Submersible transport canister and methods for the use thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of a submersible transport canister, and embodiments of using a submersible transport canister, are provided. In one embodiment, the submersible transport canister includes a pressure vessel having a storage cavity configured to store at least one item therein, a cap movable to a closed position wherein the cap sealingly engages the pressure vessel, and a diver-adjustable buoyancy system configured to be coupled to the pressure vessel. When coupled to the pressure vessel, the diver-adjustable buoyancy system is configured to displace a volume of water to achieve a substantially neutral buoyancy during underwater transport of the item within the submersible transport canister.

1 . A submersible transport canister, comprising:
 a pressure vessel having a storage cavity configured to store at least one item therein;   a cap movable to a closed position wherein the cap sealingly engages the pressure vessel; and   a diver-adjustable buoyancy system configured to be coupled to the pressure vessel and, when so coupled, to displace a volume of water to achieve a substantially neutral buoyancy during underwater transport of the item within the submersible transport canister.   
     
     
         2 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 1  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system comprises a plurality of fixed-volume floatation members each having a different volume and each configured to be removably coupled to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         3 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 2  wherein the plurality of fixed-volume floatation members comprises a plurality of fixed-volume float collars each configured to be removably mounted around the pressure vessel by a diver. 
     
     
         4 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 3  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system further comprises an annular retention flange provided around the pressure vessel, and wherein each of the plurality of fixed-volume float collars is configured to be removably attached to the annular retention flange. 
     
     
         5 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 3  wherein the submersible transport canister is configured to be utilized in conjunction with a pull pin, and wherein each of the plurality of fixed-volume float collars has an aperture configured to receive the pull pin therethrough to removably secure any selected one of the plurality of fixed-volume float collars to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 3  wherein the pressure vessel comprises an open end portion through which the storage cavity is accessible, wherein the cap sealingly engages the open end portion in the closed position, and wherein each of the plurality of fixed-volume float collars is configured to be removably secured around the open end portion. 
     
     
         7 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 1  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system comprises an inflatable floatation device coupled to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 7  wherein the inflatable floatation device comprises an inflatable float collar mounted at least partially around the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         9 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 8  wherein the pressure vessel comprises an open end portion through which the storage cavity is accessible, wherein the cap sealingly engages the open end portion in the closed position, and wherein the inflatable float collar is mounted around the open end portion. 
     
     
         10 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 7  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system further comprises a fill port fluidly coupled to the inflatable floatation device and manually accessible from the exterior of the submersible transport canister. 
     
     
         11 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 7  further comprising:
 a pressurized cartridge fluidly coupled to the inflatable floatation device; and 
 a diver-controllable valve fluidly coupled between the pressurized cartridge and the inflatable floatation device. 
 
     
     
         12 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 7  further comprising a neutral buoyancy pressure gauge fluidly coupled to the inflatable floatation device, the neutral buoyancy pressure gauge visually indicating, in terms of payload weight, the approximate pressure to inflate the inflatable floatation device to achieve a substantially neutral buoyancy for a range of payload weights. 
     
     
         13 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum port fluidly coupled to the storage cavity. 
     
     
         14 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 1  further comprising a pressure relief valve fluidly coupled to the storage cavity. 
     
     
         15 . A submersible transport canister, comprising:
 a pressure vessel having a storage cavity configured to store at least one item;   a cap movable to a closed position wherein the cap sealingly engages the pressure vessel; and   a diver-adjustable buoyancy system including at least one flotation device configured to be coupled to the pressure vessel, the diver-adjustable buoyancy system enabling a diver to select the volume of the at least one flotation device such that, when submerged, the submersible transport canister displaces a volume of water generally equivalent in weight to the cumulative weight of the item and the submersible transport canister.   
     
     
         16 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one flotation device comprises a plurality of fixed-volume float collars each having a different buoyancy and each configured to be removably mounted around the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         17 . A submersible transport canister according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one flotation device comprises an inflatable float collar mounted around the pressure vessel and configured to be inflated by a diver. 
     
     
         18 . A method for the underwater transport of an item utilizing a submersible transport canister of the type that includes a pressure vessel and a diver-adjustable buoyancy system, the method comprising the step of:
 storing an item within the pressure vessel; and   adjusting the buoyancy of the diver-adjustable buoyancy system to impart the submersible transport canister with a substantially neutral buoyancy during underwater transport of the item within the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system comprises a plurality of fixed-volume floatation members each having a different buoyancy, and wherein the step of adjusting comprises:
 selecting a fixed-volume floatation member based, at least in part, upon the weight of the item; and 
 securing the selected fixed-volume floatation member to the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the diver-adjustable buoyancy system comprises an inflatable floatation device coupled to the pressure vessel, and wherein the step of adjusting comprises inflating the inflatable floatation device to a volume at which the inflatable floatation device imparts a substantially neutral buoyancy to the submersible transport canister during underwater transport of the item.