US3800346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self descending and surfacing water device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A self descending and surfacing water device for deploying instrumentation, such as a bathythermograph, including a cylinder and piston combination. The cylinder has a water port at its top end. The piston is hollow and has a closed bottom end and an opening at its top end. A spring is provided for biasing the piston upwardly within the cylinder. Water pressure forces the hollow piston downwardly against this spring, and a gas is released for driving the hollow piston upwardly in the cylinder when the device has descended to a predetermined depth. A free floating piston is disposed within the hollow piston, and the bottom of the hollow piston has an aperture so that upon the release of gas the free floating piston is driven upwardly within the hollow piston to increase the buoyancy of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 E White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:46
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/04; B63B22/08; B63B22/14; B63B22/12; B63B2209/00; B63B2209/02; B63B2211/00; B63B2211/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A self descending and surfacing water device for deploying instrumentation, such as a bathythermograph, comprising: a cylinder which is closed at each end and has at least one water port at a top end; a piston disposed within the cylinder; said piston being hollow and having a closed bottom end and an opening at its top end; means for biasing the hollow piston upwardly within said cylinder; said cylinder being capable of receiving means which are responsive to downward movement of the hollow piston for releasing gas below the hollow piston which in turn will develop a pressure for driving the hollow piston upwardly in the cylinder; a free floating piston disposed within the hollow piston to increase buoyancy upon release of the gas; and the bottom of the hollow piston having an aperture for communicating pressurized gas into the hollow piston for driving the floating piston upwardly therein upon release of the gas, whereby, upon deploying the device into the water with the gas releasing means, the device descends and water pressure through said water port forces the hollow piston downwardly until the gas is released, whereupon the hollow piston is driven upwardly in the cylinder and the floating piston is driven upwardly in the hollow piston so as to expel water through said water port and cause the device to become buoyant and ascend to the surface of the water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A self descending and surfacing water device for deploying instrumentation, such as a bathythermograph, comprising: a cylinder which is closed at each end and has at least one water port at a top end; a piston disposed within the cylinder; said piston being hollow and having a closed bottom end and an opening at its top end; means for biasing the hollow piston upwardly within said cylinder; said cylinder being capable of receiving means which are responsive to downward movement of the hollow piston for releasing gas below the hollow piston which in turn will develop a pressure for driving the hollow piston upwardly in the cylinder; a free floating piston disposed within the hollow piston to increase buoyancy upon release of the gas; and the bottom of the hollow piston having an aperture for communicating pressurized gas into the hollow piston for driving the floating piston upwardly therein upon release of the gas, whereby, upon deploying the device into the water with the gas releasing means, the device descends and water pressure through said water port forces the hollow piston downwardly until the gas is released, whereupon the hollow piston is driven upwardly in the cylinder and the floating piston is driven upwardly in the hollow piston so as to expel water through said water port and cause the device to become buoyant and ascend to the surface of the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 1 including: said device being negatively buoyant when the free floating piston is at the bottom of the hollow piston and the hollow piston is filled with water through said water port; and said device being positively buoyant when the gas pressure has driven the floating piston to the top of the hollow piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 2 including: stop means mounted at the top of the hollow piston for stopping upward movement of the free floating piston within the hollow piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 1 including: the top of the cylinder comprising a threaded cap; a capture loop mounted to the top threaded cap; and the water device having a positive metacentric height.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 1 including: said gas releasing means; said gas releasing means including: a puncturable pressure bottle mounted in the cylinder opposite the bottom of the hollow piston; and a puncture spike mounted to the bottom of the hollow piston for puncturing the pressure bottle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 5 including: the bottom of cylinder comprising a threaded cap; and said pressure bottle being threaded into said cap so that the distance between the bottle and puncture spike can be selectively adjusted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 1 including: the biasing means being a compression spring which is disposed in the cylinder between the bottom of the cylinder and the bottom of the hollow piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 6 including: said device being negatively buoyant when the free floating piston is at the bottom of the hollow piston and the hollow piston is filled with water through said water port; and said device being positively buoyant when the gas pressure has driven the floating piston to the top of the hollow piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as Claimed in claim 8 including: stop means mounted at the top of the hollow piston for stopping upward movement of the free floating piston within the hollow piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 9 including: the top of the cylinder comprising a threaded cap; a capture loop mounted to the top threaded cap; and the water device having a positive metacentric height.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 10 including: the cylinder having a series of ports about its circumference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A self descending and surfacing water device as claimed in claim 11 including: the biasing means being a compression spring which is disposed in the cylinder between the bottom of the cylinder and the bottom of the hollow piston.
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) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |