USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

John Shelburne

Billy Courson

Felipe A Garcia

John Mittleman

A suction device includes a suction cell formed to include a cup having an open end and a stem extending from a side of the cup opposite from the open end. A control system is connected to the stem and arranged to form a partial vacuum in the cup such that the cup is attached to the substrate. The control system may include an actuator and a strain sensor connected to the stem. The actuator preferably includes a length of a material that includes a shape memory alloy.

Underwater vacuum attachment device

An apparatus and method permits unattended cleaning of a surface. A clamping mechanism engages features around a contaminated surface and is connected to a dome-shaped receptacle containing a gelled acid compound. The gelled acid compound is pressed and held against the contaminated surface during cleaning. Gelled acid ensures that the acid component for dissolving does not readily disburse into the ambient environment. Contamination exposed to the gelled acid compound is dissolved, and the clamping mechanism is disengaged for other cleaning tasks. More reliable attachment of instrumentation and other packages can be made to the cleaned surface. The uncomplicated apparatus and method of the invention allow a single diver to quietly attach packages underwater in the harsh marine environment.

Localized acidic underwater surface cleaning apparatus

A portable, diver-operated cryogenic freezing unit cleans surfaces underwater. A housing has a first chamber that contains cryogenic liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, and a second chamber is disposed adjacent to an end portion that fits about contaminating matter on a surface underwater. A valve vents cryogenic liquid from the first chamber to expand as gas in the second chamber. The vented cryogenic liquid and gas freeze a slug of water and the contaminating matter on the surface within the end portion. The housing is bent, twisted or otherwise displaced to break or pry-away and remove the frozen slug of water and contaminating matter from the surface to thereby clean it. A method of cleaning a surface underwater using the cryogenic freezing unit is described.

Confined underwater cryogenic surface preparation

Apparatus for confined underwater cryogenic surface preparation

A portable, diver-operated device provides an improved method of cleaning surfaces underwater. The device includes a source of ultrasonic energy in a housing that has a compliant portion around an opening to engage and fit around a contaminated surface and clean it with the ultrasonic energy. The housing is made from material that diminishes transmission of the ultrasonic energy to ambient water. The compliant portion seals the source, the contaminated surface and some water from ambient water to concentrate the cleaning power of the source on the surface and to prevent transmission of harmful levels of energy outside of the device and through ambient water.

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Lynn Haven, FL, United States of America

John Shelburne