초록 ▼

An apparatus for underwater propulsion. The apparatus may include a hydrofoil, a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil, a tank containing air, and a controller regulating the passage of air from the tank into the buoyancy compensator. The controller may also regulate the escape of air from

An apparatus for underwater propulsion. The apparatus may include a hydrofoil, a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil, a tank containing air, and a controller regulating the passage of air from the tank into the buoyancy compensator. The controller may also regulate the escape of air from the buoyancy compensator. By positioning the hydrofoil underwater and alternating between positive and negative angles of attack, a diver may generate forward propulsion by manipulating the controller to correspondingly alternate the buoyant force produced by the buoyancy compensator between levels below and above neutral buoyancy.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. A method of underwater propulsion comprising: equipping a user with a buoyancy compensator comprising a controller, tank containing at least one gas, and an expander, the tank being operably connected and pressurized t

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. A method of underwater propulsion comprising: equipping a user with a buoyancy compensator comprising a controller, tank containing at least one gas, and an expander, the tank being operably connected and pressurized to deliver the at least one gas to the expander under the control of the controller; providing a hydrofoil; connecting the hydrofoil to the user; positioning the user and hydrofoil underwater at a selected depth; programming into the controller data effectively defining a maximum depth and a minimum depth; and cycling, by the controller, the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil between levels below and above neutral buoyancy to automatically and alternately propel the user to the maximum and minimum depths, respectively. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrofoil defines longitudinal, lateral and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another and has a span extending in the lateral direction. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrofoil is streamlined with respect to flow in the longitudinal direction. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein positioning the user and hydrofoil underwater further comprises orienting the hydrofoil such that the lateral direction extends substantially horizontally. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising orienting the hydrofoil at a negative angle of attack when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is below neutral buoyancy. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising orienting the hydrofoil at a positive angle of attack when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is above neutral buoyancy. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the expander comprises a vest, worn by the user, containing one or more inflatable bladders. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vest further comprises a tank cradle securing the tank substantially parallel to and adjacent the spinal column of a user. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein connecting the hydrofoil to the user comprises connecting the hydrofoil to the vest. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein connecting the hydrofoil to the vest comprises securing the hydrofoil to the tank. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user is a scuba diver. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein connecting the hydrofoil to the vest comprises connecting the hydrofoil to the tank cradle. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein connecting the hydrofoil to the tank cradle further comprises homogeneously forming the hydrofoil as part of the tank cradle. 14. A method of underwater propulsion comprising: providing a hydrofoil defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the hydrofoil having a span in the lateral direction and a substantially streamlined shape with respect to flow in the longitudinal direction; providing a buoyancy compensator comprising a controller automatically adjusting the buoyant force produced by the buoyancy compensator; connecting the hydrofoil to a user; programming into the controller data effectively defining a maximum depth and a minimum depth; positioning the hydrofoil underwater such that the lateral direction extends substantially horizontally; and controlling, by the controller, the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil to continuously, automatically, and alternately propel the user to the maximium and minimum depths. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising orienting the hydrofoil at a negative angle of attack when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is below neutral buoyancy. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising orienting the hydrofoil at a positive angle of attack when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is above neutral buoyancy. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the buoyancy compensator comprises at least one bladder contained within the hydrofoil. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein: the buoyancy compensator further comprises a vest, worn by a user, containing one or more inflatable bladders; and the controller comprises a processor, actuator, pressure sensor, and valve, the processor programmed to cause the actuator to manipulate the valve in accordance with data reported by the pressure sensor to the processor. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein alternating the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil between levels above and below neutral buoyancy comprises correspondingly charging and discharging at least one gas from the one or more inflatable bladders. 20. A method of underwater propulsion comprising: equipping a scuba diver with a regulator, vest containing one or more inflatable bladders, inflator, and tank containing at least one gas, the tank delivering the at least one gas to the one or more inflatable bladders under the control of the inflator and to the regulator; providing a hydrofoil having a wing area of at least two square feet; providing a controller operating on the inflator to automatically adjust the buoyant force produced by the vest; connecting the hydrofoil to the vest; positioning the scuba diver and hydrofoil underwater at a selected depth; programming into the controller data effectively defining a maximum depth and a minimum depth; controlling, by the controller, the overall buoyancy of the user to continuously, automatically, and alternately propel the user to maximum and minimum depths; and generating forward propulsion by orienting the hydrofoil at a negative angle of attack during selected periods when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is below neutral buoyancy and orienting the hydrofoil at a positive angle of attack during selected periods when the overall buoyancy of the user and hydrofoil is above neutral buoyancy. 21. An apparatus comprising: a hydrofoil; a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil and comprising a tank containing at least one gas, a vest containing one or more inflatable bladders, and a controller regulating the passage of the at least one gas from the tank into the one or more inflatable bladders and the escape of the at least one gas from the one or more inflatable bladders into the surrounding environment, the controller programmed to adjust a buoyancy force produced by the buoyancy compensator to automatically and alternately propel the buoyancy compensator to a maximum depth and a minimum depth. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vest comprises a tank cradle. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the tank is secured within the tank cradle. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the hydrofoil secures to the tank. 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the hydrofoil is homogeneously formed with the tank cradle to extend therefrom. 26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: the controller comprises a processor, actuator, pressure sensor, and valve, the processor programmed to cause the actuator to manipulate the valve in accordance with data reported by the pressure sensor to the processor; and the limit is selectable by a user.