Abstract
The invention allows users to be totally submerged underwater with an adequate supply of air for extended periods of time without the use of regulators, pressure vessels, diaphragm pumps or compressors, internal combustion engines or external power sources. The apparatus includes a buoyant enclosure supporting a hollow air intake pipe with a sphere shaped screen mounted on the top. The bottom half of the screen has holes to allow air into an air intake tube and to drain water out. A low pressure blower and filter assembly with a rechargeable and easily replaceable lithium-ion battery are mounted inside the buoyant enclosure. Air is drawn into the low pressure blower suction and through an air filter delivering constant air flow to the individual through an attached flexible air supply hose. Three check valves constrain air flow supply unidirectional to the individual while venting excess air. A hand pump vacates water from the mouthpiece or mask and draws in purging air while the individual is submerged. For stability the apparatus has a low center of gravity creating a strong self-righting moment in calm or rough seas. For safety the apparatus has a grab handle and a tether line connection from the bottom of the buoyant enclosure.
Claims
1. A portable underwater breathing apparatus comprising: a buoyant water resistant enclosure containing a low pressure air blower and an air filter element; a first flexible hose attached on one end to an outlet of the low pressure air blower and attached on an opposite end to an interior base of the water resistant enclosure; a second flexible hose attached on one end to an exterior base of the water resistant enclosure and attached on an opposite end to a mouthpiece or facemask configured to deliver air to an individual a third flexible hose connected at one end to an interior top of the water resistant enclosure and attached at an opposite end to an inlet of the low pressure air blower an air intake pipe attached to an exterior top of the water resistant enclosure; and an air intake sphere mounted on a top of the air intake pipe, the air intake sphere including a bottom with holes for allowing air into the air intake sphere and for allowing water to drain out of the air intake sphere.
2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the low pressure air blower retains water that may pass through the air intake sphere in order to protect the individual by preventing water from entering the facemask or mouthpiece.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising rechargeable lithium-ion batteries mounted inside the water resistant enclosure for powering the low pressure air blower.
4. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a hand pump to evacuate unwanted water and purge air through the facemask or mouthpiece while the individual is submerged underwater.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a strap for mounting the hand pump on the individual.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising three check valves constraining air supply to flow unidirectional into the facemask or mouthpiece and venting excess air.
7. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the water resistant enclosure comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, Lucite, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) or other weldable thermoplastic polymers, fiberglass, nylon, melt processed rubber and silicone, styrene or urethane foams.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein weight distribution of the apparatus creates a center of gravity of the apparatus below a metacenter of a portion of the water resistant enclosure configured to be underwater during use of the apparatus.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing the total embodiment of the present invention.
(2) FIG. 2 is a side, cross section view of the embodiment of the air intake screen and the sealed buoyant enclosure.
(3) FIG. 3 is the top cross section view of the embodiment of the buoyant enclosure.
(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing illustrating the check valves and the hand pump arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(5) With reference to FIG. 1 thereof, herein shall be described a new underwater breathing apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention. More specifically it will be noted that FIG. 1 comprises a sealed, hollow buoyant enclosure in two parts, the bottom half 18 and the top half 15. The top half 15 is removable to access the inside of the buoyant enclosure. Both parts 15 and 18 are connected and sealed during normal use. The buoyant enclosure supports and is connected to an air intake pipe 14. Mounted on the air intake pipe 14 is a two part air intake screen. The air intake screen bottom 13 is attached to the air intake screen top 11. The bottom half of the air intake screen 13 has holes 12 that allow air into the air intake screen and drain water out of the air intake screen. Connected to the top of the air intake screen 11 is a hollow shaft 34. Attached to the hollow shaft 34 is a flag 23. Connected to and mounted on top of the hollow shaft 34 is a light 22. Connected to the bottom of the buoyant enclosure 18 is a grab handle and tether line connection 33. A flexible breathing hose 21 is connected to the bottom of the buoyant enclosure 18 while the other end of the flexible hose 21 is connected to the individuals mask or mouthpiece 26. Connected to the mask or mouthpiece 26 is a flexible hose 27. The other end of flexible hose 27 is connected to the inlet side of a hand pump 25. The tether line 24 is connected at one end to the grab handle and tether connection 33. The other end of the tether line 24 is connected to the individual at a belt mounted eye ring 28.
(6) The underwater breathing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 parts 15, 18, 13 and 11 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Turning now to FIG. 2 we see a side cross section view of the embodiment of the air intake screen parts 11 and 13 and the sealed buoyant enclosure parts 15 and 18. The buoyant enclosure parts 15 and 18 contain the low pressure blower compartment 17. Connected to the low pressure blower compartment 17 is a twenty volt rechargeable lithium-ion battery 19. The low pressure blower compartment 17 air outlet is connected to a flexible hose 20. The other end of flexible hose 20 is connected to the inside and bottom of the buoyant enclosure 18. The low pressure blower compartment 17 air inlet is connected to a flexible hose 16. The other end of flexible hose 16 is connected to the inside and top of 15. On the exterior bottom of the buoyant enclosure 18 is flexible hose 21. Flexible hose 21 is connected to and a continuation of flexible hose 20. Mounted on the exterior top of 15 is an air intake pipe 14. Mounted on top of the air intake pipe 14 is the two part air intake screen 11 and 13. The air intake pipe 14 projects through 13 and is connected to an annular air intake screen 10. The annular air intake screen is mounted to the underside of 11. Air can flow freely through the screen 10 and down the center of the air intake pipe 14.
(7) Turning now to FIG. 3 we see the top cross section embodiment of the buoyant enclosure. Shown is the bottom of the buoyant enclosure 18 and mounted within 18 is the low pressure blower compartment and water container 17. Attached to the low pressure blower 17 is the twenty volt rechargeable lithium-ion battery 19. From the air inlet port 39 on the low pressure blower 17 is connected a flexible air inlet hose 16. From the outlet port 40 on the low pressure blower 17 is connected a flexible air outlet hose 20.
(8) Turning to FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing illustrating the check valves and hand pump embodiment of the present invention. The illustration in FIG. 4 shows a dive mask or mouthpiece 26 connected to the breathing tube 21. Connected to the breathing tube 21 is an air inlet check valve 30. Connected to the other side of 30 is a flexible tube 35. The other end of flexible tube 35 is connected to the mask or mouthpiece 26. Flexible tube 35 is a continuation of the breathing tube 21 supplying air to the swimmers mask or mouthpiece 26. From the mask or mouthpiece 26 is connected an exhale flexible tube 36. Flexible tube 36 forms a tee with flexible tube 37. Flexible tube 37 is connected at the opposite end to the exhale check valve 31. Connected onto the discharge side of the exhale check valve 31 is a short flexible hose 38 used to vent exhaled air into the water. Flexible hose 36 is connected from the individuals mask or mouthpiece 26 to the hand pump check valve 32. From the opposite side or the water side of hand pump check valve 32 is connected to a flexible hose 27. The other end of flexible hose 27 is connected to the hand pump 25. Hand pump 25 is stroked by the swimmer using the pump handle 29.
(9) Referring to FIG. 2 low pressure blower housing 17 has battery 19 connected and the power is on. The buoyant enclosure parts 15 and 18 are closed together and sealed. Air is drawn into the low pressure blower 17. The intake air moves through the holes 12 on the air intake sphere parts 11 and 13. Air travels up and under 11 and passes through the annular screen 10 that is mounted to the interior top of 11. The annular screen 10 will stop objects like dust and insects from entering into the air intake pipe 14. Air is drawn down the air intake pipe 14 as the low pressure blower 17 creates a negative pressure. The air then flows down a flexible air intake tube 16 and into the low pressure blower compartment 17. As the air enters the low pressure blower compartment 17. Water that has passed the air intake sphere 11, 13 will be retained in the low pressure blower compartment 17.
(10) Referring to FIG. 3 the air leaves the low pressure blower compartment 17 only after passing through an air filter and passing through an air outlet restrictor float. Air then passes through the air outlet port 40 and down a flexible hose 20. Air then enters the flexible tube 21 and is supplied to the individual.
(11) Referring to FIG. 4 air is supplied down the flexible hose 21 past an air intake check valve 30 that will prevent water from flowing back up the flexible hose 21. As the air supply passes the air intake check valve 30 it flows through the flexible hose 35 to the individuals mask or mouthpiece 26.
(12) As the individual exhales air out of the mask or mouthpiece 26 the exhaled air moves through a tee arrangement 36, 37. Air flows through the flexible hose 37 and through the exhale check valve 31. Exhale air then exits the apparatus through a small hose 38. Any unused air will exit through 37 and 38. The other end of tee 36 and 37 is connected to a hand pump check valve 32. The hand pump check valve prevents water from flowing back to the mask or mouthpiece 26. Connected to the opposite side of 32 is a flexible hose 27. Flexible hose 27 is thus attached to the hand pump 25. When the individual wants to vacate the mask or mouthpiece 26 of water the hand pump is used. The individual has to stroke the hand pump 25 by moving the handle 29 axially in and out. As the hand pump 25 is stroked, water is drawn out of the mask or mouthpiece 26 and down 36, through the hand pump check valve 32. Water is then pulled through the flexible hose 27 and into the hand pump 25. As the hand pump 25 is stroked the piston within the hand pump 25 is stroked. The volume of water vacated per stroke is equal to the displacement of the pump. Water is then vacated and exited the apparatus and into the water through a port on hand pump 25. Continuous stroking of the hand pump 25 will draw fresh air through the apparatus and to the mouthpiece. The swimmer will notice air bubbles being vented into the water by the hand pump 25.
(13) FIG. 2 shows the position of the low pressure blower 17 mounted low in the bottom half of the buoyant enclosure 18. This will provide stability in the said invention by maintaining a low center of gravity of the apparatus. This creates a positive GM where G is the center of gravity and M is the metacenter. This positive GM will give the total embodiment of the buoyant portion of the underwater breathing apparatus a strong righting moment This highly stable buoyant enclosure 18 will now stay upright in rough or windy seas to maintain the upright and out of the water position of the air intake screen parts 11 and 13.
