US3946692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for cleaning ship's hulls and other immersed surfaces
Assignee: PHOCEENE SOUS MARINE PSM LES HOMMES GRENOUILIES DU PORT DE MARSEI
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Filing: 1974-12-20
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1994-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A device for cleaning immersed surfaces comprising a supporting structure rrying rotary circular brushes for cleaning the surface and wheels for moving the device on the surface. When rotated the brushes produce a force of attraction towards the surface. Transmission means, for example, calibrated springs, transmit to the wheel a predetermined part of the force of attraction so that the force with which the brushes are pressed against the surface is diminished and the adhesion of the wheels to the surface is ensured.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Sierra
- 👤 Pierre Pince
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:57
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/06; B63B59/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising: a supporting structure carrying wheels for moving the structure on said surface and carrying driving means for driving rotary brushes, and a plurality of rotary circular brushes driven by said driving means, each brush being fixed to a sliding axial member which bears on the structure through a calibrated spring, said spring being compressed by the sliding of the said axial member in response to the rotation of said brush, each of said rotaty circular brushes having bristles for cleaning the surface and a central space which is free of bristles, the bristles of each brush being arranged in tufts which are distributed between said central space and the periphery of the brush in rows so as to define flow channels which are flared towards the periphery of the brush, said flow channels conducting streams of water from the central space to the periphery of said brush.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising: a supporting structure carrying wheels for moving the structure on said surface and carrying driving means for driving rotary brushes, and a plurality of rotary circular brushes driven by said driving means, each brush being fixed to a sliding axial member which bears on the structure through a calibrated spring, said spring being compressed by the sliding of the said axial member in response to the rotation of said brush, each of said rotaty circular brushes having bristles for cleaning the surface and a central space which is free of bristles, the bristles of each brush being arranged in tufts which are distributed between said central space and the periphery of the brush in rows so as to define flow channels which are flared towards the periphery of the brush, said flow channels conducting streams of water from the central space to the periphery of said brush.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
the device of claim 1 wherein said tufts are arranged on concentric circles, the tufts on each circle being evenly distributed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2 wherein all circles have the same number of tufts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 2 wherein there are two series of concentric circles, all the circles of each series having the same number of tufts, circles of different series having different numbers of tufts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 4 wherein starting from the central space, the brush comprises four successive circles each of 36 tufts of bristles, followed by four successive circles each of 72 tufts of bristles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said tufts are located at the intersection of concentric circles with two sets of non-secant curves, the curves of the first set extending from the innermost circle to the outermost circle, the curves of the second set being disposed between the curves of the first set and extending from a circle intermediate the innermost and outermost circles to the outermost circle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said driving means for said brushes comprises hydraulic motors carried by said supporting structure, and further including a common oil feed pipe for feeding said motors and a common oil return pipe, said oil feed pipe being contained with said oil return pipe, and the diameter of the oil return pipe being such that when filled with oil the pipes are buoyant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said axial member comprises a sleeve which slides on a shaft which is rotatively fixed to said supporting structure and which is driven by said driving means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1213091A
Cited
US2021608A
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US3088429A
Cited
GB1226605A
Cited
FR1580337A
Cited
US3678529A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |