Installation and method for recovering an underwater or marine vehicle

Abstract

An installation and methods for recovering and/or launching a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle ( 1 ), in particular an AUV, from a recovery base ( 5 ). The installation comprises a floating cage ( 10 ) defining a housing ( 16 ) in which at least a portion of said vehicle ( 1 ) can penetrate, first puller means mounted on said cage and capable of pulling said vehicle into said housing, via a first flexible connection, typically a cable ( 22 ), and second puller means ( 7 ) for mounting on the recovery base ( 5 ) and capable of pulling said cage via a second flexible connection ( 9, 70 ) distinct from the first.

1 . An installation for recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle in water, from a recovery base, the installation comprising a floating cage defining a housing in which at least a portion of said vehicle can penetrate, a first puller mounted on said cage and capable of pulling said vehicle into said housing via a first flexible connection, and a second puller designed to be mounted on the recovery base and capable of pulling said cage via a second flexible connection distinct from the first. 
   
   
       2 . An installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said cage is fitted with a receiver suitable for receiving the front portion of said vehicle, said a receiver having said first flexible connection passing therethrough and being capable of pointing towards said vehicle, and of moving along said housing together with the vehicle when the first flexible connection is tensioned. 
   
   
       3 . An installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said cage is fitted with a guide for guiding and determining the orientation of said a receiver together with the vehicle relative to the frame of the cage, in such a manner as to facilitate penetration of the vehicle into the cage when the vehicle is pulled into the housing by the first flexible connection. 
   
   
       4 . An installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said cage is fitted with a holder for holding said vehicle inside said housing. 
   
   
       5 . An installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said cage is fitted with at least one energy source for operating at least one from the group of the first puller and the holder. 
   
   
       6 . An installation according to  claim 1 , including a remote controller for remotely controlling at least one from the group of the first puller and the holder. 
   
   
       7 . An installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible connections are cables. 
   
   
       8 . A method of recovering a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle in water, from a recovery base, the method comprising:
 launching a floating cage that defines a housing in which at least a portion of said vehicle can penetrate;   pulling said vehicle into said housing with the help of a first puller mounted on said cage and connected to said vehicle via a first flexible connection ( 22 ); and   pulling said cage together with said vehicle using a second puller mounted on the recovery base and connected to said cage via a second flexible connection distinct from the first.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein, prior to launching said cage, said first flexible connection connected to the vehicle is recovered in the water from the recovery base, and said first flexible connection is connected to the first puller mounted on the cage. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein, prior to launching the cage, said cage is connected to the recovery base by said second flexible connection, said second flexible connection being relaxed after the cage has been launched so that the cage can move freely in the water. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle is held relative to the cage with the help of a holder once the vehicle has entered said housing. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one from the group of the first puller and the holder are controlled remotely, from the recovery base. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface marine vehicle is a floating vehicle. 
   
   
       14 . A method of launching a surface marine vehicle or an underwater vehicle from a launching base, the method comprising:
 launching a floating cage together with a vehicle housed at least in part inside the cage, the cage being connected to the launching base via a flexible connection; and   pulling the vehicle out from the cage with the help of a puller mounted on said cage.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is held relative to the cage while it is being launched, until the vehicle is released with the help of release device. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one from the group of the puller and the release device are remotely controlled, from the launching base.