Submersible actuator apparatus

Abstract

A user-programmable, submersible actuator apparatus that includes an inflator mechanism configured when operatively connected to an inflation source and to an inflatable device to provide command-activated release of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable device and thereby provide a buoyant force. A controller causes the inflator mechanism to actuate inflation in the event of the first of a deep submersion condition or a heavy bobbing condition. The deep submersion condition may be determined when a specific (approximated) submersion depth has been detected. The heavy bobbing condition may be determined by a predetermined number of bobs of a specific (approximated) depth (less than the deep submersion depth) being detected or by a predetermined frequency of bobbing being detected. The water sensor mechanism may include a pair of sensor elements, having outer ends each recessed in 0.9 to 1.1 mm, or 1.0 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A submersible actuator apparatus, comprising:
 an inflator mechanism configured when operatively connected to an inflation source and to an inflatable device to provide command-activated release of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable device to thereby provide a buoyant force;   a water sensor mechanism;   a water pressure sensor configured to measure external pressure reflecting depth underwater; and   a controller in communication with the water sensor mechanism and the water pressure sensor to command actuation of the inflator mechanism upon detection of predetermined conditions; and   the sensor mechanism including first and second sensor devices, each having a sensor element, distal ends of the sensor elements being recessed in from adjacent outermost surface of the respective sensor devices by 0.9 to 1.1 mm, and the distal ends being spaced a distance apart.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sensor devices include respective first and second housings, each defining the respective outermost surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first and second housings are spaced between 20 and 22 mm apart. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the sensor elements has a slot extending across the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the sensor elements has a star-shaped recess on the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured for commanding actuation in accordance with at least one mode of operation, and the at least one mode includes sensing a predetermined amount of water presence by the water sensor mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inflation source includes at least one compressed gas cylinder and the inflator mechanism includes at least one structure configured to open a valve or puncture a seal to thereby release fluid contents of the at least one compressed gas cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distal ends of the first and second sensor elements are recessed in from adjacent outermost surfaces of the respective sensor devices by 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distal ends each have a diameter of approximately 7 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A submersible actuator apparatus, comprising:
 an inflator mechanism configured when operatively connected to an inflation source and to an inflatable device to provide command-activated release of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable device to thereby provide a buoyant force;   a water sensor mechanism;   a water pressure sensor configured to measure external pressure reflecting depth underwater; and   a controller in communication with the water sensor mechanism and the water pressure sensor to command actuation of the inflator mechanism upon detection of predetermined conditions including an immersion mode that includes (a) if water is detected, determining a pressure difference; (b) if the determined pressure difference is greater than a predetermined maximum pressure difference, actuating inflation; (c) if the determined pressure difference is not greater than the predetermined maximum pressure difference and is not greater than a predetermined bob pressure difference that is less than the predetermined maximum pressure difference, returning to step (a); (d) if the determined pressure difference is not greater than the predetermined maximum pressure and is greater than the predetermined bob pressure difference add a unit to a counter to create a new counter value; (e) if the new counter value is not greater than a predetermined bob counter value, returning to step (a); and (f) if the new counter value is greater than the predetermined bob counter value, actuating inflation.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the determining the pressure difference includes determining from a plurality of sampled pressure differences. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined maximum pressure is between 0.17 and 0.27 psi. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined bob pressure difference is between 0.015 and 0.022 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined bob counter value is between one and three, or between eight and twelve. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the controller includes: a power supply; a clock configured to enable timing functions; memory configured to store logic instructions of the first immersion mode; and a central processing unit (CPU) configured to execute the logic instructions with two input buttons. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the inflation source includes a compressed gas cylinder and the inflator mechanism includes at least one structure configured to open a valve or puncture a seal to thereby release fluid contents of the compressed gas cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the sensor mechanism includes first and second sensor devices, each having a sensor element, a distal end of each of the sensor elements being recessed in from an adjacent outermost surface of the respective sensor device by 0.9 to 1.1 mm, and the distal ends being spaced a distance apart, center to center by 18 to 22 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the presence of water is detected by measuring current flowing between two probes where the current exceeds an amount corresponding to a saltwater-soaked fabric extending between the probes. 
     
     
         19 . A submersible actuator apparatus, comprising:
 an inflator mechanism configured when operatively connected to an inflation source and to an inflatable device to provide command-activated release of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable device to thereby provide a buoyant force;   a water sensor mechanism;   a water pressure sensor configured to measure external pressure reflecting depth underwater; and   a controller in communication with the water sensor mechanism and the water pressure sensor to command actuation of the inflator mechanism upon detection of predetermined conditions including a mode that includes (a) if not above water surface, determining yes or no whether a detected first pressure differential that is greater than a predetermined first pressure differential is greater than a predetermined second pressure differential, and if yes actuating inflation and if no actuating a timer for a first predetermined time period and setting T equal to zero; (b) if during the first predetermined time period a second pressure differential greater than a predetermined third pressure differential is detected, actuating inflation; and (c) if during the first predetermined time period with no inflation actuated, no second pressure differential that is greater than the third predetermined pressure differential is detected, returning to step (a).   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first and the third predetermined pressure differentials are the same. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first and third predetermined pressure differentials correspond to a water depth of 0.4-0.6 inch, the second predetermined pressure differential correspond to a water depth of 5.7-6.3 inches, and the first predetermined time period is 2.5-3.5 seconds. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the mode further comprising upon returning to step (a), at least one of the first predetermined pressure differential, second predetermined pressure differential, third predetermined pressure differential, and first predetermined time period is or was changed to a different value. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the controller includes: a power supply; a clock configured to enable timing functions for the first predetermined time period; memory configured to store logic instructions of the mode; and a central processing unit (CPU) to execute the logic instructions. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the inflation source includes a compressed gas cylinder and the inflator mechanism includes at least one structure configured to open a valve or puncture a seal to thereby release fluid contents of the compressed gas cylinder. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising programming input controls configured to set mode and depth and time triggers and connected to the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the sensor mechanism includes first and second sensor devices, each having a sensor element, distal ends of each of the sensor elements are recessed in from an adjacent outermost surface of the respective sensor device by 0.9 to 1.1 mm, and the distal ends are spaced a distance apart. 
     
     
         27 . An inflation actuation method, comprising:
 (a) detecting the presence of water;   (b) if the water pressure differential is greater than a predetermined trigger pressure differential, actuating inflation of an inflatable device to provide a buoyant force;   (c) if the water pressure differential is less than the predetermined trigger pressure differential and less than a predetermined bob pressure differential, which is less than the trigger pressure differential, returning to step (a);   (d) if the water pressure differential is less than the trigger pressure differential and more than the bob pressure differential, adding a unit to a bobbing counter value;   (e) if the counter value now is greater than a predetermined counter value, actuating inflation of the inflatable device; and   (f) if the counter value now is less than the predetermined counter value, returning to step (a).   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein step (a) is started only if a immersion mode is selected. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising: (g) before step (c), if the water pressure differential is less than the predetermined trigger pressure differential determining whether the current time (T NOW ) is greater than a predetermined decrement time value (T DECREMENT ), and (h) if T NOW  is greater than the T DECREMENT , recalculating T DECREMENT  and decrementing the bobbing counter value by a predetermined decrementation amount. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the decrementation amount is between 1 and 3. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the predetermined water presence corresponds to a level of current between water probes of an apparatus of the method are greater than the current that would flow if the water probes were connected by a salt-water soaked fabric. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the trigger pressure differential is approximately six inches, the bob pressure differential is approximately 0.5 inch and the predetermined number of counter values is 2 or 3. 
     
     
         33 . A submersible actuator apparatus, comprising:
 an inflation source;   an inflatable device;   an inflator mechanism configured to provide command-activated release of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable device and thereby provide a buoyant force; and   a controller configured to cause inflation of the inflatable device to be actuated by the inflator mechanism when the first of a deep submersion condition and a heavy bobbing condition is detected;   wherein the deep submersion condition occurs when a first pressure differential is detected;   wherein a heavy bobbing condition occurs when either (a) a first predetermined number of second pressure differentials is detected or (b) a second predetermined number of third pressure differentials within a preset time period is detected; and   wherein the first pressure differential is greater than the second and third pressure differentials.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the second predetermined number is two. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising a water sensor mechanism configured to detect the level of water presence and the water sensor mechanism includes first and second spaced probes. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the predetermined level of water presence corresponds to a predetermined current flowing between the two probes at a given voltage where the two probes are electrically connected by a resistance corresponding to a salt-water soaked fabric. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the resistance is approximately five micro amps. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein operative ends of the probes are recessed in a distance from their surrounding structure. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the distance is between 0.9 and 1.1 mm. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising a water pressure sensor configured to detect each of the pressure differentials. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the sensor mechanism includes first and second sensor devices, each having a sensor element, distal ends of each of the sensor elements are recessed in from an adjacent outermost surface of the respective sensor device by 0.9 to 1.1 mm, and the distal ends are spaced a distance apart. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the controller includes: a power supply; a clock configured to enable timing functions; memory configured to store logic instructions; and a central processing unit (CPU) configured to execute the logic instructions. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the inflation source includes a compressed gas cylinder and the inflator mechanism includes one or more structures configured to open a valve or puncture a seal to thereby release fluid contents of the compressed gas cylinder.