Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Docking ?

["Sean T. Stevenson" <cast55@telus.net>]

I think that the DSRV method is probably easiest - the disadvantage 
being that the collar needs to be long enough to accomodate a hatch 
opening into it, and extends below the body of the sub, wreaking havoc 
on streamlining when not needed.  I suppose you could recess the collar 
into the vehicle somehow, only extending it when needed, or 
alternatively, design your mating hatch coaming deep enough to 
accomodate an open hatch while still presenting an unobstructed sealing 
surface.  An additional problem is that with the DSRV style interface, 
you have one vehicle with a flat sealing surface, and one with the 
elastomeric seal.  Vehicles contact, water is pumped out (vented at 1 
atm), hatch is opened into the interface collar, and you're good to go.  
This essentially means that one vehicle has the "male" end of the 
connection, and one vehicle has the "female" end, which works for sub 
rescue, but if you want a standardized connection to enable mating 
between any vehicle, then the two sides need to be identical, else you 
require both a male coaming below your sub, and a female one on the 
weather deck.  I'm not sure how the centering arrangement works with 
DSRV - theoretically, you should only need to be close enough to 
concentric that you can open the hatch without interference, but there 
is probably some sort of mechanical method of ensuring concentricity.  
With vehicles which have identical mating apertures, the arrangement 
would probably be closer to that of a personnel transfer capsule / deck 
decompression chamber mating arrangement, but I haven't seen details of 
these mating schemes.

-Sean





************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
The personal submersibles mailing list complies with the US Federal
CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.  Your email address appears in our database
because either you, or someone you know, requested you receive messages
from our organization.

If you want to be removed from this mailing list simply click on the
link below or send a blank email message to:
	removeme-personal_submersibles@psubs.org

Removal of your email address from this mailing list occurs by an
automated process and should be complete within five minutes of
our server receiving your request.

PSUBS.ORG
PO Box 311
Weare, NH  03281
603-529-1100
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************