Patent ID: 7047676
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: B63C

Abstract:
1. A mechanically rotatably and horizontally and vertically adjustably positionable deploying manipulator arm carrying a recovery system for enabling underwater bottom artifact and sample recovery and also for optionally or interchangeably enabling bottom coring operations, having, in combination, an adjustably rotational and positionable longitudinally extending arm terminating in jaw or claw fingers; a flexible suction tube having a longitudinal section mounted along and to the arm and having a mouth extending longitudinally beyond the fingers; and a bottom coring tube positioned rearward of the suction tube mouth and held by the fingers to extend transversely to the arm with a coring mouth thereof transversely spaced from the arm, such that, with the arm positioned substantially longitudinally parallel to the bottom, the coring tube is substantially vertically oriented with its mouth facing the bottom so as to be driven by the arm into the bottom to obtain a core of bottom and sub-bottom material; and with the arm rotated about its longitudinal axis to elevate the coring tube from the bottom, the suction tube is interchangeably rotationally lowered to bring its mouth towards the bottom to suck in objects thereupon or therein, and vice versa.