Global Patent Index - EP 0991564 A1

EP 0991564 A1 20000412 - DEPTH CONTROL DEVICE

Title (en)

DEPTH CONTROL DEVICE

Title (de)

TIEFENREGELGERÄT

Title (fr)

DISPOSITIF DE CONTROLE DE L'IMMERSION

Publication

EP 0991564 A1 20000412 (EN)

Application

EP 98930947 A 19980625

Priority

  • GB 9801858 W 19980625
  • GB 9713973 A 19970703

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO9901338A1] A depth control device (1) for a subsmersible body comprises a depth monitor (5) and depth controller (6). A variable volume buoyant body operates under the control of the depth controller and comprises three chambers, the first (10) containing air and the secnod and third chambers (7, 8) containing hydraulic fluid. The second and third chambers (7, 8) communicate reversibly with one another by means of a tube (13) and bypass valve (12) in a pump (3), so that a piston (9) at the entrance to the first chamber (10) is displaced in response to movement of fluid between the second and third chambers. Thus, the volume of the buoyant body is varied and hence the buoyancy of the subsmersible body which it controls. To keep the submersible body at a particular depth, a depth trigger value is set in the depth controller (6), so that a reversible change in the volume of the buoyant body is initiated in response to a change in depth sensed by the depth monitor (5) by pumping fluid between the two chambers (7, 8). The depth monitor is generally a pressure sensor and the pump is typically a swash plate pump.

IPC 1-7

B63B 22/18; B63G 8/24

IPC 8 full level

B63B 22/18 (2006.01); B63G 8/24 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B63B 22/18 (2013.01); B63G 8/24 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 9901338A1

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR IT SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 9901338 A1 19990114; AU 732699 B2 20010426; AU 8122298 A 19990125; CA 2294978 A1 19990114; DE 69804221 D1 20020418; DE 69804221 T2 20021010; EP 0991564 A1 20000412; EP 0991564 B1 20020313; GB 2340466 A 20000223; GB 2340466 B 20010725; GB 9713973 D0 19970910; GB 9928379 D0 20000126; NZ 501725 A 20010126

DOCDB simple family (application)

GB 9801858 W 19980625; AU 8122298 A 19980625; CA 2294978 A 19980625; DE 69804221 T 19980625; EP 98930947 A 19980625; GB 9713973 A 19970703; GB 9928379 A 19980625; NZ 50172598 A 19980625