US3623443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater housing structure
Assignee: Deutsche Babcock and Wilcox AG
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Filing: 1969-11-12
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An underwater housing structure including one or more flood tanks and having supply pipes and vent pipes which control the gases for flooding the tanks and arranged so that the gas may be supplied or vented through the highest point of the flood tank. A pressure balance pipe is provided which starts at one end of the gas chamber of the flood tanks and terminates below the flood tank in the water surrounding the outside of the structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunter Luther Mulheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:25
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An underwater housing structure, having a personnel compartment, for submergence or elevation in a body of water, comprising; a plurality of flood tanks coupled to the structure and arranged on both sides of the personnel compartment, flood valve means, coupled to said flood tanks at the lowest possible water level thereof, for controlling the supply and drainage of the water to flood said tanks, supply pipes, coupled to the highest point of said flood tanks, for supplying gases to said flood tanks and thereby controlling the flooding of said tanks, vent pipes, coupled to said supply pipes, for venting the gases from said flood tanks, supply valve means for controlling the gas supply to said flood tanks, vent valve means for venting the gases from said flood tanks, and pressure balance pipes mounted on said flood tanks at a point below said supply pipes and vent pipes, so as to have one end thereof disposed within the gas chamber of said flood tanks and the other end thereof terminating below said flood tanks in the water surrounding the oUtside of the structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An underwater housing structure, having a personnel compartment, for submergence or elevation in a body of water, comprising; a plurality of flood tanks coupled to the structure and arranged on both sides of the personnel compartment, flood valve means, coupled to said flood tanks at the lowest possible water level thereof, for controlling the supply and drainage of the water to flood said tanks, supply pipes, coupled to the highest point of said flood tanks, for supplying gases to said flood tanks and thereby controlling the flooding of said tanks, vent pipes, coupled to said supply pipes, for venting the gases from said flood tanks, supply valve means for controlling the gas supply to said flood tanks, vent valve means for venting the gases from said flood tanks, and pressure balance pipes mounted on said flood tanks at a point below said supply pipes and vent pipes, so as to have one end thereof disposed within the gas chamber of said flood tanks and the other end thereof terminating below said flood tanks in the water surrounding the oUtside of the structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The underwater housing structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure balance pipes are mounted on and disposed through the bottom surfaces of said flood tanks so as to have one end thereof extending up within the gas chamber of said flood tanks and terminating in the upper portion of the chamber, and the other end thereof extending out through the bottom surfaces of said flood tanks and terminating below said flood tanks in the water surrounding the outside of the structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The underwater housing structure as recited in claim 2, wherein said pressure pipes are vertically disposed within said flood tanks and have a substantially linear configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The underwater housing structure as recited in claim 1, where said pressure balance pipes are mounted on the top surfaces of said flood tanks adjacent to said supply pipes and are substantially U-shaped so as to have one end thereof connected to the gas chamber of said flood tanks and the other end thereof disposed in the water surrounding the outside of the structure and terminating below said flood tanks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |