In a message dated 8/27/2010 7:59:39 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
vbra676539@aol.com writes:
Almost
anything I do puts the reel and buoys in the pilot's
way.
Hi Vance. It seems to me the placement of the buoy and reel wouldn't be a
problem as long as the line is fed through the lifting eye. The buoy could float
up from almost anywhere on the sub, provided it didn't get hung up on
something.
As Hugh suggested, it could be possible to use a fairly light (
floating ) line on the buoy and use that line to attach a stronger line, then
use THAT line to follow with the heavy hook and cable. In that way the buoy
itself could be quite small. The link Jens put up with the "two rope" system
would work in securing a stronger cable used for leading the heavy hook and
cable into place.
On another note......I wonder if a buoy that was inflated with HP air upon
release would work to simplify the release mechanism. I'm thinking along the
lines of a free flooding hard cylinder like a small propane tank. It could be
held in place by a rubber band or something easy to break. Once the air is
applied the buoy would become positively buoyant and float up. No "breakaway"
air line or mechanical thru-hull would be needed. Just a 1/4 inch air line with
valve. The buoy would act much like a soft ballast tank. Just keep the open hole
in the bottom small and as the buoy ascends the excess air would
simply bubble out. It wouldn't take much air even at depth to blow out a little
tank. If the tank was made from aluminum or plastic it wouldn't add much weight,
and releasing the buoy wouldn't decrease the subs overall buoyancy.
Frank D.