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Variable buoyancy buoy

  • US 5,460,556 A
  • Filed: 12/30/1993
  • Issued: 10/24/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A variable buoyancy buoy including an incompressible shell, having an external surface and an internal area, and an expansion apparatus, constructed and arranged to be compressed at a predetermined depth below a water surface and to expand with decreasing water pressure at depths above said predetermined depth, said expansion apparatus comprising:

  • an elastic collar covering a selected area of said shell and externally attached to said shell in a watertight manner to form a watertight internal region, said selected area having perforations which extend through said shell from said surface to said internal area, said internal area being said internal region when said elastic collar is collapsed about said external surface at said predetermined depth; and

    an inert gas contained in said internal region at a pressure equal to water pressure exerted on said shell at said predetermined depthsaid perforations in said selected area allowing said inert gas to flow therethrough from said internal area to said elastic collar when water pressure is less than pressure exerted by said inert gas, thereby causing said elastic collar to expand creating an area between said surface and said elastic collar, which in combination with said internal area forms said internal region.

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