Emergency encapsulated lift system
OwnerDarrin John Schmittinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buoyancy lift system having an inflatable bladder with a tether stowed inside a canister secured to a vessel. A sealing member is slidably received within canister and secures to the inflatable bladder. Pressurized gas forces the sealing member and bladder outwardly of the canister. A stop prevents the sealing member from escaping the canister such that the sealing member creates a seal between itself and the canister at an outboard end of the canister. Pressurized gas is forced through a channel in the sealing member into the bladder to increase the displacement of a vessel.
Claims22
A buoyancy device comprising:
- a canister adapted to secure to a vessel, the canister having a first end and a second end, the first end and second ends each defining an opening;
- an inflatable bladder positionable within the canister;
- a sealing member secured to the inflatable bladder between the second end and the inflatable bladder, the sealing member slidably engaging the canister and positionable proximate the first end to create a seal between the sealing member and canister;
- and
- a pressurized air source in selective fluid communication with the second end of the canister.
A buoyancy device comprising:
- a vessel;
- a canister secured proximate an aperture formed in an outer structure of the vessel, the canister having a first end and a second end, the first end and second ends each defining an opening;
- an inflatable bladder positionable within the canister;
- a sealing member secured to the inflatable bladder positioned between the bladder and the second end, the sealing member slidably engaging the canister and positionable proximate the first end to create a seal between the sealing member and canister;
- and
- a pressurized air source in selective fluid communication with the second end of the canister.
A method for increasing displacement of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a canister secured proximate an aperture formed in an outer structure of a vehicle, the canister having a first end and a second end, the first end and second ends each defining an opening;
- providing an inflatable bladder positionable within the canister;
- providing a sealing member secured to the inflatable bladder, the sealing member slidably engaging the canister and positionable proximate the first end to create a seal between the sealing member and canister;
- providing a pressurized air source in selective fluid communication with the second end of the canister;
- releasing pressurized air through the second end of the canister;
- sliding the sealing member toward the first end of the canister;
- and
- inflating the inflatable bladder.
A buoyancy device comprising:
- an inflatable structure secured to a member of a selectively floated structure, the inflatable structure comprising a serviceable portion accessed from within the selectively floated structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.