Low profile buoyancy adjustment controller and valve system for diver's vest

A buoyancy compensating device comprising:

• a compartment;
• a container;
• a gas within the container;
• an exhaust valve affixed to the buoyancy compensating device and adapted to release the gas from the compartment to a surrounding environment when the exhaust valve is activated;
• an inflation valve affixed to the buoyancy compensating device and adapted to admit gas from the container into the compartment when the inflation valve is activated;
• a buoyancy control assembly affixed to the buoyancy compensating device having a single controller, wherein the controller has a neutral position, an inflation position, and an exhaust position;
• a flexible pushrod having a first end adapted to move when contacted by the controller and a second end in movable contact with the exhaust valve;
• wherein the controller is adapted to activate the inflation valve when the controller moves from the neutral position to the inflation position;
• and
• wherein the controller is adapted to activate the exhaust valve when the controller is moved to the exhaust position by causing a compression load on the flexible pushrod to activate the exhaust valve.

A buoyancy compensating device comprising:

• a compartment;
• a container;
• a gas within the container;
• an inflation valve affixed to the buoyancy compensating device and adapted to admit gas from the container into the compartment when the inflation valve is activated;
• a buoyancy control assembly affixed to the buoyancy compensating device having a controller, wherein the controller has a neutral position, and an inflation position;
• wherein the controller is adapted to activate the inflation valve when the controller moves from the neutral position to the inflation position;
• and
• wherein the inflation valve is located substantially within the compartment.

A buoyancy compensating device comprising:

• a compartment;
• a gas within the compartment;
• an exhaust valve affixed to the buoyancy compensating device and adapted to release the gas from the compartment to a surrounding environment when the exhaust valve is activated;
• a buoyancy control assembly affixed to the buoyancy compensating device having a controller, wherein the controller has a neutral position and an exhaust position;
• a flexible pushrod having a first end adapted to move when contacted by the controller and a second end in movable contact with the exhaust valve;
• wherein when the controller moves from the neutral position to the exhaust position, it causes the second end of the flexible pushrod to activate the exhaust valve;
• and
• wherein the exhaust valve is located entirely within the compartment.

A buoyancy compensating device comprising:

• a compartment;
• a gas within the compartment;
• an exhaust valve affixed to the buoyancy compensating device and adapted to release the gas from the compartment to a surrounding environment when the exhaust valve is activated;
• a buoyancy control assembly affixed to the buoyancy compensating device having a controller, wherein the controller has a neutral position and an exhaust position;
• and
• a flexible pushrod within the compartment having a first end adapted to move when contacted by the controller and a second end in movable contact with the exhaust valve;
• a lower exhaust valve housing contained substantially within a buoyancy compartment;
• an upper exhaust valve housing covering the lower exhaust valve housing, the upper housing located immediately outside the buoyancy compartment;
• a plurality of vents in the outer exhaust valve housing, open to a surrounding environment;
• an opening into the buoyancy compartment through a first end of the lower exhaust valve housing;
• a biasing element affixed to a second end of the lower exhaust valve housing;
• a valve plate having a first side adapted to cover the opening and a second side adapted to engage the biasing element;
• a gasket on the first side of the valve plate adapted to seal the opening with a pressure applied to the second side of the valve plate by the biasing element;
• a passageway through the lower exhaust valve housing adapted to allow the valve plate to slide from a closed position with the gasket sealed against the opening to an open position with the gasket distant from the opening;
• wherein the controller is adapted to cause a compression load be applied to the second end of the flexible pushrod to activate the exhaust valve from the closed position to the open position;
• wherein a movement of the valve plate is approximately parallel to an outer surface of the buoyancy compartment surrounding the lower exhaust valve housing.