Title:
BUOY
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/106853
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A buoy (1) has a main body (5), and a moveable mass (2) positioned inside the main body. The buoy (1) may be tethered to a submarine vessel and used as a communications buoy. The buoy (1) may be configured for floating in a generally upright orientation at the water surface (7) in a position ready for communication, when the mass (2) is in a first position (Figure 1a) in which the centre of mass is offset from the centre of buoyancy to improve stability in the water. The buoy (1) may be configured for being towed underwater at speed, when the mass (2) is in a second position (Figure 1b), in which the centre of mass is closer to the centre of buoyancy, to improve towing stability in the water, thereby allowing the buoy (1) to be towed with its long axis substantially aligned with the direction of motion, thereby reducing wake/plume in the water.
Inventors:
JONE TIMOTHY MEALLE (GB)
WHITTEN TIMOTHY JAMES (GB)
WHITTEN TIMOTHY JAMES (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2009/000567
Publication Date:
June 24, 2010
Filing Date:
February 27, 2009
Export Citation:
Assignee:
BABCOCK INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY (GB)
JONE TIMOTHY MEALLE (GB)
WHITTEN TIMOTHY JAMES (GB)
JONE TIMOTHY MEALLE (GB)
WHITTEN TIMOTHY JAMES (GB)
International Classes:
B63B22/18; B63B22/20; B63C7/26; B63G8/41; B63G8/42
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2005120943A1 | 2005-12-22 |
Foreign References:
| US4947782A | 1990-08-14 | |||
| US6807856B1 | 2004-10-26 | |||
| US20030068935A1 | 2003-04-10 | |||
| US2586828A | 1952-02-26 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PEARSON, James, Ginn (20 Red Lion Street, London WC1R 4PQ, GB)
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