GB1592865A - Diver support apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) DIVER SUPPORT APPARATUS (71) We, WESTINGHOUSE E.LEC TRIC CORPORATION of Westinghouse Building, Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, a company organised and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to diving apparatus and more particularly to diver support apparatus.

Presently a common method of heating a diver while submerged and ambulatory involves the heating of water at a diverremote site and the pumping of such hot water to the diver for circulation through conduits in his diving suit. This is in addition to transmitting power energy to him for operating work tools when required.

Transmission of such hot water to the diver occurs by way of a flexible hose that is subjected at its exterior to the low temperature ambient water which tends to provoke considerable thermal loss. The use of thermal insulation around the heat hose tends to render the hose bulky and difficult to manipulate.

U.S. Patent No. 3,815,573 discloses a compressed-gas-operated vortex-tube type heat generator for heating a diver's suit by circulation of hot liquid through a gas-toliquid heat exchanger. The gas used is the bottled breathing gas carried by the diver, or furnished as breathing air via line from the surface.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an efficient means for providing external power to a diver support apparatus.

The invention resides in a diver support apparatus for a diver submerged in a body of ambient liquid, comprising, liquid pump equipment which in use is arranged adjacent to the surface of the body of liquid; a flexible supply line which in use extends from said pump equipment to a submerged diver site; and a heat-producing converter which is situated at said submerged diver site for converting flow energy of such liquid into diver warming heat.

The present invention, in transmitting relatively low temperature seawater to the diver for conversion into heat, rather than high temperature hot water, greatly reduces the potenial thermal loss via the heat supply hose and obviates need for cumbersome thermal insulation of the hose. The use of seawater, or other ambient water, as the case may be, for transmission to the diver is expedient, inasmuch as it is readily available and locally exhaustible without polluting.

The use of seawater for transmission to the diver also is relatively practical, as compared to the use of compressed gas for such transmission. The column of seawater in the downwardly extending supply hose develops the same hydrostatic elevation pressure as that of the surrounding sea, so that the liquid pumping means at the surface need deliver only that work required to overcome friction in the supply hose, plus any pressure head needed for the intended work function at the diver site. Pumping pressurized gas, on the other hand, requires compression of the gas just to enable it to overcome the hydrostatic head of the water column tending to be forced into the lower end of the hose. At diver depths of many hundreds of feet, such energy-demanding hydroseatic-head-overcoming gas compression can be considerable.At the same time, expansion of compressed gas for creation of heat or performing work results in cooling of such gas to a relatively low temperature at its exhaust. This, coupled with a low ambient water temperature can lead to complication of the equipment on behalf of avoiding freeze-up.

Preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation view, partly in outline and partly in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention as affiliated with several divers at two different submerged sites as available with seawater under pressure from a support vessel at the surface; Figs. 2a to 2d are schematic showings of different hydraulic circuit arrangements which may be embodied in the apparatus of the present invention to produce heat at the diver site by flow of seawater under pressure to such site from a surface site; Fig. 3 is a schematic showing of a reciprocating-piston motor and pump arrangement suitable for embodiment in such as the exemplified hydraulic circuits of Figs. 2a to 2d; and Fig. 4 is a cross section view of a rotary hydraulic motor and pump construction suitable for use in the present invention as an alternative to the reciprocating-piston motorpump used in the Fig. 3 arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 1 the diver support apparatus of the present invention is shown affiliated with a support vessel I floating on a sea surface 2 above submerged divers 3 and 4 at two different underwater sites; one being located within a submerged breathing chamber 5 and the other being outside such chamber and furnished with breathing gas from the chamber by way of push-pull breathing gas lines 6 and 7, respectively. The term "pushpull" means that one of the lines 6 or 7 is the intake or supply line supplying the diver and the other is the exhaust line.

According to the present invention, water from the body of ambient water 8 in which the chamber 5 and divers 3 and 4 are submerged is drawn into a precharge pump 9 via a filter-inlet 10, thence to a supply pump 11 via a filter 12 for pressurizing and delivery to breathing gas chamber 5 and to diver 4 via a pump outlet and a flexible pressurized water supply line 14 and branches thereof.

At the breathing chamber 5, the pressurized seawater arriving via supply line 14 will flow through a conversion means including a seawater-operated turbine 15, or other suitable hydraulic motor, to operate such as an electric generator 16 to energize lighting means 17, for example; a gas compressor 17 for operating pneumatic equipment, for example; a hydraulic pump 18 for operating hydraulic equipment, for example; a gas circulation blower 19 for circulating breathing gas within the chamber; and a pump 20 for circulating liquid sequentially through a flow restricting means 21 to create heat within such liquid and then through a heat exchanger 22 to transfer such heat to the interior of such chamber. A hot liquid storage chamber 23 completes the heating liquid loop through the pump 20.

