“Star Trek meets the undersea world of Jacques Cousteau”. Let’s talk about that.
A polish company has patented a futuristic underwater hotel which is as spectacular in its design as the amazing underwater views that it offers. The first hotel is set to come up in Dubai.
The technology behind this ingenious hotel is revealed in the patent.
Two disc-shaped enclosures are slidably supported on vertical legs that stand on the floor of the sea. The above water enclosure is raised and lowered along the vertical legs by operating a rack and pinion mechanism.
The underwater enclosure is connected to the above water enclosure through a chain at each vertical leg. The other end of the chain is wound around a drive wheel which is located in the above water enclosure. By actuating the drive wheel, the underwater enclosure is submerged under water or raised above.
Both above water enclosure and the underwater enclosure are connected through a vertical shaft housing a lift and stairs. This allows guests to move between enclosures to enjoy the splendour of both worlds—one above water and one below.
Guests may cruise underwater in personal submarines to take a tour of the sea floor or visit another underwater accommodation.
If the thought of being inside a hotel submerged under water concerns you, rest assured, the patented technology ensures complete safety to its residents.
Each disc-shaped enclosure contains a ballast tank in its belly. In the event of a calamity, these tanks are emptied quickly allowing them to float over the water surface.
This emergency safety mechanism does not depend on any power source and so is virtually disaster-proof.
The only feature that’s probably lacking is a propulsion system. When that comes by, this spectacular hotel won’t just look like, but also function as Starship Enterprise.
Patent Information
Underwater-above water accommodation for residential purposes
US 9010266 B2
Publication number US9010266 B2
Publication type Grant
Application number US 13/820,532
PCT number PCT/PL2011/050034
Publication date Apr 21, 2015
Filing date Sep 2, 2011
Priority date Sep 17, 2010
Inventors Lech Adam Rowiński, Jacek Ireneusz Zdrojewski
ABSTRACT
An underwater-above water accommodation is adapted for human occupancy under water, above or on the surface of water and comprises an underwater accommodation (1) and above water accommodation (2) slidably mounted on preferably three, vertical legs (3, 4, 5). At least one vertical shaft (23) is fixed to the underwater accommodation (1), contains a lift (26) and stairs (28) inside and is slidably mounted in a sleeve (24) fixed to the above water accommodation (2). The underwater accommodation (1) has a pressure shell (12), in the lower part of which a first ballast tank (29) is located; the above water accommodation (2) has a structure (13), in the lower part of which a second ballast tank (30) is attached. At the sliding joint with the vertical legs (3, 4, 5) the underwater accommodation (1) has built-in sliding joint bushings (9, 10, 11) tightly linked to the pressure shell (12). At the sliding joint with vertical legs (3, 4, 5) the structure (13) is fixed to the sliding joint bushings (14, 15, 16). At least one rack (31) is attached to each vertical leg (3, 4, 5) and cooperates with a toothed wheel (32) being fixed to the structure (13) and driven by a drive unit (33); a drive wheel (49) is attached to the structure (13) and it is connected to a brake drum (50) and driven by a drive unit (52) via a disengagable clutch (51); a chain or a rope (44) is wound on the drive wheel (49) and the brake drum (50) is in contact with a brake pad (54), which is pressed against the brake drum (50) by a pad actuator (56), by means of a actuator lever (55).
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