The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 29, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2022
Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US);
William P. Meurer, Magnolia, TX (US);
David T. Wang, Witchita Falls, TX (US);
Gregory W. Shipman, Houston, TX (US);
Jeffrey D. Spitzenberger, Spring, TX (US);
Michael Sutton, Magnolia, TX (US);
Jeffrey C. Bridges, Magnolia, TX (US);
Paul Moreno, Houston, TX (US);
EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, Spring, TX (US);
Abstract
An autonomous surface vessel includes an elongate body, and a sampling system operatively coupled to the body and including one or more sampling modules, wherein each sampling module includes a housing including a storage container, a sampling material receivable within the storage container, an actuation system operatively coupled to the sampling material via a lead line, and an end cap operatively coupled to the lead line and matable with an open end of the storage container. A computer system is in communication with the sampling system to operate the actuation system, wherein each sampling module is actuatable between a stowed state, where the sampling material is received within the storage container and the end cap sealingly engages the open end, and a deployed state, where the end cap is disengaged from the open end and the sampling material is drawn out of the sampling container.