Depth control and automatic surfacing device actuated by air depletion in air supply tanks

Abstract

Abstract EQUIPMENT FOR SWIMMERS OR DIVERS COMPRISING A CONTROL TO MAINTAIN AN ADJUSTABLE CONSTANT LEVEL OF SUBMERGENCE, AND FURTHER PROVIDING A SAFETY FEATURE OF FORCED SURFACING OF THE DIVER WHEN THE BREATHING AIR SUPPLY GETS DANGEROUSLY LOW. THE LEVEL CONTROL COMPRISES A BALLAST TANK WITH MEANS TO SUBMERGE IT TO A DESIRED LEVEL, AND WATER-DEPTH PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS TO CONTROL THE BALLAST IN THE TANK TO MAINTAIN IT AT THAT LEVEL. THE SURFACING MEANS COMPRISES AN EMERGENCY AIR TANK WHICH CARRIES AIR UNTER FULL WORKING PRESSURE AND A VALVE CONNECTING IT TO THE BALLAST TANK. THE VALVE IS RESPONSIVE TO THE MAIN AIR SUPPLY TANK PRESSURE, AND WHEN SUCH PRESSURE GETS DANGEROUSLY LOW, THE VALVE IS SHITED TO A POSITION WHEREIN THE EMERGENCY AIR TANK IS CONNECTED TO THE BALLAST TANK TO FORCE THE WATER BALLAST THEREFROM AND CAUSE SURFACING. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT, A BIASED PISTON IS LATCHED AT AN END OF A CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE BALLAST TANK. THE LATCHING MEANS IS RESPONSIVE TO THE AIR PRESSURE OF THE AIR SUPPLY TANK. WHEN THE PRESSURE GETS DANGEROUSLY LOW, THE LATCH MEANS RELEASES THE PISTON WHICH MOVES UNDER ITS BIASING FORCE TO SWEEP SUFFICIENT WATER FROM THE BALLAST TANK TO CAUSE SURFACING. THE ABOVE SURFACING MEANS FURTHER INCORPORATES TIMER MEANS TO INITIATE AUTOMATIC SURFACING OPERATION AFTER A SELECTED PERIOD OF SUBMERGENCE. ALARM MEANS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO INDICATE THE APPROACH OF AIR PRESSURE CONDITIONS WHICH INITIATES SURFACING.

Inventors

• 👤 Samuel Levine

Bibliographic Details