Flotation apparatus and mechanical control therefor

Claim 1

FLOTATION APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES, (A) A HOUSING HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN PERMITTING THE ENTRY OF WATER, (B) AN EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER MOUNTED WITHIN THE HOUSING, (C) A GAS SOURCE AND A FLOW CONTROL VALVE INCLUDING A CYLINDER HAVING AN AXIALLY MOVABLE PISTON THEREIN, (D) A FIRST GAS SUPPLY CONDUIT BETWEEN THE GAS SOURCE AND THE CYLINDER AND A SECOND GAS SUPPLY CONDUIT BETWEEN THE CYLINDER AND THE EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER, (E) A FIRST GAS REMOVAL CONDUIT BETWEEN THE EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER AND THE CYLINDER AND A SECOND GAS REMOVAL CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH THE CYLINDER, (F) SAID PISTON BEING FRICTIONALLY POSITIONED IN THE CYLINDER, (G) SAID CYLINDER HAVING SPRING BIASING MEANS AT ONE END ABUTTING THE PISTON AND AN APERTURE AT ITS OTHER END AND (H) A PASSAGEWAY IN THE PISTON WHICH IS OPERATIVE WHEN THE PISTON IS MOVED TOWARD SAID ONE END OF THE CYLINDER TO PLACE THE SUPPLY CONDUITS IN COMMUNICATION AND ADMIT GAS TO THE EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER AND OPERATIVE WHEN THE PISTON IS MOVED TOWARD SAID OTHER END OF THE CYLINDER TO PLACE THE REMOVAL CONDUITS IN COMMUNICATION AND EXIT GAS FROM THE EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER.