Patent ID: 9032899
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B63B,B63G

Abstract:
1. In an underwater environment at a depth at which the existing pressure load is an overmatching load, wherein the overmatching load comprises a hydrostatic load, an impact load, an explosion load, or combinations thereof, the method comprising: providing a vessel having a frame; and controlling the failure mode of the vessel by providing a predetermined fracture portion of the vessel, wherein only the predetermined fracture portion fails at the overmatching load, thereby allowing surrounding water into the vessel primarily via the predetermined fracture portion; the method further comprising; pressurizing at least one compartment of the vessel to a pressure that substantially matches the external hydrostatic pressure to minimize the potential energy of the inflowing surrounding water when the predetermined fracture portion fails, so that energy and pressure transmission from the vessel to the surrounding area is minimized; and further providing one or more vanes within the vessel, so that when the predetermined fracture portion fails, the path of the inflowing surrounding water is redirected and disrupted to minimize the potential energy of the inflowing surrounding water, so that energy and pressure transmission from the vessel to the surrounding area is minimized.