A pop-up float recovery system for coastal oceanographic tripods
Citable URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1912/6450DOI
10.1575/1912/6450Keyword
Oceanographic instrumentsAbstract
The recovery package described here was used as the primary retrieval system to recover
tripod instrument platforms from a depth of 90 meters. The device uses dual in-line burn
wires, one of which is acoustically commanded from the surface ship. The other is set to
release by back-up timer, ensuring recovery in the event of a poor acoustic command channel.
The burn wire activates spring loaded cam latches which release the float package and pull
a ~ inch Dacron line to the surface. The float package is recovered and the line is used to
winch the tripod to the surface for recovery by the ship's crane. Major benefits of the system
are reliability, low cost, light weight, and use of many off-the-shelf components. The float
package provides 50 pounds of buoyancy and is fabricated using commercial fish trawl net
floats. The retrieval line container is separate from the float assembly, and is fabricated from
plastic storage containers. The line is coiled and restricted to prevent unpackaging due to waves or current action. The system described here is not appropriate in areas of high current
or great depth due to drag and dead weight of the lift line.
Suggested Citation
Dunn, C. V. R., & Gordon, A. G. (1989). A pop-up float recovery system for coastal oceanographic tripods. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. https://doi.org/10.1575/1912/6450Related items
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