Patent ID: 8100074

Claim:
A method for effecting generally vertical movement of a vessel within a body of water comprising: providing a vessel comprising a housing containing a buoyancy engine, the buoyancy engine comprising a compartment within the housing for storing water therein, said compartment having a water valve for allowing water into the water storage compartment and a gas valve for allowing gas to exit the water storage chamber; and a source of electrical energy external to the water storage compartment and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the electrical energy source and positioned within the water storage compartment; placing the vessel into a water column; decreasing the buoyancy of the vessel by opening the water valve such that water enters the water storage chamber via the water valve and gas escapes the water storage chamber via the gas valve; closing the water valve and the gas valve once the vessel has reached a first depth within the water column; and causing the vessel to rise to a second depth within the water column by increasing the buoyancy of the vessel by electrolyzing a quantity of the water within the water storage chamber thereby generating hydrogen and oxygen gases which are retained, thereby increasing the buoyancy of the vessel.