(57) A portable inflatable water displacing body (10) for preventing complete submersion
of watercraft in immanent danger of sinking due to a sudden influx of water is comprised
generally of at least one bladder (12), normally mounted within the hull of the vessel
in a collapsed and deflated condition, each bladder having: 1) internal volumetric
expansion means (14) including an inlet (26) connected to an external gas source (24)
for charging the expansion means and a relief valve (30) for controlling the amount
of pressure in the expansion means, and 2) a check valve (16) for allowing one-way
passage of ambient air into the bladder. The expansion means (14) is comprised of
an extremely light-weight, highly flexible tubular framework which when charged with
the gas expands into a pre-defined three-dimensional geometric shape causing the volume
within the surrounding bladder to increase. The increase in volume reduces the pressure
and creates a partial vacuum, which is filled by air pushed in through the check valve
by the higher atmospheric pressure. The expanded water displacing body competes for
and successfully occupies space within the vessel's hull, and preferably but not essentially
below the waterline, which would otherwise be filled by incoming water. Because both
the volume of the vessel and its average density are substantially maintained, so
is the buoyancy needed to keep the vessel afloat.
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