Submerged Payload-Tube Sea Anchor Deployment for Vessel Drift Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parachute sea anchor systems are not effectively deployable from submerged payload tubes, limiting their ability to control vessel drift and maintain vessel orientation in challenging marine conditions.

Innovation Solution

A parachute sea anchor system is designed for deployment from a submerged payload tube, featuring a severance device, a payload canister with an active release mechanism, and a buoy tether, allowing the parachute sea anchor to be ejected and deployed underwater, with a severance device for detachment post-use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a parachute sea anchor system is deployed from a submerged payload tube, then the vessel's drift control and orientation stability are improved, but the device complexity and deployment mechanism requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel drift controlVSAvoiddeployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a payload canister for housing the sea anchor, a severance device for controlled release, and a payload tube for submerged deployment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall deployment mechanism through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sea anchor is pre-positioned within the payload canister in a compact configuration before deployment. The severance device is pre-configured with the tether, and the entire assembly is pre-loaded into the submerged payload tube, enabling rapid deployment without complex real-time assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a watertight barrier is added to the submerged payload tube, then the adaptability for multiple payloads and repeated use is improved, but the ease of operation for loading and retrieving payloads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple payload capabilityVSAvoidpayload loading

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A watertight barrier acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the payload tube interior. This barrier enables the tube to be sealed and pressurized, allowing payloads to be loaded in a controlled environment and then sealed for repeated submerged deployments without water ingress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The payload canister is nested within the payload tube, with the watertight barrier providing an additional nested sealing layer. This nested configuration allows the payload to be protected by multiple barriers, enabling repeated use while maintaining a relatively simple loading procedure through the tube's opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of repair

If a severance device is implemented for post-use detachment, then the ease of repair and system reusability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reusabilityVSAvoidseverance mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The severance device is designed to automatically detach the sea anchor from the vessel after deployment using self-contained mechanisms such as timed releases, depth-triggered releases, or simple mechanical breakaway features. This self-service approach enables easy recovery and reuse of the expensive vessel equipment without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows the severance device to be a simple, potentially disposable component that can be easily replaced or reset. By making the detachment mechanism simple and inexpensive relative to the overall system, the expensive vessel and payload canister can be recovered and reused multiple times, improving overall system reusability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively controls vessel movement and maintains orientation by deploying a parachute sea anchor from a submerged payload tube, enhancing stability and safety in marine environments.

Implementation Method 1

In use the parachute sea anchor may control the movement of the vessel to which it is tethered

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrag: Drag

Implementation Method 2

wherein said parachute sea anchor comprises a buoy, tethered thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP4054928B1Parachute sea anchor

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 BAE SYSTEMS PLC

Figure 1a~2
Figure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to a parachute sea anchor system deployable from a payload tube. There is provided a parachute sea anchor system suitable for launch from a vessel comprising at least one payload tube, said payload tube, comprising a payload canister, which comprises a parachute sea anchor, wherein said parachute sea anchor comprises a buoy tethered thereto, wherein said payload canister is attached to said vessel.