Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] diver lockout details

[MerlinSub@t-online.de (Carsten Standfuß)]

Hi Sean, 

http://www.prismnet.com/~moki/20020111.130903/X13.jpg
shows the actual design. 

The diver chamber is in the bow area and dry. The will be flooded with
compressed helium 
and oxygen while the boat is a anchor about 3 feet away from the bottom. 
If the inside gauge and the outside gauge shows the same pressure we
open
a small ballvale on the bottom-hatch so that the small cylinder below
the hatch will be also
blown dry. Than the bottom entry hatch (a bajonet lock) will be turn 20
degree
and open (spring loaded). If a diver jump out he stand with his feet on
the seabottom and 
the other divers help him with his gear. Than he dive out. The
waterlevel on the lower
end on the cylinder increase with the volume of the diver which leave
the boat. If three 
divers leave the chamber the cylinder exit channel is filled with water
up
to the highest point - short under the lock. So the boat is still under
his bouancy. 

I keep the anchormast out of the concept and will anchor on a heavy
weight of 200 Kg and 
a short but very oversizes chain on a winch. If the boat goes a little
to light - some chain parts
lift form the bottom and the boat gets backs to zero bouancy. If the
boat goes to heavy some chain parts struck the bottom and the boat also
gets on zero level. 

The gas pressure and mix is controlled by the diver and for security
from inside the boat. 
The CO2 will be scrubbert inside the chamber. 

If the diver close the hatch the gas pressure inside the chamber will be
lowered by a vale 
to a small medium pressure boiler tank - and from this tank an automatic
pressure switch start
the compressor to press the expensive gas back into the storage bottles. 

The diver chamber has two beds in the bow end and can be also use a crew
cabin 
for two person during normal cruseing mode. Also some storage gasbottles
are
located here to reduce the space as much as possible to reduce the gas
volume 
nessesary to flooded the chamber. 

In emergency case the gaspressure inside the chamber can also release
into the rest
of the submarine - to get help to the divers. But this higher gas
pressure has to 
put back to the storage bottles or the outside before the boat can
surface - The main
tower hatch is no designed for overpressure. 

For chamber using under 45 meter deep we will use normal air from the
ballast blow storage
bottles instead of helium/oxygen. 

The divers needs heated suits. 

Wetness is a problem is this area - I have not a final choise how to
handle this problem. 

The hatch on the top of the chamber is an emergency lock out - for the
reason that the 
main sub is flooded and rested on the bottom with blocked bottom exit.
The chamber is than
the rescue chamber - and for the reason that the way via chamber
transfer hatch inside 
the (flooded) submarine to the sail hatch is maybe to small for divers
with deepsea 
rebreather on there neck - has the same design as the bottom bajonet
lock 
and for cost reasons - will be added maybe later. 

The bottom bajonet hatch is made from stainless steel with a clear
diameter of about
770 mm (30 inch) and a very expensive supply part. Will cost about the
same as the material
to build one complete Kittredge sub... 

Carsten


"Sean T. Stevenson" schrieb:
> 
> Perhaps this question is best directed at Carsten, as he has (I think) already
> designed one of these, but I am curious as to how the diver lockout chamber
> is plumbed.  Does any flooding occur, or is it dry?  What compression rate
> is used, and how is it regulated?  How is diver decompression accomplished?
>  Controlled by the diver or must have intervention from a sub occupant?  Manual
> control?  Multiple gas capability?  What about the space utilization?  ie.
> during transit when not using the lockout chamber, can the space serve any
> other purpose?  What about diver access?  What design considerations went into
> the entryway?
> 
> I have some ideas on how I would address these issues, but I would like to
> hear from those who have seen it, done it and/or thought about it.
> 
> -Sean
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