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US 8,187,045 B2Granted
Air-propelled vessel with articulating member
OwnerRonald J. Thibodauxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wide, flat-bottom, buoyant, amphibious hull with a powered articulating member mounted on the deck. The hull is propelled by at least one engine-driven propeller rotating above the hull. The hull has a shallow draft and distributes its weight over a large area. These features cooperatively provide a vehicle capable of installing or servicing power transmission poles, towers, or other structures located in environmentally sensitive wetlands, swamps, marshes, shallow water, or similar terrain.
Claims6
A vessel comprising:
- a. a wide hull having a low draft and an upper surface;
- b. at least one drive motor mounted to said hull;
- c. a propeller affixed to each of said at least one drive motor;
- d. at least one rudder positioned aft of each propeller for steering said hull;
- e. an articulating boom, pivotally attached to the upper surface of said hull, comprising:
- i. a first rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein said base of said first rigid member rotates about vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said base;
- and
- ii. a second rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein the base of said second member is pivotally attached to the distal end of said first rigid member, and said second rigid member pivots about a horizontal pivot axis between said first and second rigid members
- f. means for selectively moving said boom about said vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said base of said first rigid member;
- and
- g. means for selectively extending and retracting said articulating boom.
8 more elements
A vessel comprising:
- a. a wide hull having a low draft, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said lower surface comprises a smooth material for reducing friction;
- b. at least one drive motor mounted to said hull;
- c. a propeller affixed to each of said at least one drive motor;
- d. at least one rudder positioned aft of each propeller for steering said hull;
- e. an articulating boom, pivotally attached to the upper surface of said hull, comprising:
- i. a first rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein said base of said first rigid member rotates about vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said base;
- and
- ii. a second rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein the base of said second member is pivotally attached to the distal end of said first rigid member, and said second rigid member pivots about a horizontal pivot axis between said first and second rigid members
- f. means for selectively moving said boom about said vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said base of said first rigid member;
- and
- g. means for selectively extending and retracting said articulating boom.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.