Controllably submersible buoy

Claim 2

A buoy, comprising a hollow body adapted to receive water to cause it to descend to a desired level therein, check valve means for venting such water from the body, a source of compressed gas within the body, means for releasing gas from said source into said body to force water from said body through said check valve means and thereby cause said body to rise to the surface, and means adapted to be located on said body above the normal water line of said buoy when surfaced for automatically closing said gas releasing means when said body reaches said surface.

Claim 3

A buoy of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said gas releasing means includes a normally closed valve controlling the outlet from said gas source, a source of electrical power, aNd means powered by said power source to open the valve, and the means for closing the gas releasing means includes means for disconnecting the power source from the valve opening means to permit said valve to close.

Claim 4

A buoy, comprising a hollow body having inner and outer concentric compartments, means for admitting water to each compartment while venting gas therefrom to cause the body to descend, a source of compressed gas, means for admitting gas from said source to each chamber while venting water therefrom to cause the body to ascend, and a chain extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the body.

Claim 5

A buoy, comprising a hollow body having inner and outer concentric compartments, means for admitting water to each compartment while venting gas therefrom to cause the body to descend, a source of compressed gas, means for admitting gas from said source to each chamber while venting water therefrom to cause the body to ascend, and a chain extending axially downwardly from the bottom of the body.

Claim 6

A buoy of the character defined in claim 3, wherein the means for venting water is in the bottom of the body to cause a downward jetting action.

Claim 7

A buoy comprising a hollow body having at least two separate water compartments therein each adapted to receive water to cause the buoy to descend, the compartments of said buoy being arranged to permit the buoy to normally float with a positive buoyancy when said compartments are empty of water, first inlet means for flooding one of said compartments with water at a relatively fast rate to cause said buoy to have a substantially neutral buoyancy, second inlet means for flooding another of said compartments at a relatively slower, controlled rate to cause the buoy to have controlled negative buoyancy and to descend at a controlled rate, and outlet means for venting water from each of said compartments.

Claim 8

A buoy comprising a hollow body having at least two separate water compartments therein each adapted to receive water to cause the buoy to descend, the compartments of said buoy being arranged to permit the buoy to normally float with a positive buoyancy when said compartments are empty of water, first inlet means for flooding one of said compartments with water at a relatively fast rate to cause said buoy to have a substantially neutral buoyancy, second inlet means for flooding another of said compartments at a relatively slower, controlled rate to cause the buoy to have controlled negative buoyancy and to descend at a controlled rate, and outlet means for venting water from each of said compartments.

Claim 9

The buoy of claim 5 wherein said first and second inlet means are valves having inlet ports, and wherein the inlet port of said second inlet means provides a greater restriction to the flow of water than the inlet port of said first inlet means.

Claim 10

The buoy of claim 5 including an outer water compartment and an inner water compartment concentric with said outer water compartment, and wherein said first inlet means is connected to said outer water compartment and the second inlet means is connected to said inner water compartment.

Claim 11

The buoy of claim 5 further including anchor means extending downwardly from the buoy.

Claim 12

A submersible buoy having a controllable rate of ascent and descent comprising a body member having first and second buoyancy chambers therein, first water flow valve means to control the flow of water from outside said body member to said first chamber, said valve means including a flow conduit with a restriction therein so that water enters said first chamber at a relatively slow, predetermined controlled rate when said valve means is in an open position, second water flow valve means to control the flow of water from outside said body member to said second chamber, said valve means having an unrestricted flow conduit so that water enters said second chamber at a relatively fast rate when said valve means is in an open position, first and second gas vent means to permit the escape of gas from said first and second chambers, respectively, each of said vent means having valve means to control said escape of gas from the first and second chambers, first and second water vent means to permit the flow of water from said first and second chambers, respectively, to outside said body member, each of said water vent means having check valve means to control said flow of water from the first and second chambers, a source of pressurized gas positioned within said body member, gas flow valve means to control the flow of gas from said source to said first and second chambers, valve control means adapted to control in predetermined sequence the opening and closing of said first and second water flow valve means, said first and second gas vent means and said gas flow valve means, so as to control the admission of water to said first and second chambers and the purging thereof during descent and ascent of said buoy, said valve control means including signal receiving means adapted for detecting signals from a remote source, and anchor means connected to said body member, said anchor means comprising an anchor chain having an anchor device connected thereto for positioning at the bottom of the body of water in which said buoy is to be located, whereby the buoy may be located at the bottom of said body of water with said first and second chambers flooded with water and may be caused to rise to the surface by a signal to said signal receiving means resulting in the opening of said gas flow valve means causing the flow of pressurized gas to said chambers, purging said water therefrom and creating a positive buoyancy so that said buoy rises to the surface, a further signal to said signal receiving means causing said valve control means to open said first and second water flow valve means and said gas vent means, the flow of water to said second chamber creating a neutral buoyancy of said buoy, the relatively slower rate of water flow to said first chamber causing the buoy to sink at a relatively slow, controlled rate, thereby avoiding damage to the buoy upon reaching the bottom of said body of water.

Claim 13

A submersible buoy having a controllable rate of ascent and descent comprising a body member having first and second buoyancy chambers therein, first water flow valve means to control the flow of water from outside said body member to said first chamber, said valve means including a flow conduit with a restriction therein so that water enters said first chamber at a relatively slow, predetermined controlled rate when said valve means is in an open position, second water flow valve means to control the flow of water from outside said body member to said second chamber, said valve means having an unrestricted flow conduit so that water enters said second chamber at a relatively fast rate when said valve means is in an open position, first and second gas vent means to permit the escape of gas from said first and second chambers, respectively, each of said vent means having valve means to control said escape of gas from the first and second chambers, first and second water vent means to permit the flow of water from said first and second chambers, respectively, to outside said body member, each of said water vent means having check valve means to control said flow of water from the first and second chambers, a source of pressurized gas positioned within said body member, gas flow valve means to control the flow of gas from said source to said first and second chambers, valve control means adapted to control in predetermined sequence the opening and closing of said first and second water flow valve means, said first and second gas vent means and said gas flow valve means, so as to control the admission of water to said first and second chambers and the purging thereof during descent and ascent of said buoy, said valve control means including signal receiving means adapted for detecting signals from a remote source, and anchor means connected to said body member, said anchor means comprising an anchor chain having an anchor device connected thereto for positioning at the bottom of the body of water in which said buoy is to be located, whereby the buoy may be located at the bottom of said body of water with said first and second chambers flooded with water and may be caused to rise to the surface by a signal to said signal receiving means resulting in the opening of said gas flow valve means causing the flow of pressurized gas to said chambers, purging said water therefrom and creating a positive buoyancy so that said buoy rises to the surface, a further signal to said signal receiving means causing said valve control means to open said first and second water flow valve means and said gas vent means, the flow of water to said second chamber creating a neutral buoyancy of said buoy, the relatively slower rate of water flow to said first chamber causing the buoy to sink at a relatively slow, controlled rate, thereby avoiding damage to the buoy upon reaching the bottom of said body of water.

Claim 14

The buoy of claim 9 and including signal means for transmitting signals for selectively activating said valve control means, said signal means being located at a source remote from said valve control means.

Claim 15

The buoy of claim 10 in which said signal means is adapted to transmit acoustical signals and said signal receiving means is adapted to receive said acoustical signals.

Claim 16

The buoy of claim 9 and including third water flow valve means to control the flow of water from outside said body member to said first chamber, said valve means having an unrestricted flow conduit so that water enters said first chamber through said third valve means at a relatively rapid rate when said third valve means is in an open position, said valve control means being adapted to open said third water flow valve means when the body member has reached the bottom of said body of water and to close said third valve means together with said first and second valve means for subsequent ascent of said body member to the surface, said valve control means also being adapted to open said first gas vent means when said third valve means is opened, so that fast flooding of said first chamber is achieved after the body member has reached the bottom for more secure positioning at the bottom of said body of water.

Claim 17

The buoy of claim 12 and including pressure detection means positioned on said body member, said means being adapted to supply a control signal to said valve control means when said body member reaches the surface of said body of water, said valve control means being adapted to close said gas flow valve means upon receiving said signal from the pressure detection means.

Claim 18

The buoy of claim 13 and including a mooring element extending upward from said body member, said mooring element being adapted for the securing of a mooring hawser of a vessel desiring to moor to said buoy, said mooring element also extending downward beneath said body member and being adapted for connection to said anchor chain.

Claim 19

The buoy of claim 14 in which said first and second chambers are concentric, right-circular, cylindrical compartments and said mooring element comprises an elongated strong back element axially located with respect to said body member and said first and second chambers thereof.

Claim 20

The buoy of claim 15 and including below said body member a substantially frusto-conical section having a plurality of ports on the outer surface thereof and a landing ring positioned at the tapered end of said conical section.

Claim 21

The buoy of claim 16 in which said ports comprise vents for the venting of air and water from said body member and ports for the intake of water to said body member.

Claim 22

The buoy of claim 12 in which said valve control means comprises an electronic control system and said first and second gas vent valve means, said gas flow valve means and said first, second and third water flow valve means comprise solenoid valves.

Claim 23

A buoy, comprising a hollow body, means for admitting water to the body to cause it to descend therein at a controlled rate, means automatically responsive to the descent of said body to the surface beneath said water for admitting water to the body at a faster rate, and means venting gas from the body as water is admitted thereto.

Claim 24

A buoy, comprising a hollow body, means for admitting water to the body to cause it to descend therein at a controlled rate, means automatically responsive to the descent of said body to the surface beneath said water for admitting water to the body at a faster rate, and means venting gas from the body as water is admitted thereto.

Claim 25

A buoy of the character defined in claim 19, wherein the means for admitting water includes means on the body for engaging with said surface beneath the water and admitting said water in response to said engagement.

Claim 26

A buoy of the character defined in claim 19, wherein the means for admitting water includes means for timing the controlled descent of said body and admitting said water when said time has expired.

Claim 27

A buoy of the character defined in claim 19, including means for closing said water admitting and gas venting means, a source of compressed gas within the body, means for releasing gas from said source into said body, means for venting water from the body as gas is released thereto so as to cause the body to rise to the water surface, and means for closing the gas releasing means when said body has ascended to the water surface.

Claim 28

A buoy of the character defined in claim 22 wherein said means for closing the gas releasing means includes means automatically responsive to ascent of said body to the water surface.

Claim 29

A buoy of the character defined in claim 19 wherein the body has a compartment into which water is admitted at said controlled and faster rates, and the gas venting means includes means for venting gas from said compartment upon descent of said body to said surface beneath the water.

Claim 30

A buoy of the character defined in claim 19 wherein the body has a first compartment into which water is admitted at said controlled rate and a second compartment into which water is admitted at said faster rate, and the gas venting means includes means for venting gas from the first compartment as water is admitted thereto at said controlled rate, and means for venting gas from the second compartment as water is admitted thereto at said faster rate.

Claim 31

A buoy of the character defined in claim 25 wherein said water admitting means includes means for also admitting water to said second compartment at a controlled rate.

Claim 32

A buoy of the character defined in claim 25 including means for closing said water admitting and gas venting means, a source of compressed gas within the body, means for releasing gas from said source into each compartment, means for venting water from each compartment as gas is released thereto so as to cause the body to rise to the water surface, and means for closing the gas releasing means into each compartment when said body has ascended to the water surface.

Claim 33

A buoy of the character defined in claim 27, wherein said closing means includes means automatically responsive to ascent of said body to the water surface.