Delivery systems for pressure protecting and delivering a submerged payload and methods for using the same
First Claim
1. A payload delivery unit for protecting and delivering a payload submerged in a submersion medium, the payload delivery unit comprising a container including:
- a pressure resistant shell defining a containment chamber and including first and second shell members having opposed first and second sealing faces, respectively; and
a resilient seal device engaging and interposed between the first and second sealing faces;
wherein the container is configured and constructed such that;
when the submersion medium applies an exterior pressure to the first and second shell members such that a shell pressure differential, defined as the exterior pressure less an interior pressure of the containment chamber, exceeds a prescribed pressure, the first and second shell members compressively load and deform the seal device to effect a seal between the first and second shell members that prevents ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber, wherein the compressively loaded and deformed seal device operates as a biasing device tending to mechanically force the first and second shell members apart from one another; and
when the shell pressure differential is less than the prescribed pressure, the seal device elastically rebounds to automatically mechanically force or assist in automatically mechanically forcing the first and second shell members apart from one another to permit ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A payload delivery unit for protecting and delivering a payload submerged in a submersion medium comprises a container including a pressure resistant shell and a resilient seal device. The shell defines a containment chamber and includes first and second shell members having opposed first and second sealing faces, respectively. The seal device engages and is interposed between the first and second sealing faces. The container is configured and constructed such that: when the submersion medium applies an exterior pressure to the first and second shell members such that a shell pressure differential, defined as the exterior pressure less an interior pressure of the containment chamber, exceeds a prescribed pressure, the first and second shell members compressively load and deform the seal device to effect a seal between the first and second shell members that prevents ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber; and when the shell pressure differential is less than the prescribed pressure, the seal device elastically rebounds to separate the first and second shell members to permit ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A payload delivery unit for protecting and delivering a payload submerged in a submersion medium, the payload delivery unit comprising a container including:
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a pressure resistant shell defining a containment chamber and including first and second shell members having opposed first and second sealing faces, respectively; and a resilient seal device engaging and interposed between the first and second sealing faces; wherein the container is configured and constructed such that; when the submersion medium applies an exterior pressure to the first and second shell members such that a shell pressure differential, defined as the exterior pressure less an interior pressure of the containment chamber, exceeds a prescribed pressure, the first and second shell members compressively load and deform the seal device to effect a seal between the first and second shell members that prevents ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber, wherein the compressively loaded and deformed seal device operates as a biasing device tending to mechanically force the first and second shell members apart from one another; and when the shell pressure differential is less than the prescribed pressure, the seal device elastically rebounds to automatically mechanically force or assist in automatically mechanically forcing the first and second shell members apart from one another to permit ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for protecting and delivering a payload submerged in a submersion medium, the method comprising:
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providing a payload delivery unit comprising a container including; a pressure resistant shell defining a containment chamber and including first and second shell members having opposed first and second sealing faces, respectively; and a resilient seal device engaging and interposed between the first and second sealing faces; submerging the container with the payload mounted in the containment chamber; maintaining the payload delivery unit in a sealed condition wherein the submersion medium applies an exterior pressure to the first and second shell members such that a shell pressure differential, defined as the exterior pressure less an interior pressure in the containment chamber, exceeds a prescribed pressure, whereby the shell members compressively load and deform the seal device to effect a seal between the first and second shell members that prevents ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber, wherein the compressively loaded and deformed seal device operates as a biasing device tending to mechanically force the first and second shell members apart from one another; and
thereaftercausing the shell pressure differential to become less than the prescribed pressure, whereupon the seal device elastically rebounds to automatically mechanically force or assist in automatically mechanically forcing the first and second shell members apart from one another to permit ingress of the submersion medium into the containment chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification