US 5,947,051 A · Underwater self-propelled surface adhering robotically operated vehicle

Abstract

An underwater self-propelled surface-adhering robotically operated vehicle capable of being navigated through a volume of water and of adhering itself to an underwater surface and traversing along the surface. The vehicle has a main body with an interior suction chamber and a motor driven impeller disposed in the chamber to draw water through the bottom end of the chamber and expel it at the top end and thereby create a negative pressure force at the bottom end to maintain the vehicle in contact with the underwater surface. Thrusters on the main body allow the vehicle to be driven through a volume of water before and after attachment to the underwater surface as well as to hold station in mid water for tasks and inspections. The vehicle may be provided with an evacuable enclosure to provide an environment for task accomplishment and with measurement and inspection devices and tools for underwater hull cleaning, welding, and other underwater tasks.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An underwater self-propelled robotically operated vehicle capable of being navigated through a volume of water and of adhering itself to an underwater surface and traversing along said surface comprising:

a main body having an interior suction chamber with an open bottom end and a top end with an opening therethrough;
a motor driven impeller disposed in said suction chamber to draw water through said open bottom end and expel it through said opening to create a negative pressure suction force at said bottom end sufficient to adhere said main body to said underwater surface and maintain said main body thereon when adhered thereto;
an expandible and contractible member surrounding said suction chamber open end to selectively vary the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of said suction chamber;
roller means rotatably mounted on said main body for movably supporting said main body on said underwater surface and moving said main body relative thereto;
and
thruster means on said body for propelling said main body through a volume of water and moving it relative to said underwater surface when adhered thereto.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Underwater self-propelled surface adhering robotically operated vehicle

Life of this patent

Underwater self-propelled surface adhering robotically operated vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27