Hull robot
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hull cleaning robot comprising:
- a body;
at least one cleaning apparatus for cleaning the hull of a vessel;
at least one drive track holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and
at least one turbine driven by water flowing into the body of the robot as generated by the vessel being in motion and underway, the turbine being oriented substantially parallel to the hull, and in a direction of the water flow within the body, the turbine operating the at least one cleaning apparatus and the at least one drive track,wherein the robot is adapted to operate underwater and within the water flow to maneuver about and clean the hull of the vessel.
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Abstract
A hull cleaning robot includes at least one cleaning apparatus for cleaning the hull of a vessel, at least one drive track holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull, and at least one turbine actuatable by water flowing past the hull for operating the at least one drive track and, optionally, the cleaning apparatus.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hull cleaning robot comprising:
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a body; at least one cleaning apparatus for cleaning the hull of a vessel; at least one drive track holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and at least one turbine driven by water flowing into the body of the robot as generated by the vessel being in motion and underway, the turbine being oriented substantially parallel to the hull, and in a direction of the water flow within the body, the turbine operating the at least one cleaning apparatus and the at least one drive track, wherein the robot is adapted to operate underwater and within the water flow to maneuver about and clean the hull of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for cleaning a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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obtaining a hull cleaning robot, comprising; a body; at least one cleaning apparatus, at least one drive track to hold the robot on a hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull, and at least one turbine driven by water flowing into the body of the robot as generated by the vessel being in motion and underway, the turbine being oriented substantially parallel to the hull, and in a direction of the water flow within the body, wherein the robot is adapted to operate underwater and within the water flow to maneuver about and clean the hull of the vessel, disposing the hull cleaning robot about an underwater portion of a hull of a vessel; and operating the vessel, wherein water is caused to flow past the hull to actuate the turbine and operate the at least one cleaning apparatus and the at least one drive track.
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Specification