Patents Assigned to Bluefin Robotics Corporation
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Patent number: 9376185Abstract: A cable containing an optical fiber is used to transmit data between an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a support vessel floating on the surface of the water. The ROV stores the cable on a spool and releases the cable into the water as the ROV dives away from the support vessel. The ROV detects the tension in the cable and the rate that the cable is released from the ROV is proportional to the detected tension in the cable. After the ROV has completed the dive and retrieved by the support vessel, the cable can be retrieved from the water and rewound onto the spool in the ROV.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Charles Chiau, Adam Wright
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Publication number: 20150194643Abstract: Coating a battery cell, or at least one battery cell in an assembly of battery cells or in a battery, or coating an assembly of battery cells or a battery which contains a battery cell or such an assembly with a fire-resistant coating is effective for protecting the cell, assembly, and battery and for retarding fire propagation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: BLUEFIN ROBOTICS CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey M. SMITH, Richard A. WILSON
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Patent number: 9012062Abstract: Coating a battery cell, or at least one battery cell in an assembly of battery cells or in a battery, or coating an assembly of battery cells or a battery which contains a battery cell or such an assembly with a fire-resistant coating is effective for protecting the cell, assembly, and battery and for retarding fire propagation.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Jeffrey M. Smith, Richard A. Wilson
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Patent number: 8974148Abstract: A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Jonathan Epstein
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Publication number: 20140248087Abstract: A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: BLUEFIN ROBOTICS CORPORATIONInventors: Graham Hawkes, Jonathan Epstein
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Patent number: 8770129Abstract: A cable containing an optical fiber is used to transmit data between an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a support vessel floating on the surface of the water. The ROV pulls the cable through the water and as the ROV dives away from the support vessel, the optical fiber is released from the support vessel. Excess tension in the cable can damage the optical fiber and the tension can be highest close to the ROV. To prevent potential damage to the optical fiber, the ROV can store a portion of the cable and release the cable if the detected tension approaches the maximum working load. When the tension drops to a lower safe level, the release mechanism can stop releasing the cable.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Charles Chiau, Adam Wright
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Patent number: 8616805Abstract: An optical fiber management system for a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) includes a spool containing a length of optical cable, a motor coupled to the spool, a motor controller, a speed sensor and a feed mechanism. The motor controller can detect the speed of the ROV through water and control the rotational speed of the motor so that the optical cable is removed from the spool at a speed that is equal to or greater than the speed of the ROV. A feed mechanism is used to apply a tension to the optical cable so that it is removed from the spool and emitted from the ROV without becoming tangled.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Bluefin Robotics, CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Charles S Chiau, Adam Wright
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Patent number: 8556538Abstract: A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Jonathan Epstein
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Patent number: 8369673Abstract: An optical fiber cable has a transparent core for transmitting optical data and a biodegradable protective covering. When placed in water, the protective covering dissolves in water after a few days. The raw remaining optical fiber cover is very thin, approximately 0.003 inches in diameter and very fragile. The optical core is easily broken into fine particles which becomes sand on the sea floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Graham Hawkes, Glen Sussman, Charles S Chiau
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Publication number: 20110300431Abstract: Coating a battery cell, or at least one battery cell in an assembly of battery cells or in a battery, or coating an assembly of battery cells or a battery which contains a battery cell or such an assembly with a fire-resistant coating is effective for protecting the cell, assembly, and battery and for retarding fire propagation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Jeffrey M. Smith, Richard A. Wilson
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Patent number: 6634825Abstract: An apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, including a semi-cylindrical profile section or member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of the profile section or member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression ring or member coupled to the profile section or member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment fixtures or members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension bands or members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment fixtures or members on end portions thereof. The circumferential ridge of the profile section or member couples to the circumferential groove of the compression ring or member. One of the circumferential ridges of one of the tension bands or members couples to respective of the circumferential groove of the profile section or member.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Bluefin Robotics CorporationInventors: Samuel William Tolkoff, Leo Gurfinkel, Knut Streitlien