US3590399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attitude controlled flotation system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-10-14
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A flotation system including a plurality of gas/liquid ballast tanks secured to the underside of a platform and all connected to a novel gas distribution valve also secured to the platform which selectively delivers gas to the ballast tanks in such manner as to maintain the desired attitude of the platform within the liquid medium. The ballast tanks are open bottomed and function as air traps, the degree of flotation afforded to the platform being controlled by injecting or withdrawing air or other gas to respectively force water out from and take water in through the bottom of the tank and thereby control the displacement. The open bottom construction of the ballast tanks provides a self-limiting tilt feature to each tank because inclination of a tank above a predetermined critical angle causes air to spill out through the bottom and limit the flotation. The valve is a novel type of ball check valve and provides attitude control by automatically selectively controlling the ratio of gas to liquid within each ballast tank through the check ball feature, while elevation control is effected by simultaneously changing the ratio of gas to liquid in all ballast tanks. The control valve is formed with a plurality of ports spaced peripherally about the sidewall of the valve body. The upper surface of the valve body bottom wall is provided with a central horizontal platform region disposed at a level below that of each of the ports, from which the floor extends radially outward and slopes upward toward the ports. A plurality of spherical balls are seated on the central platform when the latter is in a horizontal position, and when the valve body is tilted are free to roll outward and block any of the ports disposed at a lower elevation than the central platform. The mechanism may be adjusted to provide a slope to the platform or other controlled device where such an arrangement is desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard G Madden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:18
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/06; E04H4/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A flotaTion system for coupling to a device which it is desired to controllably vertically shift and stabilize at a given attitude within a liquid medium, comprising in combination, a. a control valve having a valve body, at least three approximately horizontally coplanar ballast ports spaced peripherally about the valve body, a distributor port communicating with said ballast ports within the valve body, means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, and ballast ports closing means operative to close any ballast ports disposed at a predetermined level lower than any other ballast port as a consequence of predetermined angular inclination of said valve body, b. at least three ballast tanks and hydraulic coupling means connecting the same singly respectively to said at least three ballast ports to permit the passage between each said connected tank and port of pressurized gas, each said tank having vent means for placing the tank interior in communication with the ambient atmosphere. c. support means for fixedly securing at a predetermined attitude to the controlled device said control valve and said ballast tanks, said ballast tanks being spaced radially outward from said control valve with each ballast port being so positioned with respect to the ballast tank to which it is connected that tilting movement of the controlled device causes the ballast port and its associated ballast tank to move in opposite sense with respect to any point therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A flotaTion system for coupling to a device which it is desired to controllably vertically shift and stabilize at a given attitude within a liquid medium, comprising in combination, a. a control valve having a valve body, at least three approximately horizontally coplanar ballast ports spaced peripherally about the valve body, a distributor port communicating with said ballast ports within the valve body, means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, and ballast ports closing means operative to close any ballast ports disposed at a predetermined level lower than any other ballast port as a consequence of predetermined angular inclination of said valve body, b. at least three ballast tanks and hydraulic coupling means connecting the same singly respectively to said at least three ballast ports to permit the passage between each said connected tank and port of pressurized gas, each said tank having vent means for placing the tank interior in communication with the ambient atmosphere. c. support means for fixedly securing at a predetermined attitude to the controlled device said control valve and said ballast tanks, said ballast tanks being spaced radially outward from said control valve with each ballast port being so positioned with respect to the ballast tank to which it is connected that tilting movement of the controlled device causes the ballast port and its associated ballast tank to move in opposite sense with respect to any point therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said ballast tanks vent means is an opening at the bottom to permit entry and exit of the liquid medium within which said controlled device is shiftable, and wherein said hydraulic coupling means communicates with the interior of said ballast tanks proximate to the top thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said ballast tanks vent means is an opening at the bottom to permit entry and exit of the liquid medium within which said controlled device is shiftable, and wherein said hydraulic coupling means communicates with the interior of said ballast tanks proximate to the top thereof, the width and depth of said tank and the size of said bottom opening being so proportioned that no tank can rise more than a predetermined amount above any other tank without automatically spilling pressurizing gas out through the bottom opening to thereby limit the angle of inclination of the controlled device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said ballast tanks vent means is an opening at the bottom to permit entry and exit of the liquid medium within which said controlled device is shiftable, and wherein said hydraulic coupling means communicates with the interior of said ballast tanks proximate to the top thereof through a valve which permits gas flow into and out of said tank through said hydraulic coupling means to prevents the flow of liquid medium in said tank into said control valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 further including a platform to the underside of which said control valve and ballast tanks are secured, said platform being of a size and shape to close-fittingly be disposed within the confines of a walled pool, and a plurality of hanger devices detachably connectable to said platform at their lower ends and adapted to overlie the walls of the pool or engage therewith at their upper ends to support the weight of said platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in saiD top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in said top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, said ballast ports closing means being a plurality of gravity actuated devices contained within said valve body chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in said top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, said ballast ports closing means being a plurality of gravity actuated devices contained within said valve body chamber and fewer in number than the number of said ballast ports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
214 words
A flotation system as described in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in said top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, said bottom wall comprising a depressed region disposed at a level below that of each of said ballast ports when the plane of the latter is approximately horizontal and a sloping region sloping upward toward each of said ballast ports at predetermined inclination, and said ballast ports closing means comprising a plurality of free rolling balls seated in said depressed region, said balls being free to roll outward when said valve body is tilted and block any of said ballast ports disposed at a predetermined lower elevation than said depressed region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A flotation system as described in claim 2 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in said top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
A flotation system as described in claim 3 wherein said control valve body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom walls and peripherally thereabout to form a chamber, said ballast ports being spaced equiangularly about and located in said sidewall, one side of each ballast port communicating with the inside of said chamber while the other side of each such port communicates with the outside of said chamber and is connected to said hydraulic coupling means, said distributor port being located in said top wall with one side communicating with the inside of said chamber, while the other side communicates with said means for coupling said distributor port to a source of pressurized gas, said bottom wall comprising a depressed region disposed at a level below that of each of said ballast ports when the plane of the latter is approximately horizontal and a sloping region sloping upward toward each of said ballast ports at predetermined inclination, and said ballast ports closing means comprising a plurality of free rolling balls seated in said depressed region, said balls being free to roll outward when said valve body is tilted and block any of said ballast ports disposed at a predetermined lower elevation than said depressed region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |