Patent EP0207927A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4123858A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4123858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Versatile submersible device for dredging or other underwater functions
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-07-25
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Granted: 1978-11-07
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Expires: 1997-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A watertight vertically elongated rigid shell or hull of a size small enough to be transportable over highways has a detachable snorkle extending from its top and contains a power source which may be used to drive pumps within the device and/or to drive mechanical devices, such as rotating blades, winches, belts, drills or propellers, which are located externally of the hull. The hull of the device is divided into upper and lower compartments, of which the lower compartment can be completely or partially flooded with water which acts as a ballast helping to stabilize the device and controlling submersion thereof and its submerged position.
Inventors
- 👤 George W. Batchelder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:53
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; E02F3/9206; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/34; B63C11/36; B63C11/38; E02F3/8858; E02F3/907; E02F3/9212; E02F3/9225; E02F3/9243; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A submersible device comprising a hollow hull having at least one watertight partition to divide the hull into an upper watertight chamber and a lower chamber adapted to receive selected amounts of water as ballast and having a bottom wall, means in said upper chamber to generate power, a dredge pump within the lower chamber driven by power from said generating means, intake means connected to said pump and projecting through the bottom of the hull, an elongated discharge conduit connected to said pump and projecting externally of said hull, compressed air means in said upper chamber selectively controllable to discharge air under pressure into the upper part of the lower chamber and discharge water from the lower chamber to control the level of water in the lower chamber or to vent air from the lower chamber and admit water into the lower chamber, and thereby control the depth of submersion of the hull, a plurality of members located in spaced relation transversely of said hull actuable by said generating means and each operable to shift the position of said hull in a predetermined direction, and means for selectively controlling said hull shifting means to position said hull at desired location and relation to the submerged surface being dredged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A submersible device comprising a hollow hull having at least one watertight partition to divide the hull into an upper watertight chamber and a lower chamber adapted to receive selected amounts of water as ballast and having a bottom wall, means in said upper chamber to generate power, a dredge pump within the lower chamber driven by power from said generating means, intake means connected to said pump and projecting through the bottom of the hull, an elongated discharge conduit connected to said pump and projecting externally of said hull, compressed air means in said upper chamber selectively controllable to discharge air under pressure into the upper part of the lower chamber and discharge water from the lower chamber to control the level of water in the lower chamber or to vent air from the lower chamber and admit water into the lower chamber, and thereby control the depth of submersion of the hull, a plurality of members located in spaced relation transversely of said hull actuable by said generating means and each operable to shift the position of said hull in a predetermined direction, and means for selectively controlling said hull shifting means to position said hull at desired location and relation to the submerged surface being dredged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hull is vertically elongated and substantially symmetrical relative to its vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and a snorkel tube projecting upwardly from said hull and selectively open at said upper chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 3, wherein said power generating means includes an internal combustion engine, and a snorkel tube connected to the exhaust outlet of said engine and projecting upwardly from said hull.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and means for ejecting water jets from the bottom of said hull adjacent said pump inlet when submerged to dislodge and loosen components from the water bottom being dredged for entrainment at said pump inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 5, and a skirt projecting downwardly from said hull outwardly of said jet ejecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and power actuated cutters projecting from and journaled in the bottom wall of said hull and actuated by said power generating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1 wherein said hull shifting means include means for ejecting water jets laterally from the lower portion of said hull in selected direction to move said hull laterally when submerged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1 wherein said hull shifting means includes a plurality of selectively operable power actuated propellers projecting from said hull and actuated by said power generating means, each propeller actuable to shift said hull in a selected direction while submerged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hull shifting means include a plurality of selectively operable power actuated cable winches projecting from said hull in peripherally spaced relation and actuated by said power generating means, a pulley journaled adjacent and below each winch exteriorly of said hull, and a cable wound on each winch and trained around the pulley associated with said winch and adapted to extend to anchoring means spaced laterally from said hull.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and a plurality of spaced collapsible footed leg members adjustably carried by the hull at peripherally spaced locations and projecting below the hull, and means driven from said power generating means for adjusting said leg members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and a plurality of power driven devices carried by said hull and adapted to be actuated by said power generating means, and selectively operable control means located in said upper chamber for selectively actuating said power driven devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and a plurality of substantially vertical power driven selectively operated augers carried by and projecting below said hull and actuated by said power generating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A submersible device as defined in claim 1, and a second substantially similar submersible device spaced from said first named hull, the discharge conduit from said first named pump being connected to the pump intake means of said second device, and, means for positioning said second device on the sea bed spaced from said first device when submerged.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
181 words
In combination in a submersible dredge, a hull having top, bottom and side walls and a partition spanning the hull to separate an upper and a lower chamber therein, means for maintaining a habitable atmosphere in said upper chamber, means for regulating the amount of water ballast within said lower chamber, a dredge pump in said lower chamber, intake and discharge conduits connected to said pump and opening exteriorly of said hull, a plurality of means for propelling said hull spaced peripherally thereof and each functioning to propel said hull in a selected lateral direction, means in said upper chamber for generating motive power for said pump, propelling means, and ballast regulating means, and means selectively controlling said power generating means, pump, propelling means and ballast regulating means whereby said ballast regulating means control the location of said hull with respect to the depth of submersion of said hull, and the clearance between the hull and the underwater surface to be dredged and, said propelling means control the direction and extent of movement of the hull as a dredging operation proceeds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
181 words
In combination in a submersible dredge, a hull having top, bottom and side walls and a partition spanning the hull to separate an upper and a lower chamber therein, means for maintaining a habitable atmosphere in said upper chamber, means for regulating the amount of water ballast within said lower chamber, a dredge pump in said lower chamber, intake and discharge conduits connected to said pump and opening exteriorly of said hull, a plurality of means for propelling said hull spaced peripherally thereof and each functioning to propel said hull in a selected lateral direction, means in said upper chamber for generating motive power for said pump, propelling means, and ballast regulating means, and means selectively controlling said power generating means, pump, propelling means and ballast regulating means whereby said ballast regulating means control the location of said hull with respect to the depth of submersion of said hull, and the clearance between the hull and the underwater surface to be dredged and, said propelling means control the direction and extent of movement of the hull as a dredging operation proceeds.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-06 | 1982-05-08 | 1982-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-06 | 1986-05-08 | 1986-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-06 | 1990-05-08 | 1990-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |