Underwater marine growth brushing mechanism with passive self-adjust for curved surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224285-B2
Application number	US-201916437358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A cleaning device that passively self-adjusts to improve biofoul removal across curved, non-uniform, or irregular underwater surfaces. The cleaning device includes a motor, one or more shafts coupled to the motor and coupled to one another via at least one universal joint, and a cleaning mechanism for removing biofoul from the target surface. The cleaning device includes an alignment mechanism that restricts the cleaning mechanism's movement to improve biofoul removal. The alignment mechanism can include bearings, spring components, dampening material, adhesion components, floatation objects, or a combination thereof.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A device for cleaning an underwater surface of an object, comprising:
a motor housing;
a motor for providing power disposed within the motor housing;
a first shaft having a proximal end coupled to the motor and a distal end, wherein the first shaft extends longitudinally from the motor along a first axis, and wherein the motor provides power to the first shaft to enable the first shaft to rotate around the first axis;
a universal joint coupled to the distal end of the first shaft;
a second shaft having a proximal end coupled to the universal joint and a distal end, wherein the second shaft extends longitudinally away from the universal joint along a second axis, wherein the universal joint transfers the power of the motor to the second shaft to enable the second shaft to rotate around the second axis, and wherein the second shaft has one or more degrees of freedom of movement;
a cleaning mechanism coupled to the distal end of the second shaft and including a cleaning face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the second axis; and
an alignment mechanism disposed about the second shaft and coupled to the motor housing, in which the alignment mechanism includes an outer bearing aligned about the first axis and an inner bearing aligned about the second shaft that are shaped and sized to restrict movement of the second shaft to within a prescribed maximum angle relative to the first shaft, and
wherein the cleaning mechanism is oriented by the alignment mechanism substantially perpendicular to the surface of the object throughout any cleaning of the underwater surface.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism comprises one or more rotatable brushes disposed on the cleaning face.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism contacts the underwater surface at two substantially diametrically opposed points.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism passively contours to the outer surface of the object.

5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the second shaft transfers the power of the motor to the cleaning mechanism to enable the cleaning mechanism to rotate around the second axis.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is mounted on a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism includes an adhesion component having one or more rare earth magnets, electromagnets, or suction mechanisms.

8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment mechanism is coupled circumferentially around the second shaft.

9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein a dampening material is disposed between the outer bearing and the inner bearing.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the dampening material comprises rubber.

11. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear, one or more planetary gears meshed with the sun gear, a ring gear meshed with the planetary gears, and a carrier coupled to the planetary gears.

12. A device according to claim 11 , further comprising a first brush, and a second brush, and wherein the first brush and second brush are concentric with one another and the first brush is coupled to the ring gear and the second brush is coupled to the sun gear.

13. A device for cleaning an underwater surface of an object, comprising:
a motor housing;
a motor for providing power disposed within the motor housing;
a first shaft having a proximal end coupled to the motor and a distal end, wherein the first shaft extends longitudinally from the motor along a first axis, and wherein the motor provides power to the first shaft to enable the first shaft to rotate around the first axis;
a first universal joint coupled to the distal end of the first shaft;
a linking component having a proximal end coupled to the first universal joint and a distal end, wherein the linking component extends longitudinally away from the first universal joint along a second axis, wherein the first universal joint transfers the power of the motor to the linking component to enable the linking component to rotate around the second axis, and wherein the linking component has one or more degrees of freedom of movement;
a second universal joint coupled to the distal end of the linking component,
a second shaft having a proximal end coupled to the second universal joint and a distal end, wherein the second shaft extends longitudinally away from the second universal joint along a third axis, wherein the second universal joint transfers the power of the motor to the second shaft to enable the second shaft to rotate around the third axis, and wherein the second shaft has one or more degrees of freedom of movement;
an alignment mechanism disposed about the second shaft and coupled to the motor housing to provide free angular movement of the second shaft along a prescribed range of motion; and
a cleaning mechanism coupled to the distal end of the second shaft and including a cleaning face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the third axis.

14. A device according to claim 13 , wherein the alignment mechanism is shaped and sized to restrict movement of the second shaft to within a prescribed maximum angle relative to the first shaft, and wherein the cleaning mechanism is oriented by the alignment mechanism substantially perpendicular to the surface of the object throughout any cleaning of the underwater surface.

15. A device according to claim 14 , wherein the alignment mechanism is coupled circumferentially around the second shaft.

16. A device according to claim 14 , wherein the alignment mechanism comprises one or more of the following: bearings, spring components, and bearings having dampening material.

17. A device for cleaning an underwater surface of an object, comprising:
a motor housing;
a motor for providing power disposed within the motor housing;
a first shaft having a proximal end coupled to the motor and a distal end, wherein the first shaft extends longitudinally from the motor along a first axis, and wherein the motor provides power to the first shaft to enable the first shaft to rotate around the first axis;
a universal joint coupled to the distal end of the first shaft;
a second shaft having a proximal end coupled to the universal joint and a distal end, wherein the second shaft extends longitudinally away from the universal joint along a second axis, wherein the universal joint transfers the power of the motor to the second shaft to enable the second shaft to rotate around the second axis, and wherein the second shaft has one or more degrees of freedom of movement;
a cleaning mechanism coupled to the distal end of the second shaft and including a cleaning face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the second axis; and
an alignment mechanism disposed about the second shaft and coupled to the motor housing by one or more spring components, and
wherein the cleaning mechanism is oriented by the alignment mechanism substantially perpendicular to the surface of the object throughout any cleaning of the underwater surface.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more spring components comprise three or more spring components that are spaced substantially equally apart.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Outa Ali
• Abdellatif Fadl
• Amer Ayman
• Patel Sahejad
• Trigui Hassane
• Obedan Ameen

Classifications

• B08B1/36

  rotating about an axis orthogonal to the surface · CPC title

• B63B59/08

  of underwater surfaces while afloat (B63B59/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02B17/0034

  Maintenance, repair or inspection of offshore constructions · CPC title

• A46B13/008

  Disc-shaped brush bodies · CPC title

• A46B13/02 Primary

  power-driven {carriers} · CPC title