For many years, the only acoustic release systems available for deep-sea missions were either stainless steel heavy-duty 1000kg release load or aluminium shallow water 30 kg release load. There was nothing available in between.
Which is why KUMO developed KUMQuat. It is a lightweight, deep-sea, corrosion resistant, acoustically controlled releaser that can not only be used with KUMO equipment but also by developers in the wider global market.
KUMQuat comes in two versions – lightweight and heavy load. Both can be used either in-line (inside of a rope, wire, chain), where buoyancy is attached to the rope above and weights are attached to a rope below (conventional mooring), or as a part of an instrument where the ground weight is attached below (OBS or lander). Both are entirely built from titanium and are certified to operate at depths of up to 10,000 m depending on customer requirements.
The release mechanism is controlled either via an external acoustic signal or through an integrated timer. Furthermore, KUMQuat offers the advantage of three additional output lines. When combined with an input line this allows for the remote control or status check of other instruments via its acoustic receiver.
Application:
- In-line mooring release
- Weight release for subsea instruments
- Control of other instruments via acoustic receiver
Features / Benefits:
- Robust corrosion-free titanium build
- External acoustic remote control
- Optimised to work with PACS & 8011M deck boxes
- User command input available
| KUMQUAT | |
| Models | Lightweight (K/MT 562 and K/MT 573 (in-line)) and Heavy Load (K/MT 552 and K/MT 572 (in-line)) |
| Release load | Lightweight – 250 kg, Heavy load – 1000 kg |
| Safe working load | Lightweight – 500 kg, Heavy load – 2500 kg |
| Reply frequencies | 7.5 – 15 kHz (0.5 kHz increment)Standard: 12 kHz |
| Reply pulse width | 8.5 ms – 17 ms |
| Command coding | FSK 16 bit, 12,000 individual codes available |
| Commands | Release, Range ON, Range OFF, Three individual I/O commands |
| Input / Output capabilities | 3 x external device controller1 x input line for external device checks |
| Power supply | 2 x 6 Alkaline C-cells (baby) |
| Battery life | 24 months (with 1.9 times safety), 100 x releases, 3000 x pings |
| Quiescent power | 270 μA typical |
| Quiescent power consumption | 2.5 mW typical |
| Material | Titanium |
| Operational depth | Up to 10,000 m |
| Dimensions | Diameter – 110 mm, Length – 625 mm |
| Weight | Lightweight – 11.1kg (air) / 6.3kg (water), Heavy Load – 13.6kg (air) / 7.7kg (water) |
