Buoyancy control systems and methods

A method of controlling the buoyancy of a submersible object submerged in an ambient fluid, comprising the steps of:

• securing a piston housing to the submersible object;
• providing a piston member defining a piston portion and a shaft portion,
• supporting the piston member within the piston housing such that
• the piston portion and the piston housing define a control chamber and an ambient chamber, and
• the shaft portion and the piston housing define a working chamber;
• and
• operatively connecting a pump to the working chamber;
• arranging control fluid within the control chamber;
• providing working fluid;
• arranging at least a portion of the working fluid is arranged within the working chamber;
• whereby
• operating the pump to displace working fluid within the working chamber, thereby displacing the piston member to alter a volume of the control fluid arranged within the control chamber.

A buoyancy controlled object to be submerged in an ambient fluid, comprising:

• a hull assembly;
• a piston housing rigidly connected to the hull assembly;
• a piston member defining a piston portion and a shaft portion, where the piston member is supported within the piston housing such that
• the piston portion and the piston housing define a control chamber and an ambient chamber, and
• the shaft portion and the piston housing define a working chamber;
• a pump operatively connected to the working chamber;
• an accumulator operatively connected to the working chamber;
• a valve operatively connected to the working chamber;
• control fluid arranged within the control chamber;
• and
• working fluid, where at least a portion of the working fluid is arranged within the working chamber and at least a portion of the working fluid is arranged in the accumulator;
• whereby operation of the pump displaces working fluid within the working chamber to displace the piston member to alter a volume of the control fluid arranged within the control chamber;
• and
• operation of the valve controls the flow of working fluid into and out of the working chamber.