Self-Righting Escape Suit Bladder for Unconscious Surface Survival
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine escape suits often fail to adequately support wearers on the water surface, particularly when unconscious or incapacitated, and may not provide sufficient buoyancy or self-righting capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A self-righting underwater escape and surface survival suit system featuring an inflatable bladder that is inflated with breathable air from the submarine, providing buoyancy for ascent and automatic self-righting upon reaching the surface, even if the wearer is incapacitated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate life preserver stole and gas supply are added to provide surface buoyancy, then surface survival capability is improved, but device complexity and storage volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ascent stole and life preserver stole into a single integrated stole structure. The stole serves dual functions: providing buoyancy for ascent from the submarine and providing surface support for survival. This eliminates the need for separate life preserver equipment while maintaining both ascent and surface survival capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The stole is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both ascent and surface support functions. The same stole that provides buoyancy during ascent also provides surface support when the wearer reaches the water, eliminating the need for specialized separate equipment for each function.
2Speed
If the ascent stole is designed to provide buoyancy for ascent, then ascent capability is improved, but surface support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ascent stole and life preserver stole into a single integrated structure that simultaneously provides both ascent buoyancy and surface support. The stole is designed with sufficient buoyancy capacity to perform both functions effectively without requiring separate equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The stole is designed as a universal buoyancy device that performs multiple functions: providing upward buoyant force during ascent and providing surface support to keep the wearer afloat and upright after reaching the water surface.
3Device complexity
If the wearer must manually inflate the life preserver stole, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates when unconscious or incapacitated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the submarine's existing air supply system to automatically inflate the stole, eliminating the need for manual inflation by the wearer. The air supply is provided through connections at the wearer's lungs and mouthpiece, allowing automatic inflation even when the wearer is unconscious or incapacitated.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures the wearer's head remains above water and automatically rights themselves, maintaining buoyancy and reducing drowning risk, even if unconscious, with an integrated air supply and bladder design.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder that is inflated for buoyancy to ascend the wearer from the submerged vessel to the water surface
Implementation Method 2
The inflated bladder is configured to provide self-righting of the wearer at the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A self-righting underwater escape and surface survival suit includes an ascent hood and an inflatable bladder in fluid communication with the ascent hood. Breathable air from the vessel is used to inflate the inflatable bladder for ascent to and/or survival on the water surface. During ascent, breathable air is provided to the ascent hood from the inflated inflatable bladder. The inflated inflatable bladder is configured to provide self-righting of the wearer upon surfacing and to support the wearer on the water surface, even if the wearer is incapacitated or the ascent hood is opened.