Apparatus for recovering an underwater or marine vehicle

Abstract

Apparatus for recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle, in particular an AUV, the apparatus comprising a frame ( 14 ) defining a housing into which the vehicle ( 1 ) can penetrate via an entrance, and further comprising: reception means ( 18 ) for receiving the nose of the vehicle ( 1 ), reception means being capable of moving along said housing when the vehicle penetrates therein, said reception means ( 18 ) possessing sufficient freedom of movement relative to the frame ( 14 ) to be able to follow the movement of the vehicle while the reception means and the vehicle are situated in the vicinity of the entrance of the housing; and guide means ( 58, 60 ) for guiding the reception means ( 18 ) when the vehicle penetrates into the housing, and for causing the reception means ( 18 ) and the vehicle ( 1 ) to become aligned therealong by progressively limiting their freedom to move relative to the frame as the vehicle penetrates into the housing.

1 . Apparatus for recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle, the apparatus comprising a frame defining a housing into which the vehicle can penetrate via an entrance, the apparatus comprising:
 reception means for receiving a portion of the vehicle and capable of moving along said housing when the vehicle penetrates therein, said reception means having sufficient freedom of movement relative to the frame to follow the movement of the vehicle while the reception means and the vehicle are situated in the vicinity of the entrance to the housing; and   guide means for guiding the reception means along said housing and for causing the reception means together with the vehicle to become aligned therealong by progressively limiting their freedom to move relative to the frame as the vehicle penetrates into the housing.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , including puller means mounted on the frame for pulling said vehicle into the housing. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said puller means comprise a cable winder device enabling said vehicle to be pulled into the housing via a cable connected to the vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said reception means define a cavity suitable for receiving said portion of the vehicle, and having said cable passing therethrough. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , including first blocking means for holding said reception means close to the entrance of the housing, said first blocking means releasing said reception means when said portion of the vehicle is engaged in said reception means. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said reception means comprise a movable element movable between the entrance and the end of said cavity with said cable passing therethrough. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , including second blocking means for holding said movable element at the entrance of said cavity, said second blocking means releasing the movable element when the vehicle comes into contact with said movable element. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said reception means are secured to a rod having a main axis, said rod being mounted on a carriage in such a manner as to be capable of pivoting about said main axis, said carriage being guided along said housing by said guide means. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said reception means are pivotally mounted on said rod to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the main axis of the rod. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein a guide arm is fastened to the end of said rod, and the guide means comprise first and second superposed guides extending along said housing, the first guide guiding the carriage along said housing and the second guide guiding the guide arm and thus determining the orientation of the rod and the reception means. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second guide is formed by a pair of rails, these rails coming closer together on going away from the entrance of the housing so as to limit the freedom of said guide arm to move and thus determine the orientation of the rod and of the reception means. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , suitable for floating on water. 
   
   
       13 . The use of apparatus according to  claim 1 , for recovering or launching a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle. 
   
   
       14 . An installation for recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle, from a recovery base, the installation comprising a recovery apparatus according to  claim 1  together with puller means to be mounted on the recovery base, these puller means being capable of pulling said apparatus via at least one flexible connection. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle, the apparatus comprising a frame defining a housing into which the vehicle can penetrate via an entrance, the apparatus further comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a portion of the vehicle and capable of moving along said housing when the vehicle penetrates therein, said receiver having sufficient freedom of movement relative to the frame to follow the movement of the vehicle while the receiver and the vehicle are situated in the vicinity of the entrance to the housing; and   a guide for guiding the receiver along said housing and for causing the receiver together with the vehicle to become aligned therealong by progressively limiting their freedom to move relative to the frame as the vehicle penetrates into the housing.   
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , including a puller mounted on the frame for pulling said vehicle into the housing. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said puller comprises a cable winder device enabling said vehicle to be pulled into the housing via a cable connected to the vehicle. 
   
   
       18 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said receiver defines a cavity suitable for receiving said portion of the vehicle, and having said cable passing therethrough. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said receiver comprises a movable element movable between the entrance and the end of said cavity with said cable passing therethrough. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said receiver is secured to a rod having a main axis, said rod being mounted on a carriage in such a manner as to be capable of pivoting about said main axis, said carriage being guided along said housing by said guide.