Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

An apparatus (10) for lifting and moving an object that is underwater. The apparatus including a first (12) and a second (14) chamber, both chambers containing a first (16) and a second (18) fluid. There is a conduit (20, 21) in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the first and second fluids moveable between the first and second chambers.

An apparatus (10) for lifting and moving an object that is underwater. The apparatus including a first (12) and a second (14) chamber, both chambers containing a first (16) and a second (18) fluid. There is a conduit (20, 21) in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the first and second fluids moveable between the first and second chambers.

The greatest threat to any boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. that is out upon the water is sinking. This process have has countless lives and trillions of dollars worth of lost materials and possessions over the millennia. This invention provides a device to be attached to a boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. ahead of time that can be self-activating or can be activated manually, by a switch, that will deploy a gas-filled balloon that will prevent the boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. from sinking.

The greatest threat to any boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. that is out upon the water is sinking. This process have has countless lives and trillions of dollars worth of lost materials and possessions over the millennia. This invention provides a device to be attached to a boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. ahead of time that can be self-activating or can be activated manually, by a switch, that will deploy a gas-filled balloon that will prevent the boat, ship, barge, airplane, etc. from sinking.

A floatation attachment system may include a floatation attachment device configured to be attached to an object. The floatation attachment device may include a floatation material configured to provide buoyancy to the object it attaches and an attachment surface configured to directly attach the object. The floatation material may include a material that expands or generates gas upon contact with water. The system may include a dispenser such as a sheet of pre-cut floatation attachment devices or for manual cutting for customized shapes and sizes. In one instance, the system includes a tape roll dispenser for dispensing floatation attachment devices from a roll.

A floatation attachment system may include a floatation attachment device configured to be attached to an object. The floatation attachment device may include a floatation material configured to provide buoyancy to the object it attaches and an attachment surface configured to directly attach the object. The floatation material may include a material that expands or generates gas upon contact with water. The system may include a dispenser such as a sheet of pre-cut floatation attachment devices or for manual cutting for customized shapes and sizes. In one instance, the system includes a tape roll dispenser for dispensing floatation attachment devices from a roll.

A system and process for removing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material from a subsea facility, disposing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material to a subsea facility, and recovering said rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material for reuse.

A system and process for removing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material from a subsea facility, disposing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material to a subsea facility, and recovering said rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material for reuse.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a launch vehicle fairing recovery system and method using inflatable bags and fairing repositioning mechanisms. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to providing a system or mechanism to flip the fairing into the proper floating position. In some embodiments, the fairing has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the outer surface is exposed to the atmosphere when the fairing is interconnected to a spacecraft, and one or more inflatable bags interconnected to the outer surface of the fairing, where when the fairing is interconnected to the spacecraft the one or more inflatable bags is empty, and after the fairing separates from the spacecraft the one or more airbags are filled with pressurized gas and/or hydraulic liquids.