
- unmanned surface
- surface vessel
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000002965 rope Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B22/00—Buoys
- B63B2022/006—Buoys specially adapted for measuring or watch purposes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
- B63B2035/006—Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled
- B63B2035/007—Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled autonomously operating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
- B63B3/14—Hull parts
- B63B3/38—Keels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B49/00—Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
- B63G13/00—Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H9/00—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power
- B63H9/04—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power using sails or like wind-catching surfaces
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
- G01V1/38—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for water-covered areas
- G01V1/3843—Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers
Abstract
The present invention relates broadly to an unmanned surface vessel (10) comprising a hull (12), an underwater appendage (14), a winch (16), and a cable or rope (18). The cable or rope (18) is at its distal end attached to a remote device (20) with the cable or rope (18) arranged to cooperate with the winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operation of the winch (16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly locate the winch (16). The keel has an aperture that permits the ingress of water from outside the hull into at least the cavity of the keel, which improves the righting moment of the vessel. he winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operation of the winch (16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly locate the winch (16). The keel has an aperture that permits the ingress of water from outside the hull into at least the cavity of the keel, which improves the righting moment of the vessel.
Description
(12) Granted patent specificaon (19) NZ (11) 749446 (13) B2
(47) Publicaon date: 2021.12.24
(54) AN UNMANNED MARINE SAILING VESSEL
(51) Internaonal Patent Classificaon(s):
B63B 35/00 B63B 35/04 B63B 3/38
(22) Filing date: (73) Owner(s):
2017.06.06 SOLAR SAILOR PTY LTD
(23) Complete specificaon filing date: (74) Contact:
2017.06.06 Clark Intellectual Property Pty Ltd
(30) Internaonal Priority Data: (72) Inventor(s):
AU 2016902228 2016.06.08 DANE, Robert
(86) Internaonal Applicaon No.:
(87) Internaonal Publicaon number:
WO/2017/210727
(57) Abstract:
The present invenon relates broadly to an unmanned surface vessel (10) comprising a hull (12),
an underwater appendage (14), a winch (16), and a cable or rope (18). The cable or rope (18) is at
its distal end aached to a remote device (20) with the cable or rope (18) arranged to cooperate
with the winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operaon of the winch
(16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly
locate the winch (16). The keel has an aperture that permits the ingress of water from outside the
hull into at least the cavity of the keel, which improves the righng moment of the vessel.
NZ 749446 B2
AN UNMANNED MARINE SAILING VESSEL
Technical Field
The present invention relates broadly to a marine vessel and relates
particularly to an unmanned surface vessel typically designed as a sailing vessel.
Background of Invention
Sonar systems are typically installed in defence vessels for surveillance
purposes and more particularly for detecting the presence of submarines. These
known sonar systems include towed array sonar deployed from surface vessels such
as frigates. The towed array sonar includes a system of hydrophones towed behind
the frigate or other surface vessel via a tow cable. The tow cable can be up to one or
more kilometres in length and is spooled about a cable drum mounted on the deck or
alongside the hull of the surface vessel from which it is deployed and retrieved.
Summary of Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
unmanned surface vessel comprising:
a hull;
an underwater appendage in the form of a keel which is at least in part
hollow thereby defining a cavity , the keel being attached to the hull;
a winch located at least partly within the cavity, the winch arranged to
cooperate with a cable or rope to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel via
operation of the winch;
the keel including at least one aperture through which the cable or rope
passes, said aperture being adapted to permit the ingress of water from outside the
hull into at least the cavity of the keel improving the righting moment of the unmanned
surface vessel.
Has intentionally been left blank
Preferably the winch is substantially aligned with a vertical axis of the keel
and a majority of the winch is located within the cavity improving the righting moment
of the vessel, the winch having an axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicular
to the keel’s vertical axis.
Preferably the unmanned surface vessel also comprises a housing fixed
internally of the hull and designed to contain the winch, the housing arranged to
contain water substantially within the cavity of the keel. More preferably the housing
is arranged to retractably receive a cassette including the winch.
Preferably the winch is designed to allow and contain spooling of the cable
or rope, sufficiently constrained as to reduce the likelihood of overriding of the cable
or rope within the winch. More preferably the winch includes a central hub and an
opposing pair of flanges mounted either side of the hub, the flanges being separated
a distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the cable or
rope.
Preferably the cable or rope includes a remote device mounted at its distal
end. More preferably the aperture is sized to permit passage of the remote device on
retrieval of the cable or rope via the winch, the remote device thus being stowed
within the cavity of the keel. Even more preferably the remote device includes a
sensor, camera or sampler.
Preferably the unmanned surface vessel further comprises a rudder
located forward of the keel thereby reducing likelihood of the cable or rope fouling the
rudder on deployment of the cable or rope.
Preferably the unmanned surface vessel is a sailing vessel.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an
unmanned surface vessel comprising:
a hull;
an underwater appendage in the form of a keel which is at least in part
hollow thereby defining a cavity, the keel being attached to the hull and adapted to
permit flooding of water from outside the hull into at least the cavity of the keel;
a housing fitted internally of the hull and surrounding the cavity, the
housing adapted to contain the flooded water substantially within the cavity;
a local device located at least partly within the cavity.
Preferably the keel includes an aperture which permits the ingress of water
into the cavity for its flooding.
Preferably the local device is in the form of a cassette which is retractably
received in the housing.
Has intentionally been left blank
Preferably the retractable cassette is in the form of a keel.
Preferably the local device includes sonar, camera, sensor, batteries or
any one or more combinations of these active or passive local devices.
It is to be understood that any reference in this specification to an
unmanned surface vessel is to include an autonomous surface vessel.
Brief Description of Drawings
In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present
invention a preferred embodiment of an unmanned surface vessel will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an unmanned surface vessel according to one
embodiment of a first aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 is an underneath view of the unmanned surface vessel of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the unmanned surface vessel of figures 1
and 2 showing a winch and associated components in solid line detail;
Figure 4 is an aft view of the unmanned surface vessel of the preceding figures;
Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the winch of the unmanned
surface vessel of the preceding figures;
Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of the winch located in the cavity of the
underwater appendage taken from figure 5;
Figure 7a is a longitudinal sectional view shown in perspective of the unmanned
surface vessel of the preceding figures with the remote device located at the front of
the keel;
Figure 7b is a further longitudinal sectional view shown in perspective but with the
remote device located at the rear of the keel of the vessel of figures 1 to 6;
Figure 8 is another longitudinal sectional view shown in perspective with the winch
and its associated cassette retracted from the cavity of the keel and unmanned
surface vessel of the figures preceding;
Figure 9a is a detailed sectional view shown in perspective of the remote device
attached to the distal end of the cable or rope in its retrieved position within the keel of
the unmanned surface vessel of the preceding figures;
Figure 9b is a detailed sectional view shown in perspective of the remote device partly
deployed from the keel of figure 9a;
Figure 10 is a part cutaway shown in perspective of the unmanned surface vessel of
the preceding figures showing the winch and its associated cassette partly retracted
from the unmanned surface vessel together with the drive mechanism for the winch
also partly retracted;
Figure 11 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of an unmanned
surface vessel according to the first aspect of the present invention;
Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the alternative unmanned surface vessel
of figure 11 showing the remote device partly deployed;
Figure 13 is a part cutaway shown in perspective of an embodiment of an unmanned
surface vessel according to a second aspect of the invention;
Figures 14a and 14b are part cutaways shown in perspective of an embodiment of an
unmanned surface vessel according to a third aspect of the invention.
Detailed Description
As best shown in figures 1 to 5 there is an unmanned surface vessel 10
according to one embodiment of a first aspect of the invention generally comprising a
hull 12, an underwater appendage 14, a winch 16, and a cable or rope 18. The cable
or rope 18 is at its distal end attached to a remote device 20 with the cable or rope 18
arranged to cooperate with the winch 16 to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel
via operation of the winch 16.
In this embodiment the underwater appendage 14 is in the form of a keel
attached to the hull 12 in a conventional manner. The keel 14 includes a cavity 22
designed to partly locate the winch 16. The keel 14 is in this example substantially
hollow and thus internally defines the cavity 22. The vessel 10 also includes a rudder
19 located in its bow region. The forward rudder 19 provides effective steerage of the
unmanned surface vessel 10 whilst reducing the likelihood of the cable or rope 18
fouling the rudder 19 on deployment of the cable or rope 18.
The keel 14 at its forward bottom corner includes a first aperture 24 in the
form of a D-shaped opening at the base of the keel 14. The D-shaped opening 24
provides passage for the cable or rope 18 on deployment or retrieval of the remote
device 20. The keel 14 at its bottom trailing edge includes a second aperture 25 for
optionally deploying the remote device 20 from the rear of the keel 14. If the remote
device 20 is to operate at or near the surface of the water it is preferably deployed
with the cable 18 exiting the second aperture 25. If the remote device 20 is to operate
at depth or near the seabed the cable 18 exits the first aperture 24.
The remote device 20 in this embodiment is shaped substantially
complementary to and sits within a pocket 26 formed at the D-shaped opening of the
first aperture 24 adjacent the leading bottom corner of the keel 14. The pocket 26
allows the vessel 10 to rest on the lower surface of the keel 14 without damaging the
remote device 20 when transporting the vessel 10 by trailer. The pocket 26 of the first
aperture 24, and the second aperture 25 both form a continuation of the cavity 22 of
the keel 14 to permit ingress of water into the cavity 22. The water contained within
the cavity 22 advantageously improves the righting moment of the unmanned surface
vessel 10. In this embodiment the winch 16 is substantially aligned with a vertical
axis of the keel 14. The majority of the winch 16 is located within the cavity 22 further
improving the righting moment of the vessel 10. The winch 16 has an axis of rotation
depicted roughly at 28 oriented substantially perpendicular to the keel’s 14 vertical
axis.
As best shown in figures 3 and 5 the unmanned surface vessel 10 also
comprises a housing designated as 30 fitted internally of the hull 12. The housing 30
of this example is formed between a lower section of the hull 12 adjacent the keel 14
and spans vertically toward a deck 32 of the unmanned surface vessel 10. The
housing 30 thus includes a pair of opposing side walls 34a and 34b sealed at their
forward and aft edges with respective forward and aft bulkheads 36a and 36b. The
housing 30 serves two primary functions insofar as it:
1. contains water substantially within the cavity 22 of the keel 14 which may
otherwise flood the bilge of the vessel 10;
2. contains the winch 16 which projects outside the cavity 22.
As best seen in figure 10, the winch 16 is rotated in opposing directions via
a drive assembly depicted at 38. The drive assembly 38 includes an electrically
powered motor 40 and its associated drive pulley 42. As best seen in figure 6, the
drive pulley 42 cooperates with a continuous drive belt 43 which wraps about a driven
pulley 51 fixed axially to a drive shaft 53 associated with the winch 16 and arranged
for its rotation. The winch 16 on one face and around its axis includes a circular
annulus 55 within which a series of rollers such as 45a and 45b are located and about
which the winch 16 rotates in a rolling action. The drive belt 43 is tensioned so that
rotation of the drive pulley 42 rotates the driven pulley 51 and in turn the winch 16 via
the drive shaft 53.
The drive assembly 38 is retractably mounted to the side wall 34a through
a window 44 provided in the side wall 34a. The winch 16 as seen in figure 10 is
supported within the cavity 22 of the keel 14 via a pair of mounting rails 49a and 49b.
