MXYU02000002A - Observation subaqueous tunnel at ambient pressure. - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of the structures used for the observation of the subaqueous environment. The problematic here is to produce a simple structure easy and economical to build which allows anyone to observe and to have direct contact with the subaqueous environment without any specialized training and equipment. The present invention discloses an observation subaqueous tunnel operating at ambient pressure, composed by modular sections of a semicircular structure, with molded transparent panels, joined together by an elevator for transporting the users from water surface to operation depth. Air is pumped in a continuous way throughout pipes that run along its structure, by compressors, which displace water in its interior forming a compressed air bubble at the same pressure than that of the ambient surrounding the tunnel, creating in this way a corridor with air, where anyone can breath normally, move freely and observe the subaqueous environment. The tunnel may be installed and employed in any water body.

Description

SUBACUTATIC TUNNEL FOR OBSERVATION AT AMBIENT PRESSURE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND! Technical field of the invention is that of the structures and equipment used for observing the underwater environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION kl O Autonomous diving has long been the most popular method to penetrate and see the underwater world, its practice involves an arduous training and the use of a considerable amount of specialized equipment, which is why it is limited to a few people, recently new equipment for 15 diving with air lines to the surface and the use of special helmets have allowed a greater number of people to participate in underwater observation activities, but there is still a lesser need to instruct the user and to use special equipment to Underwater tunnels have also been built underwater that have windows for 20 see the aquatic environment, but they are watertight and operate at atmospheric pressure, because of these characteristics their construction cost is extremely high, in addition the users of them do not have a real contact with the observed medium. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1. View of a modular section of semicircular structure of the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure.

Figure 2. View of the elevator structure of the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure. Figure 3. Detail of (A) and the lid of the elevator. Figure 4. Top view of an underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure with a rectangular path, where the modular sections and the elevator can be seen. Figure 5. Transverse view of a modular section of semicircular structure of the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure. Figure 6. View of the frame and guides of the elevator, as well as the point of attachment of the same with the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The Underwater Observation Tunnel to Pressure Environment described here, will allow a large number of people to participate safely in activities of observation of the underwater environment, experiencing a real contact with it, without requiring any training, or the use of specialized technical equipment .

It is essentially a tunnel installed under water, inside which users can breathe normally, swim and observe the underwater environment, having a real and direct contact with it, this is possible thanks to the fact that an air bubble forms inside the tunnel at ambient pressure.

The tunnel is composed of several modular sections of a semicircular structure (1) joined together, fixed and / or anchored underwater at a specific depth, and by an elevator (7) designed to transport users from the surface of the tunnel. water to the depth of operation of the tunnel, and to serve as a link to the ends of it (Figure 6).

The number of modular sections of semicircular structure (1) that the tunnel has, the connections between them, their dimensions and shapes will vary according to the design of their route, the materials to be used in their construction will also change depending on the same variables. In figure 4 we can see an example of a rectangular route of the tunnel (15), where the modular sections (1) and the structure of the elevator (7) are shown.

The modular sections of semicircular structure (1) can be constructed of metal, fiberglass, plastic or any material capable of providing the necessary strength.

The modular sections of the tunnel are composed of semicircular arches (3) joined at the top and side by support bars (2), to the windows that are formed in the semicircle are fixed transparent panels of materials such as acrylic or polycarbonate molded to the shape of the tunnel (5), which hermetically close the upper part of it, thus preventing the escape of air and forming at the same time the observation windows, the lower part of the structure is open, it has a perforated pipe on one of its sides (4) and with handrails on both sides (6).

Modular sections of semicircle structure of the tunnel to which the elevator is attached will be added at the end where they have contact with it a cover (19) to prevent the escape of air from the tunnel, it will consist of bars structural and transparent flat panels of materials such as acrylic or polycarbonate.

The tunnel composed of the modular structures is fixed below the water at a specific depth, the way to fix and / or anchor the tunnel under the water will vary depending on the specific conditions of the environment where it will be installed, once there using compressors, air is pumped continuously through a feed hose which is connected to the pipes running along the structure (4), said pipes are perforated along their entire length (21), to allow air to enter the tunnel structure in a uniform manner.

The air introduced into the tunnel displaces the water inside, forming a bubble of compressed air at the same pressure as the environment surrounding the tunnel, this creates a corridor with air, where users can breathe norma move freely , and at the same time observe the underwater environment through the windows of transparent material that form the IOS sides of the tunnel. The flow of air pumped into the tunnel is continuous to ensure that this air is always able to be breathed, the excess of it simply escapes through the bottom of the tunnel.

The tunnel also has additional bars that run along the lower part of the structure, at the level of the water line that serve as handrails to facilitate the movement of people inside the tunnel (6).

