EP1926656B1 - Underwater immersion installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an underwater immersion installation ( 10 ) comprising at least one immersion pod connected to means ( 16, 18, 20 ) for lifting and lowering same, and an assembly of breathing and acoustic attachments borne by the pod ( 14 ) and separable therefrom when the pod is immersed, each breathing and acoustic attachment including a headgear mounted on a vest urged to be positioned on the chest of a user and being provided with a conduit supplying the headgear with air delivered from the surface and listening/communication means connected to complementary means.

Description

The present invention relates to an underwater immersion installation.

The purpose of this invention is to allow anyone to perform an underwater immersion, safely, and without being a swimmer warned and, if necessary, to follow a circuit arranged.

The document FR-A-2808768 describes already an underwater immersion installation according to the preamble of claim 1 and which comprises at least one submersible boat connected to means for lifting and lowering the latter and a set of breathing equipment comprising a helmet mounted on a vest from positioned on the thorax of a user and being provided with an air helmet supply duct delivered from the surface.

Thus, the descent and ascent are done passively for users who remain, during these phases, on the nacelle.

The object of the invention is to propose various improvements of this installation.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an underwater immersion installation, comprising at least one submersible boat connected to means for lifting and lowering the latter, and a set of breathing equipment carried by the nacelle and separable from the latter when the platform is immersed, each breathing equipment having a helmet mounted on a vest that is positioned on the thorax of a user and having an air helmet supply duct delivered from the surface, characterized in that the equipment is also provided with sound / communication means connected to complementary means on the surface and in that each conduit is suspended from a buoy or a jib.

• chaque gilet est muni de moyens de lestage amovibles et modulables dont le poids est au moins égal à la poussée s'exerçant sur l'équipement respiratoire et sonore et sur l'utilisateur, en immersion,
• les moyens de levage comportent un ensemble de câbles raccordés par une extrémité à la nacelle et dotés, à l'extrémité opposée de contrepoids de masse au moins supérieure à celle de la nacelle et de ses occupants, et un winch de commande du levage et de la descente de la nacelle,
• le winch est actionnable par des moyens de motorisation et/ou manuellement par un opérateur,
• chaque équipement respiratoire et sonore est muni d'une crosse dotée de moyens de fixation amovibles à accrochage rapide desdites crosses sur un support solidaire de la nacelle,
• elle comporte en outre des moyens de levage et de descente du support des équipements respiratoires et sonores par rapport à la nacelle,
• lesdits moyens de levage et de descente du support sont constitués par lesdits moyens de levage et de descente de la nacelle, qui comportent une première course de descente des équipements respiratoires et sonores en position active dans laquelle les gilets sont positionnés au niveau du thorax des utilisateurs et une deuxième course d'immersion de la nacelle,
• la nacelle porte un ensemble de sièges en un nombre correspondant au nombre d'équipements respiratoires et sonores et des moyens de réglage de la hauteur des sièges,
• elle comporte en outre une plate-forme flottante sur laquelle sont montés les moyens de levage et de descente de la nacelle, des moyens d'alimentation des équipements respiratoires en air et des moyens complémentaires de sonorisation,
• les moyens d'alimentation des équipements en air comportent des bouteilles d'air comprimé ou un compresseur,
• la plate-forme est dotée de moyens formant extincteur, et
• elle comporte plusieurs nacelles associées chacune à des moyens de levage et de descente et à un ou plusieurs ensembles d'équipements respiratoires et sonores.

According to particular embodiments, the installation according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

• each vest is provided with removable and adjustable weighting means whose weight is at least equal to the pressure exerted on the respiratory and sound equipment and on the user, in immersion,
• the lifting means comprise a set of cables connected at one end to the nacelle and provided at the opposite end with a mass counterweight at least greater than that of the nacelle and its occupants, and a winch controlling the lifting and lowering of the nacelle,
• the winch can be actuated by motorization means and / or manually by an operator,
• each breathing and sound equipment is provided with a butt with removable fastening means for quick attachment of said butts on a support integral with the nacelle,
• it further comprises means for lifting and lowering the support of the breathing and sound equipment relative to the nacelle,
• said means for lifting and lowering the support are constituted by said lifting and lowering means of the nacelle, which comprise a first descent stroke of the breathing and sound equipment in active position in which the vests are positioned at the level of the thorax of the users and a second immersion race of the nacelle,
• the nacelle carries a set of seats in a number corresponding to the number of breathing and sound equipment and means for adjusting the height of the seats,
• it further comprises a floating platform on which are mounted the lifting and lowering means of the nacelle, means for supplying breathing air equipment and complementary sound reinforcement means,
• the means for supplying the air equipment comprise compressed air bottles or a compressor,
• the platform is equipped with means forming extinguisher, and
• it comprises several nacelles each associated with lifting and lowering means and one or more sets of breathing and sound equipment.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble d'une installation d'immersion conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail de l'installation de la figure 1 montrant la nacelle submersible,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique de l'équipement respiratoire et sonore porté par la nacelle de la figure 2, et
• la figure 4 illustre un autre mode de réalisation d'une installation d'immersion subaquatique conforme à l'invention, fonctionnant comme un ascenseur.

Other features and advantages will emerge from the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is an overview of an immersion installation according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a detailed view of the installation of the figure 1 showing the submersible nacelle,
• the figure 3 is a schematic view of the breathing and sound equipment carried by the nacelle of the figure 2 , and
• the figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of an underwater immersion installation according to the invention, operating as an elevator.

On the figure 1 , there is shown an overall overview of an underwater immersion installation according to the invention, designated by the general reference numeral 10.

The installation 10 is mainly constituted by a floating platform 12 made for example of weighted aluminum, and preferably catamaran type to provide good lateral stability and transverse to the assembly. This installation can be fixed and positioned on the edge of a pool or pond. In this case, it has no platform (not shown).

This platform comprises security means such as extinguisher means 12a.

The platform 12 supports a submersible nacelle 14 mobile, relative to the platform 12, between a high position, visible on the figure 1 , and a low immersed position (not shown).

The nacelle 14 is supported by a set of cables, such as 16, connected to lifting and lowering means of the nacelle 14, constituted by a winch 18, motorized or manual, and by a set of counterweights, such as 20, whose mass is greater than that of the nacelle 14 and the occupants of the latter, so as to solicit in the high position.

As we also see on the figure 2 , on which a detailed view of the platform 12 has been represented, the nacelle 14 carries a set of seats, such as 22, on which the users of the installation 10 come to take a stand.

Furthermore, the basket carries a set of breathing and sound equipment 24, represented in detail on the figure 3 .

As we see on this figure 3 each breathing and sound equipment 24 comprises a helmet 26 mounted on a vest 28 intended to be positioned on the thorax of a user.

The vest 28 is provided with holding straps (not shown) to keep the equipment in position on the user.

Each equipment is also provided with a butt 30 which is fixed on a support 32 carried by the nacelle 14, by means of the use of quick-attaching removable fastening means 34, such as pincers for example, to facilitate these operations.

Furthermore, each breathing and sound equipment is provided with a duct 36 for supplying the helmet 26 with air, this duct being supplied with air from the surface, that is to say from the platform 12, the air intake being located at the front of it to prevent fogging in the bottle.

More specifically, each duct 36 is supplied with air by means of compressed air cylinders (not shown) located on the platform 12 or a compressor, as the case may be.

In addition, the duct 36 comprises a sound cable 36a extending between the sound of the headphone means and means complementary to the surface.

This cable then makes it possible to connect the corresponding headset to the surface to emit for example in the headphones background music or information from the surface.

In addition, the duct 36 is suspended via for example hooking means 36b to a buoy 36c or a bracket (not shown) to maintain the duct in a substantially vertical orientation and to avoid the ducts of entangling which improves the safety of use of the installation.

Moreover, the vest 28 of breathing and sound equipment is equipped with forward and backward weights, such as 40 and a weighted liseret 42, regularly distributed on the front 44 and rear 46 of the vest 28 in pockets thereof so as to prevent the user's body from tipping over. The liseret may for example be ballasted with lead balls.

Preferably, the total weight of the front and rear weights 40 and of the liner 42 is chosen so that their weight is at least equal to the buoyancy force acting on the breathing and sound equipment and on the user, in immersion.

For example, the weights 40 and the liseret 42 have a total mass of 50 kg.

Referring again to figures 1 and 2 , as indicated previously, the installation 10 is provided with means for lifting and lowering the nacelle 14, comprising a set of cables, such as 16, connected at one end to the nacelle 14 and provided, at the opposite end counterweight 20, a winch 18 operable by motorization means and / or manually by an operator providing control of the lifting and lowering of the nacelle.

It will be noted however that the installation 10 is provided with complementary means ensuring the lifting and lowering of the support 32 of the respiratory and sound equipment 24, between a high position (not shown), allowing the installation of the users on the seats 22, and a low position, in which the breathing and sound equipment 24, and in particular the vests 28 are positioned so as to be flush with the shoulders of each user or to be slightly above them.

Such an installation allows the users to better withstand the entire weight of the breathing and sound equipment 24 as the platform 14 is not immersed.

Preferably, these means for lifting and lowering the support of the breathing and sound equipment are constituted by the lifting and lowering means of the nacelle 14.

For this purpose, the counterweights 20 comprise two sets of counterweights, respectively 20-A and 20-B respectively belonging to the lifting and lowering means of the support 32 and the lifting and lowering means of the nacelle 14.

More specifically, when the breathing and sound equipment 24 are in the lower position, that is to say in the chest of users, the first set of counterweight 20-A abuts against the second set of counterweight 20-B.

Thus, in this position, the support 32 respiratory and sonic equipment 24 bears on the platform 14, a displacement of the latter causing a consequent movement of respiratory equipment.

