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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8069808 | Buoyancy control systems and methods for submersible objects A buoyancy control system comprises a housing and first and second pistons movably supported by the housing. In a shallow mode, displacement of the first piston alters a buoyancy of the buoyancy control system. In a deep mode, displacement of the first and second pi... | 12/06/2011 |
| 7921795 | Buoyancy control systems and methods A buoyancy control system for a submersible object submerged in an ambient fluid, comprising a piston housing, a piston member, a pump, control fluid, and working fluid. The piston housing is supported by the submersible object. The piston member defines a piston po... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7352073 | Ocean wave energy converter having an improved generator and ballast control The ocean wave energy converter uniquely includes a generator with a rotating inner rotor surrounded by a counter-rotating outer rotor for generating electricity. A reciprocating drive rod drives the inner rotor on the downstroke of the drive rod and the outer rotor... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7352074 | System for producing hydrogen making use of a stream of water A system for producing hydrogen from water, making use of a stream of water such as a gulf stream or tidal stream, includes a number of submerged modules, each having a turbine that can be driven by the stream of water. The turbine is coupled to a generator for gene... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7328669 | Buoyancy-based, underwater propulsion system and method An apparatus for underwater propulsion. The apparatus may include a hydrofoil, a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil, a tank containing air, and a controller regulating the passage of air from the tank into the buoyancy compensator. The controller may al... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7278293 | Submersible probe A probe for deployment in a fluid measures produces an output representative of a parameter associated with the fluid. The probe includes a density control system to control a density of the probe and a locating system to track a location of probe in the fluid. ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7213532 | System and method for managing the buoyancy of an underwater vehicle The present invention provides a system and a method, including a gas supply proximate to a worksite, for repetitively recharging the ballast tank of an underwater vehicle as required to control its buoyancy while moving underwater payloads. ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7174844 | Simulator and method for performing underwater submarine escape training The simulator of the present invention comprises a submersible structure to be used in a body of water, for instance a pool. This structure comprises a bell defining a main chamber. An escape tower is provided over the bell. This escape tower defines an escape chamb... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7146925 | Apparatus for varying vessel hull geometry and vessels made therewith An apparatus for varying the dimensions of a hull of a vessel comprising an arcuate truss assembly having a plurality of members pivotally joined. The arcuate truss assembly is operatively arranged to form a portion of the hull. The assembly is operatively arranged ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7117813 | Submarine boat The submarine is equipped with a fluid gas pressure container, in particular for storing liquid oxygen. The liquid gas pressure container is arranged within the pressure hull of the submarine and is surrounded by an outer pressure container which is likewise stored ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7104728 | Method for deploying seafloor equipment A method for deploying and retrieving seafloor equipment modules is disclosed. A conveyor has a fixed end and a free end. The conveyor is deployed into a body of water until the free end reaches, or is proximate to, the seafloor. The conveyor is dragged through the ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 6971934 | Autonomous liquid filled buoy A buoy system includes a sea-bed pump station having separate reservoirs of lighter-than-water and heavier-than-water liquids. The reservoirs are in fluid communication with peristaltic pumps that are operated via a preprogrammed control within the station. A buoy h... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6941883 | Submerged underwater observation booth The invention concerns the structure of a “SUBMERGED UNDERWATER OBSERVATION BOOTH”, including a floating station on water surface, and a piping system to convey fresh air and power into the SUBMERGED BOOTH. The SUBMERGED BOOTH provides an atmospheric environment... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6851381 | Airborne mine neutralization system, neutralizer pressure relief valve A combination pressure relief valve system and undersea vehicle vents pressurized gas from lithium batteries to ambient. An undersea vehicle having an interior has a pair of hollow pylons each having a passageway fluidly communicating with the interior. A pressure r... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6691636 | Method of deploying cable A method of deploying cable in a body of water comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, and placing cable in the body of water with the AUV. The cable, usually a cable sensor array, is... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6681711 | System for deploying cable An apparatus for deploying cable in a body of water comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, having a housing and means to deploy cable in a body of water. The cable, usually a cable s... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6578637 | Method and system for storing gas for use in offshore drilling and production operations Gas storage is provided for a subsea gas-lifted riser during offshore drilling and/or production operations. One or more gas storage chambers positioned along and about the subsea riser are connected to a gas conduit. Each chamber has at least one valve f... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6533627 | Method and apparatus for dynamically controlled buoyancy of towed arrays The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for adjusting the buoyancy of towed seismic arrays comprising a plurality of streamers and specifically to the dynamic buoyancy control of the buoyancy of a towed array of streamers by means o... | 03/18/2003 |
| 6525992 | Devices for controlling the position of an underwater cable A device for controlling the position of an underwater cable comprises a body, first and second actuators, and a pair of wings. The body is stationarily mountable to the underwater cable and the first and second actuators are disposed in the body. Each wi... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6371041 | Versatile buoyancy, attitude, hover, and glide control system for undersea vehicles An undersea streamline vehicle having a unique system for gliding ascent, gliding descent, both with and without engine power, and for hovering in the sea for exploratory or research purposes by the provision in the vehicle of buoyancy chambers or bladder... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6349665 | Drone vessel for an ROV A drone vessel for an ROV. The drone vessel utilizes dynamic positioning. The drone vessel is remotely controlled by radio telemetry, preferably modular in construction, and may be semi-submersible. The vessel contains a radio telemetry package, one or mo... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6321676 | Underwater craft having sealed and inflatable buoyancy chambers An underwater craft having a buoyancy control system, multi-sealed passenger chamber and emergency shut-off for external operation using inherent buoyancy of the craft.... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6142092 | Depth control device A depth control device (1) for a subsmersible body comprises a depth monitor (5) and depth controller (6). A variable volume buoyant body operates under the control of the depth controller and comprises three chambers, the first (10) containing air and th... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6131531 | Buoyancy system for application to submersible bodies The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for buoyancy compensation. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a selectively deformable buoyancy device and method for its use.... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6095078 | Submarine propulsion control system An underwater vehicle having a negative buoyancy and thrust units by which it can hover is described. Slow speed maneuverability while hovering is achieved by moving the position of a mass fore and aft and/or side to side such as to cause the vehicle to p... | 08/01/2000 |
| 6021731 | Ballast system for underwater vehicle A ballast weight system for releasably attaching a ballast weight to an urwater vehicle is disclosed where the system comprises a ballast weight, a housing disposed about the ballast weight, a fairing connected to the ballast weight to facilitate a flush... | 02/08/2000 |
| 6016763 | Submersible unit and diving position control method therefor A submersible unit having thrusters for changing a diving position based on a total work quantity, which is the sum of a first work quantity and a second work quantity. A proportional controller generates and outputs the first work quantity based on a dif... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5713299 | Submersible boat Submersible boat is capable of navigating both on the water surface and submerged, the diving taking place by dynamic effect when the operator requires it, the boat having a catamaran type structure, comprising two side floats which are maintained partial... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5303552 | Compressed gas buoyancy generator powered by temperature differences in a fluid body A compressed gas buoyancy generator powered by temperature differences in a fluid medium having a thermal gradient which includes a body having an inflatable chamber connected thereto for rendering the body buoyant at a surface of the fluid medium and a m... | 04/19/1994 |
| 5291847 | Autonomous propulsion within a volume of fluid Energy is collected from temperature differentials in a volume of fluid and the energy is used for autonomous propulsion in the fluid.... | 03/08/1994 |
| 5283767 | Autonomous oceanographic profiler There is disclosed a portable free drifting oceanographic instrument package for cyclically collecting oceanic and/or fresh water environmental data over a range of depths. The instrument includes, in combination, a submersible housing having mounted ther... | 02/01/1994 |
| 5228406 | Subsea exploration apparatus This subsea exploration apparatus comprises a ballast tank and a shuttle (7) with a watertight enclosure (10) which contains instrumentation for measurement, control and transmission of signals to a surface buoy. The enclosure is guided along a cable (1) ... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5031565 | Two-level sea-land creeping vehicle A two-level sea-land creeping vehicle formed by three main parts: a frustoconical bow portion which is movable independently but connected to the central part or compartment in the form of a drop of water, which is flat in the lower part and which is fixe... | 07/16/1991 |
| 5007364 | Gas control valves and apparatus for controlling buoyancy in water A gas control valve (802) has an inlet needle jet (812) and an outlet (816), the communication between which is controlled by a valve member (808) carried by a rod (807) connected to a diaphragm (804) which divides a chamber (806), open to ambient pressur... | 04/16/1991 |
| 5000110 | Towline depressor A towline depressor (2) having forward and rearward ends with a main body portion (4) at the forward end. Wings (6) and (8) extend from the body with stabilizing fins (10) and (12) depending from the wings. A dorsal fin (14) having holes (16), (18) and (2... | 03/19/1991 |
| 4972776 | Submarine minesweeper An unmanned, self-propelled minesweeping apparatus, capable of sweeping at ubstantial depths, is described, comprising a torpedo-like submarine vehicle that deploys and tows a string of explosive mooring cable cutters terminating in a sea anchor. The sea a... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4951587 | Recovery system for a training torpedo A recovery apparatus for a training torpedo built to replicate an operational torpedo. The training torpedo is an elongated hollow housing substantially similar in shape to an operational torpedo. The nose portion is a shell having a forward and aft porti... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4938164 | Self-propelled manned submersible vehicles for under-sea excursions A self-propelled manned submersible vehicle of the type comprising a pressure-resistant capsule (1) serving as a cabin, ballast tanks (3, 8), releasable ballast (7), propulsion units (4) having propellers driven by electric motors, and storage batteries (... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4875429 | Braking device for a capsule at the end of a trajectory The invention relates to a submarine braking system of a capsule (4) at the end of fast movement. The capsule glides by gravity along a cable (3) and finally hits in succession several disks (6 to 9) which start to glide and finally hit a hydraulic shock-... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4860487 | Multi-cycle sea bed traversing system An inflatable float with timer and pressure controls to enable underwater gear to be automatically lifted off the sea bed at intervals and moved to a new location. The gas for inflating the float may be generated by chemical means or galvanic action.... | 08/29/1989 |