Access to the interior of the tunnel is through an elevator speciadesigned for that purpose (7), operated with compressed air, which leads to users 20 from the surface of the water to the depth of operation of the tunnel. The elevator is formed by a welded metal skeleton (8) that has a structure in its upper part equal to the modular sections of tunnel, to which end caps are added to prevent the escape of air, they are composed by structural bars (11) and transparent flat panels (12), also has 25 with a floor (9) for users to stand on, and has a metal basket at the bottom. (10) The vertical movement of the elevator by water is achieved by changing the volume of the air bubble contained in the upper part of it. In the metal basket 30 from the bottom, counterweights are added in order to counteract the floating created by the air in the upper part of the elevator, achieving a smooth and gradual movement.

Using a compressor the elevator receives by means of a hose (20) and a filling valve (13), a controlled continuous flow of air, this is distributed inside it in the same way that the air is distributed in the modular sections of the tunnel, the flow is continuous to provide the elevator with the necessary flotation to raise and to guarantee the quality of the air that the users breathe.

The volume of the air bubble that forms in the upper part of the elevator will be responsible for the vertical movement of the same, the greater the volume of the bubble the elevator will ascend, the lower volume will descend, this volume is controlled by a pipeline. emptying (14), by means of this pipe it is possible to empty air from the elevator modifying the volume of the bubble, thus controlling its movement precisely.

In this way, by decreasing the amount of air in the elevator, it descends taking its passengers under the water where it is coupled with the observation tunnel, also serving as a link between the points of entry and exit of the tunnel route, increasing the amount of air inside the elevator it will rise from the depth where the tunnel is installed to the surface of the water.

The elevator has at its four ends with fixed guides (16) in a frame (22) that go from the surface of the water (17) to the bottom of the place where the tunnel structure (18) is installed to ensure its exact alignment and coupling with it.

Based on the above, it can be stated that the characteristics of the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure are unique and exclusive to it, since these have not been achieved by any other similar artifact in existence.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS Having sufficiently described my invention, I consider as a novelty and therefore claim as my exclusive property, what is contained in the following clauses:

1. Underwater Tunnel of Observation to Pressure Environment. Composed of modular sections of a semicircular structure joined together, formed by arcs joined at the top and sides by support rods, these elements make up the skeleton of the semicircular structure giving it its shape and rigidity, to the hollow spaces that are They form in the semicircle they are fixed transparent panels molded to the shape of the tunnel, which close hermetically the upper part of it, thus preventing the escape of air and forming at the same time the observation windows, the lower part of the structure It is open, has on one side with a perforated perimeter pipe through which compressed air is introduced into the tunnel and bars running along the bottom of the structure, which serve as handrails to facilitate the movement of people inside the tunnel; Modular sections of semicircular structure that form the ends of the tunnel will have a lid composed of structural bars and transparent flat panels to prevent the escape of air from the tunnel.

2. Elevator of the Underwater Observation Tunnel at Ambient Pressure. Formed by a skeleton of welded metal which has in its upper part a , structure equal to the modular sections of tunnel described in the previous clause, to which are added end caps to prevent the escape of air, composed of structural bars and transparent flat panels, also has a floor so that its passengers stop at it, and with a metallic basket in its lower part to install counterweights, in addition it has a filling valve and a drain pipe with which the elevator is operated when controlling with them the amount of air inside it. It has a frame with guides at its four ends to ensure its exact alignment and asse with the tunnel, where using a compressor the elevator receives a controlled continuous flow of air, which is distributed within it, the flow is continuous to provide the elevator the flotation necessary to climb and to guarantee the quality of the air that the users breathe. The volume of the air bubble that is formed in the upper part of the elevator will be responsible for the vertical movement of the same, the greater the volume of the bubble the elevator will ascend, the lower volume will descend, this volume is controlled by the pipeline. emptying, by means of this pipe it is possible to evacuate air from the elevator modifying the volume of the bubble, thus controlling its movement in a precise way.

3. Procedure for the operation of the underwater observation tunnel at ambient pressure: Where once the tunnel is fixed under water at a specific depth, using compressors, air is pumped continuously through a feed hose connected to the perforated pipes that run along the structure, the air introduced into the the tunnel displaces the water inside, forming a bubble of compressed air at the same pressure as the environment surrounding the tunnel, thus creating a corridor with air. The flow of air pumped into the tunnel is continuous to ensure that this air is always able to be breathed, the excess of it simply escapes through the bottom of the tunnel.

4. An Underwater Observation Tunnel at Ambient Pressure, as described in the first clause, characterized in that the transparent panels forming the observation windows can be made of acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, or any other suitable transparent material.

5. An Underwater Observation Tunnel at Ambient Pressure, as described in the first clause characterized by an air distribution system, consisting of a feed hose and perforated distributor tubes that run the entire length of the perimeter of the tunnel.