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:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2001
William J. Kirkwood, Carmel, CA (US);
Farley Shane, Prunedale, CA (US);
Mark Griese, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Douglas Au, Royal Oaks, CA (US);
Ed Mellinger, Monterey, CA (US);
Thomas O'Reilly, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Joseph Andrew Gashler, Pacific Grove, CA (US);
Knut Strietlien, Jamaica Plain, MA (US);
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Moss Landing, CA (US);
Abstract
An assembly for an underwater vehicle that includes a motor, a duct assembly, and an actuator. The duct assembly includes a duct and a propeller mounted within the duct, where the propeller is driven by the motor. The actuator is connected to the duct assembly and the vehicle. The actuator pivots the duct assembly with respect to the vehicle. Alternatively, the assembly includes a motor, a duct having a generally cylindrical shape oriented about a longitudinal axis, and a propeller having an axis of rotation. The propeller is mounted within the duct and is driven by the motor. The propeller and the duct are connected such that the axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis have a fixed orientation with respect to one another. The assembly includes a configuration for changing an orientation of the axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis with respect to the vehicle.