A SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL

Abstract: A submersible vessel comprises a body portion (10) and a seat portion (12), the body portion (10) having a window (11) and being arranged to contain a volume of air above the seat portion when the vessel is submerged. A user can sit astride the seat portion (12) with his head projecting out of the water and into the volume of air for breathing. The vessel may include a propulsion motor (41), particularly an electric motor, or it may have no propulsion motor in which case the user can "walk" along the sea or river bed.

Description: A SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL This invention relates to a submersible vessel. A known type of submersible vessel comprises a sealed chamber which houses one or more occupants. The occupants enter the chamber via a hatch and can spend considerable lengths of time underwater. The vessel includes air tanks supplying air for breathing to the chamber as well as to buoyancy tanks which enable the vessel to dive and surface. The vessel also includes motors enabling the vessel to be manoeuvred underwater. Another type of submersible vessel is arranged to form a bubble of air at the same pressure as the surrounding water. Divers can enter and leave the vessel underwater via a hatch. These known vessels are large and heavy and expensive to operate. We have now devised a submersible vessel which alleviates the problems mentioned above. In accordance with this invention as seen from a first aspect there is provided a submersible vessel comprising a body portion and a seat portion, the body portion being arranged to contain a volume of air above the seat portion when the vessel is submerged so that at least the user's head can project out of the water into said volume of air thereby enabling the user to breath. The body portion of the vessel only needs to be relatively small. Preferably ballast weights are provided in the seat portion so that the vessel remains upright in the water. Preferably the volume of air is replenished from a compressed air cylinder. The cylinder is preferably mounted in the seat portion, the user sitting astride the cylinder. The vessel may be propelled by a motor which is driven by compressed air. Alternatively the vessel may be propelled by an electric motor powered by batteries preferably housed on the seat portion. Instead, the vessel may have no motor (or the motor may be de-energised) and the user may "walk" along the sea or river bed whilst remaining astride the seat. It will be appreciated that the vessel will consume a considerable amount of compressed air when in use. Thus in accordance with this invention as seen from a second aspect there is provided a submersible vessel comprising a pneumatic motor having an exhaust outlet arranged to supply breathing air for a user of the vessel. Preferably in this case the pneumatic motor is of an oil-less type so that it does not pass any fumes to the exhaust outlet. Preferably a bypass is provided which diverts air from a compressed air tank to the exhaust outlet when the motor is not running. An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a submersible vessel in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the submersible vessel of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a submersible vessel comprising a body portion 10 mounted above a seat portion 12. The body portion 10 comprises a sealed dome-shaped compartment having an open bottom. The compartment comprises a window 11 which is sealed to a casing 15 by a seal 13. When the vessel is submersed in water a bubble of air is trapped inside the compartment: a user sitting on the seat portion 12 has his head and upper body projecting into the compartment to breath the trapped air. The vessel is powered by a compressed air motor 41 which drives a propeller 43. The exhaust air from the motor 41 is used to refresh the air inside the compartment: this reduces the overall air consumption of the vessel. Compressed air is supplied from a tank 31 mounted inside the seat portion 12. A closure 38 is provided on the seat portion 12 to allow the tank 31 to be removed and to give access to a ballast weight 37 mounted below the tank 31. The ballast weight 37 weighs approximately the same as the quantity of water displaced by the trapped air. The ballast weight 37 is removable so that the vessel can be transported easily when it is out of the water. A directable nozzle 42 is mounted behind the propeller 43 so that the vessel can be steered. The controls 33 e.g. for motor speed and direction are mounted in front of the user and direct a supply of compressed air along a plurality of pipes 39 to the respective motors and actuators. A buoyancy bag 34 is housed inside the body 10 and can be inflated to cause the vessel to surface. Air is fed into the compartment through an inlet 45 and an outlet 46 is provided so that excess air can be expelled to maintain a constant air volume. A control may be provided so that the trapped air can be rapidly flushed. Further controls may also be provided for surfacing in an emergency or for surfacing at a controlled rate from depths for decompression purposes. Automatic controls may be provided for surfacing when the air supply is low, surfacing on recall and for halting dives below a predetermined depth. Grab handles, lights and cameras may be provided on the vessel and a lifting point is preferably formed on the top of the body portion. As mentioned previously, if the motor is switched off the user can "walk" along the sea or river bed whilst remaining astride the seat. A modified vessel may have no motor at all.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) A submersible vessel comprising a body portion and a seat portion, the body portion being arranged to contain a volume of air above the seat portion when the vessel is submerged so that at least the user's head can project out of the water into said volume of air thereby enabling the user to breath. 2) A submersible vessel as claimed in claim 1, comprising a source of compressed air mounted in said seat portion, for replenishing said volume of air in the body portion. 3) A submersible vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a propulsion motor driven by compressed air. 4) A submersible vessel as claimed in claim 3, in which exhaust air from said motor is used to replenish said volume of air in the body portion. 5) A submersible vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising an electric propulsion motor. 6) A submersible vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having no propulsion motor. 7) A submersible vessel comprising a pneumatic motor having an exhaust outlet arranged to supply breathing air for a user of the vessel.

Inventors: SNEATH ANDREW JOHN SAVILLE, SNEATH, ANDREW, JOHN, SAVILLE
Applicants: SNEATH ANDREW JOHN SAVILLE, SNEATH, ANDREW, JOHN, SAVILLE
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B63C11
IPC codes: B63C11