Disclosed herein are systems and methods for locating submerged items using a ropeless fishing system. A surface subsystem installed on a vessel is configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into a body of water and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. A plurality of submerged subsystems, each including an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit, are configured to receive the interrogation signal and transmit reply signals in response. The surface subsystem processes the reply signals to determine relative bearing, slant range, and true bearing, calculate the submerged subsystem locations, and display the locations on a human machine interface. In some embodiments, the submerged subsystems may further include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag, and the surface subsystem may transmit a subsequent interrogation signal to actuate one or more submerged subsystems to inflate a flotation bag and enable recovery of the subsystem.
Disclosed herein are novel systems and methods for performing ropeless fishing operations such as storing, transporting, and deploying ropeless fishing systems. The ropeless fishing systems include a containment cage, an actuator, a compressed gas cylinder and a floatation bag attached to the containment cage via a rotational support member. Storage methods include providing ropeless fishing systems and rotating the floatation bag about the longitudinal axis of a rotational support member and positioning the floatation bag inside the containment cage such that the containment cage can be stacked with other containment cages. Deployment methods include providing ropeless fishing systems and rotating the floatation bag about the longitudinal axis of a rotational support member and positioning the floatation bag outside the containment cage, enabling the floatation bag to inflate for recovery of the ropeless fishing system outside the confinement of the containment cage.
Disclosed herein are novel ropeless crab traps and methods. The ropeless crab trap includes a trap portion having an aperture in an upper surface and a rim fitted within the aperture and extending into the trap, a plurality of tether lines secured to the trap and an actuation and recovery system secured to the tether lines and positioned substantially above the aperture. The actuation and recovery system includes a solenoid valve, a floatation bag, a compressed gas source and an inflation control unit. The inflation control unit, which may be configured as an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit, is in electronic communication with the solenoid valve, while the floatation bag and compressed gas source are each in fluid communication with the solenoid valve. In some embodiments, the floatation bag substantially seals the aperture of the trap portion, thereby substantially preventing any catch located within the trap from escaping.
B63C 7/10 - Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vesselsSalvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safesSalvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in, or adjacent to, vessels or objects using inflatable floats external to vessels or objects
B63B 22/22 - Inflatable buoys with gas generating means
B63C 7/06 - Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vesselsSalvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safesSalvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in, or adjacent to, vessels or objects
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for ropeless fishing. The ropeless fishing system includes a surface subsystem installed on a vessel and at least one submerged subsystem submerged in a body of water. The surface subsystem includes acoustic transceiver and acoustic transducer units, which are configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into the body of water surrounding the vessel and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. The submerged subsystems include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag in fluid communication and an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit configured to receive the acoustic interrogation signal transmitted by the surface subsystem and to transmit an acoustic reply signal into the body of water. In addition, the submerged subsystem is further configured to control the flow of gas between the compressed gas source and the enclosed floatation bag to facilitate recovery of the submerged subsystem.
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for ropeless fishing. The ropeless fishing system includes a surface subsystem installed on a vessel and at least one submerged subsystem submerged in a body of water. The surface subsystem includes acoustic transceiver and acoustic transducer units, which are configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into the body of water surrounding the vessel and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. The submerged subsystems include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag in fluid communication and an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit configured to receive the acoustic interrogation signal transmitted by the surface subsystem and to transmit an acoustic reply signal into the body of water. In addition, the submerged subsystem is further configured to control the flow of gas between the compressed gas source and the enclosed floatation bag to facilitate recovery of the submerged subsystem.
B63B 22/06 - Anchoring arrangements with means to cause the buoy to surface in response to a transmitted signal
B63B 22/22 - Inflatable buoys with gas generating means
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinationsPosition-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G08C 23/02 - Non-electric signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using acoustic waves
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