US20060214050A1

US20060214050A1 - Disposable variable depth anchor cable pack

Info

Publication number: US20060214050A1
Application number: US11/387,585
Authority: US
Inventors: Arno Naeckel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-17
Filing date: 2006-03-23
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

A low cost, disposable cable pack for small buoy anchors providing a simple, standardized means to mechanically adjust for proper depth. The cable pack is comprised of two concentric hollow cylinders and a perpendicular plate. Depth settings are controlled by inserting or removing retaining pins that release predetermined lengths of anchor cable wound inside the anchor pack that pay out during anchor descent. The cable pack also has a time release Buoy securing device to keep the buoy submerged and out of the way of traffic until needed as well as a method to create a water soluble species of the cable pack.

Description

This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 10/904,585 filed Nov. 17, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a standardized cable device to anchor small buoys at variable shallow water depths and its construction. The disclosure also includes a description of a water soluble embodiment.

BACKGROUND

In the military and commercial maritime industries, a need arises requiring the insertion of small marker buoys, sonobuoys and detection devices into the sea. The purpose behind these devices requires that they remain stationary against currents, wind and wave action. Insertion of these buoys is usually done by small boats or by helicopter.
In a commercial setting, fishermen and divers use various marker buoys, hand made anchors and anchor cables to mark net locations, lobster pots, and dive locations. In the military setting, Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare, Harbor Defense and other units drop standard sonobuoys close inshore to monitor costal areas for unauthorized vessel intrusion and hostile divers.
In many instances, the anchors and anchor cables are constructed ashore on a best guess basis and carried to the drop location. Insertion may be conducted at night and in rough seas making the presence of coiled line on deck dangerous and the sizing and attachment clumsy and dangerous as well. Unless these buoys are confidently anchored in place the efficacy of the buoys is quickly degraded.
An ancillary problem associated with small buoys is that passing vessels commonly run over the buoys floating on the surface and get their props entangled in the attached buoy lines. The present invention provides a means to prevent the buoy from surfacing until desired.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a standardized buoy anchor cable device capable of being mechanically set at various incremental depths quickly, easily and safely based on real time fathometer readings or navigational chart fixes. The cable pack can be easily attached to the buoy float and the anchor weight without suffering coiled line on deck or in a helicopter. Depth settings are controlled by manually removing or inserting one or more restraining pins securing the cable to the cable pack cylinders. Furthermore, cold water soluble securing devices are used to provide a measure of control over the mechanical operation of the anchor pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a single ended embodiment of the invention also showing the method of winding the cable.
FIG. 2 is the bottom view of the perpendicular plate on the single ended embodiment.
FIG. 3 is the view of a single ended embodiment sans an outer cover.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a double ended embodiment with the outer cover.
FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the double ended embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a double ended embodiment sans an outer cover.
FIG. 7 is a front and side view of an exemplary attachment point comprising a grommet attached to the cable.
FIG. 8 is a depiction of a plan and a cross sectional view of a radial supporting member connecting the inner and outer cylinders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a preferred embodiment, the single ended cable pack may be constructed from two concentric hollow cylinders. The cable pack comprises an inner cylinder 1 and an outer cylinder 2 perpendicularly connected by a plate 7 located at one end (leaving the opposite end open) as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
The perpendicular plate has a concentric hole 3 to allow free passage of an anchor cable 6. The open end of the inner cylinder may be slightly tapered and the ends of both cylinders rounded off to prevent abrasion of the cable as it pays out. The size of the cylinders can be any size depending on the diameter and type of cable used and the maximum depth to which it must reach. Should the need arise, the cylinders may easily be replaced by similar components of a different cross sectional shape such as a square or an ellipse. The use of a Cylinder is a non-limiting example only.
Each cylinder has a line of holes 4 placed down its length and directly opposed to a corresponding set of holes in the other cylinder so that a set of pins 5 may be inserted perpendicularly through the sides of both cylinders. The holes 4 may be set at regular intervals down the length of the cylinders 1 and 2. The number and placement of holes depends on the nature and size of cable being used, the number of depth increments dividing up the maximum depth the cable pack and the ultimate size of the cylinders.
Each end of the cable 6 is connected to an attachment means 10 allowing the cable to be secured to an anchor weight (not shown) on one end and a buoy float (not shown) on the other. The cable 6 passes through the center of the inner cylinder 1 and is wound around the inner cylinder 1 in such a manner to allow free, unfettered pay out given the physical characteristics of the desired cable. The anchor (not shown) may be any conveniently available mass that may hold the buoy in place against the wind and current. A preferable anchor may be a bag or other container of sand although a rock or commercially purchased anchor may be used.
The cable 6 passes through the longitudinal center axis of the inner cylinder 1 leaving just a single attachment means 10 outside the perpendicular plate 7. The cable 6 may be led down from the open top end on the outside of the inner cylinder 1 and then wound over itself such that when it is paying out in use, it does not entangle itself. The remaining cable 6 may be wound around the outer surface of the inner cylinder 1 beginning at the perpendicular plate 7 and stopping before the first set of holes at the first attachment point 9. The first attachment point 8 in the cable 6 lines up with and allows a restraining pin to be inserted trough the outer cylinder through the attachment point and through the inner cylinder.
