^ 



three such bottles will provide adequate gas for a number of adjustiaents 

 In lift capability at usual diver work depths and will accocaeodate an 

 emergency lift of approxtcately 360 pounds at a 1,000-foor depth. More 

 recent scuba bottle developoents could enhance this capability. The three 

 bottles are vertically oriented and s>TniDetrically arranged around the 

 vertically oriented lift bag. The bottles are counted between the walls 

 of a hollow-cored, cylindrical, fiber glass housing. The three individual 

 bottle housings in the subassembly are large enough to pranride oounting 

 space for gas generation systems which could provide far greater or more 

 extensively variable buoyancy capability at deeper depths. 



Approxiaately the upper half of the hollow core of tbe first 

 subassembly houses thr inflatable bag any tine it is in tr;* collapsed mode. 

 The bag*^ is attached to a load transfer ring meaber i^ounted within the core 

 of the subassenibly. The low^r half of the core area accotaDodates the reel 

 of messenger line, mounted on the second snabassembly, whea the two 

 subassemblies are assembled together. 



The second subassembly is fabricated from a fiber glass structure 

 having a flat upper surface, a centrally -counted spindle and the inflation 

 gas manifold. A stator ring assembly s mounted concentrically on che flat 

 upper surface of the fiber glass base The spindle serves as the axle for 

 the messenger line reel. The lower flange of the messenger line reel 

 serves a second purpose as a centrifugal pump. The extemil face of the 

 flange has Integral radial vanes which rotate within tte stator ring when 

 the reel is turned. Because its discharge is restricted, this pump acts 

 as a water brake. The spindle also serves otljer purposes. A ring at its 

 lover end serves as a load attachment point. The spindle is hollow 

 throughout cost of its length. Thie hollow portion extends downward 

 through the upper face of the fiber glass base. An entry is drilled and 

 tapped into the hollow spindle at a point below the upper face 

 of the fiber glass base and the gas manifold is mounted in this opening. 

 A check valve is mounted In the upper end of the hollow ^Indle 

 to prevent water entering the scuba bottles when the bottle internal 

 gas pressure is less than the ambient water pressure. 



The two subassemblies, when assembled, are locked together 

 by fasteners mounted around the circumference. When a loai is supported 

 underwater by the lift assist device, the stress is transsitted 

 from the load iitachment ring through the spindle to th^ lovivr 

 fiber glass structure, theace through the lock fasteners into the 

 side-wall of the upper fi!>er glass structure and then to the inflated 

 bag by Its attachiaent bolts. 



l/nen the two subassesblies are joined together, the design 

 provides a 'tunnel' through uhich the messenger line is tr.readed. 

 A line guide is mounted en the lower extension of the reel mounting 

 spindle, and the messenger line Is threaded through this. The 

 line is then attached to the male prod, or to any other intended 

 ot-jCct. The line guide acts to approximately cente.- a loaJ on the 

 c-essenger line below the device. 



<* Unlrcyal drawing FCD 52219 as modified by CEL. 



