GB1024293A - Submersible vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

1,024,293. Submersible vessels. SOC. CIVILE D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES SOUS MARINES AQUARIUS (S.E.R.A.). Nov. 17, 1962, No. 43566/62. Headings B7A and B7V. [Also in Division F1] A submersible vessel comprises at least one ballast chamber a, Fig. 1, (not shown), containing a gas d in pressure equilibrium with the external water f through orifices e which allow the external water to penetrate into the chamber to a level g, a reservoir i containing the gas d under reduced volume in the liquid state, a vaporizer I for drawing gas from the reservoir i increasing its volume and delivering it to the chamber a and a liquifier j to draw gas from the chamber a reduce its volume and return it to the reservoir i. The vaporizer l and liquifier j are controlled from the cabin c to maintain the level g and consequently the buoyancy at the desired height, if it is lowered to g 2 the vessel's buoyancy is positive and it rises, if it is raised to g 1 the buoyancy is negative and the vessel descends. The cabin C accommodates the crew and the walls are capable of withstanding the maximum external water pressure. The engine compartment b is maintained at the external water pressure through the aperture h and like the chamber a has non-pressure resisting thin walls. A vent k is provided from the reservoir i so that if the apparatus j and I cease to function the gas in the reservoir will gradually assume the temperature of the water f and expand to enter the chamber a. The reservoir i may contain the gas in solution with a liquid or merely compressed in which case the apparatus l would be an expansion valve and the apparatus j would be a compressor. The engine compart. ment b may have pressure resisting walls. The chamber a may be a flexible balloon. A further embodiment describes the ballasting arrangements incorporated into a vessel which can be used for lifting loads and samples from the bottom of the sea, in which two forward, two aft and two midships ballast chambers are used and which by variation of trim in association with a rudder and fins can assist or replace the motive equipment of the submarine. A further embodiment describes a submarine scooter in which compressed air is supplied to a propulsion engine through an expansion valve the exhaust gases of which are cooled and passed to a ballast chamber in which the water level is adjusted by a pivoted pipe whose outlet level can be varied.