US3570437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-cycle ocean data gathering system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-11
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1989-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for repetitively submerging and surfacing an ocean data gathering instrument package. The system includes a number of vessels each large enough to contain sufficient water to sink the instrument package and the remaining vessels. The package is submerged by flooding one of the vessels and is surfaced by detaching the flooded vessel from the package and the remaining vessels. The package may be submerged as many times as there are vessels in the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D Davis Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:27
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/18; B63B22/20; B63B2207/00; B63B2207/02; B63B2211/00; B63B2211/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A multicycle underwater data gathering system comprising a vehicle including a spherically shaped data retrieving portion having a positive buoyancy in water, a plurality of angularly shaped vessels attached to and positioned in a stack beneath said data retrieving portion, said vessels initially having neutral buoyancy in water and each said vessels having a negative buoyancy when filled with water greater than the positive buoyancy of said data retrieving portion, means for sequentially filling said vessels with sufficient water to sink the vehicle and means for detaching the filled vessels from the vehicle so that the vehicle repetitively sinks and rises in water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A multicycle underwater data gathering system comprising a vehicle including a spherically shaped data retrieving portion having a positive buoyancy in water, a plurality of angularly shaped vessels attached to and positioned in a stack beneath said data retrieving portion, said vessels initially having neutral buoyancy in water and each said vessels having a negative buoyancy when filled with water greater than the positive buoyancy of said data retrieving portion, means for sequentially filling said vessels with sufficient water to sink the vehicle and means for detaching the filled vessels from the vehicle so that the vehicle repetitively sinks and rises in water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein adjacent vehicle components in the stack are connected by a C-shaped clamp mounted in engagement with both components and further including means for forcing the components into engagement with the clamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1207851A
Cited
US3368510A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |