USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Searobotics Corporation

William Martin Hertel, Iii

Donald Darling

Richard James Norcross

James E Howell

Matthew Naiman

Jeffrey Neal Ledda

Tracy J Harasti

Thomas P McCue

Kenneth Walter Holappa

A method of maintaining an outer surface of a hull, including providing a power source and an end effector vehicle for performing maintenance operations on the hull, the method of maintaining including providing an in-series tether management system having one or more nodes, and umbilical line sections extending through the one or more nodes to the end effector vehicle, transmitting power from the power supply to the end effector vehicle, and including selecting a work area, and positioning the one or more nodes and end effector to perform maintenance in the defined work area.

Method for maintaining the outer surface of a hull utilizing an in-line multi-node tether management arrangement

The invention is directed to a lightweight apparatus for the redirection and capture of paint overspray and airborne particulates at a surface being painted. The apparatus has a top tubing arrangement, and a bottom tubing arrangement, and blowers that provide air to both tubing arrangements. The invention also has an enclosure having a top opening and a bottom opening. The bottom tubing arrangement is positioned at the bottom opening. The bottom tubing arrangement includes a plurality of perforations creating an airflow that provides a pneumatic seal between the apparatus and the surface being painted, preventing the escape of paint overspray. The top tubing arrangement also includes a plurality of perforations that create an airflow that prevents the escape of paint overspray from the enclosure. Entrained paint overspray and airborne particles within the enclosure are captured by a filter within the enclosure.

Lightweight apparatus for capturing overspray and airborne particulates

A method and system to optimize underwater operations utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) arrangement. The RFID arrangement includes a plurality of RFID tags positioned on an underwater surface, with each of the plurality of tags coded with unique information related to each tag's location on the underwater surface. The RFID system also includes an RFID reader/interrogator attached to an underwater explorer. When the underwater explorer is within a reading range of a tag, the reader/interrogator reads the unique tag information. The tag information is used to optimize underwater operations performed by the explorer, which may be a diver or a water vessel.

Underwater RFID arrangement for optimizing underwater operations

A cleaning system includes a chassis supporting a propulsion system for propelling the cleaning system across a surface. At least one sensor of a first type is coupled to the chassis, and a surface engagement mechanism is configured to maintain the cleaning system coupled to the surface as the propulsion system propels the cleaning system across the surface. A cleaning device is coupled to the chassis and configured to abrade the fouling from the surface, and a controller coupled to the chassis and in signal communication with the propulsion system and the first sensor. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor of the first type and control the propulsion system in response to the signal.

Robotic submersible cleaning system

A method and apparatus for the cleaning of an underwater surface, such as a hull. The method and apparatus enables cleaning to be conducted while mitigating the release of removed material into surrounding waters. The integrated apparatus includes a cleaning deck for removing fouling from the underwater hull surface, and a pre-processing deck with integrated components for the processing of cleaning effluents. According to the method and apparatus, materials removed by the shroud are sucked into the pre-processing deck, crushed, and separated into a separator effluent that may be recycled to the shroud, and a concentrate, which is discharged to a land treatment unit for further processing.

Underwater surface cleaning vehicle for integrated cleaning and effluent treatment system

A method and apparatus for the cleaning of an underwater surface, such as a ship hull. The method and apparatus enables cleaning to be conducted while mitigating the release of removed material into surrounding waters. The integrated apparatus includes a cleaning vehicle for removing fouling from the underwater hull surface, and a land treatment unit for treating liquid waste that is conveyed to the land treatment unit from the cleaning vehicle. The cleaning vehicle may include a pre-processing unit that pre-treats substances removed during the cleaning process.

Growing community of inventors

Annapolis, MD, United States of America

William Martin Hertel, Iii