The interior of the chamber 5 is availed with breathing gas, such as a mixture of helium and oxygen, from storage tanks 25 mounted outside the chamber and regulated automatically to maintain a desired oxygen level by gas control means 26 that includes a scrubber means for removal of carbon dioxide from the chamber gas. A diver, such as the diver 3, disposed within the chamber 5 site, is free to remove his helmet, mask, or headgear and breathe the gas within the chamber, as is well known in the art and, in accord with an embodiment of the present invention, to be availed of heat, lighting, pneumatic power and hydraulic power, produced by the flow of seawater under pressure from the surface site at vessel 1 to the turbine 15. Discharge of seawater from the turbine 15 is free to occur into the sea 8 via an exhaust line 27.

At another site the diver 4 is availed of breathing gas from the interior of the chamber 5 by way of the supply and return lines 6 and 7, his diving helmet 30 and suitable valve means (not shown). In accord an embodiment of the present invention, supply and return pumps 31 and 32 for the breathing gas lines 6 and 7, respectively, are driven by a hydraulic motor 33 operated by seawater under pressure from a branch of the supply line 14. At the same time, another branch of such pressurized seawater supply line 14 extends to the diver 4 at a site outside the chamber 5 to a hydraulically operated conversion device 35. Device 35 is designed to be compact, lightweight, and efficient, for disposition on the diver, such as at his waist, as shown, or at any other suitable location at the diver.Device 35 contains a means for converting the flow of pressurized seawater from the line 14 into heat, and for passing a liquid medium containing such heat through passages 36 in the diver's suit 37 to maintain comfort and warmth of the diver. The heated liquid medium supplied to the heating passages 36 in the diver's suit 37 may be the seawater or it may be a secondary liquid.

Different hydraulic circuits and pumping means suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention are shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Some may be more suitable for use at the diver site within the breathing chamber 5, while others may be more suitable for use at the external diver site mounted on the diver.

For example, referring to Fig. 2a, the circuit disclosed therein includes a hydraulic motor 40 operated from seawater from line 14 and driving a pump 41 that forces seawater also from line 14 through a heat- producing flow restriction means 42 and a heat exchanger 43. Exhaust from the motor 40 and from the heat exchanger may simply bleed into the sea 8.

Referring to Fig. 2b, a hydraulic motor 40 driven by seawater from line 14 and exhausting into the ambient water 8 drives a pump 41 that circulates a liquid medium though a closed loop that includes a heatproducing flow restricting means 42 and a heat exchanger means 43.

Fig. 2c shows an arrangement where part of the discharge from the hydraulic motor 40 serves as input to the pump 41 which forces the seawater through the heat-producing flow restriction means 42 and heat exchanger means 43. Some discharge from the restriction means 42 is allowed to recirculate through the pump 41, however, via a by-pass line 44.

Fig. 2d is similar to the circuit of Fig. 2c, but includes an additional recirculation loop line 45 around the heat exchanger 43.

It will be apparent that other variations may be employed to advantage to suit particular component characteristics or preferred operating parameters, such as use of recovery heat exchangers, for example.

Several different types of motor-pump combinations may be employed in the foregoing hydraulic circuits. Fig. 3 depicts a reciprocating type in which a motor piston 47 is reciprocably driven by periodic supply of seawater pressure from supply line 14 alternately to its opposite faces under control of a four-way valve means 48, and a pump piston 50 driven by motor piston 47. Pump piston 50 discharges alternately from its opposite faces to force the flow of liquid medium through the flow restriction means 42 and heat exchanger means 43 via a system of check valves arranged like a full-wave bridge rectivier in simple AC to DC electrical conversion circuitry. By compounding the number of motor and pump pistons, a triplex or quadraflex arrangement can be obtained for smoother discharge flow.The several pump pistons can be made to operate in an out-of-phase relationship to obtain the desired pulsation-reducing effect.

A motor-pump assemblage that appears to be particularly suited for use in the device 35 at the driver 4 is shown in Fig. 4.

Here the assemblage employs motor and pump of the rotary type which pump is of the high loss type. A water turbine rotor 52 driven by seawater flow from the line 14 turns a high-loss pump rotor 53 that creates considerable heat-generating friction during its operation. The assemblage includes a liquid heating medium inlet 54 and outlet 55 for the pump rotor 53, a shaft 56 joining the two rotors 52 and 53, and anti-friction rotary bearing means 57 for the shaft 56.