The winding continues until reaching the next attachment point 8 and is repeated until the entire cable 6 is wound into the cable pack and the other attachment means is just protruding from the open end of the cylinders. An extra pin and attachment point or some other means of securing the attachment means 10 may be included to prevent premature cable run out during shipment and preparation.
In a double ended embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the cable is also passed through the hollow center axis of the inner cylinder 1 leaving half of the cable 6 outside one end of the cylinders and the other half outside the opposite end. The cable 6 may be led down the outside of the inner cylinder from the open ends of the inner cylinder 1 and then wound over itself such that when it is paying out in use, it does not entangle itself. The cable may be completely wound around the inner cylinder beginning at each side of the perpendicular plate 7 and stopping before the first set of holes on either side of the perpendicular plate at the first attachment points 9. The attachment point 9 lines up with and allow a restraining pin 5 to be inserted through the outer cylinder 2, through the attachment point 9 and hole 4 and through the hole in inner cylinder 1. The winding of the cable continues until the next attachment point(s) 8 is reached and is repeated until the entire cable is wound into the cable pack, pins 5 inserted, such that both cable ends are just protruding from the open ends of the cylinders.
The use of a solid perpendicular plate 7 to attach the inner and outer cylinders may possibly cause a problem by trapping air inside a cylinder may cause the cylinder to inadvertently rotate or tumble as it descends below the surface. Such unnecessary tumbling may increase the chance of a tangled line. To eliminate any possibility, the plate may contain additional holes to allow air to escape. It is also may be preferable to use a piece of cross hatched or grid material in place of the plate.
Further, instead of a plate 7, radial supporting members 107 may also be used. As non-limiting examples, such members may be fixedly attached the inner and outer cylinders or may be attached to an inner ring 115 and outer ring 120 as shown in FIG. 8. The inner ring 115 may be slide over the inner cylinder 101 and rest or lock into a shoulder or slot 110 on the outside surface of the inner cylinder 1. The outer ends of supporting members 107 could be connected by an outer ring 120 that may engage a shoulder 130 on the inner surface of the outer cylinder or each member may separately engage its outer distal end to a notch within the inner surface of the outer cylinder. There are many feasible possibilities well know to the mechanical arts to accomplish this task and not part from the spirit and intention of the invention.
To use the cable pack, the appropriate size pack is selected such that the maximum length of the cable is greater than the maximum depth of water in which it is to be used. One attachment means is attached to an anchor weight and the other is attached to a buoy or float.
The depth of the water at the insertion site is determined from a fathometer reading or a chart fix. The restraining pins for all cable depths less that the desired depths are then removed from the pack which disengage the corresponding cable attachment points from the cylinders thereby releasing the desired amount of line. Sufficient slack to absorb expected wave and wind forces should be considered in that choice to prevent undue peak stress on the cable.
The buoy float, cable pack and the anchor weight are then placed into the water in that order or simultaneously. Placing the anchor in the water first may be a safety issue. As the anchor weight descends to the bottom, the cable runs free from one or both ends of the cable pack until the anchor reaches the bottom or the cable payout reaches the remaining fixed attachment points in the cable pack. If all of the pins are removed for maximum depth, all of the cable will run out of the cable pack and the cylinders will eventually slide down the cable and rest on the anchor weight.
The diameter, length, composition and tensile strength of the cable may be selected by the manufacturer for the particular environment and use intended. The cable may range from a single polymer filament to an anchor chain. The selection will dictate size of the cable pack, materials used and the type of attachment points required. Water soluble or biodegradable materials may be used for short term requirements and civilian usages, durable high tensile strength material may be appropriate for military combat usage.
The anchor may also be made of a water soluble material such as a bag, container or a can with a suitable closure device and attachment point. Non-limiting novel examples may include a water soluble or biodegradable sandbag with a drawstring, although a conventional anchor would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in skilled in the art.
In still another non-limiting embodiment, the answer to the ancillary problem caused by buoys blocking navigable waterways is solvable by this invention by including an additional securing member at the top end of the inner and/or outer cylinders which is cold water soluble. Cold water here is defined as the normal range of ocean and fresh water lake/stream temperatures which would range from 0° C.-37° C. The securing device would attach the buoy float to the anchor pack and allow the buoy float to be pulled to the bottom by the anchor assuming that the anchor pack is also attached to the anchor. Any type of securing device could be used including a mere length of cold water soluble line. With such an arrangement, while there is no requirement for the buoy to be floating on the surface and is therefore held on the bottom by the anchor and securing device(s), water craft can freely traverse the area with out concern.
The water soluble securing device or retainer may be manufactured so as to release the buoy during an appropriate time frame. As a non-limiting example, lobster pots could be placed on the bottom. Since there is no need to immediately monitor or retrieve the traps on the bottom, the buoy retaining devices may be designed such that they loose their mechanical integrity, break and release the buoy to the surface in a time period when the owner plans to return and check his traps. The definition of “mechanical integrity” used here means that the component remains essentially in its original mechanical form and is able to withstand the tensile or sheer forces the component was designed to withstand in order to complete it intended function.
The buoy retaining device can be made of any suitable water soluble material depending on the required performance. The material may include various combinations of polyvinyl chloride and other binding materials such as clay, ceramic, powdered metal, plastic or the like. Any suitable substances well known to the material and chemical arts may be used as well depending on the dictates of the environment or end use of the component.