The mounting rails 49a/b are at an upper region fixed to the side wall 34a of the
housing 30. As seen in figure 6, the winch 16 is supported by the mounting rails
49a/b via the rollers 45a/b which are secured to a mounting plate 57 fixed to the lower
region of the rails 49a/b. The mounting plate 57 also provides mounting for a bearing
assembly (not shown) associated with the driven pulley 51 and the drive shaft 53. In
this embodiment the rope or cable 18 is wound or spooled onto the winch 16 for
retrieval of the remote device 20 by rotation of the winch 16 in an anti-clockwise
direction (viewed from the starboard side). The remote device 20 is deployed by
rotation of the winch 16 in an opposite and clockwise direction via the drive assembly
As best shown in figure 6 the winch 16 of this embodiment includes a
stationary hub 46 about which the winch 16 rotates. The winch 16 is in the form of a
large diameter pulley which is required because of the relatively large minimum bend
diameter of the cable or rope 18. The winch of pulley 16 includes a pair of opposing
flanges 50a and 50b arranged to contain spooling of the cable or rope 18 onto the
winch 16. The opposing flanges 50a and 50b are separated a distance equal to or
slightly greater than the diameter of the cable or rope 18 to promote spooling of the
cable or rope 18 in single layers only. This spooling of the cable or rope 18 is
sufficiently constrained so as to reduce the likelihood of overriding of the cable or rope
18 within the winch 16.
As shown in figures 8 and 10, the winch 16 is designed to be retractably
received within the housing 30. The winch 16 of this example is in the form of a
cassette 54 raised or lowered into the housing 30. The unmanned surface vessel 10
includes a hatch 58 designed to seal about an opening 60 formed within the deck 32.
The hatch 58 thus contains the winch 16 and its associated cassette 54 when they
are located within the cavity 22.
Figure 9a and 9b are detailed views in cross-section of the first opening 24
of the keel 14 and its associated pocket 26. The remote device 20 is shown retrieved
and partly deployed in figures 9a and 9b respectively. The cavity 22 of the keel 14 is
flooded with water via the first opening 24. In this embodiment a small lower section
of the winch 16 is shown located deep within the cavity 22. The remote device 20 of
this example is a sensor such as a sonar device. The remote device 20 may however
be in the form of a camera, sampling device, or other active or passive remote device
connected to the distal end of the cable or rope 18.
As best shown in figures 6 the winch cassette 54 includes comms (not
designated) arranged to communicate with the remote device 20. In this example the
comms are hardwired between the remote device 20 and the winch 16. The
hardwiring (not illustrated) may be associated with the rope or cable 18 or
alternatively the rope or cable 18 may itself form the hardwiring, such as an ethernet
cable. The comms communicates locally with the unmanned surface vessel 10 via
additional hardwiring shown schematically as cables 72 extending from the hub 46.
The cables 72 electronically connect with wiring or the cable 18 itself associated with
the remote device 20 via slip rings such as 74 mounted within the hub 46. Although
not illustrated, the comms may provide data for on-board storage at the unmanned
surface vessel 10 and/or the data may be communicated wirelessly onshore via an
appropriate communication network.
Figures 11 and 12 are side elevational views of an alternative embodiment
of an unmanned surface vessel 100 according to the first aspect of the invention. For
ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition like components of this embodiment
have been designated with an additional “0” for the same components of the previous
embodiment. For example, the winch of this alternative embodiment has been
designated as 160.
The alternative unmanned surface vessel 100 is in essence is the same as
the unmanned surface vessel 10 of the previous embodiment with the following main
exceptions:
1. the rope or cable 180 is spooled about the winch 160 in an anticlockwise
direction working outwardly of the winch 160 (viewed from the starboard side);
2. the rope or cable 180 is deployed and retrieved via an opening 240 between
an aft edge of the keel 140 and an adjoining section of the hull 120;
3. the winch 160 is elevated within the cavity 220 of the keel 140 whilst still being
contained underneath the deck 320 of the vessel 100;
4. the keel 140 includes additional ballast 15 such as lead to improve the stability
or righting moment of the vessel 100 although the cavity 220 is nonetheless
flooded with water via the opening 240 in a similar manner to the preceding
embodiment.
