# US 4,392,449 A · Below deck enclosure for pressurized, heavier than air gas

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- Number: US 4,392,449 A
- Document ID: US4392449A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/259,564
- Filed: 1981-05-01
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1981-05-01
- Inventors: Bruce F. Dining
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392449A

## CPC

- B63B 17/00: Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for {(vehicle fittings for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles in general B60R25/00; propeller guards, line cutters or other means for protecting propellers or rudders B63H5/165; protection of power legs of outboard propulsion units B63H20/36; locking devices for boats, surfboards or parts or accessories thereof E05B73/007)}
- B63B 25/14: pressurised
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

An enclosure for the below deck storage of volatile or flammable fluids, in compressed gas tanks which is sealed from the vessel interior, but downwardly vented to the outside so that tank or cannister leaks find a preferred path of safe exhaust while the cannisters are conveniently stored within. The enclosure includes a sealed housing which is adapted to be mounted to a bulkhead in a vessel and which has an opening on one side thereof and a lid removable from the opening in the housing to gain access to the interior thereof. Means are provided for sealing the lid to the housing. The base of the interior of the housing is molded to conform to the shape of a lower end of one or more cannisters containing the pressurized fluid for support of the cannisters within the housing against motion caused by movement of the vessel. The lid is also molded to conform to the shape of the top of the cannisters for restraining further movement of the cannister. A sump is provided at the base of the housing and is vented exteriorly at the vessel for exhaust of leaking fluids. Tubing conducts contents of the cannisters to a regulator, and another length of tubing conducts the contents from the regulator through a hole in the housing to a desired location on the vessel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An enclosure for volatile or flammable heavier than air gases stored as fluids under pressure in cannisters on a marine vessel comprising:
a sealable housing having an opening on one side thereof;
a removable lid covering the opening of said housing;
means cooperating with said lid and housing for sealing the lid and housing together thereby to define a sealed interior of said housing;
support means within said housing for maintaining said cannisters in a predetermined orientation within the sealed interior of said housing;
means adapted to mount said housing to a substantially vertical bulkhead of a vessel thereby to maintain said cannisters in an upright condition;
sump means disposed on the bottom of said housing in a depressed portion thereof whereby said sump means is at the vertically lowest point of said housing when bulkhead mounted; and
free flow conduit means for venting said sump vertically downward to a point external of said vessel above the water line and below said sump means whereby the sealed interior of said housing, external of the cannisters therein, is vented downward to the exterior of said housing for free flow exhaust of heavier than air gases from said housing to the exterior of said vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The enclosure of claim 1 wherein:
said housing is adapted for containing a plurality of said cannisters; and
regulator means are provided for combining gas from each cannister into a single conduit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The enclosure of claims 1 or 2 further including:
means for sealing said free flow conduit means at said housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The enclosure of any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said means for mounting said enclosure to said bulkhead of said vessel maintains said enclosure above the water line.