Underwater vehicle
US6167831A · kind A · utility
74Cited by
11References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63G2008/008
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a underwater vehicle that is made up of a tether management system connected to a detachable flying craft by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the detachable flying craft. The detachable flying craft interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the underwater vehicle of the invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.