The operation of the installation 10 which has just been described is as follows.

At rest, the nacelle 14 and the support 32 of the breathing and sound equipment 24 are in the high position.

After installation of the users on the seats 22, the winch 18 is activated in a first race, until the respiratory equipment and sound 24 are in the low position.

As mentioned above, in this position, the equipment is supported on the platform 14 and is not worn by the users.

During a second phase, the winch 18 is actuated so as to immerse the platform 14 until the latter is in the lower position, located, for example, at a depth of 3 meters.

During the descent, the users remain seated on the seats 22 and breathe the air delivered from the compressed air (or compressor) bottles located on the platform 12, via the ducts 36 and are in communication sound with the surface thanks to the sound equipment (eg microphone and headphones).

An autonomous diver then comes to unlock the butts 30 of the support 32.

Users can then move easily on the sea floor.

Note that the weight of the counterweight 40 and 42, arranged to position the center of gravity of the equipment 24 in the abdomen of the users makes the set very stable and allows users to walk on the bottom, while being free of their movements.

To reassemble the users, they come to sit on the seats 22, the autonomous diver locks the sticks 30 on the support 32.

Finally, the winch 18 is again activated, in a first race so as to reposition the platform 14 in the up position, and in a second race, during which the equipment 24 is lifted so as to allow the occupants to get out of these.

It is conceivable that the invention just described allows any person to perform an underwater dive without the need to be an informed diver to the extent that the descent and climb operations are carried out using the nacelle, and to the extent that the counterweights worn by the vests are adapted to allow them to market on the seabed while allowing to stay in contact with the surface.

Note however that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described.

Indeed, in the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 , it was considered that the installation 10 allows people to immerse themselves and walk on a seabed.

As illustrated on the figure 4 , this installation can also be used in a private setting, especially in pool or pool.

In this case, the lifting means and supply of compressed air equipment are positioned on the edge of the pool or pond, this installation being devoid of platform.

It is possible to use, for example, two independent nacelles, such as 48 and 50, connected to means for controlling their rise and descent, constituted for example, in this case, by pneumatic drive means.

The nacelles can be operated in cycles out of phase, that is to say that when one of the nacelles is in the high position, the other nacelle is located in the low position.

In addition, each nacelle can be associated with several ramps of breathing and sound equipment so as to support, simultaneously, several groups of people.

In this case, when one of the nacelles comes down, and the occupants have cleared the latter, the nacelle is raised to receive another ramp of breathing and sound equipment and to support a another group of users.

After descent of these, the first group of users is reassembled and another group of users is then supported.

Claims (12)

1. Underwater immersion installation (10), comprising at least one submersible pod (14;48,50) connected to means (16,18,20) for raising and lowering of the pod, and a set of breathing apparatuses (24) carried by the pod (14;48,50) and able to be disconnected from it when the pod is immersed, each breathing apparatus comprising a helmet (26) mounted on a jacket (28) able to be positioned on the chest of a user and being equipped with a supply line for the helmet for air delivered from the surface, characterised in that the apparatuses are also provided with means for sound/communication connected to complementary means on the surface, and in that each line (36) is suspended from a buoy (36c) or a jib.
2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that each jacket (28) is provided with removable and adjustable ballast means (40,42) of which the weight is at least equal to the pressure exercised on the breathing and sound apparatus and on the user, when they are immersed.
3. Installation according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the means for raising comprises an assembly of cables (16) connected at one end to the pod and equipped, at the opposite end, with counterweights (20) of mass at least greater than that of the pod and its occupants, and a winch (18) for controlling raising and lowering of the pod.
4. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the winch is operated by motorised means and/or manually by an operator.
5. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each breathing and sound apparatus is provided with a crook (30) equipped with removable fixing means for rapid hooking of the said crooks on a support (32) integral with the pod (14;48,50).
6. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises in addition means for raising and lowering the support (32) of the breathing and sound apparatuses in relation to the pod.
7. Installation according to claim 6, characterised in that the said means for raising and lowering the support are formed by the said means (16,18,20) for raising and lowering the pod, and comprise a first travel for lowering the breathing and sound apparatuses in an active position in which the jackets are positioned near the chest of the users and a second travel for immersion of the pod.
8. Installation according to claim 7, characterised in that the pod carries a set of seats (22) of a number corresponding to the number of breathing and sound apparatuses, and means for regulating the height of the seats.
9. Installation according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises in addition a floating platform (12) on which are mounted the means for raising and lowering the pod, the means for supplying the breathing apparatuses with air and the complementary sound means.
10. Installation according to claim 9, characterised in that the means for supplying the apparatuses with air comprise bottles of compressed air or a compressor.
11. Installation according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the platform is equipped with means forming an extinguisher (12a).
12. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that it comprises several pods (48,50) each associated with the means for raising and lowering and with one or more sets of breathing and sound apparatuses.

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