Ships – Submersible device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-08-14
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Submersible device
C137S081200, C128S204180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273019
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to regulated pressurized systems, and more particularly, to a regulated pressurized system for achieving and maintaining a positive air pressure within submersible housings for electrical systems, underwater equipment, instrumentation and/or the like, and a pressure regulator for a regulated pressurized system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Underwater divers commonly use self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (commonly known by its acronym as SCUBA gear) providing a portable, regulated air supply. Many divers desire the capability to dive deeper, stay underwater longer, travel faster and over more area while underwater, to generally accomplish more while underwater than by leg-powered fins and SCUBA gear alone. In order to accomplish these objects, there have been developed a number of underwater propulsion apparatus for divers, such as underwater scooters and diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs).
There are several such known scooters, including those made by Toledo Company, by Dacor, and by Oceanic. These scooters generally comprise a handheld propulsion device that tows the diver behind the scooter as the diver grips the rear of the unit. As such, scooters are generally used by recreational divers in order to conserve energy by not having to swim or fight currents.
There are several known DPVs, including those made by American Underwater Lighting, by Farallon, by Aquazepp, and by Marine Gear Corporation. One such DPV by Marine Gear Corporation is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. Des. 399,183 to Ciamillo II. Relative to scooters, DPVs generally comprise a longer body with an integral saddle or sling so that the diver rides on the vehicle, larger and/or additional motor and battery systems for increased speed, range, and underwater time, and more sophisticated and responsive controls for speed and maneuverability. As such, DPVs are most commonly used by commercial, military, technical, and serious recreational divers.
The underwater propulsion apparatus described hereinabove all have electrical systems generally comprising at least one battery, at least one motor, at least one propeller on a shaft connected to the motor, and at one control system for operating the motor. These components are typically provided in at least one sealed housing to keep out water when submersed. These housings are subjected to extreme pressures, especially for deep diving DPVs, because of the increased ambient pressure on the housing when descending underwater. For example, at a 250 foot depth of typical sea water, the ambient pressure on the housing is approximately 125 pounds per square inch (psi).
Housings for these electrical system components are therefore commonly designed to withstand extreme pressures. Known underwater propulsion apparatus typically provide housings having a wall thickness and made of a material selected for withstanding the extreme pressures. A significant disadvantage of these housings is that they are necessarily bulkier and heavier because of the increased wall thickness. Such housings may be provided with higher grade materials with greater strength properties, but such materials are generally significantly more costly.
Furthermore, DPVs typically have the motor or motors towards the rear of the vehicle for stability and visibility, and certain controls and/or instrumentation toward the front of the vehicle for access thereto, such that multiple housings are sometimes provided for the various electrical system components. The housings are provided with apertures for receiving electric power and/or control wires therethrough. While such apertures typically have a seal disposed about the wire and/or a seal disposed about a conduit containing the wire and received in the aperture, these seals present a weak spot for potential failure thereof and water intrusion into the housing. Where the wire is not contained in a conduit or is contained in a conduit not designed to withstand extreme pressure and which then leaks, the salt water may access and degrade the wire insulation over time with a resulting failure of the insulation, shorting of the electrical system, and failure of costly electrical components at very importune occasions and in very dangerous and inhospitable environments. Even where the wire is contained in a conduit designed to withstand extreme pressure, the pressure may eventually cause small undetectable leaks in the conduit with the same or a similar catastrophic result.
There are also known manned submersible vehicles having equipment and/or components arranged outside the hull of the vehicle in housings. Additionally, there are known unmanned underwater propulsion devices such as remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for housing and transporting underwater equipment such as audio and video equipment, ambient condition measurement devices, and other scientific instrumentation. None of these submersible vehicles are known to provide a solution to housing electrical and other submersible equipment other than providing housing walls with an increased thickness, of a higher strength material, and/or with a curved shape.
Accordingly, what is needed but not found in the prior art is a system of submersible housings interconnected by tubing for containing and protecting from water intrusion electrical systems, underwater equipment, instrumentation and/or the like where the housings and tubing are made of low weight materials with minimal wall thickness yet the housing and tubing also provide a superior protective seal against water leakage at moderate and extreme depths of water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally described, the present invention provides a regulated pressurized system for use in an ambient fluid environment such as water. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides at least one compressed fluid supply, preferably compressed air in a submersible tank. At least one pressure regulator is preferably provided having an air inlet connected by tubing to the compressed air supply and an air outlet, the regulator capable of regulating an outlet air pressure relative to an ambient pressure of the water. A three way joint is preferably provided with an inlet connected by tubing to the air supply, a first outlet, and a second outlet connected by tubing to the pressure regulator air inlet, wherein the first outlet is available for pressurizing an external device.
At least one main housing is preferably provided having at least one pressure relief valve and connected by a relief valve tube to the pressure regulator air outlet. At least one electric control system is preferably provided contained within the main housing.
A plurality of first peripheral housings is preferably provided, each first peripheral housing having a first tube coupled to the main housing in a parallel configuration. A plurality of first peripheral electric devices is preferably provided contained within the first peripheral housings, wherein the first peripheral electric devices comprise at least one pressure gauge, at least one power supply, at least one power supply meter, and at least one motor control system. A plurality of first peripheral electric wires are preferably provided interconnected between the electric control system and each of the first electric devices, the wires extending through the first tubing.
A plurality of second peripheral housings is preferably provided, each second peripheral housing having a second tube coupled to the motor control system peripheral housing in a parallel configuration. A plurality of second peripheral electric devices are preferably provided contained within the second peripheral housings, wherein the second peripheral electric devices comprise at least one motor switch and at least one motor and propeller. A plurality of second peripheral electric wires are preferably provided interconnected between the motor control system and each of the second peripheral electric devices, the second wires extending through the second tubing
Bernstein Jason A.
Bernstein & Assoc., P.C.
Shmid Eli
Swinehart Ed
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