Re: Fw: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Escape Hatch Realities

[irox <irox@ix.netcom.com>]

For the cost of the scuttle valve (what $100? hell I'll take two at the price) is it not worth having
a backup escape route/plan?

H.P. air sounds reasonable, but how much air do have on board? How many times will you try
to blow your main ballast tanks at depth trying to free your sub before deciding to presurize the
human occupied space?  If you're a few PSI short of external pressure your not going to get out.

Of course I'm concerned that scuttle valves can have problems as well, if something gets sucked
in the valve and clogs it.  Some sort of intake guard around the valve might help prevent it from
clogging, but what if it's burried in silt?

I like the idea of two scuttle valves (hey flooding the boat twice as fast isn't going to be a bad
thing), and also having the H.P. air to help pressurize the cabin.  But that's just me.

I"m currious about your sub design, once you've pressurized the cabin to external pressure,
will you be leave via top facing hatch or a bottom facing hatch?  I'm wondering what type of
issues will rise when openning the top hatch, for example, water will come in and air will 
leave, will you leave in the bubble of air? or will it 'burp' out some air leaving the hatch hard
to open again?

I think avoiding anything that could snagg your sub is also key to staying a live, but they are
so many unknowns out there, and a lot of other people in ocean who may not be acting
in the safest (for you) way (who probably don't know you just under them....

ANyway, pressurizing the cabin at depth with air takes a lot of (or at least a fare amount)
of air, pressurizing the cabin at depth with water takes a fare amount of water.   Water
is free, air you must bring with you (if you run out of water when flooding your sub, it's
not a big deal ;-).

Ian.

-----Original Message-----
From: Fly Deep <flydeep4u@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mar 10, 2004 3:24 AM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Escape Hatch Realities 


Scuttle valves:  It is a generally accepted rule of thumb that most submarines 

will have high pressure air for the ballast system.  There is no need for a 

Scuttle Valve.  All that is needed is a valve that can be opened from the inside 

that will let in high pressure air into the pressure vessel till it�s equal with the 

out side.  Then you will be able to open the hatch,  I do have lots of 

experience in submarines and it is not a normal procedure.  It is mush 

better to make a good dive plan and we in submarines do not just get 

tossed into the water and drive around all willy nilly across the ocean floor. 

 This action would be a death trip waiting to happen.  Next, the life support 

system should be designed for a minimum of 72 hours for each person.  

But in truth, if you get stuck on some thing you will probably die from 

hypothermia before your life support is depleted.

Also, it should be considered impossible to escape from a submarine at 

any depth deeper than 200 feet.  As the pressure is increased in side the 

sub so that it�s possible to open the hatch you will become over come by 

Nitrogen Narcoses. So at that point you�ll be having a bad day but you may 

not care.  These are the facts, don�t get hung up on any thing down there. 

 It will probably be the last hang up you�ll ever have.       

DJB 



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