Patents by Inventor Russell O. Pearson

Russell O. Pearson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4014279
    Abstract: A dynamic positioning system for a sea-going vessel containing an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system utilizes the thrust produced by the sea water effluents resulting from the energy conversion process to position the vessel against wind and ocean current forces. In one preferred embodiment applicable to both cylindrical surface and spar buoy types of vessels, both the warm water and cold water discharges are collected in a common annular plenum and then discharged through nozzles spaced angularly around the periphery of the plenum. Each nozzle is rotatable through a 90.degree. arc in a vertical plane to alter the direction of the discharge water jet and thereby to alter the horizontal component of the thrust or the driving force acting upon the vessel. The nozzles may be selected as to location and angular orientation to attain the net resultant force vector necessary to provide station-keeping or propulsion to the vessel under most any combination of wind and ocean current conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Russell O. Pearson