A TWO-SEATER UNDERWATER PLEASURE CAR

The concept of an underwater automobile, unlike well-known tourist submarines for many passengers, has been implemented for the first time in the world; it is characterised by a high operational reliability, original appearance, all-round visibility, high maneuverability, low environmental impact, and a variety of new design features.

The underwater automobile, a pleasure vehicle, is intended for a wide range of underwater travel enthusiasts and marine researchers. It enables them to submerge safely, in comfortable conditions, to depths beyond the reach of scuba divers. The vehicle is extremely simple to drive and maintain. It is controlled by a single joy stick. The underwater car can be driven by anyone after a short course of instruction.

The novelty of the idea is characterised by 10 major esthetic and human-engineering features of the underwater car, and by the distinctive technology of its manufacture. These include its body with a distinctly shaped surface of the floorpan, a specific mode of towing the underwater car, distinguished by an unusual arrangement of the towed vehicle in the towing process, a specific method of shaping the hemispheric viewport of thick plexiglass by means of specially-tailored operations, etc. The design of the car and the distinctive manner of its towing, while ensuring good performance underwater in the standard mode at a low speed (up to 3 knots), also assure very fast (up to 25 knots) towing of the vehicle on the surface to its submersion site or to its permanent base. The method and mechanism of shaping the glass part achieve an intricate shape of very thick plexiglass, meeting the exacting quality and reliability requirements of, for example, the portholes of submersibles. The vehicle has the following dimensions: length 4.50 m; width 2.48 m; and height 1.78 m. Its displacement is 3.30 m3. The car accommodates two persons. Its operational submersion depth is 100 m; the maximum permissible depth, 125 m. Its touring time is 1-2 h; its self-sufficiency, 12 or 24 h, and its range, 7 to 8 miles. The underwater automobile has been designed to meet the requirements of Lloyd's Register. Its basic cost is $150-160 thousand and can vary depending upon additional equipment.

The underwater car is intended for a variety of pleasure trips at the most famed and prestigious resorts of the world. It can also be operated at elite clubs or be privately used, from cruiser and motor yachts included.

In the event of commercial use, ten 1-hour submersions a day at a ticket price of $100 will recoup the cost in 6-8 months. This, in the event of 10-year exploitation in the tropical zone, will bring in an annual revenue of $250-300 thousand per vehicle.

Preparations are under way for the batch production of the underwater pleasure car, which is actually an automobile of the 21st century.

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