Underwater surveying system
First Claim
1. A system for surveying the land area beneath a shallow body of water comprising:
- a) a submersible, remote controlled, powered vehicle for carrying an altitude indicator across a land area positioned beneath a shallow body of water, said vehicle includingi) a generally rectangular chassis of welded metal tubing with four axle receiving openings;
,ii) axles having inner ends extending into each of said axle receiving openings and outer ends, said axles telescoping in said openings between extended and retracted positions;
iii) hydraulic motors mounted at the outer ends of said axles, said motors including rotatable shafts and valves;
iv) wheels mounted on each of said motor shafts;
v) a hydraulic fluid pump mounted on said chassis;
vi) a diesel engine mounted on said chassis, said engine having a rotatable shaft connected to said pump;
vii) hydraulic fluid lines connecting said pump to said hydraulic motors;
viii) a drive control module connected to said engine and said hydraulic motor valve to control said engine and the direction of rotation of said hydraulic motor shafts;
ix) a waterproof housing enclosing said engine and pump;
x) a mast extending upwardly from said chassis to a top end, said mast including an air intake conduit and a combustion exhaust conduit, said conduits having lower ends in communication with said engine and upper ends adapted to project above said body of water;
xi) an antenna adjacent the top of said mast; and
xii) a position indicator adjacent the top of said mast, said position indicator including a global positioning system receiver for calculating position data, and a transmitter for transmitting position data to a remote receiver; and
b) an operating unit to be located remotely from said vehicle, said operating unit includingi) a data receiver for receiving data transmitted from said position indicator;
ii) a processor for receiving data from said data receiver and converting said data into a map of said land area; and
iii) a transmitter for transmitting control instructions to said drive control module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The hydrography of a land area beneath a shallow body of water is determined by driving a submersible, remotely controlled, powered vehicle along a route over the land area. The vehicle includes a chassis, a drive mechanism, a drive control module to control the drive mechanism, and a mast extending upwardly from the chassis, with the top end of the mast projecting above the body of water. A position indicator, such as a global positioning system, mounted adjacent the mast top end, determines the position of the position indicator, and transmits position data to a receiving unit at a remote location. A transmitter at the remote location transmits instructions to the drive control module to control the vehicle.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for surveying the land area beneath a shallow body of water comprising:
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a) a submersible, remote controlled, powered vehicle for carrying an altitude indicator across a land area positioned beneath a shallow body of water, said vehicle including i) a generally rectangular chassis of welded metal tubing with four axle receiving openings;
,ii) axles having inner ends extending into each of said axle receiving openings and outer ends, said axles telescoping in said openings between extended and retracted positions; iii) hydraulic motors mounted at the outer ends of said axles, said motors including rotatable shafts and valves; iv) wheels mounted on each of said motor shafts; v) a hydraulic fluid pump mounted on said chassis; vi) a diesel engine mounted on said chassis, said engine having a rotatable shaft connected to said pump; vii) hydraulic fluid lines connecting said pump to said hydraulic motors; viii) a drive control module connected to said engine and said hydraulic motor valve to control said engine and the direction of rotation of said hydraulic motor shafts; ix) a waterproof housing enclosing said engine and pump; x) a mast extending upwardly from said chassis to a top end, said mast including an air intake conduit and a combustion exhaust conduit, said conduits having lower ends in communication with said engine and upper ends adapted to project above said body of water; xi) an antenna adjacent the top of said mast; and xii) a position indicator adjacent the top of said mast, said position indicator including a global positioning system receiver for calculating position data, and a transmitter for transmitting position data to a remote receiver; and b) an operating unit to be located remotely from said vehicle, said operating unit including i) a data receiver for receiving data transmitted from said position indicator; ii) a processor for receiving data from said data receiver and converting said data into a map of said land area; and iii) a transmitter for transmitting control instructions to said drive control module. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for surveying the land area beneath a shallow body of water comprising:
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a) a powered vehicle adapted to move across said land area, said vehicle including a chassis, a drive mechanism, a drive control module controlling said drive means, a mast extending upwardly from said chassis to a top end, and a position indicator adjacent said mast top end; and b) a remote operating unit including a data receiver for receiving data from said position indicator and a transmitter for transmitting control instructions to said drive control module. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A submersible, remote controlled, powered vehicle for carrying an altitude indicator across a land area positioned beneath a shallow body of water, said vehicle comprising:
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a) a chassis; b) a plurality of wheels supporting said chassis, each of said wheels being mounted on a shaft of a hydraulic motor; c) a hydraulic fluid pump powered by an internal combustion engine mounted on said chassis; d) hydraulic fluid lines connecting said pump to said hydraulic motors; e) a drive control module controlling said engine and the direction of rotation of said hydraulic motor shafts; f) a mast extending upwardly from said chassis to a top end; and g) a position indicator adjacent said mast top end to provide altitude data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for determining the hydrography of a land area beneath a body of water comprising:
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a) providing a submersible, remote controlled, powered vehicle including a chassis, a drive mechanism, a drive control module controlling said drive means, a mast extending upwardly from said chassis to a top end, and a position indicator adjacent said mast top end; b) providing an operating unit adapted to be located adjacent said land area, said operating unit including a data receiver for receiving data from said position indicator and a transmitter for transmitting control instructions to said drive control module; c) transmitting instructions from said transmitter to said drive control module to drive said vehicle along a route within said land area with signals from said transmitter; d) receiving data from said position indicator; and e) converting said data into a hydrographic map of said land area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification