Patent Abstract:
An underwater motive device provides an integrated and modular battery and motive housing which is carried within an outer housing and secured by a nose cone system. The nose cone system works against an “o” ring seal carried between a structure of the integrated and modular battery and motive housing and the outer housing. A pair of latches act as levers to forcibly push the nose cone in place to seal off the battery compartment, and with cam action when used to urge the nose cone to a disengaged position with respect to the “o” ring seal. Nose cone removal and re-sealing procedure can be accomplished easily, even by those of limited strength.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to improvements in the technology relating to in water and underwater mechanical motive structures and particularly to improvements relating to an underwater device which is simplified, has a core and motive section which is modularized, and has an improved access structure which stably enables access.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Powered underwater motive devices have been known since the 1950&#39;s. Most of those earlier devices were metal and were built like small submarines. Access was had through hatches which had to be securely bolted or clamped in order to resist taking on water at depth. Water is harmful to both motors and batteries and must be sealed out. As a result, the underwater motive devices were large, bulky and designed with a mind to limit outside access to limit the sealing areas provided for service access.  
         [0003]     Recent improvements in underwater motive devices have related to the safety of operation, including a slight delay in starting to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, sealed chambers have been introduced to keep water out of the battery and motor compartments.  
         [0004]     However, for small motive devices, providing an integral housing complete with sealing of the battery and motor compartment has proved difficult for users to easily access the battery and motor compartment. The only alternative to a strong seal was unacceptable as a weaker seal would cause the taking of the device to depth to result in cyclical pressure leakage. Where the device is used in salt water, even the slightest leakage can be disastrous.  
         [0005]     Seals achieve their integrity by resilient sealing force and area. Both force and area contribute to the necessity for high force of replacement and removal. In a prior underwater motive device, air pressure and a pump were utilized to provide internal assist pressure to unseal the battery and motive compartments. Battery exchange required some setup and interconnectivity time.  
         [0006]     Design of underwater motive devices generally allow sealing to be accomplished most effectively during manufacturing and for manufactured components which will not thereafter be disturbed. Any time that a user access can be obtained, the ability to provide factory sealing is impaired. It has been previously difficult to provide user access without a statistical chance of breach of sealing.  
         [0007]     Another goal for underwater motive devices is to insure as much as practical that the user is ready to power the device. The provision of an operation switch which is difficult to operate in order to prevent inadvertent operation is generally disadvantageous. Where the user needs frequent starting and stopping, the extra time spent fumbling with an “out of the way” switch will severely reduce the utility of the device. Conversely, the prominence of the switch can contribute to inadvertent actuation.  
         [0008]     When stored in the powered, battery connected condition, inadvertent activation can deplete the battery. During use, inadvertent activation can cause the device to go out of a user&#39;s control.  
         [0009]     What is needed is an underwater motive device which enables easy access to battery change out without diminishing the integrity of the sealed components. Battery change out should be able to be accomplished with ease, and by persons having limited strength. The needed underwater motive device should have a switching system which is handy yet contains safeguards against inadvertent activation and loss of control. Finally, a device is needed which can include factory sealing of most components with minimum sealing breach by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     An underwater motive device provides an integrated and modular battery and motive housing which is carried within an outer housing and secured by a nose cone system. The nose cone system works against an “o” ring seal carried between a structure of the integrated and modular battery and motive housing and the outer housing. A pair of latches act as levers to forcibly push the nose cone in place to seal off the battery compartment. The same pair of latch levers operate a slight cam which is used to urge the nose cone to a disengaged position with respect to the “o” ring seal. The underwater motive device is configured to enable operation of the nosecone latch when the underwater motive device is in the upright position, and incudes a sturdily supported propeller cowling which permits a stable, centered, supported upright position from which the nose cone removal and re-sealing procedure can be accomplished easily, even by those of limited strength.  
         [0011]     The actuation buttons are prominently placed and easily found by touch and feel. One of the handles also includes a rearward lockout so that the underwater motive device can be stored in bulk without the possibility of inadvertent activation if both prominent activation buttons are depressed.  
         [0012]     The integrated core assembly of the underwater motive device is used both as a sealing boundary, maintenance aid and a mechanism to limit the need for multi-location user access. The core unit includes an integral structure having a forward battery compartment with a bayonette connector wire leading to a sealed access to the rear sealed motor volume. A shaft from the motor extends through an opening in the rear compartment which enables extension out of the rear compartment while sealing the shaft against the core unit housing. The core unit housing fits through the center of the outer housing and is secured to the outer housing by threaded members. An “o” ring seal is place in a space between the forward peripherally radially extending lip and an adjacent structure of the outer housing is engaged by a sealing surface on the inside of the front nose cone to provide sealing integrity.  
         [0013]     Even if water inadvertently enters the battery compartment, it cannot travel farther into the sealed motor compartment. If moisture is present in small amounts, it can be easily seen and removed each time the nose cone and battery compartment are accessed to change the battery. The completely sealed compartments then include the nose cone and battery compartment. The rearward sealed motor and shaft compartment remains independently factory sealed, even against the forward located nose cone and battery compartment.  
         [0014]     The resulting underwater motive device is simple, easy to use, and can be quickly opened, its battery disconnected and a new battery re-connected, and closed for return to use in less than 30 seconds. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the underwater motive device of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the underwater motive device of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the inner core and its forward battery chamber and rearward motor compartment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the front nose cone and latching assembly used to provide ease of front nose cone removal;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a lateral view looking into the latching assembly&#39;s cam structure used to mechanically advantageously lever the front cone away from the outer rear housing;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an expanded view of a thumb operated lockout mechanism mounted rearwardly on an integral side handle; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the circuitry and controller connection with respect to the actuation switches.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     The description and operation of the invention will be best initiated with reference to  FIG. 1 . An underwater motive device  21  has a seemingly integrated outer rear housing  23  which has seemingly continuous external lines with a front nose cone  25 . One of two identically numbered side latches is seen as a latch  27  which includes a latch frame member  29  which is pivotally mounted with respect to the forward end of the outer rear housing  23 . A pivoting engagement member  31  is pivotally attached to the inside forward end of the latch frame member  29  and has a rearward end which engages a projection  33  which is preferably integral with the nose cone  25 . As will be seen a rear inner portion of the latch frame member  29  includes a cam member to cause the nose cone  25  to be gently urged from its engagement to the front end of the outer rear housing  23 .  
         [0023]     Features of the outer rear housing seen in  FIG. 1  also include integral side handles  35  and  37 . A prominent actuation switch  39  is seen on side handle  35  while a prominent actuation switch  41  is seen on side handle  37 . A rounded propeller cowling  45  is seen at the rear of the outer rear housing  23 . Rounded propeller housing  45  is well supported by a set of four angular supports  51 ,  53 ,  55  and  57  ( 57  not being seen in  FIG. 1 ). A series of net mesh panels  59  are supported in between pairs of adjacent angular supports  51 ,  53 ,  55  and  57 . Net mesh panels  59  are preferably resilient so as to withstand small bumps and spring back into place. The cross sectional area is preferably such that no significant pressure drop will occur for water flowing through the propeller housing  45 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an expanded and exploded view of the underwater motive device  21  of  FIG. 1  is shown. Beginning at the front of the nose cone  25 , the complete contour of the surfaces surrounding projection  33  show a smooth groove  61  slightly forward and inboard of the projection  33  projection  33  into which a matching surface rear end  63  latch  27  interfits. The smooth groove  51  enables the surface rear end  63  to rotatably pivot in a low-friction controlled matter to urge the nose cone  25  rearwardly against the front of the outer rear housing  23 .  
         [0025]     Also seen in  FIG. 2  are periodically occurring ribbed shaped cam surfaces  65  which will push nose cone  25  away from the front of the outer rear housing  23  when the latch frame members  29  are in a position near their fully open position. The pivoting engagement members  31  are shown in a position in which they would be enabled to fold toward the smooth grooves  61 , along with the inward folding of the latch frame members  29 , of the front nose cone  25 . This mechanical leverage is used to securely force the front nose cone  25  into sealing position. The cam surfaces  65  are used for mechanical leverage in the disengagement of the nose cone  25 .  
         [0026]     Inboard of the smooth groove  61  slightly forward and inboard of the laches  27 , a raised edge  67  is the forward most projection of the inner core  69 , including a forward battery chamber  71 , and a rearward motor compartment  73 . Inner core  69  may be mounted in an offset, non-centered relationship with respect to the outer rear housing  23  to create a single possible interfitting relationship despite the bilaterally placed latches  27 .  
         [0027]     Extending through the rearward most end of the motor compartment  73  is a shaft  75 . At the front inside of the forward battery chamber, at least two of four threaded members  77  are seen. Threaded members  77  engage a peripheral plate  79  onto a matching inset  81 .  
