Buoy device for automatic raising of submerged objects

A submergible buoy comprising:

• (a) a tank for containing gas under pressure;
• (b) an inflatable bladder connected to receive pressurized gas from the tank, causing the bladder to inflate to thereby raise the submerged buoy to the water surface;
• (c) control valve means for controlling gas flow from the tank to the bladder;
• (d) a pair of substantially flat, mutually orthogonal frame members having lower portions connected to the tank, each frame member including a cutout defining a substantially spherical region between the frame members, and means for connecting opposite ends of the bladder to upper and lower ends of the frame members with the bladder occupying said said spherical region and being protected from impact with external objects by said frame members;
• (e) control unit means for selectively opening
• (f) a lift ring connected to said frame members to enable the buoy to be lifted out of the water by personnel;
• and
• (g) deflation valve means operatively connected to said bladder and said lift ring for automatically deflating said bladder when said lift ring is engaged to lift the buoy.

A submergible device for automatically raising submerged objects to a water surface, comprising:

• (a) supply means for containing pressurized gas;
• (b) means having a buoyancy chamber connected for receiving pressurized gas from the pressurized gas supply means so that gas expanding into the chamber causes the device to ascend;
• (c) valve means connected to the supply means for admitting gas under pressure into said chamber;
• and
• (d) means for coupling said device to a lifting means to enable the device to be lifted from the water after said device ascends to the surface, said coupling means including a normally closed deflation valve means operable to automatically open and thereby cause rapid exhaustion of gas from the chamber when a lifting force is applied to the coupling means.

A submergible device for raising a load such as a fish trap and the like to a water surface, comprising a tank for containing gas under pressure;

• an inflatable bladder connected to receive pressurized gas from the tank, causing the bladder to inflate and thereby ascend to the water surface with the load;
• control valve means for controlling gas flow between the tank and bladder;
• frame means connected to the tank and including a cutout defining a region in which the bladder extends and is protected from impact with external objects by said frame means;
• and means for mounting said bladder within the frame means, said mounting means including upper and lower sleeve members respectively attached to a portion of the frame means and a housing containing the control valve means, said bladder having upper and lower ends respectively attached to said sleeve members, and a pressure conduit extending between the upper and lower sleeve members within the bladder, said lower sleeve member having an air passage connected to transmit pressurized gas from the tank to the pressure conduit, said conduit including an orifice for passing inflation gas into the bladder.

A submergible buoy comprising:

• (a) a tank for containing gas under pressure;
• (b) an inflatable bladder connected to receive pressurized gas from the tank, causing the bladder to inflate to thereby raise the submerged buoy to the water surface;
• (c) control valve means for controlling gas flow from the tank to the bladder;
• (d) a pair of substantially mutually orthogonal frame members connected to the tank, said frame members establishing a substantially spherical region therebetween, and means for connecting opposite ends of the bladder to upper and lower ends of the frame members with the bladder occupying said spherical region and being protected from impact with external objects by said frame members;
• and
• (e) control unit means for selectively opening the valve means to thereby inflate the bladder.

A submergible device for raising a load such as a fish trap and the like to a water surface, comprising a tank for containing gas under pressure;

• an inflatable bladder connected to receive pressurized gas from the tank, causing the bladder to inflate and thereby ascend to the water surface with the load;
• control valve means for controlling gas flow between the tank and bladder;
• frame means connected to the tank for defining a region between the frame means in which the bladder extends and is protected from impact with external objects by said frame means;
• and means for mounting said bladder within the frame means, said mounting means including upper and lower sleeve members respectively attached to a portion of the frame means and a housing containing the control valve means, said bladder having upper and lower ends respectively attached to said sleeve members, and a pressure conduit extending between the upper and lower sleeve members within the bladder, said lower sleeve member having an air passage connected to transmit pressurized gas from the tank to the pressure conduit, said conduit including an orifice for passing inflation gas into the bladder.