Pressure hull for human occupancy for manned submersibles

Abstract

The invention provides a pressure hull for human occupancy for manned submersible vessels, wherein the hull is formed from acrylic, characterised in that the hull has a circular, or near-circular, cross-section across a major axis and has an elongated, non-uniform profile along the major axis. The invention further provides a manned submersible including a pressure hull.

1 . A manned-submersible vessel pressure hull for human occupancy, wherein the hull is formed from acrylic, characterised in that the hull has a circular or near-circular cross-section across a major axis and has an elongated, non-uniform profile along the major axis. 
     
     
         2 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the hull has seating positions for multiple occupants with forward and/or lateral line of sight out of the hull. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure hull according to  claim 2 , wherein the number of possible occupants is at least four. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the hull is spheroidal in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the hull is formed as a single unit. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein hull has a central section formed as a single unit and has an end cap at each end of the central section. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure hull according to  claim 6 , wherein the end caps are metal. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the hull has an access hatch positioned on the surface of the hull on an axis that intersects with the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure hull according to  claim 8 , wherein the access hatch is positioned on the upper surface of the hull. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the hull is formed by slush casting or by thermoforming. 
     
     
         11 . A manned-submersible vessel comprising:
 a pressure hull according to  claim 1 ;   ballast tanks; and   propulsion means.   
     
     
         12 . A submersible vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure hull is arranged with the major axis transverse to the normal direction of motion of the vessel to provide occupants of the pressure hull a clear, forward line-of-sight. 
     
     
         13 . A submersible vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure hull is arranged with the major axis along the normal direction of motion of the vessel to provide occupants of the pressure hull a clear, lateral line-of-sight.