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. 24, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 23, 2012
Jeff Condit, Escondico, CA (US);
Nicholas Hartman, San Diego, CA (US);
Dylan Mora, San Diego, CA (US);
Brad Lafferty, Encinitas, CA (US);
Kyle Knight, San Diego, CA (US);
Jamie Hogan, San Diego, CA (US);
Cyril Poissonnet, San Diego, CA (US);
Steve Everett, Hixson, TN (US);
Jeff Condit, Escondico, CA (US);
Nicholas Hartman, San Diego, CA (US);
Dylan Mora, San Diego, CA (US);
Brad Lafferty, Encinitas, CA (US);
Kyle Knight, San Diego, CA (US);
Jamie Hogan, San Diego, CA (US);
Cyril Poissonnet, San Diego, CA (US);
Steve Everett, Hixson, TN (US);
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US);
Abstract
An improved inspection apparatus includes a control apparatus, a tractor apparatus comprising a tractor and a drive mechanism connected together, the drive mechanism being connected with the control apparatus, a tether apparatus disposed on the tractor and being movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, and a buoy apparatus. The buoy apparatus is connected with the tether apparatus and includes a buoy and a camera apparatus, the buoy in a condition submerged in a fluid applying a buoyant force to the camera apparatus whereby in the deployed position of the tether apparatus the buoy apparatus is in an elevated position situated relatively higher in a vertical direction than in the retracted position of the tether apparatus wherein the buoy apparatus is in another position situated relatively lower in the vertical direction, the camera apparatus being structured to provide a visual output signal to the control apparatus.