It has been calculated that a rotor diameter of about an inch can be operated to convert five kilowatts of hydraulic power into heat for a working diver. This indicated that the size of the apparatus components can be small enough to be practical. An inlet pressure to the supply hose of about 2500 p.s.i.

and a supply hose diameter of one half inch were used in the calculations. It will be apparent that pump and motor rotors can be of the positive displacement type, if desired or found to be more suitable in a particular system.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Diver support apparatus for a diver submerged in a body of ambient liquid, comprising, liquid pump equipment which in use pressurizes a liquid and which in use is arranged adjacent to the surface of the body of the ambient liquid; a flexible supply line which in use extends from the pump equipment to a submerged diver site; and a heat-producing converter which is situated at said submerged diver site for converting flow energy of such pressurized pumped liquid into the diver warming heat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a submerged chamber containing breathing gas and a diver's suit; and breathing gas supply and a pump at said chamber for effecting exchange of breathing gas between said submerged chamber and said diver's suit; hydraulic motor driven by the pressurized liquid for operating said breathing gas supply and return pump; and flexible breathing gas supply and return hoses extending between said chamber and said diver's suit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, including a liquid driven electric power generator operated by the pressurized liquid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat-producing converter Includes hvdraulic fricrion producing equipment and a heat exchanger.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said hydraulic friction producing equipment includes a high loss pump which generates heat due to the losses which produce heat during operation.

6. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat producing converter includes, a hydraulic motor operated by the pressurized liquid from said supply line; a liquid flow restricting device; a heat exchanger means; and a pump operated by said hydraulic motor for circulating a liquid medium through said flow restricting means and through said heat exchanger means.

7. Support apparatus for a diver submerged in a body of ambient fluid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. heat exchanger means 43. Fig. 2c shows an arrangement where part of the discharge from the hydraulic motor 40 serves as input to the pump 41 which forces the seawater through the heat-producing flow restriction means 42 and heat exchanger means 43. Some discharge from the restriction means 42 is allowed to recirculate through the pump 41, however, via a by-pass line 44. Fig. 2d is similar to the circuit of Fig. 2c, but includes an additional recirculation loop line 45 around the heat exchanger 43. It will be apparent that other variations may be employed to advantage to suit particular component characteristics or preferred operating parameters, such as use of recovery heat exchangers, for example. Several different types of motor-pump combinations may be employed in the foregoing hydraulic circuits. Fig. 3 depicts a reciprocating type in which a motor piston 47 is reciprocably driven by periodic supply of seawater pressure from supply line 14 alternately to its opposite faces under control of a four-way valve means 48, and a pump piston 50 driven by motor piston 47. Pump piston 50 discharges alternately from its opposite faces to force the flow of liquid medium through the flow restriction means 42 and heat exchanger means 43 via a system of check valves arranged like a full-wave bridge rectivier in simple AC to DC electrical conversion circuitry. By compounding the number of motor and pump pistons, a triplex or quadraflex arrangement can be obtained for smoother discharge flow.The several pump pistons can be made to operate in an out-of-phase relationship to obtain the desired pulsation-reducing effect. A motor-pump assemblage that appears to be particularly suited for use in the device 35 at the driver 4 is shown in Fig. 4. Here the assemblage employs motor and pump of the rotary type which pump is of the high loss type. A water turbine rotor 52 driven by seawater flow from the line 14 turns a high-loss pump rotor 53 that creates considerable heat-generating friction during its operation. The assemblage includes a liquid heating medium inlet 54 and outlet 55 for the pump rotor 53, a shaft 56 joining the two rotors 52 and 53, and anti-friction rotary bearing means 57 for the shaft 56. It has been calculated that a rotor diameter of about an inch can be operated to convert five kilowatts of hydraulic power into heat for a working diver. This indicated that the size of the apparatus components can be small enough to be practical. An inlet pressure to the supply hose of about 2500 p.s.i. and a supply hose diameter of one half inch were used in the calculations. It will be apparent that pump and motor rotors can be of the positive displacement type, if desired or found to be more suitable in a particular system. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Diver support apparatus for a diver submerged in a body of ambient liquid, comprising, liquid pump equipment which in use pressurizes a liquid and which in use is arranged adjacent to the surface of the body of the ambient liquid; a flexible supply line which in use extends from the pump equipment to a submerged diver site; and a heat-producing converter which is situated at said submerged diver site for converting flow energy of such pressurized pumped liquid into the diver warming heat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a submerged chamber containing breathing gas and a diver's suit; and breathing gas supply and a pump at said chamber for effecting exchange of breathing gas between said submerged chamber and said diver's suit; hydraulic motor driven by the pressurized liquid for operating said breathing gas supply and return pump; and flexible breathing gas supply and return hoses extending between said chamber and said diver's suit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, including a liquid driven electric power generator operated by the pressurized liquid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat-producing converter Includes hvdraulic fricrion producing equipment and a heat exchanger.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said hydraulic friction producing equipment includes a high loss pump which generates heat due to the losses which produce heat during operation.

6. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat producing converter includes, a hydraulic motor operated by the pressurized liquid from said supply line; a liquid flow restricting device; a heat exchanger means; and a pump operated by said hydraulic motor for circulating a liquid medium through said flow restricting means and through said heat exchanger means.

7. Support apparatus for a diver submerged in a body of ambient fluid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.