System, towed submersible and docking station for towed underwater recreational sightseeing

Abstract

There is provided a system for towed underwater recreational sightseeing. The system comprises a towed submersible; a tow vessel; a docking station mechanically fastened to the tow vessel via a linkage, the docking station comprising a docking bay adapted for docking the submersible in use, the docking bay configurable between a docked configuration and a deployable configuration, wherein, in the docked configuration, the submersible is raised so as to be poised for boarding by passengers and wherein in the deployed configuration, the submersible is lowered for deployment in water; and a tow cable coupling the towed submersible and at least one of the docking station and tow vessel wherein, once the submersible has been deployed by the docking station in use, the tow cable is adapted for reeling out to locate the towed submersible a suitable distance from the docking station for the completion of a series of underwater manoeuvres under tow of the tow vessel and the reeling in after the completion of the underwater manoeuvres for docking of the docking bay.

1 . A system for towed underwater recreational sightseeing, the system comprising:
 a towed submersible;   a docking station, the docking station comprising a docking bay adapted for docking the submersible in use, the docking bay configurable between a docked configuration and a deployable configuration, wherein, in the docked configuration, the submersible is raised so as to be poised for boarding by passengers and wherein in the deployed configuration, the submersible is lowered for deployment in water; and   a tow cable coupling the towed submersible and the docking station wherein, once the submersible has been deployed by the docking station in use, the tow cable is adapted for reeling out to locate the towed submersible a suitable distance from the docking station for the completion of a series of underwater manoeuvres under tow and the reeling in after the completion of the underwater manoeuvres for docking of the docking bay.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the towed submersible comprises:
 accommodation for passengers; 
 a hull comprising at least a substantially transparent portion for the viewing of an underwater environment, the hull being positively buoyant, the hull comprising a watertight access hatch for the boarding and disembarking of the passengers; 
 a tow cable attachment fastened to the hull for attachment to a tow cable; 
 at least one control surface to control the orientation of the submersible when underwater wherein, in use: 
 the tow cable attachment is adapted for allowing the submersible to be towed behind the docking station; and 
 at least one control surface is adapted to overcome the positive buoyancy of the hull when the submersible is being towed such that the submersible is adapted to dive to the underwater environment. 
 
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tow cable attachment comprises a girdle and wherein the girdle is pivotally coupled to the hull. 
     
     
         4 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the towed submersible further comprises a pilot control operably coupled to at least one control surface and wherein the at least one control surface is adapted to control the pitch, yaw and roll of the submersible in use. 
     
     
         7 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one control surface is adapted to inherently provide negative lift when the submersible is towed in use. 
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the towed submersible further comprises an umbilical attachment for attachment to an umbilical in use and wherein the umbilical comprises data connectivity and wherein the data connectivity comprises communication connectivity. 
     
     
         13 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the towed submersible further comprises an emergency propulsion system. 
     
     
         23 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the emergency propulsion system comprises thrusters. 
     
     
         24 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the towed submersible further comprises at least one escape hatch and wherein the at least one escape hatch is upwardly located. 
     
     
         27 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the watertight access hatch is substantially domed. 
     
     
         33 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the docking bay is located substantially centrally within the docking station. 
     
     
         36 . A system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the docking bay comprises a rail system and a submersible engaging frame adapted for releasing and engaging the submersible, the submersible engaging frame adapted to travel along the rail system such that wherein, in the docked configuration, the submersible engaging frame is raised, and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the submersible engaging frame is lowered. 
     
     
         37 . A system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the submersible engaging frame comprises at least one of padding and strapping for protecting and securing the submersible in use. 
     
     
         38 . A system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the rail system is shaped such that the submersible engaging frame travels along a deployment trajectory as the docking bay transitions between the docked configuration and the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         39 . A system as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the deployment trajectory comprises an initially rearwardly moving. 
     
     
         40 . A system as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the trajectory further comprises a subsequently downwardly moving portion wherein the submersible engaging frame is lowered to the water. 
     
     
         41 . A system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the rail system is adapted such that when the engaging frame is lowered, the submersible engaging frame is adapted to rotate such that the submersible engaging frame is rearwardly downwardly angled such that the submersible enters the water at an angle. 
     
     
         42 .- 53 . (canceled)