Compressed air tank for sinking prevention

Abstract

A compressed air tank for sinking prevention comprises a compressed air tank having a valve; and an air pocket coupled to the compressed air tank and being filled with air discharged from the compressed air tank when the valve is opened, wherein buoyancy is provided to a cabin that is being flooded through the air pocket to prevent a ship from foundering.

Claims

1. A Compressed air tank for sinking prevention, comprising: a compressed air tank having a valve; and an air pocket coupled to the compressed air tank and being filled with air discharged from the compressed air tank when the valve is opened, wherein buoyancy is provided to a cabin that is being flooded through the air pocket to prevent a ship from foundering, wherein the air pocket is covered with an outer cover made of a carbon nanotube to be prevented from being damaged by utensils and objects in the cabin.

2. The compressed air tank of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure sensor on the compressed pressure tank; a switch operating when pressure at a predetermined level or less is sensed by the pressure sensor; an actuator operating an air compressor to compress and keep the air in the compressed air tank under predetermined pressure when the switch is operated; and a controller controlling electrical signals from the pressure sensor, wherein when pressure inputted to the controller from the pressure sensor is a predetermined level or less, the controller outputs an electrical signal for compressing air and the air compressor compresses and keeps the air in the compressed air tank under predetermined pressure.

3. The compressed air tank of claim 1, wherein the air pocket is disposed in a vehicle and prevents the vehicle from sinking by providing buoyancy to the vehicle in an emergency.

4. The compressed air tank of claim 1, comprising: a water sensor for sensing flooding when a ship starts being flooded by hitting a sunken rock or leaking; a switch being turned on when the water sensor senses flooding; a servomotor being operated by the switch to fill the air pocket with air by opening the valve of the compressed air tank; the controller receiving an electric signal that is generated when the water sensor senses flooding; and the actuator for operating the valve of the compressed air tank, the valve being opened by the servomotor that is operated by the controller, in order to prevent foundering by providing buoyancy to a cabin that is being flooded.

5. The compressed air tank of claim 1, comprising: in a place except for an inside of bulkheads, or a fuel tank, a pure water tank, or a bilge well keeping waste water of a dual bottom of a ship equipped with a float switch, the water sensor sensing flooding; the switch automatically operating the servomotor for operating a valve of a ballast when electricity is connected by the water sensor; and a discharge unit discharging water inside the bulkheads as much as an inflated volume of the elastic air pocket by operating the servomotor so that the valve of the ballast tank opens, compressed air is discharged, and the air pocket connected to the ballast tank inflates, when doors on the bulkheads are closed, a switch on the bulkheads is turned on after the doors on the bulkheads are closed, or a switch in a steering house is turned on, after air in the ballast tank is compressed by the air compressor.

6. The compressed air tank of claim 1, comprising: in order to discharge water in a cabin defined by bulkheads or a space inside a hull, where water is not normally discharged, in a submarine to a normal level, the float switch automatically operating the servomotor for operating the valve of the ballast tank when flooding of a cabin defined by the bulkheads is sensed; the switch opening the ballast tank capable of discharging air using the servomotor, when doors on the bulkheads are closed, a switch on the bulkheads is turned on after the doors on the bulkheads are closed, or a switch in a control room is turned on, after the air in the ballast tank is compressed by the air compressor; an air discharger coupled to the ballast tank to discharge the compressed air; and the discharge unit discharging air inside the bulkheads by inflating the elastic air pocket connected to the ballast tank.

7. The compressed tank of claim 1, comprising a switch unit receiving a signal through the controller and operates a relay or a motor so that a switch of the air compressor is turned off and the air compressor is not operated regardless of a pressure change of the compressed air tank, when the water sensor senses flooding.

8. The compressed air tank of claim 1, wherein one or more fixing frames are formed at a side in the ship and an air compressor-fixing unit fixed to the fixing frames is provided.

9. The compressed air tank of claim 1, comprising a net formed on the air pocket or the carbon nanotube so that people can move in an emergency by holding the net.

10. The compressed air tank of claim 1, comprising an emergency power supply equipped with a built-in charger for supplying power to operate the servomotor opening the valve of the compressed air tank when the water sensor is operated with power cut in an emergency.

11. The compressed air tank of claim 1, wherein an air pocket, a sodium azide capsule, iron oxide, and a detonator are provided instead of the compressed air tank, and when a vehicle is flooded and a water sensor with or without a float switch senses flooding, a switch is turned on, a current operates an igniter in a gas generator, intensive heat is instantaneously generated and generates a flame, and the sodium azide capsule is blown up to make reaction with the iron oxide, whereby a nitrogen gas produced by decomposition of the sodium azide into sodium and nitrogen inflates the air pocket.

12. A compressed air tank for sinking prevention formed by combining the configuration of claim 11 with the configuration of claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a submarine.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a ship.

MODE FOR INVENTION

(4) The present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. In normal times, when a pressure gauge measures pressure at a predetermined level or less in a compressed air tank (1), a switch is operated and air in the compressed air tank (1) is compressed by an air compressor (2), thereby maintaining predetermined pressure.

(5) If a ship (22) starts leaking and sinks due to, for example, hitting a sunken rock, a water sensor (10) with or without a float switch senses flooding and then the switch is turned on. A servomotor starts operating in response to a sensing signal from the water sensor (10) and opens a valve (3) of the compressed air tank, so the air in the compressed air tank (1) is discharged and fills an air pocket (5). Accordingly, the air pocket (5) inflates and provides buoyancy to the sinking cabin, thereby preventing the ship (22) from foundering. The air pocket (5) is covered with an outer cover made of a carbon nanotube (20) so that it can be prevented from being damaged by utensils and objects in the cabin. When the water sensor (10) senses that the ship (22) is being flooded, the switch of the air compressor (2) is turned off so that the air compressor (2) is not operated even if the internal pressure of the compressed air tank (1) changes. Further, a net (11) is formed on the air pocket (5) or the carbon nanotube (20) so that people can move, holding the net (11).

(6) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a submarine (31). In the submarine (31), a discharging unit is formed for a cabin defined by bulkheads (21) in order to discharge water in the cabin or a space inside the hull, where water is not normally discharged, to a normal level using a float switch. That is, when a float switch senses flooding, doors on the bulkheads (21) are automatically closed, a switch is operated after the doors on the bulkheads are closed, or a switch in the control room is turned on.

(7) Accordingly, the servomotor is operated and opens a valve (3) of a ballast tank, the compressed air is discharged, an elastic air pocket (5) connected to the ballast tank through an air discharger inflates, so the water in the cabin is discharged.

(8) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a ship (22). A float switch is provided and an exit is formed at a place with air except for the inside of bulkheads (21) or, a fuel tank, a pure water tank, or a bilge well keeping waste water inside a bulkhead or in the lower compartment of a dual bottom of the ship (22).

(9) That is, there is formed a discharge unit that automatically closes doors on the bulkheads (21), operates a switch after closing the doors on the bulkhead, or operates a switch in a steering house so that the servomotor is operated and opens a valve (3) of a ballast tank, the compressed air is discharged, and the elastic air pocket (5) connected to the ballast tank through the air (25) discharger inflates, thereby discharging water inside the bulkheads.