Line-handling improvement and retrofit kit for a submersible conveyance

Abstract

A submersible conveyance system and method for remotely operating within a body of water that includes a frame having at least one submersible conveyance coupler and a storage container having a cap with a plurality of flaps that define an aperture, the cap for applying a drag on the line upon the line passing through the aperture.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A submersible conveyance system that is remotely operated for commanded motion in any direction within a body of water surrounding the submersible conveyance system, the submersible conveyance system is remotely operated to open and close a gripper located at a front end of the submersible conveyance system comprising:
 a frame having at least one submersible conveyance coupler and at least one battery coupler;   at least one storage container coupled to the frame;   a hook coupled to an end of a line, the hook configured to be coupled to the gripper when the gripper is closed; and   a cap covering a mouth of the at least one storage container, the cap having a plurality flaps that define an aperture, the cap for applying a drag on the line upon the line passing through the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the frame includes at least a pair of storage container holders each laterally disposed on respective sides of a frame centerline. 
     
     
         3 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 2  where the frame includes at least one joist that extends laterally between the pair of storage container holders. 
     
     
         4 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 3  where the joist comprises a top element a bottom element and the frontal area of the joist is less than twenty-five percent of the frontal area between the pair of storage container holders. 
     
     
         5 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the frame includes at least one column that couples to a submersible conveyance. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 5  where a submersible conveyance coupler is located at the top of the column. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the submersible conveyance coupler is a cam lock. 
     
     
         8 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the frame includes at least one longitudinally extending beam that includes at least one battery coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 8  where the least one battery coupler is orientated within thirty degrees of horizontal. 
     
     
         10 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the submersible conveyance coupler and the battery coupler are identical in locking mechanism type and in footprint size. 
     
     
         11 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the storage container is a cylinder have a 6.5 inch diameter or less and a length of thirty inches or less. 
     
     
         12 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  where the storage container has a plurality of slits, where at least one slit has a notch. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  further includes at least a thousand feet of line having an average tensile strength of at least 34000 lbs. 
     
     
         14 . The submersible conveyance system of  claim 1  further including a submersible conveyance. 
     
     
         15 . A method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system comprising
 coupling a frame to a submersible conveyance;   coupling a battery to the frame;   coupling a storage container to the frame;   submersing the submersible conveyance;   moving the submersible conveyance in proximity to a payload; and   coupling an end of a line to a payload.   
     
     
         16 . The method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system of  claim 15  wherein the step of coupling the second end of the line to a payload comprises
 coupling a gripper to the submersible conveyance; 
 coupling a hook to the gripper; and 
 coupling the hook to the payload. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system of  claim 15  wherein the step of coupling a storage container to the frame further comprises storing at least one thousand feet of line in a plurality of storage containers. 
     
     
         18 . The method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system of  claim 17  wherein the step of coupling a storage container to the frame further comprises storing line having an average tensile strength of at least 34,000 lbs. 
     
     
         19 . The method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system of  claim 15  wherein the step of coupling the second end of the line to a payload comprises running line through at least one of five slits in an end of the storage container. 
     
     
         20 . The method for utilizing a submersible conveyance system of  claim 15  wherein the step of coupling the second end of the line to a payload comprises running line through a notch of a slit in an end of the storage container.