On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 04:38:47 -0700, "Coalbunny" <coalbunny@vcn.com> said:
As for the conning tower/sail, if you want to flood it, why bother with
this valve of that valve? Do you plan on using it underwater? If so,
why flood it (unless you're trying to escape a sunken craft)? If you
don't plan on using it underwater and plan on flooding it, simply make
it out of material not as thick as the hull, and have drain holes
drilled into the CT *before* you weld it to the hull. Not really
"holes" as in *holes*, but more like 180* or "half-holes". You can have
a light metal screen for sail cover to keep critters and fish from
becoming hitch hikers when you surface. This way when you go under, it
floods freely. When you surface, it drains freely.
Carl
The idea is to increase the clearance of the entry/exit hatch and sea
level to prevent accidental flooding of the sub. Pierre's sub has a hatch
VERY close to the water level when surfaced. If he opens it and there is
a wave, then Pierre gets wet and his sub may sink! A floodable conning
tower adds very little weight to the sub but provides that extra distance
from the water level. A simple fairing with holes in it will not achieve
this. The wave will flood water through the holes and into the hatch.
Well, that is my theory anyway. I have been wrong b4.