Buoyancy-based, underwater propulsion system and method
OwnerPhillip M. Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for underwater propulsion. The apparatus may include a hydrofoil, a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil, a tank containing air, and a controller regulating the passage of air from the tank into the buoyancy compensator. The controller may also regulate the escape of air from the buoyancy compensator. By positioning the hydrofoil underwater and alternating between positive and negative angles of attack, a diver may generate forward propulsion by manipulating the controller to correspondingly alternate the buoyant force produced by the buoyancy compensator between levels below and above neutral buoyancy.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a hydrofoil defining a hydrofoil envelope and comprising an expander and an actuator, the expander being contained within the hydrofoil envelope;
- a tank containing at least one gas, the tank connected to the hydrofoil to deliver the at least one gas to the expander;
- and
- a valve system receiving inputs from the actuator and regulating according to the inputs the passage of the at least one gas from the tank into the expander and the escape of the at least one gas from the expander into a surrounding environment.
An apparatus comprising:
- a hydrofoil defining a hydrofoil envelope;
- the hydrofoil having a span extending laterally from a mid-span location and comprising a plurality of inflatable bladders, an actuator, and a tank securement, the plurality of inflatable bladders contained withing the hydrofoil envelope and positioned symmetrically with respect to the mid-span location, the tank securement positioned proximate the mid-span location;
- a tank containing air and being fixed to the hydrofoil by the tank securement, the tank connected to the hydrofoil to deliver the air to the plurality of inflatable bladders;
- and
- a valve system receiving inputs from the actuator and regulating according to the inputs the passage of the air from the tank into the plurality of inflatable bladders and the escape of the air from the plurality of inflatable bladders into a surrounding environment.
A method comprising:
- obtaining a device comprising
- a hydrofoil defining a hydrofoil envelope and comprising an expander and an actuator, the expander being contained within the hydrofoil envelope,
- a tank containing at least one gas, the tank connected to the hydrofoil to deliver the at least one gas to the expander, and
- a valve system receiving inputs from the actuator and regulating according to the inputs the passage of the at least one gas from the tank into the expander and the escape of the at least one gas from the expander into a surrounding environment;
- placing the device in a body of water;
- entering, by a user, the body of water;
- holding, by the user after the entering, the hydrofoil;
- and
- operating, by the user after the entering, the actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.