Patent ID: 7363844
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: B63C,B63G,F41H,F42D

Abstract:
1. An underwater recovery system for disposing of unexploded ordnance comprising: a wireless remote controller having a plurality of switches for creating control signals, said remote control including a power supply, and a first transceiver that transmits the control signals to open and close a plurality of valves and receives live video feed; a fluid actuated grapple including a pair of jaws and arranged at an end of a fluid actuated boom, said grapple including a plurality of pistons arranged to cause the pair of jaws to open and close, tilt up and down, and twist right and left; video cameras providing the live video feed to the wireless remote controller; a plurality of hoses connected to the plurality of pistons such that said pistons may be extended or retracted to control a direction of movement and orientation of the fluid actuated grapple to grip an unexploded ordnance; a pump connected between a fluid reservoir and the plurality of pistons for providing fluid pressure to extend and retract said pistons; a control head comprising said plurality of valves and further including a floating transceiver coupled to said control head via a cable for receiving at least said control signals to open and close the plurality of valves to vary the fluid pressure in each hose such that the pistons are independently extended and retracted by changing a position of a respective switch of the plurality of switches on the remote controller; a power source connected to said pump and the control head for providing power thereto for operating each; and, an incompressible fluid that flows through the fluid hoses.