A non-limiting, non-exhaustive list of known types of water soluble polymers include carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyaspartic acid, polyacrylic acid, propyl cellulose, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, complex carbohydrates and combinations thereof as copolymers, blends, mixtures, and the like. The polymers can be combined with biodegradable polyester or other biodegradable material such as organic soluble materials. Microencapsulated versions of the foregoing chemicals may also be used to provide a time delay dissolution as well. The type and combination of the polymer used may also vary if used to manufacture any of the other components of the anchor pack, such as the cylinders 1 and 2, cable 6, restraining pins 5, attachment points 8, the supporting member 7 or the anchor. Different components may require different mechanical attributes and dissolution times. As a non-limiting example, Solvron™ thread may be a used as a cable in the appropriate circumstances, while a Polyvinyl Acetate compound may be more desirable for the inner cylinder. Solvron™ is available in several formulations Such as SX-600, SH, SM, SLH, SL, etc. Each formulation may have appropriate chatrracteristics for a particular use scenario. As such any formulation is contemplated here.
The concentration of the water soluble polymer in the buoy retaining pin and the physical dimensions of the buoy retaining pin would determine how fast the buoy retaining pin would dissolve away sufficiently to release the buoy float. Similarly, the thickness of the cylinders 1 and 2, supporting member 7 or cable 6 may influence the speed of dissolution of those components as well.
Water soluble materials can be described as hot water soluble materials and cold water soluble. “Hot water” is sometimes defined as more than 37° C. and will be so here. Hot water soluble materials (Temperature >37° C.) are designed to dissolve and loose their mechanical integrity rapidly in hot water. Such hot water soluble materials may be useful in naturally occurring bodies of water where the water is cold (<37° C.) and where the mechanical integrity of a given component is required to be maintained for a long period of time. A “long period of time” is defined herein to be a time period greater than thirty minutes. Conversely a “short time period” is defined as a time period of less than thirty minutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,967 to Honeycutt and to Yang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,977 describe non-limiting examples of hot water soluble PVOH and PVA polymers that dissolve rapidly at temperatures above 37° C. Hot water soluble compounds may also dissolve in cold water but at much slower rates. Such hot water soluble compounds may be useful in manufacturing water soluble objects that retain their mechanical integrity for long time periods immersed in cold water. Even though immersed in cold water, hot water soluble materials eventually dissolve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,664,333 to Wang and U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,601 to Gouge disclose exemplary non-limiting cold water soluble materials. Cold water soluble materials are designed to loose their mechanical integrity and dissolve rapidly in cold water (temperature <37° C.). Such materials may be useful in naturally occurring bodies of water where the physical integrity of a given component or is required for a short time period.
The time periods required for components made of water soluble materials may be manipulated by specific mechanical construction. Constructing the components of the present invention from layers of the same or differing polymer compounds may be useful varying the mechanical strength of the component and timing of dissolution. Furthermore the use of reinforcing, metallic mesh, such as easily corrodible metal (i.e. Iron), may be used to strengthen the polymer sheeting material yet still allow for the eventual total degrading of the device over time.
As a non-limiting example, layering one type of water soluble material over another may lengthen the time of mechanical integrity of the part as a whole relative to a component made of a single layer of a single material.
As a non-limiting example, a material that dissolves in a long time period (a “slowly dissolving material”) may be laminated on one side with a material that dissolves in a short time period (“fast dissolving material”). In such a combination, the fast dissolving material may prevent water from reaching both sides of the slower dissolving material for a time thus extending the longer dissolving material's time of mechanical integrity. Placing a faster dissolving material on both sides of the slower dissolving material may increase the time of mechanical integrity even longer because very little water will reach the slower dissolving material while the faster dissolving material exists. The time of mechanical integrity may be extended even longer by covering the edges of the slower dissolving material as well. A slow dissolving material may be a hot water soluble layer sandwiched between two cold water soluble laminae.
Conversely, another non-limiting example may entail laminating a fast dissolving material between two laminae of a slow dissolving material. Such an arrangement may extend the time of mechanical integrity even longer that the previous example. It should be noted here that by laminate it is meant the binding of one sheet of material against another as used in the ordinary sense of the term but for the sake of simplicity the term here also means a coating of one substance by another.
The combinations and types of polymers, numbers of laminates, laminate thickness and the order of lamination may be varied to influence the dissolution rate and ultimately the time to mechanical integrity failure. Further still leaving the edges of the layers open to the water or placing holes through the water soluble sheet material may also control the time of mechanical integrity as more layers/surface area are simultaneously exposed to the water.
It is emphasized that the use of PVA or PVOH is not necessarily essential to practicing the current invention. Any suitable substances well known to the material arts, in several different combinations, may also be used depending on the design requirement of the manufacturer. An alternative construction may comprise an metallic or non-metallic ionic compound with a known dissolvability in a saline solution or fresh water.
Also of note, the use of hot water soluble and cold water soluble polymers and polymer compounds can be used to control the dynamic activity of other types of apparatus that are to remain unattended and submerged and may include pipeline components, communications equipment, well heads, plugs for a ship's pump discharge lines, fishing equipment, diving equipment as well as a multitude of products used by boat owners and are disposed of over the side.
The foregoing description of the specific examples of the various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with the description but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an outer covering;

