System And Method For Recovering A Submarine Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for recovering a submarine vehicle. The submarine vehicle is pulled by a rope and hauled by means of the rope and a recovery ramp from the body of water on board a ship or onto land. The system comprises the recovery ramp and a wave equalization ramp. The wave compensation ramp can be rotated relative to the recovery ramp about a swivel axis S and is supported by a floating body. The watercraft is picked up by means of the recovery ramp. The wave compensation ramp is hauled together with the picked-up submarine vehicle by means of the recovery ramp. The invention permits the recovery of a submarine vehicle, even in moderate or heavy seas, with less risk of damage to the submarine vehicle.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for recovering a submarine vehicle, said system comprising:
 a recovery ramp for retrieving the submarine vehicle from a body of water by means of a rope for pulling the submarine vehicle and by means of the recovery ramp, on board a marine vessel or onto land; and   a wave compensation ramp pivotably mounted on the recovery ramp about a pivot axis (S) relative to the recovery ramp and supported by a floating body for receiving the submarine vehicle and for retrieving the wave compensation ramp together with the received submarine vehicle by means of the recovery ramp.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a guide carriage that is displaceable in a linear manner on the recovery ramp;   a joint for mounting the wave compensation ramp; and   a hydraulically driven belt drive for displacing the guide carriage.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a front receiver device that is displaceable in a linear manner on the wave compensation ramp for guiding the rope and the submarine vehicle, the front receiver device comprising:
 a coupling means for coupling to a front attachment fastened to the submarine vehicle; and   a front floating body for retaining the front receiver device in the region of the waterline of the body of water during the coupling procedure.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the coupling means comprises a snap connection device for engaging and retaining the front attachment and the front receiver device comprises a negative shell for centering the submarine vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a rear receiver device fastened to the wave compensation ramp, the rear receiver device comprising:
 a rear floating body for retaining the free end of the wave compensation ramp in the region of the waterline of the body of water; and   at least one wheel for guiding and mounting the submarine vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a guide pulley mounted on one of the guide carriage and the the wave compensation ramp in the region of the pivot axis (S) for deflecting the rope from the wave compensation ramp to the recovery ramp, such that the lifting of the wave compensation ramp when the submarine vehicle is guided on the wave compensation ramp is assisted by pulling on the rope. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the guide pulley is mounted above the pivot axis (s). 
     
     
         22 . The system according  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a marine bearing assembly for mounting the recovery ramp;   a rocker for lifting the recovery ramp via a tilting roller onto the marine bearing assembly; and   a hydraulic cylinder for driving the rocker.   
     
     
         23 . A method for recovering a submarine vehicle, the submarine vehicle being retrieved from a body of water, by means of a rope, by means of which the submarine vehicle is pulled, and by means of a recovery ramp, on board a marine vessel or onto land, said method comprising:
 receiving the submarine vehicle by means of wave compensation ramp pivotably mounted on the recovery ramp about a pivot axis (S) relative to the recovery ramp and supported by a floating body; and   retrieving the wave compensation ramp together with the received submarine vehicle by means of the recovery ramp.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising displacing a guide carriage in a linear manner on the recovery ramp via a hydraulically driven belt, wherein a joint of the guide carriage is mounted the wave compensation ramp. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein coupling means on a front receiver device are coupled to a front attachment fastened to the submarine vehicle, the method further comprising:
 retaining the front receiver device in the region of the waterline of the body of water, via a front floating body of the front receiver device, and   displacing the front receiver device in a linear manner on the wave compensation ramp, the front receiver device guiding at least one of the rope and the submarine vehicle.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 engaging and retaining the front attachment, via a snap connection device of the coupling means; and   centering the submarine vehicle, via a negative shell of the front receiver device.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 retaining the free end of the wave compensation ramp in the region of the waterline of the body of water, via a rear floating body of a receiver device fastened to the wave compensation ramp; and   guiding and mounting the submarine vehicle, via wheels of the rear receiver device.   
     
     
         28 . The method according of  claim 27 , further comprising deflecting the rope from the wave compensation ramp to the recovery ramp, via a guide pulley mounted on one of the guide carriage and the the wave compensation ramp in the region of the pivot axis (S), such that when the submarine vehicle is guided on the wave compensation ramp the lifting of the wave compensation ramp is assisted by pulling on the rope. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the the guide pulley is mounted above the pivot axis (S). 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 lifting the recovery ramp, via a rocker and tiling roller, onto a marine bearing assembly, wherein a hydraulic cylinder drives the rocker; and   mounting the recovery ramp, via the marine bearing assembly.