Pressure hull for human occupancy for manned submersibles

摘要

A pressure hull 1 for manned submersible vessels formed from acrylic has a circular cross section across its major axis (2, Figure 1A, 1B), and an elongated, non-uniform profile (3) along the major axis. The hull may be spheroidal with seating for at least four occupants 7 with forward or lateral outward lines of sight. The hull may be formed as a single unit, or may have a central section formed as a single unit with metal end caps (16a, 16b, Figure 3) at each end. An access hatch 8 may be positioned on the hull upper surface, on an axis intersecting the central axis. The hull may form part of a submersible with ballast tanks and propulsion means, the submersible having a major axis either transverse to or along the normal direction of the vessel’s motion, giving occupants a forward or lateral line of sight respectively.