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US 8,505,681 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for altering and or minimizing underwater noise
OwnerChristopher I. Hallidayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To reduce or eliminate the startle response in aquatic life, embodiments of the present invention alter the sound produced by a diver's exhaled bubbles by adjusting up or down the frequency of the sound produced by the bubbles.
Claims15
A composition comprising a frequency adjustor and a switch;
- wherein the frequency adjustor comprises a tubular porous body, where the porous body has a wall having interstitial spaces and an average porosity between 30 and 100 microns or 100 and 500 microns, a proximal end and a distal end;
- and,
- wherein the proximal end is in fluid communication with a second stage scuba regulator;
- and,
- wherein the switch has at least an open and a closed position and is coupled to an end of the porous body such that when the switch is in the open position a substantial portion of the exhaled gas exits the frequency adjustor at the switch without going through the porous body wall, and when the switch is in a closed position a substantial portion of the exhaled gas exits the frequency adjustor by going through the porous body wall.
2 more elements
A method of altering the noise made by a diver comprising the steps of:
- a. directing exhaled gas from a diving regulator into a frequency adjustor wherein the frequency adjustor comprises a tubular porous body, where the porous body comprises a wall having interstitial spaces and an average porosity between 30 and 100 microns or 100 and 500 microns, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the gas passes through the frequency adjustor and escapes into the surrounding fluid;
- wherein the proximal end is in fluid communication with a second stage scuba regulator;
- and
- b. altering a position of a switch that is coupled to the porous body to a closed position, such that when the switch is in a closed position a substantial portion of the exhaled gas exits the frequency adjustor by going through the wall of the porous body thereby reducing the bubble size of the bubbles exiting the frequency adjustor into surrounding fluid relative to the size of the bubbles in the absence of the frequency adjustor.
1 more element
An exhaust port of a second stage regulator comprising a fitting for connecting the second stage regulator to a frequency adjustor and a switch;
- wherein the frequency adjustor comprises a tubular porous body, where the porous body has a wall having interstitial spaces and an average porosity between 100 and 500 microns or 30 to 100 microns, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the frequency adjustor alters at least a portion of the frequency of sound produced by exhaled gas from a diving regulator, wherein a portion of the frequency of sound produced by the bubbles exiting the frequency adjustor into surrounding fluid through the wall of the porous body has a frequency that approximates the background noise of the fluid into which the bubbles are introduced;
- and,
- wherein the proximal end is in fluid communication with a second stage scuba regulator;
- and,
- wherein the switch has at least an open and a closed position and is coupled to an end of the porous body such that when the switch is in the open position a substantial portion of the exhaled gas exits the frequency adjustor at the switch without going through the porous body wall, and when the switch is in a closed position a substantial portion of the exhaled gas exits the frequency adjustor by going through the porous body wall.
2 more elements
A method of altering the exhalation of a human user comprising:
- obtaining a tubular porous body wherein the tubular porous body has a wall defining a gas flow passageway through at least a portion of the tubular porous body, wherein at least a portion of the wall has interstitial spaces and an average porosity between 30 and 100 microns or 100 and 500 microns, and wherein the tubular porous body has an open proximal end in fluid communication with the gas flow passageway;
- and
- placing the tubular porous body in fluid communication with a human user such that a substantial portion of the human exhaled gas enters the tubular porous body at the open proximal end and exits the porous body by first flowing through the gas flow passageway and then through the wall portion before entering a surrounding environment, wherein the exhalation effort that is experienced by the human user during exhalation of the gas through the wall portion of the tubular porous body is not less than 2.5 inches of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.