IP Library Granted Patent US 9,016,220
Granted Patent B2
US 9,016,220 · App. 14/027,790 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Variable geometry water vessel

Inventors: Ryan Christopher Gariepy (Kitchener, CA); Patrick William Martinson (Waterloo, CA); Mark Julian Podbevsek (Brampton, CA); Matthew Allen Rendall (Waterloo, CA); Todd Willick (Edmonton, CA)
Assignee: Clearpath Robotics, Inc.
B63B7/00B63H11/01B63H11/00B63H21/17B63B5/24B63B7/02B63B2003/085B63B2007/003B63B2035/008B63H2011/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,016,220
App. No.
14/027,790
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water vessel having variable geometry is described. The water vessel comprises: a frame; a plurality of hulls coupled to the frame, each one of the plurality of hulls coupled to the frame by a folding mechanism and configured to move, relative to the frame, between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration in which at least one dimension of the water vessel is reduced in respect of the deployed configuration; a plurality of thruster assemblies configured to provide thrust to the water vessel, each one of the plurality of thruster assemblies being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of hulls; and a protective device coupled to a respective one of the plurality of thruster assemblies, the protective device for preventing intake of foreign objects into the respective one of the plurality of thruster assemblies.

Claims (24)

1. A water vessel comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of hulls coupled to the frame, each one of the plurality of hulls coupled to the frame by a folding mechanism and configured to move, relative to the frame, between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration in which at least one dimension of the water vessel is reduced in respect of the deployed configuration;

a plurality of thruster assemblies configured to provide thrust to the water vessel, each one of the plurality of thruster assemblies being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of hulls, each of the plurality of thruster assemblies removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of hulls using one or more fasteners; and

a protective device removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of thruster assemblies, the protective device for preventing intake of foreign objects into the respective one of the plurality of thruster assemblies, the protective device removably coupled to the respective one of the plurality of thruster assemblies using one or more additional fasteners.

2. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising a carrying mechanism coupled to the frame for transporting the water vessel by securing the water vessel to the one or more of an operator, another vessel and a vehicle.

3. The water vessel of claim 2 , wherein the carrying mechanism comprises one or more of a carrying strap, a carrying frame and a carrying handle.

4. The water vessel of claim 2 , wherein the carrying mechanism is detachable.

5. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thruster assemblies are configured to provide differential thrust to the water vessel.

6. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the folding mechanism is configured to rotate at least one of the plurality of hulls relative to the frame.

7. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the folding mechanism comprises one or more of: a spring, an electrical actuator and a combined electromechanical system.

8. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the protective device comprises a grate.

9. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thruster assemblies are configured to provide reverse thrust to the water vessel.

10. The water vessel of claim 9 further comprising a diverter plate coupled to at least one of the plurality of thruster assemblies.

11. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thruster assemblies are driven by one or more of: a direct current (DC) motor, an internal combustion engine and a gas turbine.

12. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising an onboard control and monitoring system.

13. The water vessel of claim 12 , wherein the onboard control and monitoring system is configured to provide remote control and monitoring of the water vessel.

14. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising a communications system.

15. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising one or more of: a power button, a communications antenna, a camera and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

16. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising at least one signalling device.

17. The water vessel of claim 16 , wherein the at least one signalling device comprises one or more of: a navigation light and a flag.

18. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising a sensing system having one or more of a camera and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

19. The water vessel of claim 1 , wherein the water vessel is battery-powered.

20. The water vessel of claim 1 further comprising a dorsal mounting surface removably coupled to the frame.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY'S NAME FROM CLEARPATH ROBOTICS, INC. TO CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC. (WITHOUT THE COMMA) PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67944 FRAME 916. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 25, 2024
From: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC.
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 068233/0542 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS, INC.
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 067944/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067944/0982 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 031602 FRAME: 0669. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: GARIEPY, RYAN CHRISTOPHER; MARTINSON, PATRICK WILLIAM; PODBEVESK, MARK JULIAN; RENDALL, MATTHEW ALLEN; WILLICK, TODD
To: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC.
Reel/Frame 065673/0887 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2013
From: GARIEPY, RYAN CHRISTOPHER; MARTINSON, PATRICK WILLIAM; PODBEVESK, MARK JULIAN; RENDALL, MATTHEW ALLEN; WILLICK, TODD
To: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031602/0669 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61743958 · Sep 17, 2012
Related Publication 20140080367A1 · Mar 20, 2014