Patent ID: 8683912

Claim:
A submersible hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for use with a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder barrel and a cylinder shaft, comprising: a submersible hydraulic cylinder rod cover defining an interior space sized to at least partially receive the hydraulic cylinder therein and having at least one automatic valve configured to prevent water circulation between the outside environment and the space within the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, and to allow egress of water from the space within the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder shaft is retracted, and ingress of water into the space within the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder shaft is extended, wherein a first end portion of the cylinder rod cover is attached to the cylinder barrel and an opposite second end portion of the cylinder rod cover is attached to the cylinder shaft, and the cylinder rod cover longitudinally contracts and expands as the cylinder shaft retracts and extends, respectively, and further including a plurality of guides positioned within the interior space of the cylinder rod cover, each guide including a central aperture through which the cylinder shaft is extendable when positioned within the cylinder rod cover, each guide further including at least one hole for the flow of water within the cylinder rod cover therethrough as the cylinder shaft retracts and extends.