Lessening the impact on a solid body striking the surface of water or the like
First Claim
1. A method of reducing the force of impact on a solid body as it strikes and penetrates a body of water comprising the steps of a. discharging gas under pressure at a depth beneath the surface of said body of water into a limited region of said body of water;
- b. dispersing said gas in said limited region of said body of water and flowing said gas upward toward the surface of said water thereby forming a bubbling turbulent region substantially co-extensive with said limited region, said pressure being selected to overcome the hydrostatic head and propel the air bubbles with sufficient speed from the point of discharge to create the turbulence in said region;
(c) said discharging of said gas being at a rate sufficient to have said dispersion of gas occupy about 10 to 60 % by volume of said limited region thereby substantially reducing the apparent density and viscosity of the water within said region;
d. discontinuing said discharge after a finite period of time sufficient to cause said turbulent region;
e. impacting said solid body upon said surface in said turbulent region momentarily after the formation of said turbulent region and substantially at the time of said discontinuation of said discharge.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of lessening the impact on a solid body, e.g., the body of a diver, when it strikes the surface of water. A localized region of turbulence is created in the water by discharging air under pressure below the surface of the water at such a rate that substantial compressibility is imparted, at least temporarily, to the water in that region and the apparent density and viscosity of the water are reduced. A swimming pool equipped with means for discharging air below the surface of the water and thereby forming a dispersion of air bubbles in the water, is shown.
7 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A method of reducing the force of impact on a solid body as it strikes and penetrates a body of water comprising the steps of a. discharging gas under pressure at a depth beneath the surface of said body of water into a limited region of said body of water;
- b. dispersing said gas in said limited region of said body of water and flowing said gas upward toward the surface of said water thereby forming a bubbling turbulent region substantially co-extensive with said limited region, said pressure being selected to overcome the hydrostatic head and propel the air bubbles with sufficient speed from the point of discharge to create the turbulence in said region;
(c) said discharging of said gas being at a rate sufficient to have said dispersion of gas occupy about 10 to 60 % by volume of said limited region thereby substantially reducing the apparent density and viscosity of the water within said region;
d. discontinuing said discharge after a finite period of time sufficient to cause said turbulent region;
e. impacting said solid body upon said surface in said turbulent region momentarily after the formation of said turbulent region and substantially at the time of said discontinuation of said discharge.
- b. dispersing said gas in said limited region of said body of water and flowing said gas upward toward the surface of said water thereby forming a bubbling turbulent region substantially co-extensive with said limited region, said pressure being selected to overcome the hydrostatic head and propel the air bubbles with sufficient speed from the point of discharge to create the turbulence in said region;
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2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas occupies between about 30 % and 60 % by volume of said limited region.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeDenis Michael Harvey, Herbert Martin Flewwelling
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Original AssigneeDenis Michael Harvey, Herbert Martin Flewwelling
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InventorsFlewwelling, Herbert Martin, Harvey, Denis Michael
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Primary Examiner(s)Apley, Richard J.
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Application NumberUS05/323,854Time in Patent Office1,016 DaysField of Search272/1B,26,65,66 210/169,220 4/172,172.15,172.16,172.17,180 261/77,124 209/170 128/66 61/1R,6,20US Class Current472/128CPC Class CodesE04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessori...
