Method and apparatus for transporting and housing tunnel workers active in high pressure environments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for increasing the safety and productivity of tunnel workers active in high pressure environments is disclosed. The workers are housed at an intermediate pressure over a "work week" of at least several days and are transported between the tunnel face and the life support chamber in which the workers are housed in a pressurized personnel transport chamber. The housing contains sanitary, sleeping, decompression, storage and dining facilities and is generally located at the tunnel entrance. In the preferred embodiment, the intermediate pressure is about half of the tunnel working pressure but not more than about 20 psig and preferably less than 17 psig. It is expected that a decreased incidence of bone related diseases and bends will result due to the reduced number of full decompressions from the tunnel work environment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.