Apparatus and method for molding of submerged surfaces

A method of making a mold of a submerged surface comprises the steps of:

• positioning a molding device against the submerged surface;
• securing the molding device to the submerged surface to form a molding region between the molding device and the submerged surface;
• displacing water from the molding region and evacuating the molding region to form an evacuated molding region;
• and
• introducing a settable molding material into the evacuated molding region.

A molding device for replicating submerged surfaces comprises:

• a housing having means for releasably attaching the housing to an underwater surface;
• a piston member positioned within the housing to move toward and away from the submerged surface, the piston member and the submerged surface cooperate to define a molding region therebetween as the periphery of the piston member is disposed in abutting relationship with the submerged surface;
• flexible means attached to the housing and secured to the piston member for dividing the interior of the housing into forward and rear chambers, the forward chamber communicates with the molding region;
• evacuating means connected to the forward and rear chambers for causing the piston member to move toward and away from the submerged surface, the evacuating means communicates with the molding region defined between the piston member and the submerged surface for evacuating fluid therefrom;
• and
• means for injecting a settable molding material into the molding region.

A molding device for replicating submerged surfaces comprises:

• a housing having means for releasably attaching the housing to a submerged surface;
• a molding section formed in the housing, the molding section and the submerged surface cooperate to define a molding region therebetween as the housing is attached to the submerged surface;
• means for displacing water from the molding region, the displacing means includes a source of pressurized air for bleeding air into the molding region, an outlet port connected to the housing for permitting the flow of displaced water therethrough, and an evacuating means for withdrawing the pressurized air from the molding region while the source of pressurized air and the outlet port are closed off;
• and
• means for injecting a settable material into the evacuated molding region.