an inner cylinder placed inside said outer covering, said inner cylinder being hollow having an open top end and an open bottom end and having a diameter such as to allow a space to exist between the inner surface of the outer covering;

a cable, said cable running longitudinally through the center of the inner cylinder having a first distal end and a second distal end and wound around the outside surface of said inner cylinder;

a set of pins; and,

a set of holes set into the side of the said outer cover and directly opposing a set of holes set into the side of said inner cylinder, the said holes accepting and allowing to pass the said set of pins through the outer cover and inner cylinder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first attachment means connected to the first distal end, wherein the first attachment means secures a buoy to the cable;

a second attachment means connected to the second distal end, the second attachment means securing the cable to a weight;

a supporting member connecting the outer cover to the inner cylinder; and

one or more attachment points connected to the cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a buoy securing device, wherein the buoy securing device temporarily attaches a buoy to the apparatus while submerged, wherein further the buoy securing device releases the buoy during a predetermined time frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the buoy securing device is constructed from a water soluble material.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein one or more of the inner cylinder, outer cover, cable, pins, securing member, attachment points, first attachment means, second attachment means and weight are constructed at least partially of water soluble materials.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the weight is a container further comprising a closure means, a weight attachment means and a container shell containing a quantity of naturally occurring substances wherein the closure means secures the natural substances inside the container shell and the weight attachment means attaches the weight to the second attachment means.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an outer cover;

an inner structure placed inside said outer covering;

a cable wound around the outside surface of said inner structure;

a set of pins; and,

a set of holes set into the side of the said outer cover and directly opposing set of holes set into the side of said inner cylinder, the said holes accepting and allowing to pass the said set of pins through the outer cover and inner cylinder, securing the outer cover and the cable to the inner cylinder.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the outer cover, inner structure, cable and set of pins is one of formed, molded and extruded from at least one of a water soluble and biodegradeable material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the water soluble material is a blended polymer compound based on one of cellulose gum, carboxy methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyaspartic acid, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, propyl cellulose, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyalkylene oxides.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the blended polymer retains its mechanical integrity for a predetermined time frame while dissolving slowly in water at a temperature below at least 37° C.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the blended polymer is rapidly hot water soluble and slightly coldwater soluble.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the closure means, the weight attachment means and the container shell is rapidly hot water soluble and slightly coldwater soluble.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the closure means, the weight attachment means and the container shell comprises a laminate of at least two layers of a water soluble polymer.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein one of the outer covering, inner structure and pins are constructed of a plurality of laminations of at least to different water soluble materials.

15. A method to control the mechanical integrity of a water soluble apparatus while submerged comprising:

selecting one or more water soluble materials based on their initial mechanical integrity and water solubility characteristics;

determining an arrangement of one or more layers of the water soluble material that will provide a desired level of mechanical integrity and a desired dissolution speed

binding the one or more layers of each selected water soluble material together by one of lamination process and a coating process to produce an integrated water soluble feedstock; and,

from the integrated water soluble feedstock, manufacturing a desired article by one of a extrusion process and a molding process.

16. The method of claim 15 including inserting a mesh between any of two layers of water soluble material.

17. The method of claim 15 including inserting a mesh within a layer of water soluble material.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cable is constructed from Solvron™.