US3140688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ship positioning
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1963-04-05
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Granted: 1964-07-14
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Expires: 1983-04-05
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Howard L Shatto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:55
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/0206; G05D1/0208; E; E21; E21B; E21B15/00; E21B15/02; E21B41/00; E21B41/0007; E21B41/0014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING A FLOATING VESSEL OVER A DESIRED POSITION COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF MULTIPLE-BLADE VERTICAL-AXIS PROPULSION MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID VESSEL TO PROPEL SAID VESSEL, SAID PROPULSION MEANS IN ADDITION BEING SPACED FROM THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF THE VESSEL, AND HAVING A STEERING SHAFT FOR CONTROLLING THE MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION OF THRUST SUPPLIED BY EACH PROPULSION UNIT; A FIRST SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS DISPOSED ON THE VESSEL FOR DETERMINING THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE VESSEL FROM THE DESIRED POSITION IN TWO DIRECTIONS, SAID DIRECTIONS BEING ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AND ATHWARTSHIP AXES OF THE VESSEL; A SECOND SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID VESSEL FOR DETERMINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL HEADING OF THE VESSEL AND THE DESIRED HEADING; FIRST ACTUATOR MEANS COUPLED TO EACH OF SAID STEERING SHAFTS TO MOVE SAID STEERING SHAFTS ALONG A FIRST AXIS; SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS COUPLED TO EACH OF SAID STEERING SHAFTS TO MOVE SAID STEERING SHAFTS ALONG A SECOND AXIS AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST AXIS; SAID FIRST SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS BEING COUPLED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS TO POSITION SAID FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS IN RESPONS TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE VESSEL ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AND ATHWARTSHIP AXES; AND SAID SECOND SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS BEING COUPLED TO ONE OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS TO POSITION SAID ONE ACTUATOR MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE SAID MEASURED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DESIRED AND ACTUAL HEADING OF THE VESSEL TO GIVE A ROTATIONAL VECTOR AT RIGHT ANGLES TO A LINE BETWEEN THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF THE VESSEL AND THE PROPULSION MEANS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING A FLOATING VESSEL OVER A DESIRED POSITION COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF MULTIPLE-BLADE VERTICAL-AXIS PROPULSION MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID VESSEL TO PROPEL SAID VESSEL, SAID PROPULSION MEANS IN ADDITION BEING SPACED FROM THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF THE VESSEL, AND HAVING A STEERING SHAFT FOR CONTROLLING THE MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION OF THRUST SUPPLIED BY EACH PROPULSION UNIT; A FIRST SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS DISPOSED ON THE VESSEL FOR DETERMINING THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE VESSEL FROM THE DESIRED POSITION IN TWO DIRECTIONS, SAID DIRECTIONS BEING ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AND ATHWARTSHIP AXES OF THE VESSEL; A SECOND SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID VESSEL FOR DETERMINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL HEADING OF THE VESSEL AND THE DESIRED HEADING; FIRST ACTUATOR MEANS COUPLED TO EACH OF SAID STEERING SHAFTS TO MOVE SAID STEERING SHAFTS ALONG A FIRST AXIS; SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS COUPLED TO EACH OF SAID STEERING SHAFTS TO MOVE SAID STEERING SHAFTS ALONG A SECOND AXIS AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST AXIS; SAID FIRST SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS BEING COUPLED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS TO POSITION SAID FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS IN RESPONS TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE VESSEL ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AND ATHWARTSHIP AXES; AND SAID SECOND SENSING AND CONTROLLING MEANS BEING COUPLED TO ONE OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS TO POSITION SAID ONE ACTUATOR MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE SAID MEASURED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DESIRED AND ACTUAL HEADING OF THE VESSEL TO GIVE A ROTATIONAL VECTOR AT RIGHT ANGLES TO A LINE BETWEEN THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF THE VESSEL AND THE PROPULSION MEANS.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1967-07-14 | 1968-01-13 | 1968-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1971-07-14 | 1972-01-13 | 1972-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1975-07-14 | 1976-01-13 | 1976-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |