Underwater robot
Underwater robot
Keywords Robots, Underwater
Applicant: Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind. (JP)Patent number: EP0787646Publication date: 6 August 1997Title: Underwater vehicle and method of positioning same
One object of the present invention is to provide an underwater vehicle which is compact and lightweight and which can move on a vertical wall in the water,particularly for inspection of underwater constructions, machines, etc. and for works and operations in the water, such as inner surface inspection of a reactor pressure vessel, cleaning of a screw propeller of a ship and the like. The present invention also relates to a positioning method for the underwater vehicle. According to one aspect of the invention, the vehicle comprises: a container-like body having a float in its front portion to suspend in the water with its front portion being up; an opening in its abdomen; suction means for reducing a pressure inside the vehicle body so as to suck the abdomen of the vehicle body on to a wall in the water; a skirt provided along the periphery of the opening formed in the body's abdomen for contacting the wall and maintaining the body's interior to a negative pressure while the vehicle body is being attached on the wall; and drive means provided in the vehicle body for moving it along the wall. A cleaning unit or an ultrasonic probe may be attached to the vehicle.
Jack Hollingum
