Patents by Inventor Michel Blain

Michel Blain 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: 8464804
    Abstract: A robot for machining a part of structure under water, comprising a machine tool having a chamber receiving a machining element, a support and guiding structure of the machine tool fixable with respect to the part to be machined and having submersible mobile elements and corresponding submersible guiding elements defining axes along which the mobile elements are movable to position the machine tool with respect to the part to be machined, displacement units for displacement of the mobile elements along the axes, a gas supply connecting to the machine tool to inject gas in the chamber, and a programmable control unit for operating the displacement units and the machine tool based on a closed-loop control mode in order to achieve the machining of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Julien Beaudry, Pierre-Luc Richard, Dominique Thuot, Philippe Hamelin, Michel Blain
  • Patent number: 8462208
    Abstract: System and method for tridimensional cartography of a structural surface. Two wires are extended in front and along the structural surface so as to define a reference surface. A measuring unit comprising a laser arrangement and a camera is moved in front of the structural surface so as to progressively scan the surface. Tow distinct light planes directed toward the structural surface are projected by means of the laser arrangement. Images of the structural surface containing lines resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the structural surface and four reference points resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the wires are captured by means of the camera. The images are processed to determine the 3D coordinates of the lines defining the mapping in a reference system bound to the reference surface considering the position and the orientation of the measuring unit based on the reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: François Mirallès, Régis Houde, Julien Beaudry, Bruce Hazel, Jean Cöté, Michel Blain, Serge Sarraillon
  • Patent number: 8459196
    Abstract: A submersible robot for operating a tool relative to a surface of an underwater structure has a tool holder movably mounted on a support assembly provided with a driving arrangement for movably holding the tool in operative position relative to the surface. Position and orientation of the support assembly relative to the surface is locked and adjusted by locking and leveling arrangements. A programmable control unit operates the driving, locking and leveling arrangements and the tool and receives measurements from a sensor unit. The control unit has an operation mode wherein a positioning of the robot is determined and controlled as function of an initial position for defining a first work area, and shifted positions of the robot for defining additional work areas, the work areas having overlapping portions with one another for tracking displacements of the robot relative to the surface of the structure using the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Luc Provencher, Stéphan Gendron, René Morin, Michel Blain
  • Publication number: 20120082535
    Abstract: A submersible robot for operating a tool relative to a surface of an underwater structure has a tool holder movably mounted on a support assembly provided with a driving arrangement for movably holding the tool in operative position relative to the surface. Position and orientation of the support assembly relative to the surface is locked and adjusted by locking and levelling arrangements. A programmable control unit operates the driving, locking and levelling arrangements and the tool and receives measurements from a sensor unit. The control unit has an operation mode wherein a positioning of the robot is determined and controlled as function of an initial position for defining a first work area, and shifted positions of the robot for defining additional work areas, the work areas having overlapping portions with one another for tracking displacements of the robot relative to the surface of the structure using the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Luc PROVENCHER, Stéphan Gendron, René Morin, Michel Blain
  • Publication number: 20110203823
    Abstract: A robot for machining a part of structure under water, comprising a machine tool having a chamber receiving a machining element, a support and guiding structure of the machine tool fixable with respect to the part to be machined and having submersible mobile elements and corresponding submersible guiding elements defining axes along which the mobile elements are movable to position the machine tool with respect to the part to be machined, displacement units for displacement of the mobile elements along the axes, a gas supply connecting to the machine tool to inject gas in the chamber, and a programmable control unit for operating the displacement units and the machine tool based on a closed-loop control mode in order to achieve the machining of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Julien BEAUDRY, Pierre-Luc RICHARD, Dominique THUOT, Philippe HAMELIN, Michel BLAIN
  • Publication number: 20100238269
    Abstract: System and method for tridimensional cartography of a structural surface. Two wires are extended in front and along the structural surface so as to define a reference surface. A measuring unit comprising a laser arrangement and a camera is moved in front of the structural surface so as to progressively scan the surface. Tow distinct light planes directed toward the structural surface are projected by means of the laser arrangement. Images of the structural surface containing lines resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the structural surface and four reference points resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the wires are captured by means of the camera. The images are processed to determine the 3D coordinates of the lines defining the mapping in a reference system bound to the reference surface considering the position and the orientation of the measuring unit based on the reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Francois Mirallès, Régis Houde, Julien Beaudry, Bruce Hazel, Jean Côté, Michel Blain, Serge Sarraillon
  • Patent number: 7257483
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hydro-Québec
    Inventors: Michel Blain, Régis Houde, Richard Laliberté
  • Publication number: 20070106462
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Blain, Regis Houde, Richard Laliberte
  • Patent number: RE44935
    Abstract: A submersible robot for operating a tool relative to a surface of an underwater structure has a tool holder movably mounted on a support assembly provided with a driving arrangement for movably holding the tool in operative position relative to the surface. Position and orientation of the support assembly relative to the surface is locked and adjusted by locking and leveling arrangements. A programmable control unit operates the driving, locking and leveling arrangements and the tool and receives measurements from a sensor unit. The control unit has an operation mode wherein a positioning of the robot is determined and controlled as function of an initial position for defining a first work area, and shifted positions of the robot for defining additional work areas, the work areas having overlapping portions with one another for tracking displacements of the robot relative to the surface of the structure using the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Luc Provencher, Stephan Gendron, Rene Morin, Michel Blain