The unmanned surface vessel such as 10 may be powered by various
means including sail power and/or motor power via an underwater propeller 75. In
either case the sailing vessel 10 is typically an unmanned surface vessel designed to
deploy the remote device such as 20 whilst sailing for the purposes of surveillance or
data collection. The remote device 20 is deployed or retrieved via rotation of the
winch 16 in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction depending on the design of the
unmanned surface vessel and the winch 16. The unmanned surface vessel 10 is
provided with on-board navigation systems and configured for remote control to
enable sailing of the vessel 10 across a predetermined stretch of water.
Figure 13 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a second aspect of the
unmanned surface vessel 10 designed to accommodate a local device 15 within the
flooded cavity 22 of the underwater appendage 14. For ease of reference and in
order to avoid repetition, like components have been designated with the same
reference numerals. In this second aspect the vessel 10 includes a housing 30 fitted
internally of the hull 12 to contain water within the cavity 22 and to prevent it flooding
the bilge. The local device 15 may, in a similar manner to the winch, be in the form of
a cassette 57 which is retractably received in the cavity 22 and improves the righting
moment or stability of the vessel 10. The cassette 57 includes sonar, camera,
sensor, battery or other active or passive local devices 15. The underwater
appendage 14 of this embodiment includes an aperture 25 in the form of a window in
its side wall which permits flooding of the cavity 22 and potentially provides
unobstructed detection or sensing depending on the local device which is contained
within the cavity 22.
Figures 14a and 14b illustrate a preferred embodiment of a third aspect of
the unmanned surface vessel 10 comprising a retractable cassette 61 including a
local device 15. For ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition, like
components have been designated with the same reference numerals. The vessel 10
also comprises a housing 30 of similar construction to the preceding embodiments
fitted internally of the hull 12. In this aspect the side walls 34a and 34b extend
completely between the hull 12 and the deck 32 thus defining a cavity 22. The cavity
22 in this embodiment extends through the hull 12 via a substantially rectangular
opening 62 at its base. The cavity 22 is at least partly flooded with water from outside
the hull 12 via the opening 62. The retractable cassette 61 is designed to be slidably
received within the flooded cavity 22 of the housing 30.
In this embodiment of the third aspect the retractable cassette 61 is shaped
and to some extent functions as a keel. That is, the retractable cassette 61 provides
the vessel 10 with stability and, in the event that it is sailed, reduces leeway. The
retractable cassette or keel 61 as best shown in figure 14a includes the hatch 58 fixed
to its head. As best shown in figure 14b the hatch 58 on insertion of the retractable
cassette 61 into the cavity 22 seats about the deck 32 in a similar manner to the
preceding embodiment. Furthermore, this seating of the hatch 58 within the deck 32
provides an appropriate stop for lowering of the retractable cassette or keel 61 into
the cavity 22. The local device 15 included within the retractable cassette 61 includes
sonar, camera, sensor, battery or any one or more combinations of these active or
passive devices. The retractable cassette 61 may vary in construction depending
largely on the nature and design of the local device 15, for example:
1. the retractable cassette 61 may be partly or entirely hollow for housing the
local device 15 together with any associated equipment;
2. the retractable cassette 61 may at least in its lower portions be cast in lead or
another appropriate ballast-type material with the local device 15 partly
embedded in the cast material possibly with an exposed window;
3. the retractable cassette 61 may be constructed from a combination of the
hollow and solid configurations of items 1 and 2.
Although not illustrated the retractable cassette or keel 61 may include
lifting means for lowering or raising the retractable cassette or keel 61.
