Ballast Release System #1

I've started work on the ballast release mechanism, turning up the bearing housing out of aluminium and the seal made from oil impregnated nylon.
Below is the finished nylon seal.  The center has a tapper over the height of the seal so that shaft doesn't get pulled through the sub.

24/01/2015

The bearing housing along with the roller bearing (bought from china) and the nylon seal.
The aluminium housing needs bolt holes drilled into it yet so that it can bolt to the bottom of the sub.
As the sub goes down the external pressure increases, so with nothing holding the shaft against the nylon seal the pressure may force it up, causing it to leak.  The housing will bolt over the roller bearing and shaft, and as it tightens it'll apply pressure against the nylon seal, stopping it from leaking but still allowing it to turn if needed.

24/01/2015

What it looks like from the top.  The shaft will come through the bearing and a gear will be placed on top.

24/01/2015

A shot from below.  The nylon seal will sit in a hole drilled into the bottom of the sub.

24/01/2015

Basic design (Fig. 9)