Acrylic Pressure Hull Shape for Larger Manned Submersible Cabins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manned submersible pressure hulls for human occupancy are limited in capacity, visibility, and comfort, with spherical designs restricting occupancy to about 6 people and cylindrical designs offering limited seating and maneuverability, while combined spherical and cylindrical designs are complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

A spheroidal acrylic pressure hull with a non-uniform cross-section along the major axis, featuring a larger central radius and decreasing ends, allowing for a clear, unobstructed line-of-sight for multiple occupants without increasing height or displacement, and constructed using slush casting or thermoforming with acrylic bonding techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a thick-walled spherical pressure hull is used to withstand deep sea pressure, then structural strength is improved, but the available internal volume for equipment and occupants is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure hull strengthVSAvoidinternal volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure hull is divided into multiple cylindrical sections connected by spherical end caps. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain spherical pressure resistance while creating usable cylindrical internal volume for equipment and occupants, resolving the contradiction between strength and internal space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure hull employs spherical end caps and curved transitions between cylindrical sections. This curvature distribution optimizes stress distribution under pressure while maximizing internal volume efficiency, allowing the hull to withstand deep sea pressures without sacrificing internal space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If a thick-walled pressure hull is used to withstand deep sea pressure, then structural strength is improved, but the mass of the submersible increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure hull strengthVSAvoidsubmersible mass

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure hull utilizes composite material construction combining multiple materials with complementary properties. This allows achieving the required strength for deep sea pressure resistance while minimizing mass compared to traditional monolithic thick-walled structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Volume of moving object

If multiple cylindrical pressure hulls are connected in series to increase internal volume, then available volume is improved, but structural reliability deteriorates due to multiple connection points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal volumeVSAvoidstructural reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the pressure hull is designed for a specific depth rating, then structural optimization is improved, but adaptability to different operational depths is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural optimizationVSAvoiddepth adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure hull incorporates expandable or adjustable structural elements that allow the vessel to modify its pressure resistance characteristics. This enables the same hull to be optimized for different depth ratings while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between structural optimization and depth adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4126653B1Pressure hull for human occupancy for manned submersibles

Publication Date: 2026.04.29 DARK OCEAN LTD

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B

AI summary

The invention provides a pressure hull (1) for human occupancy for manned submersible vessels, wherein the hull (1) is formed from acrylic, characterised in that the hull has a circular, or near-circular, cross-section across a major axis (2) and has an elongated, non-uniform profile along the major axis (2). The invention further provides a manned submersible including a pressure hull (1).