Now that several preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described it will be understood that the unmanned surface vessel has at least the
following advantages:
1. the internal design of the unmanned surface vessel having a cavity within the
underwater appendage lends itself to containment of a relatively large winch in
its vertical orientation;
2. the cavity of the underwater appendage and in particular the keel is flooded via
the keel opening for the cable or rope thus improving the righting moment and
stability of the vessel;
3. the winch itself is relatively heavy and being located within the cavity of the
underwater appendage further improves the stability or righting moment of the
vessel;
4. the partly flooded cavity of the embodiment of the second aspect is
conveniently designed to accommodate a local device in the form of a
retractable cassette;
. the housing fitted internally of the hull about the cavity permits flooding of the
cavity via an aperture in the underwater appendage through which
unobstructed vision is provided for the local device;
6. the retractable cassette of the preferred embodiments forms an interface via
which proprietary systems can be loaded onto the vessel.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is
susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described.
The housing may completely span the deck and hull whereby the compartment above
the cavity is effectively sealed with the hatch installed. The drive system for rotation
of the winch may be directly geared or otherwise meshed to one of the flanges of the
winch. The winch may also protrude or extend above deck level of the vessel
provided it is at least partly within the cavity of the underwater appendage. All such
variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present
invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.
Claims (14)
1. An unmanned surface vessel comprising: a hull; an underwater appendage in the form of a keel which is at least in part hollow thereby defining a cavity , the keel being attached to the hull; a winch located at least partly within the cavity, the winch arranged to cooperate with a cable or rope to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel via operation of the winch; the keel including at least one aperture through which the cable or rope passes, said aperture being adapted to permit the ingress of water from outside the hull into at least the cavity of the keel improving the righting moment of the unmanned surface vessel.
2. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the winch is substantially aligned with a vertical axis of the keel and a majority of the winch is located within the cavity improving the righting moment of the vessel, the winch having an axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicular to the keel’s vertical axis.
3. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also comprising a housing fixed internally of the hull and designed to contain the winch, the housing arranged to contain water substantially within the cavity of the keel.
4. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the housing is arranged to retractably receive a cassette including the winch.
5. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the winch is designed to allow and contain spooling of the cable or rope, sufficiently constrained as to reduce the likelihood of overriding of the cable or rope within the winch.
6. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the winch includes a central hub and an opposing pair of flanges mounted either side of the hub, the flanges being separated a distance equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the cable or rope.
7. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cable or rope includes a remote device mounted at its distal end.
8. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in claim 7 wherein the aperture is sized to permit passage of the remote device on retrieval of the cable or rope via the winch, the remote device thus being stowed within the cavity of the keel.
9. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the remote device includes a sensor, camera, or sampler.
10. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a rudder located forward of the keel thereby reducing likelihood of the cable or rope fouling the rudder on deployment of the cable or rope.
11. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the unmanned surface vessel is a sailing vessel.
12. An unmanned surface vessel comprising: a hull; an underwater appendage in the form of a keel which is at least in part hollow thereby defining a cavity, the keel being attached to the hull and adapted to permit flooding of water from outside the hull into at least the cavity of the keel; a housing fitted internally of the hull and surrounding the cavity, the housing adapted to contain the flooded water substantially within the cavity; a local device located at least partly within the cavity.
13. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in claim 12 wherein the local device is in the form of a cassette which is retractably received in the housing.
14. An unmanned surface vessel as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13 wherein the local device includes sonar, camera, sensor, batteries or any one or more combinations of these active or passive local devices.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2016902228A AU2016902228A0 (en) | 2016-06-08 | A Marine Sailing Vessel | |
AU2016902228 | 2016-06-08 | ||
PCT/AU2017/050553 WO2017210727A1 (en) | 2016-06-08 | 2017-06-06 | An unmanned marine sailing vessel |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ749446A NZ749446A (en) | 2021-08-27 |
NZ749446B2 true NZ749446B2 (en) | 2021-11-30 |
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