US 10,981,635 B2 · Hull and cargo hold cleaning apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for cleaning the outer side of the hull (60) of a marine vessel (50) and for cleaning the wall (70) of cargo holds, the apparatus (1) comprising a housing (2) provided with magnetic continuous tracks (3) at opposing lateral sides of the housing (2), a front wheel (6) and a rear wheel (5) for each of the magnetic continuous tracks (3), each magnetic continuous track (3) comprising a plurality of links (9) interconnected by drive pins (10), the links (9) having an inwardly facing side (18) and an outwardly facing side (19), a guide (40) configured to engage the drive pins (10) for preventing the links (9) in a first portion of the extent of the of at least one of the magnetic continuous tracks (3) between the front wheel (6) and the rear wheel (5) from moving in the direction in which the outwardly facing side (19) faces and a submersible apparatus for cleaning the outer side of the hull of a marine vessel and for cleaning the wall of cargo space in the cargo holds that comprises a watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of the housing. A watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of said housing. At least one drive motor in the housing operably connected to at least one continuous magnetic track for driving the continuous magnetic tracks. The housing being provided with a main side between the continuous magnetic tracks.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus (1) for cleaning an outer side of a hull (60) of a marine vessel (50) and for cleaning a wall (70) of cargo holds, said apparatus (1) comprising:

a housing (2) provided with magnetic continuous tracks (3) at opposing lateral sides of said housing (2),
said tracks (3) having a height,
a front wheel (6) and a rear wheel (5) for each of said magnetic continuous tracks (3),
each magnetic continuous track (3) comprising a plurality of links (9),
said links (9) being interconnected by drive pins (10), and a permanent magnet (4) embedded inside each link (9),
each link (9) being formed by a single piece and have an inward face (18) and an outward face (19) and a height corresponding to the height of said tracks (3),
said drive pins (10) extending though said links (9) with a portion of said drive pins (10) protruding laterally from the width of said links (9),
a guide (40) with a guide surface that extends straight along the length of each of said continuous tracks (3) between said front wheel (6) and said rear wheel (5), and
said guide surface (40) being configured to engage said laterally protruding portion of said drive pins (10) for preventing said links (9) in a first portion of an extent of at least one of said magnetic continuous tracks (3) between said front wheel (6) and said rear wheel (5) from moving in the direction in which said outwardly facing side (19) faces.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hull and cargo hold cleaning apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Hull and cargo hold cleaning apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8