GB2449495A

GB2449495A - Diver emergency ascent equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2449495A
Application number: GB0710049A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Lynley Ashley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-25
Filing date: 2007-05-25
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-25
Also published as: GB0710049D0; GB2449495B

Abstract

Diver emergency ascent equipment comprises an inflatable member 4, in the form of a jacket, to which is attached a retractable member 1, a lamp 2, a transmitter 3, a gas cylinder 5, a processor 6, a manual activator 7, a pressure sensor 8 and a diver status sensor 9. The processor responds to a manual activation of the equipment or to a diver status sensor signal in response to which the processor initiates an emergency ascent procedure regulating the ascent by means of inflating the inflatable member by means of the gas cylinder. The processor also regulates the extension of the retractable member, monitors the pressure sensor during the controlled ascent and activates the lamp and transmitter. The processor may process data and activate the equipment automatically by determination that the diver is incapacitated.

Description

DIVER EMERGENCY ASCENT EQUIPMENT

BACK GROUND OF THE iNVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improving diver safety ascent equipment in am emergency situation More particular, the invention provides systems for detecting condition of the diver and assess the situation and initiate automatic ascent procedures controlled by a integrated computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM

When a diver experiences difficulties during a dive in the sea such as ill health disorientation or equipment failure, under water currents. The diver may need to abort the dive and return to the surface in an emergency either initialised manually, there may be certain situation whereby the diver is incapacitated and unable to ascent to the surface independently the system is design to determine this situation and automatically ascent to the surface and rescue the diver.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a diver emergency ascent equipment a retractable member and integral such that the diver can be captured by a rescue team, a tamp integral to the said retractable member an transmitter such that emergency distress signals can be transmitted and is Integral to the said retractable member, an inflatable member, a gas cylinder such that the gas inflates the said inflatable member, a processor means such that the rate ascent is controlled by regulating the inflation and or deflation of the said inflatable member, a manual activation means such that the diver emergency ascent equipment is activated, a pressure sensor means provides information to the said processor, a diver status sensor means such that the condition of the diver is monitored such as breathing pattern or gas monitor or movement or other non limiting biometric indicators.

ADVANTAGES

The diver emergency ascent equipment will improve diver safety and recovery and initiate an automatic ascent when the diver is incapacitated and unable to ascent to the surface independently Preferably, retractable member means is provided be an aluminium loop bar which fit is a non obstructive manner around the shoulders of the driver and in the process of and emergency will rotate like a hood over and above the drivers head Preferably, the lamp means is provided by a bright strobe light integral to the said

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retractable member at the top apex of this bar Preferably, the transmitter integral to the said retractable member transmits the distress signals to monitoring station with information comprising a) location.

b) driver person details (for medical treatment such as medication allergies etc) should medical treatment be required after the diver has reached the surface.

Preferably, the Inflatable member is provided by the at least one inflatable compartment which is regulated by the processor to control the rate of ascent to reduce the effect of the bends or decompression of the driver,, said Inflatable member can be in the forni of a lift jacket Preferably, the gas cylinder is provided by at least one air cylinder Preferably, the processor means is provided by a computer such that the computer software has means for judgment decision or intelligence making means for determining an emergency state automatically Although the processor means may also be provided by other means such as Digital logic circuits or analogue circuits or mechanical.

Preferably, the manual activation is provided by at least one rip cord or predetermined breathing pattern signal interpreted by the said processor as an emergency ascent activation Preferably, the pressure sensor is provided by at least depth gauge Preferably, the diver status sensor is provided by at least one biometric indicators such as breathing pattern or movement transducers

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, an embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing which: Fig 1. Shows the diver emergency ascent equipment Fig 2. Shows the diver emergency ascent equipment retractable member side view

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is a preferred embodiment of the diver emergency ascent equipment includes A retractable member I which is attached to the inflatable member 4, a lamp 2 which is attached to the said retractable member 1,a transmitter 3 which is attached to the said retractable member Ian inflatable member 4,a gas cylinderS which is attached to the said inflatable member 4, a processorS which is attached to the said inflatable member 4, a manual activation 7 which is attached to the said Inflatable member 4, a pressure sensor 8 which is attached to the said inflatable member 4, a diver status sensor 9 which is attached to the said Inflatable member 4

Claims

1. A diver emergency ascent equipment comprising attachment means for attaching the unit to a diver a retractable member which is mounted on and rotatable about the Inflatabl, member a lamp mounted on the said retractable member a transmitter such that emergency services may be alerted a gas cylinder a processor a manual activation means such that the diver may activate the equipment manually a pressure sensor means such that the said processor will process the data and control the ascent automatically a diver status sensor means such that comprising means for determining * the diver status the said processor will process the data and activate the equipment automatically by determination by determining means that the diver is incapacitated and wherein the processor is operable to determine the divers status and wherein the processor is operable to determine the rate of ascent and wherein the processor is operable to regulate the buoyancy of the diver in order to control the rate of ascent and wherein the processor is operable to regulate the inflatable member by controller means and wherein the processor is operable to activate the said transmitter and said lamp and said retractable member

2. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I where the Inflatable member is in the form of a life jacket.

3. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I where the lamp is a flashing light 3. A diver emergency ascent equlpm.nt according to Claim I in which the retractable member is provided by a foldable bar which extends up and over the head of the diver in an activation mode therefore offering protection to the diver head during and after the ascent to the surface from any object such as boats.

4. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I. in which the retractable member is foldable backwardly around and behind shoulders of the diver is stored in a non-activated position.

5. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim 1, in which the retractable member is extendable forwardly to vertically above the shoulders of the diver in an activated position and us use to recover the diver from the water -

6 A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim 1, where pressure sensor Is provided by a depth gauge

7 A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I, where diver status sensor is provided at least one transducer such as a diver breathing monitor or a diver movement transducer or a diver heart monitor or a diver carbon dioxide I oxygen levels monitor

8. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I where the processor Include a computer or micrOprOCeSSOr with software to process data from a pressure sensor or a diver status sensor 01 manual activation

9. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to claim 1, in which the inflatable member has a means for regulating the buoyancy and inflated or deflated according to the judgment means of the said processor.

10. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I where the processor responds to a manual activation signal where by the said processor will initiate and emergency ascent procedure regulating the ascent by means on inflating the inflatable member by means of the said gas cylinder and extending the said retractable member and monitoring the said pressure sensor and controlling the rate of ascent and activating the said flashing light and activating the said transmitter

11. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim I where the processor responds to a diver status sensor signal where by the said processor will initiate and emergency ascent procedure automatically by judgment means regulating the ascent by means on inflating the inflatable member by means of the said gas cylinder and extending the said retractable member and monitoring the said pressure sensor and controlling the rate of ascent and activating the said flashing light and activating the said transmftter

12 A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim 1, in which the flashing light is activated by the said means of the said processor.

13. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim 1, in which the transmifter is activated by the said means of the said processor.

14. A diver emergency ascent equipment according to Claim 1, in which the inflatable member is regulated by the said means of the said processor.

15. A diver emergency ascent equlpm according to Claim 1, in which the entire system IS removable and detachable from the diver in the event of enIangIem5 under water

16. A diver emergency ascent equJpmn as herein descrj and iflustrafeij in the accompany ing drawing