Aquatic storage facilities
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an aquatic storage facility comprising;
a storage pool filled with a liquid therein, wherein the storage pool comprises at least one sidewall and at least one bottom;
a sonar transducer mounted to the at least one sidewall, wherein the sonar transducer is configured to emit at least one sound into the liquid;
at least one jet disposed within the at least one sidewall;
a conveyor configured to remove items from the storage pool; and
a computer device comprising at least one computer processor in communication with the sonar transducer, the at least one jet and the conveyor; and
an item deposited within the storage pool, wherein the item includes a depth control device comprising a hydrophone, a flexible bladder, a compressed air tank and a control valve aligned in series between the flexible bladder and the compressed air tank, andwherein the at least one computer device is configured to at least;
receive, over a communications network, a request to retrieve the item from the storage pool;
transmit, by the sonar transducer, at least one acoustic signal comprising an instruction to inflate the flexible bladder to a first predetermined volume;
capture, by the hydrophone, the at least one acoustic signal;
in response to the at least one acoustic signal, operate the control valve to inflate the flexible bladder to the first predetermined volume with air from the compressed air tank; and
remove, by the at least one conveyor, the item from the storage pool.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An item may be outfitted with a cartridge for varying a net density of the item and deposited in a body of liquid for storage. The cartridge may cause a net density of the item to exceed a density of the liquid, or to fall below the density of the liquid, and to descend or ascend within the liquid, as desired. The cartridge may also cause a net density of the item to equal the density of the liquid, and thus remain at a constant depth. The cartridge may be configured to receive acoustic signals or other forms of instructions for varying a net density of the item, and may send acoustic signals or other messages identifying a depth or position of the item. The cartridge may thus enable an item to be stored at any depth within the liquid, and be retrieved upon demand.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an aquatic storage facility comprising; a storage pool filled with a liquid therein, wherein the storage pool comprises at least one sidewall and at least one bottom; a sonar transducer mounted to the at least one sidewall, wherein the sonar transducer is configured to emit at least one sound into the liquid; at least one jet disposed within the at least one sidewall; a conveyor configured to remove items from the storage pool; and a computer device comprising at least one computer processor in communication with the sonar transducer, the at least one jet and the conveyor; and an item deposited within the storage pool, wherein the item includes a depth control device comprising a hydrophone, a flexible bladder, a compressed air tank and a control valve aligned in series between the flexible bladder and the compressed air tank, and wherein the at least one computer device is configured to at least; receive, over a communications network, a request to retrieve the item from the storage pool; transmit, by the sonar transducer, at least one acoustic signal comprising an instruction to inflate the flexible bladder to a first predetermined volume; capture, by the hydrophone, the at least one acoustic signal; in response to the at least one acoustic signal, operate the control valve to inflate the flexible bladder to the first predetermined volume with air from the compressed air tank; and remove, by the at least one conveyor, the item from the storage pool. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computer system, a request for at least a first item over a network, wherein the first item comprises a first depth control device; determining, by the computer system, that the first item is at a first depth in a facility filled at least in part with at least one liquid, wherein the first item has a first net density at the first depth; sending at least a first signal to the first depth control device, wherein the first signal comprises a first instruction to cause the first item to proceed to a second depth in the at least one liquid; and in response to the first signal, causing the first item to have a second net density by the first depth control device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A cartridge configured for mounting to an item, the cartridge comprising:
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a tank comprising compressed air; a flexible bladder; a control valve between the flexible bladder and the tank; a hydrophone; and a computer processor in communication with the control valve and the hydrophone, wherein the computer processor is configured to at least; receive, by the hydrophone, an acoustic signal comprising an instruction to change a depth of the item within a liquid; interpret, by the computer processor, the acoustic signal; and cause, by the control valve, the flexible bladder to inflate with at least some of the compressed air in the tank. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification