Disposable Variable Depth Anchor Cable Pack

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.

1 . An anchor cable pack comprising: 
 an outer cylinder said outer cylinder being hollow and having an open top end and an open bottom end;    an inner cylinder placed inside said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder being hollow having an open top end and an open bottom end and having a diameter such as to allow a uniform space to exist between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder;    a plate, said plate being perpendicular to the axes of said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder, concentrically connecting said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder, said plate further containing a hole in its center;    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;    an attachment means connected to the first distal end and the second distal end of the said cable;    a set of restraining pins;    a set of holes set into the side of the said outer cylinder 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 restraining pins completely through the outer cylinder and inner cylinder.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the cable contains a variable number of attachment points of such internal diameter as to accept and pass through said restraining pins.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  constructed from biodegradable materials.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  constructed from time delayed, water soluble materials.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said plate attaches said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder concentrically at the open bottom ends of said inner and said outer cylinders, the top end remaining open.  
   
   
       6 . A method for winding a cable into the cable pack of  claim 3  comprising: 
 running the first distal end and essentially all of said cable out of the open top end of the said inner hollow cylinder leaving just the said attachment means on the second distal end of said cable outside the said perpendicular plate;    winding said cable extending outside the said open top end of the inside cylinder around the outside surface of said inner cylinder beginning at the inside of said perpendicular plate, over itself, moving longitudinally toward the open top end of said inner cylinder;    stopping at the first said attachment point in said cable at the first set of said holes, the said attachment point aligning with and allowing a said restraining pin to be inserted through said outer cylinder, through said attachment point and through said inner cylinder;    repeating the winding and stopping steps until the entire cable is wound around the outer surface of said inner cylinder, such that said attachment means connected to the first distal end is just protruding from the open top end of said outer cylinder;    inserting said restraining pins through said set of holes securing the attachment points to the said inner and outer cylinders.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said plate concentrically connects said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder at a point on their longitudinal axis other than the bottom end of said inner and outer cylinders.  
   
   
       8 . A method for winding a cable into the cable pack of  claim 7  comprising: 
 running the first distal end and half of said cable out of the open top end of said inner cylinder leaving the second distal end and half the said cable outside the open bottom end of the said inner cylinder;    winding one half end of said cable over itself and around said inner cylinder beginning at the corresponding inside of said perpendicular plate moving longitudinally toward the corresponding open end of said inner cylinder;    stopping at the first said attachment point before the first set of said holes, the said attachment point lining up with and allowing said restraining pin to be inserted through said outer cylinder, said attachment point and through said inner cylinder;    repeating said winding and stopping steps until the entire cable is wound around said inner cylinder and the corresponding said attachment means is just protruding from the open end of said outer cylinder;    repeating the winding, stopping and repeating steps on the opposite end of the said cable and inner cylinder;    inserting said restraining pins through said set of holes securing the attachment points to the said inner and outer cylinders.    
   
   
       9 . An attachment point as in  claim 2  comprising a circular ring around which said cable is affixed such that said attachment point does not rotate around said retaining pin as the cable pays out due to the torque imparted on the circular ring by the cable.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said hole being no larger than the internal diameter of the inner cylinder.