Patent US3895954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4010619A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Remote unmanned work system (RUWS) electromechanical cable system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1976-05-24
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Granted: 1977-03-08
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Expires: 1996-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A tethered underwater work system comprises a primary lift module attachedo a support vehicle by means of a primary tether. A submarine work vehicle is removably attached to said primary lift module and connected thereto by means of a secondary tether. Additionally, the lift module contains electrical distribution systems to permit an extensive control and instrumentation linkage with the submarine work vehicle and remotely controlled manipulators mounted thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Hightower
- 👤 George R. Beaman
- 👤 George A. Wilkins
- 👤 Douglas W. Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:33
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/04; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/48; D; D07; D07B; D07B1/00; D07B1/02; D07B1/025; D07B1/14; D07B1/147; H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/17; H01B7/18; H01B7/1875; H01B7/22; H01B7/221; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/06; H02G1/10; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/001; B63G2008/002; B63G2008/005; D07B2201/00; D07B2201/10; D07B2201/104; D07B2201/1076; D07B2201/108; D07B2205/00; D07B2205/20; D07B2205/2046; D07B2205/205; D07B2401/00; D07B2401/20; D07B2401/2015; H01B7/04; H01B7/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system comprising: a surface control station; a primary cable operatively connected to said surface control station at its upper end and extending vertically downward therefrom and configured to provide mechanical support to loads attached thereto and to provide electrical energy transfer therealong; primary cable terminating means connected to said primary cable for underwater support thereby and including, attachment means mounted on the lower surface of the primary cable terminating means for releasable support of loads attached thereto, controllably powered reel means mounted on said primary cable terminating means for paying out and recovering a secondary cable, a secondary cable wound on said controllably powered reel means, hydrodynamic thrusting means mounted on said primary cable terminating means in fixed relation thereto for providing stabilization and limited spatial positioning thereof, and electrical signal distribution means mounted on said primary cable terminating means and electricall connected to said primary cable for receipt of electrical energy therefrom and effectively electrically connected to said controllably powered reel means, said secondary cable, and said hydrodynamic thrusting means for apportioning the electrical energy thereto; and work vehicle means attached to said secondary cable for providing a work station and including, propulsion means mounted on said work vehicle for moving said work vehicle in a predetermined area and electrically connected to said secondary cable for receipt of electrical energy therefrom, mechanical manipulator means mounted on said work vehicle and effectively connected to said secondary cable means for receipt of control signals therefrom, support means mounted on the upper surface of said work vehicle means and constructed to cooperate with said attachment means for permitting selective attachment of said work vehicle to the primary cable terminating means to establish a unitary assemblage therewith, and communication means mounted on said work vehicle means and electrically connected to said secondary cable for transmission of signals therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
310 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system comprising: a surface control station; a primary cable operatively connected to said surface control station at its upper end and extending vertically downward therefrom and configured to provide mechanical support to loads attached thereto and to provide electrical energy transfer therealong; primary cable terminating means connected to said primary cable for underwater support thereby and including, attachment means mounted on the lower surface of the primary cable terminating means for releasable support of loads attached thereto, controllably powered reel means mounted on said primary cable terminating means for paying out and recovering a secondary cable, a secondary cable wound on said controllably powered reel means, hydrodynamic thrusting means mounted on said primary cable terminating means in fixed relation thereto for providing stabilization and limited spatial positioning thereof, and electrical signal distribution means mounted on said primary cable terminating means and electricall connected to said primary cable for receipt of electrical energy therefrom and effectively electrically connected to said controllably powered reel means, said secondary cable, and said hydrodynamic thrusting means for apportioning the electrical energy thereto; and work vehicle means attached to said secondary cable for providing a work station and including, propulsion means mounted on said work vehicle for moving said work vehicle in a predetermined area and electrically connected to said secondary cable for receipt of electrical energy therefrom, mechanical manipulator means mounted on said work vehicle and effectively connected to said secondary cable means for receipt of control signals therefrom, support means mounted on the upper surface of said work vehicle means and constructed to cooperate with said attachment means for permitting selective attachment of said work vehicle to the primary cable terminating means to establish a unitary assemblage therewith, and communication means mounted on said work vehicle means and electrically connected to said secondary cable for transmission of signals therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 wherein said control station includes a constant tension marine crane effectively connected to payout and retrieve said primary cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said surface control station includes an enclosed van on a surface vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 3 in which said surface control station includes sensor control linkages operated by the head movements of an operator within said enclosed van.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 4 in which said control station includes time shared multiplex circuitry to translate control signals from said head operated control to multiplex control signals for transmission along said primary cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A remotely controlled underwater work station according to claim 1 in which said primary cable includes a coaxial electrical conductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said primary cable includes a plurality of oppositely wound synthetic fiber tension bearing layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 7 in which said synthetic fiber layers are each comprised of a plurality of strands of multiple-filament yarn twisted in a polyurethane matrix into filamentary strength member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said primary cable terminating means additionally includes an electroacoustic transponder for cooperating with oceanographic navigation buoys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said secondary cable is threaded through said attachment means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said electrical signal distribution means includes a multiplex filter and time sharing multiplex modulator and demodulators.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said work vehicle mounted mechanical manipulator means includes two remotely controlled mechanical manipulators.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 12 where one of said remotely controlled manual manipulators is a limited movement grabber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 1 in which said work vehicle mounted communication means includes a television camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 14 wherein said television camera includes movement controls connected between said camera and said work vehicle which are controlled by head movements of operation personnel at the aforesaid surface control station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 2 in which said surface control station includes an enclosed van resting on a surface vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 16 in which said surface control station includes control linkages operated by the head movements of an operator within said enclosed van.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 17 in which said control station includes time shared multiplex circuitry to translate control signals from said head operated control to multiplex control signals for transmissions along said primary cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A remotely controlled underwater work station according to claim 18 in which said primary cable includes a coaxial electrical conductor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 19 in which said primary cable includes a plurality of oppositely wound synthetic fiber tension bearing layers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 20 in which said synthetic fiber layers are each comprised of a plurality of strands of a multiple-filament yarn twisted in a polyurethane matrix into filamentary strength member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 21 in which said primary cable terminating means additionally includes an electroacoustic transponder for cooperating with oceanographic navigation buoys.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 22 in which said secondary cable is threaded through said attachment means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 23 in which said electrical signal distribution means includes a multiplex filter and time sharing multiplex modulator and demodulators.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 24 in which said work vehicle mounted mechanical manipulator means includes two remotely controlled mechanical manipulators.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 25 where one of said remotely controlled manual manipulators is a limited movement grabber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A remotely controlled underwater work system according to claim 26 in which said work vehicle mounted communication means includes a television camera.
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) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |