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:
Oct. 21, 2014
Filed:
Jul. 09, 2012
Steven K. Whiteside, San Diego, CA (US);
Robert M. Lee, Descano, CA (US);
Ronald A. Skala, Murrieta, CA (US);
Paul C. Wade, Chula Vista, CA (US);
Bret R. Thomson, San Diego, CA (US);
Daniel T. Bridge, La Jolla, CA (US);
Tyler J. Browe, San Diego, CA (US);
Steven K. Whiteside, San Diego, CA (US);
Robert M. Lee, Descano, CA (US);
Ronald A. Skala, Murrieta, CA (US);
Paul C. Wade, Chula Vista, CA (US);
Bret R. Thomson, San Diego, CA (US);
Daniel T. Bridge, La Jolla, CA (US);
Tyler J. Browe, San Diego, CA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a means by which an underwater plow can avoid large obstacles that otherwise would prevent the plow from executing its desired path. The underwater plow is released into the water, drops to the sea floor, orients itself, and begins to deploy the sensor array along a pre-programmed path. If the plow encounters a sea floor obstacle, the plowautomatically maneuvers to overcome the obstacle and continues deployment of the sensor array. The buoyancy shifting apparatusallows the plow to automatically maneuver. The present invention shifts the center of buoyancy of the underwater plow, thereby allowing the plow to float over obstructions.