US4274405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for varying the ambient pressure in a vessel
Assignee: BIRD TECHNOLOGY AS
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Filing: 1979-06-20
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Granted: 1981-06-23
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Expires: 1999-06-20
Abstract
Abstract The ambient pressure of the environment of an individual within a vessel is varied between an upper and lower pressure value by providing the vessel with a mass of gas sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel, and varying the quantity of liquid, primarily water, in the vessel in order to cause the pressure therein to vary correspondingly between the upper and lower values.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C. Schmidt
- 👤 Charles R. Yemington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:40
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas and with a mass of liquid, the mass of liquid being sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the upper value; and varying the quantity of liquid in the vessel in order to cause the pressure therein to vary correspondingly between the upper and lower values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas and with a mass of liquid, the mass of liquid being sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the upper value; and varying the quantity of liquid in the vessel in order to cause the pressure therein to vary correspondingly between the upper and lower values.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the lower value; providing the vessel with a quantity of liquid; varying the quantity of liquid in the vessel in order to cause the pressure therein to vary correspondingly between the upper and lower values; and maintaining the quantity of gas present in the vessel constant during at least part of said step of varying.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the lower value; providing the vessel with a quantity of liquid; varying the quantity of liquid in the vessel in order to cause the pressure therein to vary correspondingly between the upper and lower values; and maintaining the quantity of gas present in the vessel constant during at least part of said step of varying.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the lower value; providing the vessel with a quantity of liquid; and varying the pressure in the vessel between the upper and lower values by correspondingly varying substantially only the quantity of liquid therein.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for varying the ambient pressure of the environment of an individual totally enclosed within a vessel between an upper and lower pressure value, comprising: providing the vessel with a mass of gas sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the lower value; providing the vessel with a quantity of liquid; and varying the pressure in the vessel between the upper and lower values by correspondingly varying substantially only the quantity of liquid therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said step of varying the quantity of liquid comprises pumping the liquid in at least one direction between the interior and exterior of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said step of varying comprises reducing the pressure in the vessel from the upper value to the lower value at a rate dictated by human physiological requirements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the liquid is water and the vessel is submerged in a body of water during at least a portion of said step of varying.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said step of varying comprises: conducting water into the lower portion of the vessel to increase the pressure therein; and removing water from the vessel to reduce the pressure therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said step of conducting comprises opening a passage between the body of water and the lower portion of the vessel to permit water to enter the vessel to establish pressure equilibrium between the interior and exterior of the vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein said step of removing comprises pumping water out of the vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein said step of removing comprises raising the vessel and opening a passage between the body of water and the lower portion of the vessel to permit water to leave the vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the vessel is connected to a tank containing a supply of water, said step of conducting is carried out by causing water to flow from the tank into the vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of conducting comprises pumping water from the tank into the vessel and said step of removing comprises venting water from the vessel to the tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising permitting individuals to pass in and out of the vessel via an opening in the side, or bottom, thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising introducing additional gas from a high pressure source into the vessel for maintaining a desired minimum volume of gas and/or physiologically acceptable partial pressures of the components of the mass of gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising supplying a breathable gas to the interior of the vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising providing a separate mask breathing system for divers in the vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the vessel is part of a larger underwater system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein the underwater system is a diver lockout submersible or an underwater habitat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the vessel is used in conjunction with a separate underwater system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the underwater system is a submarine or an underwater habitat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the mass of gas is sufficient to fill at least a substantial part of the vessel when the pressure is at the lower value.
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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) | 1984-06-22 | 1984-12-22 | 1985-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-22 | 1988-12-22 | 1989-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-22 | 1992-12-22 | 1993-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |