公开(公告)号：US5222452A

公开(公告)日：1993-06-29

申请号：US898498

申请日：1992-06-15

申请人： Michael J. Maloney ,  Ronald C. Pennock

发明人： Michael J. Maloney ,  Ronald C. Pennock

IPC分类号： B63B59/08

CPC分类号： B63B59/08

摘要： The apparatus includes a support mechanism for supporting the cleaning apparatus in the body of water, a hull cleaning assembly including a plurality of brush assemblies, and a mechanism for moving the brush assemblies between hull cleaning positions and hull clearing positions. The brush assemblies each have a buoyancy element, a motor supported by the buoyancy element, and a cleaning brush coupled to a drive shaft of the motor. The buoyancy elements of the brush assemblies are hinged together to constitute a unified hull cleaning assembly. The moving mechanism includes a control device for controlling the movement of the brush assemblies. In addition, the moving mechanism includes a plurality of control lines movably engaging the support mechanism. The control lines are connected to the brush assemblies respectively at one end and to the control device at the other end. The support mechanism includes a pulley arrangement rotatably secured therein. The control lines movably engage the support mechanism through the pulley arrangement. Methods are also contemplated by the present invention. These methods comprise the steps of (1) supporting the cleaning apparatus in the body of water; (2) maneuvering the boat hull over the brush assemblies; (3) floating the brush assemblies to a cleaning position around a bottom portion of the boat hull by employing the buoyancy elements of the brush assemblies; and (4) actuating the cleaning brushes of the brush assemblies into a cleaning action by driving the motors of the brush assemblies.

摘要翻译： 该装置包括用于将清洁装置支撑在水体中的支撑机构，包括多个刷子组件的船体清洁组件以及用于在船体清洁位置和船体清除位置之间移动刷组件的机构。 刷子组件各自具有浮力元件，由浮力元件支撑的马达以及联接到马达的驱动轴的清洁刷。 刷子组件的浮力元件铰接在一起以构成统一的船体清洁组件。 移动机构包括用于控制电刷组件运动的控制装置。 此外，移动机构包括可移动地接合支撑机构的多个控制线。 控制线分别在一端连接到电刷组件，另一端连接到控制装置。 支撑机构包括可旋转地固定在其中的滑轮装置。 控制线通过滑轮装置可移动地接合支撑机构。 本发明也考虑了方法。 这些方法包括以下步骤：（1）将清洁装置支撑在水体中; （2）将船体操纵在刷子组件上; （3）通过使用刷子组件的浮力元件将刷子组件浮动到围绕船体底部的清洁位置; 和（4）通过驱动刷组件的马达来驱动刷组件的清洁刷进入清洁动作。