         [0028]     Also seen just aft of raised peripherally extending edge  67 , is an “o” ring seal  83 . “o” ring seal  83  is preferably a continuous length of elastomeric material which extends significantly peripherally outwardly of the outward most peripheral extent of the edge  67 . The degree of compression of the “o” ring seal  83  is proportional to the amount of sealing and the sealing force involved in placing and removing the front nose cone  65 .  
         [0029]     Just in front of the opening of the forward battery chamber  71  is a battery  85  having a pair of leads  87  leading to a keyed bayonette connector  89 . The bayonette connector has a male and a female portion so that the user cannot inadvertently reverse the polarity of connection, either to a charger or to a connector  91  which is stably mounted just inside the battery compartment  71  opening. Sufficient clearance remains between the battery  85  and the closest internal dimension of the inside of the forward battery chamber  71  to provide clearance for the pair of leads  87  while providing close support clearance to for an integral fit. The connector  89  can be connected and disconnected to the connector  91  while the battery  85  is in place within the forward battery chamber  71 .  
         [0030]     Also seen through a partial cut away view of the net mesh panels  59  is a propeller  93  attached to the shaft  75  (not seen in  FIG. 2 . Just to the rear of propeller  93  is seen a rear screen  97  which may be formed integrally with respect to the propeller cowling  45 . With both the rear screen  97  and net mesh panels  59 , water enters the area of the propeller  93  and is pushed rearwardly through the rear screen  97  while keeping fingers and large objects from entering the propeller  93  area. The propeller  93  can be accessed and removed from the shaft  75 , and the inner core  69  preferably by removing the propeller cowling  45  and an integrally attached rear screen  97 . The propeller cowling  45  may be preferably attached to an attachment ring  99  which may be integrally formed with the four angular supports  51 ,  53 ,  55  and  57 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a closeup view of the latch  27  with the latch frame member  29  shown in its midpoint position is shown. Movement of the latch frame member  29  toward the front nose cone  25  will result in force from the angles of the latch frame member  29  and pivoting engagement member  31  to further urge the latch frame member  29  toward the front nose cone  25  in a “snap” action. Movement of the latch frame member  29  away from the front nose cone  25  will result in some force movement for a short angular extent, followed by a non-force assist opening of the latch  25  to a position near the position seen in  FIG. 1  in which the front cone  25  is no longer axially held in place.  
         [0032]     The action and movement of the last few degrees of the latch frame member  29  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As it continues to angularly open, the cam surfaces  65  begin to engage a rear surface of the front nose cone  25  to urge it about a quarter inch away from the front of the outer rear housing  23 . This mechanical advantage helps the user break the seal between the outer periphery of the “o” ring seal  83  and a mating surface on the inside of the front nose cone  25 . This enables a user having a weak upper body strength to remove the front nose cone  25  with no more strength than would be required to open a suitcase hasp. A gap  101  is small but sufficient so to allow the front nose cone  25  to be removed.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a thumb lockout mechanism  105  is shown in one of the integral side handles, in this case integral side handle  35 . A slot  107  enables the movement of a sliding member  109  to a lower position enabling the actuation of the prominent actuation switches, in this case prominent actuation switch  41 . An upward position of the sliding member  109  blocks the engagement of the prominent actuation switch  41 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an operating schematic illustrates the double actuation of the prominent actuation switches  39  and  41  necessary for operation of the underwater motive device  21  via a series connection. Battery  85  has one pole connected to a controller  111  and a second pole connected to controller  111  through a series connection of switches  39  and  41 . Controller  111  is utilized to create a delay to further downstream energization in order to make certain that the activation of the propeller  93  is intended by the user. Also shown is that the components forward of the shaft  75  lie within the inner core  69 .  
         [0035]     Especially where the activation switches  39  and  41  are prominent, it is desired to have enough of a delay that the propeller  93  not start turning before the user has had a chance to adequately grip the integral side handles  35  and  37 . Controller  111  is electrically connected to a motor  113  which is mechanically connected to the shaft  75  and propeller  75  previously seen in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0036]     In terms of utilization, the underwater motive device  21  offers advantages previously not seen in underwater motive devices. The structures for accessing the battery make extended use of the underwater motive device  21  available to everyone, regardless of upper body strength. The unitary inner core  69  facilitates repair and replacement of the unitary inner core  69  should an internal malfunction occur.  
         [0037]     While the present invention has been described in terms of an underwater motive device, &amp; more particularly to a particular structure and system which utilizes a user-friendly battery access system, controller which provides power delay, and ease of servicing, this mechanism can be applied to other devices.  
         [0038]     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1