Abstract: An inflatable pressure vessel (1), which may be a decompression chamber for treating divers, has a flexible elongate casing (2) made of a silicone elastomer material reinforced with windings of reinforcing filaments and one or more removable end members (7,8) to provide access. An end member may be a rigid plate which seals against a frame (3,4) defining the entrance under internal vessel pressure. A transparent plastic plate gives illumination and allows inspection of a diver under treatment in a decompression chamber. Two pressure vessels (31,32) may be connected by a linking element (24) comprising a male part (25) which seals within a female part (33,34) under internal pressure and which has inter-engaging projections (29,35) and depressions (30,36) to prevent the parts from sliding apart axially under that pressure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 26, 1991
Date of Patent:
October 26, 1993
Assignee:
Courtaulds Plc & SOS Limited
Inventors:
John F. Cardwell, Simon C. Martin, James H. C. Rowan, Riyadh N. A. Alaka, John S. Selby