Patent US4771320A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4771320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for extending the depth range of underwater equipment
Assignee: Sea Fathoms Industries Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-14
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Granted: 1988-09-13
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Expires: 2007-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for extending the depth range of an underwater pressure hull such as an underwater camera body by supplying gas to balance the internal hull pressure with the ambient water pressure. The balancing gas is supplied by a variable volume reservoir pneumatically connected to the pressure hull. The reservoir is reduced in volume by an increase in ambient water pressure to thereby increase the internal pressure of the system according to Boyle's Law. Conversely, a decrease in ambient water pressure results in an increase in the reservoir volume which reduces the internal hull pressure accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Gell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of an underwater device of the class which includes a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a pressurization port in said pressure hull; a variable volume gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material and responsive to the differential pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure within said gas container for adjusting said variable volume so that the pressure within approximately equals the ambient external pressure; and a gas passage betwen said pressurization port and said variable volume gas container whereby the pressure within said waterproof pressure hull is adjusted solely by gas transfer between said variable volume gas container and said waterproof pressure hull.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of an underwater device of the class which includes a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a pressurization port in said pressure hull; a variable volume gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material and responsive to the differential pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure within said gas container for adjusting said variable volume so that the pressure within approximately equals the ambient external pressure; and a gas passage betwen said pressurization port and said variable volume gas container whereby the pressure within said waterproof pressure hull is adjusted solely by gas transfer between said variable volume gas container and said waterproof pressure hull.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas passage includes a flexible conduit pneumatically coupling said gas container to said pressure hull.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for inflating said gas container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for inflating said gas container comprises a sports ball needle valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said gas passage comprises a hollow inflation needle of the type used with sports ball needle valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5, comprising second means for inflating said gas container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said second means for inflating said gas container is a second sports ball needle valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas container includes a resilient memory means for rolling said gas container into a coil as the internal volume of said gas container is diminished.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas passage includes a gas permeable, moisture barrier of the class which will allow air but not water to pass through said passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a container for said gas container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for securing said container to said containment vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said container includes a hollow handle means for holding said gas container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pressurization port includes a bore through a battery access cap.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of an underwater device of the class which includes a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a pressurization port in said pressure hull; a cylinder pneumatically connected to said pressurization port at one end and open to ambient pressure at the other end; and a variable volume created by a piston within said cylinder configured and dimensioned to slide within said cylinder in response to differential pressure on opposite sides of said piston whereby the pressure within said waterproof pressure hull is adjusted solely by gas transfer between said variable volume and said waterproof pressure hull.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of an underwater device of the class which includes a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a pressurization port in said pressure hull; a cylinder pneumatically connected to said pressurization port at one end and open to ambient pressure at the other end; and a variable volume created by a piston within said cylinder configured and dimensioned to slide within said cylinder in response to differential pressure on opposite sides of said piston whereby the pressure within said waterproof pressure hull is adjusted solely by gas transfer between said variable volume and said waterproof pressure hull.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said cylinder is configured to function as a handle for said pressure hull.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said variable volume includes a plurality of cylinders and pistons similar in function to said cylinder and piston.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a gas passage into said pressure hull; a variable volume gas fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material; means for pneumatically coupling said reservoir to said pressure hull via said gas passage; and means responsive to the differential pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure within said pressure hull for adjusting the internal volume of said reservoir so that the pressure within said pressure hull approximately equals the ambient external pressure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for extending the operational depth of a waterproof pressure hull, comprising: a gas passage into said pressure hull; a variable volume gas fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material; means for pneumatically coupling said reservoir to said pressure hull via said gas passage; and means responsive to the differential pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure within said pressure hull for adjusting the internal volume of said reservoir so that the pressure within said pressure hull approximately equals the ambient external pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said reservoir is a bladder and said means for adjusting the internal volume of said reservoir is the flexibility and expandable resiliency of the material comprising said bladder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said gas passage includes a flexible conduit pneumatically coupling said reservoir to said pressure hull.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said reservoir includes a sports ball needle valve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said gas passage includes a hollow inflation needle of the type used with sports ball needle valves.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising means for inflating said reservoir.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for inflating said reservoir comprises a second sports ball needle valve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said gas container includes a resilient means for rolling said reservoir into a coil as the internal volume of said reservoir is diminished.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a container for said bladder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said container includes a hollow handle means for holding said bladder.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in any of claims 1, through 26 wherein said pressure hull is a camera housing including moisture proof seal means for the lens assembly, control means and film access port.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus, including the steps of adding a gas to said underwater apparatus as it is submerged to equalize the pressure between the interior of said underwater apparatus and the ambient water pressure according to Boyle's Law by reducing the internal volume of a variable volume gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material pneumatically connected to said underwater apparatus in response to differential pressure between said internal volume and the ambient water pressure.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus, including the steps of adding a gas to said underwater apparatus as it is submerged to equalize the pressure between the interior of said underwater apparatus and the ambient water pressure according to Boyle's Law by reducing the internal volume of a variable volume gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material pneumatically connected to said underwater apparatus in response to differential pressure between said internal volume and the ambient water pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus as defined in claim 28 including the further steps of providing said variable volume in the form of a collapsible bladder subject to the ambient water pressure of the underwater apparatus whereby said ambient pressure forces gas from said container into said underwater apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said apparatus is a camera, including the further steps of providing said variable volume in the form of a collapsible bladder subject to the ambient water pressure of the underwater camera whereby said ambient pressure forces gas from said container into said underwater camera.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus, including the steps of: balancing the internal pressure of said underwater apparatus with the ambient water pressure by providing a gas source in the form of a differential pressure operated free piston subject to the ambient water pressure of the underwater apparatus whereby said ambient pressure forces said free piston into a cylinder causing gas in said cylinder to move into said underwater apparatus as the only source of pressure equalizing gas.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus, including the steps of: balancing the internal pressure of said underwater apparatus with the ambient water pressure by providing a gas source in the form of a differential pressure operated free piston subject to the ambient water pressure of the underwater apparatus whereby said ambient pressure forces said free piston into a cylinder causing gas in said cylinder to move into said underwater apparatus as the only source of pressure equalizing gas.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said apparatus is a camera.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater camera, including the steps of compressing a gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material according to Boyle's Law by ambient water pressure to there by add gas to said underwater camera as it is submerged to equalize the pressure between the interior of said underwater camera and the ambient water pressure.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of extending the operational depth of an underwater camera, including the steps of compressing a gas container fabricated from a flexible and resiliently expandable material according to Boyle's Law by ambient water pressure to there by add gas to said underwater camera as it is submerged to equalize the pressure between the interior of said underwater camera and the ambient water pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1131712A
Cited
FR1403770A
Cited
US3759605A
Cited
US4041507A
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US4113137A
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-13 | 1992-03-14 | 1992-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-13 | 1996-03-14 | 1996-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-03-14 | 2000-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |