AU2013211491B2

AU2013211491B2 - Submarine rescue suit

Info

Publication number: AU2013211491B2
Application number: AU2013211491A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nico Baginski; Hans-Christian Vogt
Original assignee: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH
Current assignee: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH
Priority date: 2012-07-31
Filing date: 2013-07-31
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-31
Also published as: KR101725180B1; DE102012213424B3; EP2692627A3; KR20140016829A; AU2013211491A1; EP2692627A2

Abstract

A submarine rescue suit designed as a complete suit with a hood that covers the head of a user exhibits means for reducing the rate of ascent and means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood.

Description

SUBMARINE RESCUE SUIT

The invention relates to a submarine rescue suit with the features indicated in the preamble of claim 1.

For example, such submarine rescue suits, which permit an emergency exit from a submarine damaged at a water depth exceeding 80 m, are known from DE 10 2010 023 518 A1 and GB 2 441 959 A. They are usually designed as complete suits with a hood that covers the head of the user, and an air-filled collar as the float. The hood of the submarine rescue suit is also filled with air, and serves as a breathing air reservoir as well as an additional float.

During an emergency exit from a submarine, a person using the submarine rescue suit ascend to toward the water surface at a speed of about 2.7 m per second. While ascending to the water surface, the air in the collar and hood expands, wherein a portion of the air in the collar is released through valves in the hood to equalize the pressure, and a portion of the air in the hood escapes from the submarine rescue suit through an opening formed in the lower region of the hood.

Even though the submarine rescue suits significantly increase the chances of survival for a crewmember on a damaged, submerged submarine, emergency exits at greater water depths are associated with the risk of a fatal decompression accident, since no decompression stops can be integrated during an emergency exit in a submarine rescue suit, as opposed to conventional submersion.

It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.

Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In one aspect, there is provided a submarine rescue suit comprising a hood that covers the head of a user, wherein the hood forms a breathing gas reservoir for the user, a means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood, a means for reducing the rate of ascent comprising a pair of expandable deceleration wings, and a triggering device for activating the means for reducing the rate of ascent, wherein in use, said means for reducing the rate of ascent is triggered by the triggering device to change from a first operating state in which the means provides negligible resistance to ascent, to a second operating state in which the means significantly increases the resistance of the submarine rescue suit to ascent, where the first operating state comprises a stowed position relative to the suit for the means, and the second operating state comprises a deployed position in which the means extends from the suit.

In one form, the triggering device automatically triggers the means for reducing the rate of ascent only once the ascent reaches a predetermined depth.

In one form, in an alternative, the triggering device is manually operated to trigger the means for reducing the rate of ascent only once the ascent reaches a predetermined depth.

The submarine rescue suit comprises a complete suit with a hood that covers the head of a user. The complete suit here preferably consists of an overall with gloves sealed to the arm sections, and footlets sealed to the leg sections, along with a sealed hood. The gloves and footlets can be omitted, in which case the submarine rescue suit then exhibits sealing gaiters on the arm and leg sections. The hood forms a breathing gas reservoir for the user of the submarine rescue suit.

The submarine rescue suit prevents a decompression accident if at all possible, or at least significantly reduces the risk of such an accident. To this end, the submarine rescue suit according to the invention exhibits means for reducing the rate of ascent and means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood.

The means for reducing the rate of ascent are not used during the entire ascent toward the water surface. Quite to the contrary, theoretical models suggest that the submarine rescue suit is additionally improved in such a way that ascent from a damaged submarine to the water surface can take place faster by comparison to the previously common submarine rescue suits to a water depth of 30 m, and that the means for reducing the rate of ascent be activated only at this water depth of 30 m, so as to reduce the rate of ascent by comparison to the previously known submarine rescue suits.

Design measures that enable a faster ascent in the initial phase of ascent until reaching a water depth of 30 m can include improving the flow resistance of the submarine rescue suit by comparison to the previously known suits of this kind by a correspondingly improved shape of the submarine rescue suit and/or a surface structure of the outer skin of the submarine rescue suit improved in this regard. Another measure to increase the rate of ascent can be to enlarge the floats formed on the submarine rescue suit and/or to equip the submarine rescue suit with advancing means.

The means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood are preferably configured in such a way as to maintain a pressure inside the hood or inside the submarine rescue suit exceeding the atmospheric pressure on the water surface by about 0.3 to 0.5 bar. The means for controlling the gas pressure on the water surface are thus used to maintain a pressure inside the hood corresponding to a level at a water depth of 3-5 m. Everyday divers usually make their last decompression stop at this water depth. Calculations suggest that the excess pressure in the hood only needs to be maintained for two minutes after reaching the water surface during an emergency exit from a water depth of up to 300 m.

In order to maintain the excess pressure in relation to the atmospheric pressure on the water surface as well, the submarine rescue suit is typically to be given a sealed design. In this regard, it is advantageous to have a configuration in which the hood forms a sealed unit with the remaining submarine rescue suit. Suitable seals, for example with lip seals, are here best used to correspondingly seal fasteners for openings formed on the hood, e.g., zip fasteners, but also other fasteners for openings formed on the submarine rescue suit.

The submarine rescue suit according to the invention advantageously exhibits at least one gas outlet valve for equalizing the pressure with its outside environment. This at least one gas outlet valve is preferably situated on the hood at its lower end as viewed in the direction of ascent. The gas outlet valve is usefully designed as a one-way valve, which allows the breathing gas to flow from inside the hood into the outside environment of the submarine rescue suit, but prevents water from flowing into the hood or into the submarine rescue suit. The gas outlet valve is preferably kept open up to a water depth of 3-5 m or an ambient pressure of 1.3 to 1.5 bar, so as to allow breathing gas in the hood, which expands as water depth decreases, to escape from the hood. The gas outlet valve is then closed to maintain the desired excess pressure in the hood.

The gas outlet valve arranged on the hood can here basically be manually activatable for this purpose, wherein the user of the submarine rescue suit in this case must keep an eye on the water depth with a depth finder, so as to close the gas outlet valve by actuating a fitting provided for this purpose, preferably at a water depth of 3 to 5 m.

However, against the backdrop of the already stressful emergency exit from a damaged submarine, it is more favorable for the gas outlet valve to close itself automatically at such a water depth. For this reason, it is preferably provided that the gas outlet valve be designed to be controlled independently of pressure. In this way, for example, the gas outlet valve can be designed as a pressure-adding valve, which remains open until such time as a pressure value set on the pressure-adding valve is present, at which the pressure-adding valve automatically closes itself. To this end, the pressure-adding valve can be signal connected with a pressure sensor that communicates with the outside environment of the submarine rescue suit, or a corresponding pressure switch can be formed on the pressure-adding valve.

As has already been noted, the aim when using the submarine rescue suit according to the invention is to maintain a desired excess pressure within the hood for at least a few minutes when the user of the submarine rescue suit is already located on the water surface. In order to ensure this even given smaller leaks in the submarine rescue suit, the submarine rescue suit according to the invention further advantageously exhibits a breathing gas source, which is connected by a line with the inside of the hood. The breathing gas source is used to resupply the quantity of breathing gas that exits the submarine rescue suit or hood due to leakage.

In order to quickly respond to a pressure drop in the hood, a fastener for the breathing gas source is usefully actuated as a function of the gas pressure in the hood. A pressure sensor or pressure switch can here advantageously be arranged in the hood, which causes adjusting means situated on the fastener to open the fastener for the breathing gas source given too low a pressure inside the hood, and again close the fastener for the breathing gas source once the desired pressure in the hood has been restored.

As has already been mentioned, it is especially advantageous that the means for reducing the rate of ascent only is activated at a water depth of 30 m. If the means are designed correspondingly, they can be manually activated. In light of the stress placed on the person using the submarine rescue suit, it is here also more advantageous to have a configuration in which the means for reducing the rate of ascent are automatically activated at a desired water depth. It is also preferably provided that the means for reducing the rate of ascent be controlled as a function of diving depth. In this conjunction, a triggering device for activating the means for reducing the rate of ascent can usefully be signal connected with a pressure sensor that acquires the water pressure. If necessary, this pressure sensor can be a pressure sensor that is also used for controlling the gas outlet valve arranged on the hood.

In order to decrease the rate of ascent, the submarine rescue suit according to the invention can advantageously exhibit at least one expandable deceleration wing. The deceleration wing can be part of the submarine rescue suit or a part situated on the submarine rescue suit, which has only a negligible influence, if any, on ascent in a first operating state, and significantly increases the resistance of the submarine rescue suit to ascent in a second operating state. For example, the deceleration wing can tightly abut against the outside of the submarine rescue suit in a first operating state, and from there be switched into a second operating state, in which it projects transverse to the direction of ascent on the submarine rescue suit. In another conceivable configuration of the deceleration wing, it is formed by a section of the submarine rescue suit that can be filled with fluid, which once filled with the fluid increases the surface area of the submarine rescue suit from which the water flows. The section of the submarine rescue suit forming the deceleration wing can here be filled with air for purposes of its expansion, or a configuration is conceivable whereby a low pressure initially exists in this section of the submarine rescue suit, and the deceleration fluid is activated by opening a valve that allows water to flow into this section.

As an alternative or additional measure for reducing the rate of ascent, the submarine rescue suit according to another advantageous configuration can exhibit a deceleration parachute. This deceleration parachute can basically correspond to the deceleration parachutes used for decelerating airplanes and motor vehicles, and can be moved from a stowed, folded position outside the submarine rescue suit preferably to a position below the submarine rescue suit as viewed in the direction of ascent, where it deploys transverse to the direction of ascent.

The invention will be explained in more detail below based on an exemplary embodiment shown on the drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a schematic, highly simplified view of a submarine rescue suit;

Fig. 2 a schematic, highly simplified view of a submarine rescue suit with expanded deceleration wings, and

Fig. 3 a schematic, highly simplified view of a submarine rescue suit with an activated deceleration parachute.

The submarine rescue suit 2 depicted on Fig. 1 and 2 as well as the submarine rescue suit 2’ depicted on Fig. 3 are each designed as a complete suit that completely envelops a user. A hood 4 that respectively covers the head of the user forms part of the submarine rescue suits 2 and 2’. This hood 4 has a viewing window 6 for the user, and is an integral constituent of the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’, hence forming a sealed unit with the latter. The interior lumen of the hood 4 serves as a breathing gas reservoir for the user of the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’ during an emergency exit from a damaged underwater submarine, and accordingly is filled with a breathing gas prior to use of the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’. In order to don the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’, the hood 4 has an opening that can be sealed with a zip fastener 8. The opening that can be sealed with a zip fastener 8 is sealed gastight by means of sealants not shown in the drawing. A gas outlet valve 10 is situated in the area of a lower end of the hood 4. This gas outlet valve is designed as a one-way valve that can be controlled pressure dependently, and used to control the gas pressure in the hood 4, which will be described in even more detail below. The submarine rescue suits 2 and 2’ each exhibit a breathing gas source 12 as another means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood 4. This breathing gas source 12 is formed by a compressed air cylinder.

The submarine rescue suit 2 has two deceleration wings 14. These consist of two pockets that can be filled with a fluid, and are situated between the interior sides of the sleeve portions of the submarine rescue suit 2 and the torso regions of the submarine rescue suit 2 lying opposite these interior sides. When the pockets are filled with a fluid like air or water, they expand into essentially triangular deceleration wings 14, wherein the arms of the user of the submarine rescue suit 2 are forced into a horizontal position.

The submarine rescue suit 2’ depicted on Fig. 3 differs from the submarine rescue suit 2 depicted on Fig. 1 and 2 only in that it has no deceleration wings, and instead exhibits a deceleration parachute 16 for reducing the rate of ascent. This deceleration parachute 16 can be moved from a stowed position not visible on the drawing, which is situated on the outside of the submarine rescue suit 2’ in a region covering the torso of the user, into an operating position below the submarine rescue suit 2’.

The submarine rescue suits 2 and 2’ according to the invention work as follows:

If a person in a submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’ exits a damaged submarine located at a water depth of between 150 and 300 m, for example, an air-filled collar formed on the submarine rescue suit, which has not been shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity, in conjunction with a hood 4 filled with air as breathing gas impart such a buoyancy to the submarine rescue suit that causes the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’ to rise in the direction of the water surface at a rate of about 2.7 m/s or more. The deceleration wings 14 of the submarine rescue suit 2 and deceleration parachute 16 of the submarine rescue suit 2’ are here not yet activated.

During ascent to the water surface, the air in the collar and in the hood 4 expands due to the diminishing water pressure as the water depth decreases. The excess air in the collar is diverted into the hood 4 via excess pressure valves formed on the collar, and from there diverted into the outside environment of the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’ via the opened gas outlet valve 10.

Once a water depth of approx. 30 m has been reached, the deceleration wings 14 of the submarine rescue suit 2 or the deceleration parachute 16 of the submarine rescue suit 2’ are activated. To this end, both the deceleration wings 14 and deceleration parachute 16 are controlled as a function of diving depth. As a consequence, sensors (not shown) are provided on the submarine rescue suits 2 and 2’ for acquiring the water pressure, and hence the water depth, and prompt a controller to activate the deceleration wings 14 or the deceleration parachute 16. Activating the deceleration wings 14 or the deceleration parachute 16 noticeably slows the rate of ascent by the submarine rescue suit 2 or 2’.

Once a water depth of about 5 m has been reached, the gas outlet valve 10 controlled pressure dependently is closed, so that no air can escape from the hood starting at a water depth of 5 m, and an excess pressure of about 0.5 bar prevails in the hood 10 up until reaching the water surface and beyond. The air pressure inside the hood 10 is acquired by means of a pressure sensor located therein (not shown).

If the pressure sensor determines that the pressure inside the hood 4 is decreasing, the fastener for the breathing gas source 12 connected by a line with the hood 4 is opened, so that air stored in the breathing gas source 12 can flow out into the hood 4, causing the pressure inside the hood 4 to rise once again. Once the pressure desired in the hood 4 has been reached, the breathing gas source 12 is again sealed by its fastener.

Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Reference List 2, 2’ - Submarine rescue suit 4 - Hood 6 - Viewing window 8 - Zip fastener 10 - Gas outlet valve 12 - Breathing gas source 14 - Deceleration wings 16 - Deceleration parachute

Claims

1. A submarine rescue suit comprising a hood that covers the head of a user, wherein the hood forms a breathing gas reservoir for the user, a means for controlling the gas pressure in the hood, a means for reducing the rate of ascent comprising a pair of expandable deceleration wings, and a triggering device for activating the means for reducing the rate of ascent, wherein in use, said means for reducing the rate of ascent is triggered by the triggering device to change from a first operating state in which the means provides negligible resistance to ascent, to a second operating state in which the means significantly increases the resistance of the submarine rescue suit to ascent, where the first operating state comprises a stowed position relative to the suit for the means, and the second operating state comprises a deployed position in which the means extends from the suit.

2. The submarine rescue suit of claim 1, wherein the triggering device automatically triggers the means for reducing the rate of ascent only once the ascent reaches a predetermined depth.

3. The submarine rescue suit as in either of the preceding claims, wherein the triggering device comprises a pressure sensor for the water pressure

4. The submarine rescue suit as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one gas outlet valve to equalize the pressure with its outside environment.

5. The submarine rescue suit of claim 4, wherein the gas outlet valve is designed to be controlled pressure dependently.

6. The submarine rescue suit as in either of claims 4 or 5, wherein the pressure sensor is also used for controlling the gas outlet valve arranged on the hood.

7. The submarine rescue suit of claim 1, wherein the triggering device is manually operated to trigger the means for reducing the rate of ascent only once the ascent reaches a predetermined depth.

8. The submarine rescue suit according to claim 1, wherein the hood forms a gastight unit with the rest of the submarine rescue suit.

9. The submarine rescue suit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the submarine rescue suit exhibits a breathing gas source that is connected by a line with the inside of the hood.

10. The submarine rescue suit according to claim 9, wherein a fastener for the breathing gas source is actuated as a function of the gas pressure in the hood.

11. The submarine rescue suit according to claim 1, wherein the means for reducing the rate of ascent are controlled as a function of diving depth.

12. The submarine rescue suit as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the deceleration wings is situated between an interior side of a sleeve portion and a torso region of the submarine rescue suit.

13. A method of operation of the submarine rescue suit as in any one of the preceding claims to a submarine rescue suit, the method comprising the steps of commencing an ascent with the means for reducing the rate of ascent in the first operating state, in which the means provides negligible resistance to ascent, and then, once the ascent reaches a predetermined depth, the triggering device changes the means to the second operating state in which the means significantly increases the resistance of the submarine rescue suit to ascent, so as to slow the rate of ascent between the predetermined depth and the surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises the step of the triggering device automatically triggering the means for reducing the rate of ascent once the ascent reaches the predetermined depth.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises the step of manually triggering the triggering device to trigger the means for reducing the rate of ascent once the ascent reaches the predetermined depth.