Automatic stabiliser for e.g. deep sea diver - uses hydrostatic pressure to maintain relationship between hydrostatic thrust and suit weight

摘要

The automatic stabiliser for deep sea divers etc. maintains the relationship between the hydrostatic thrust and the weight of the diver. A floating air-filled chamber (11) comprises the compensating mechanism, its vol. changing to offset depth-related changes in the effective vol. of the diving suit and the weight loss due to the progressive time-related exhausting of the respirator. The chamber may be formed by a piston (14) in a cylinder (11) and may communicate with the second stage low pressure air feed, the piston being connected to a minor piston (15) located by a second cylinder (13) filled with air at atmospheric pressure. During a descent sea water penetrates (33,34) to move the minor piston against the contained air until pressures balance. The main piston follows and the chamber expands, the resulting pressure-drop causing an influx of air from the distributor. The effect of the expansion is to increase the hydrostatic thrust by an amount equal to the loss in vol. of the suit.