US3635183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remotely controlled unmanned submersible vehicle
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A remotely controlled submersible vehicle having a rigid truss framework suspended from a flotation sphere, three horizontally disposed members of the truss framework being arranged to form a triangular assembly about a vertically oriented center post affixed to the sphere. Thrusters affixed to the corners of the triangular assembly provide for translational and rotational control of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald R Keatinge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:40
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/34; B63C11/36; B63C11/42; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/14; B63G8/16; B63G8/001; B63G2008/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A remote-controlled submersible vehicle comprising a flotation member, and a rigid truss framework suspended from said flotation member including vertically oriented center post means secured at one end to the bottom of said flotation member, three elongated horizontally disposed members arranged to form a triangular assembly about said center post means, and means coupling said horizontally disposed members to said center post means, and three fixed thruster mechanisms, respective ones thereof being secured to said horizontally disposed members at the respective corners of said triangular assembly in such a manner that the forces generated thereby are tangent to a horizontally disposed circle concentric with said center post means whereby said vehicle may be translated in any horizontal direction or rotated about its center post in accordance with the magnitude and direction of the forces provided by the individual thrusters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A remote-controlled submersible vehicle comprising a flotation member, and a rigid truss framework suspended from said flotation member including vertically oriented center post means secured at one end to the bottom of said flotation member, three elongated horizontally disposed members arranged to form a triangular assembly about said center post means, and means coupling said horizontally disposed members to said center post means, and three fixed thruster mechanisms, respective ones thereof being secured to said horizontally disposed members at the respective corners of said triangular assembly in such a manner that the forces generated thereby are tangent to a horizontally disposed circle concentric with said center post means whereby said vehicle may be translated in any horizontal direction or rotated about its center post in accordance with the magnitude and direction of the forces provided by the individual thrusters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including three additional fixed thruster mechanisms, respective ones of said additional thruster mechanisms being secured to said horizontally disposed members at the respective corners of said triangular assembly in such a manner that the forces generated thereby are substantially parallel to said center post means whereby the said vehicle may be translated in a direction parallel to said center post means or rotated about orthogonal axes located in a plane normal to said center post means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of extended members, two of said extended members being connected between said center post means and each corner of said triangular assembly with one of said two extended members slanting upward and the other downward with respect to said horizontally disposed members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said center post means includes a sleeve having a rod extending therethrough, said rod being affixed at one end to said flotation member and having means secured to its other end to hold it within said sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including top and bottom pads positioned respectively at the top and bottom of said flotation member, the bottom pad being connected to said center post means, a plurality of straps connected between said pads and extending around said flotation member thereby securing the latter to said truss framework, and a plurality of guy lines, at least one guy line being connected from said top pad to a corner of said triangular assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including three plate assemblies located at the respective corners of said triangular assembly, each plate assembly having a first plate member affixed to the adjacent ends of said horizontally disposed members and said coupling means, and a second plate member spaced from said first plate member and adapted to support respective thruster mechanisms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the members of said truss framework are pipelike so that water can flow in them to provide pressure equalization in said members, and said first plate members have holes concentrically located with the ends of said pipework members for enabling water to flow therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said flotation member is a sphere and further including top and bottom pads positioned respectively at the top and bottom of said sphere with the bottom pad secured to said center post means, a plurality of straps equiangularly displaced from one another connected between said pads and extending around said sphere to secure the rigid truss framework thereto, and individual guy lines connEcted from each corner of said triangular assembly to said top pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of extended members, two of said extended members being connected between said center post means and each of the individual corners of said triangular assembly, said center post means comprises a rod affixed at one end to the flotation sphere and passing through a sleeve with means affixed to its other end to secure said truss framework to said sphere, and further including three vertically disposed sleeve members affixed to said truss framework near the periphery thereof with individual legs having a spherical foot passing through each of said sleeve members for supporting said vehicle on an under or overhead surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |