Abstract:
A device is disclosed for temporary plugging of holes in ship hulls. The device has a shaft with a spring-loaded rod disposed therein. At one end of the shaft is a cylinder housing a piston that is connected to the rod for movement within the cylinder. The cylinder has pivoting levers that are movable via the piston between a stowed position, in which the levers are parallel to the shaft, and a deployed position, in which the levers are perpendicular to the shaft. A seal is connected to the levers. A second cylinder is slidably disposed along the shaft, and has a plurality of guide arms connected thereto. In operation, the device is pressed into the hole so the levers and cylinder housing are outside the ship. The spring is activated causing the rod and piston to move, which deploys the levers and unfolds the seal. Inrushing water forces the levers and seal to engage the outside of the hull surrounding the opening, inhibiting further flooding. To secure the device, the second cylinder is pushed along the shaft until the guide arms engaging the inside of the hull surrounding the opening. The ratchet and pawl assembly prevents the second cylinder and guide arm from reversing their movement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to systems for repairing breaches in ship hulls, and more particularly to a system for providing quick and effective temporary plugging of holes in ship hulls caused by damage from explosion, collisions or projectile impacts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When a ship has suffered a breach in its hull, the most urgent requirement is to stop or reduce the amount of inrushing water so the danger of immediate sinking can be prevented. A breach in a hull with a total area of 12 square inches, located 10 feet below the water line, allows water to enter the ship at a rate of nearly 9,000 gallons per minute (GPM). At such a rate most ships will quickly fill with water and sink. 
     Present techniques for plugging relatively small holes (i.e., up to six inches) require ship&#39;s personnel to pound precut pieces of wood into the hole. Of course, this procedure has a number of drawbacks. For example, if the compartment has already filled with a large amount of water such that the hole is underwater, it can be extremely difficult to swing a hammer to pound the wooden blocks into the hole. In addition, it is often difficult to keep the blocks in the hole where water is rushing in through the hole, since, apart from the wood swelling, there is nothing to hold the blocks in the hole. If the hole is part of a tear in the steel, fiberglass or wooden hull of a ship, pounding in a plug can make the tear larger. Further, as the wooden block swells it can force the tear apart and make it bigger. 
     If the total size of the hole can at least be reduced to an equivalent of 1 square inch at the same 10 feet depth, the amount of water entering the ship could be reduced to less than 64 GPM. A rate of 64 GPM flooding can be controlled using pumps. The extra time gained by this reduced influx of water can mean the difference between losing and saving the ship. 
     Since the water that will be flooding into the ship is under pressure it will wash away anything not properly supported or strong enough to withstand this pressure. Thus, any device used to stop the flooding must be quick and easy to use, and must be strong enough to survive the inrushing water. 
     The disclosed device can be ready to use as soon as its guide arms are opened and the device is pushed into the hole and the trigger is activated. The inrushing water helps open the device, and once the device is fully opened and covering the breach from outside the hull, the guide arms are ratcheted down toward the inside of the hull to hold the device against the hull. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device is disclosed for enabling quick and efficient plugging of holes in ship hulls. The device has a quick activating self-unfolding mechanism that provides a temporary patch over holes in a ship&#39;s hull caused by an explosion, collision, or projectile impact. A folding arm device acts to block water from coming in through the breach in the hull. In addition, the device does not put additional pressure on a tear radiating out from the hole in the hull. 
     There is no system that will ever replace the resourcefulness, ingenuity and inventiveness of sailors when their ship is in danger. The disclosed device can permit a crew to quickly and efficiently control flooding from a breach in the hull. 
     A device is disclosed for inhibiting fluid flow through an opening. The device may include a shaft having first and second ends and a folding lever assembly disposed at the first end of the shaft portion. The folding lever assembly may have a refracted position and an extended position. The device may further include a sliding guide arm assembly associated with the shaft portion, the sliding guide arm assembly having a plurality of guide arms oriented non-parallel to the shaft portion. The device may also have a seal connected to the folding lever assembly such that when the folding lever assembly is configured from the retracted position to the extended position the seal is configured from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration and the folding lever assembly is positionable opposite the plurality of guide arms to enable the device to engage a structure therebetween. 
     A device is disclosed for covering an opening in a structure. The device may comprise a shaft having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis. The device may also include a folding lever assembly disposed at the first end of the shaft portion, the folding lever assembly comprising a plurality of extendable arms. Each of the plurality of extendable arms may have an extended position and a folded position. A guide arm assembly may be provided having a collar and a plurality of guide arms disposed in non-parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The collar may be slidably associated with the shaft such that the guide arm assembly is movable between first and second positions along the shaft. The device may further have a seal connected to at least one of the plurality of extendable arms of the folding lever assembly so that when the folding lever assembly is in the retracted position, the seal is in a folded configuration, and when the folding lever assembly is in the extended position, the seal is in an unfolded configuration. 
     A method for securing a device within an opening in a plate member is also disclosed, comprising: providing a device having a shaft, a plurality of extendable arms disposed at a first end of the shaft, a plurality of guide arms are movable along the shaft, and a seal connected to at least one of the plurality of extendable arms; disposing the device within the opening such that the plurality of extendable arms are positioned on a first side of the opening and the plurality of guide arms are positioned on a second side of the opening; and moving the plurality of guide arms along the shaft to engage structure surrounding the opening to thereby sandwich the structure between the plurality of guide arms and the plurality of extendable arms, and to dispose the seal over the first side of the opening to inhibit fluid flow from the first side of the opening to the second side of the opening. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The details of the invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be obtained by a review of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of the disclosed device in the stowed position; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the disclosed device in the deployed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of a portion of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing an exemplary activation mechanism for deploying the levers; 
         FIG. 3A  is a plan view of the device of  FIG. 1A  in the deployed position; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1A  deployed in a hole in a ship&#39;s hull; 
         FIG. 4A  is an isometric view of an end portion of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a detail view of an end segment of a lever portion of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are plan views showing the position of the piston and levers of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in various phases of actuation of the device; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are detail views of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing an exemplary guide arm arrangement including a ratchet and pawl control; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  are side views of the device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing details of the guide arm assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the accompanying drawings, like items are indicated by like reference numerals. This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
     The disclosed device provides a quick and efficient way to temporarily plug holes in hulls of ships to minimize the ingress of flooding water and to enable the ship to return to port where permanent repairs can be undertaken. Referring generally to  FIGS. 1A-7C , the device  1  comprises a shaft  2  having first and second ends  4 ,  6 . A folding lever assembly  8  is attached to the second end  6  of the shaft, and a sliding guide arm assembly  10  is slidably positioned about the shaft  2  so that it can be moved along the shaft toward the folding lever assembly  8  during operation. The folding lever assembly  8  has a plurality of extendable levers  12  that are movable between a retracted position ( FIG. 1A ) and an extended position ( FIG. 1B ). The sliding guide arm assembly has a plurality of guide arms  14  that extend away from the shaft  2 . A seal  16  is connected to the folding lever assembly  8  such that the seal is held in a folded condition when the folding lever assembly is in the retracted position. The seal  16  unfolds when the folding lever assembly  8  is in the extended position. 
     In operation, the folding lever assembly  8  is placed through a hole  18  in a ship&#39;s hull (see  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B). The assembly  8  is initially configured in the retracted position ( FIG. 1A ), so that the extendable levers  12  can be easily passed through the hole  18 . Once inserted, the device  1  is actuated so that the folding lever assembly  8  is configured in the extended position ( FIG. 1B ). In the extended position the plurality of extendable levers  12  extend away from the shaft  2 , expanding the seal  16 . The seal  16  and levers  12  are forced by the pressure of inrushing water to engage the outside surface  20  of the hull adjacent the hole  18  ( FIG. 3A ). In this position, the seal  16 , supported by the levers  12 , blocks further inflow of water through the hole  18 . To lock the device  1  in place, the sliding guide arm assembly  10  is moved along the shaft  2  toward the folding lever assembly  8  until the guide arms  14  engage the inside surface  22  of the hull adjacent the opening  18 . A ratchet and pawl arrangement (see  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B) prevents the sliding guide arm assembly  10  from backing up on the shaft  2 , thus sandwiching the hull (and opening) between the folding lever assembly  8  and the sliding guide arm assembly  10 . The device  1  remains in this locked position until more permanent repair can be made to the hull. 
     As noted, the device  1  is configured to sandwich a portion of a ship&#39;s hull or other structure between opposing sets of levers and arms associated with a folding lever assembly  8  and a guide arm assembly  10 . Since the folding lever assembly  8  is the portion of the device  1  that is pressed through the hole in the ship&#39;s hull, the assembly is manually movable between a retracted position that enables it to fit through the hole and an extended position that prevents it from moving back through the hole under pressure of the inrushing water. 
     This actuation is accomplished by the use of a rod and piston arrangement, a portion of which is disposed within the shaft  2  and a portion of which is part of the folding lever assembly  8 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a rod  24  is disposed within a longitudinal blind bore  26  in the shaft  2 . A spring  28  is positioned between the blind end of the bore  26  and a first end  30  of the rod  24  so that the spring is compressed by movement of the rod  24  in a first direction “A” within the bore  26 . Conversely, expansion of the spring  28  causes the rod  24  to move in a second direction “B” within the bore  26 . 
     A second end  32  of the rod  24  is connected to a piston  34 . The piston  34  is slidable within a cylinder  36  fixed to the second end  6  of the shaft  2 . The piston  34  has a dome shaped top surface  38  that is provided with a plurality of slots  40  disposed at 90-degree intervals about the piston. These slots follow the contour of the dome shape and extend down the sides of the piston to a depth of about 1 inch. Each of the slots  40  is associated with one of the plurality of extendable levers  12 . 
     The cylinder  36  itself also has a dome-shaped top surface  42  with a plurality of slots  44  disposed at 90 degree intervals about the cylinder. Each of the slots  44  is associated with one of the plurality of extendable levers  12 . The slots  44  radiate from the center of the cylinder  36  outward and extend down the sides of the cylinder by about 2 inches. 
     The extendable levers  12  are connected to the cylinder  36  via respective pin joints  46  so as to be are movable between retracted and extended positions. Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each lever  12  at its tip  48  curves back toward the centerline of the device  1  to form a bullet-shape when the folding lever assembly  8  is in the retracted position. Forming the tip  48  in such a streamlined shape facilitates insertion of the device into the hole since it reduces resistance to the device caused by the inrush of water through the hole  18 . 
     It will be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiment has four levers  12  and a like number of slots  40 ,  44 , this number is not critical, and greater or fewer numbers of levers/slots can be used as desired to suit a particular application. 
     The extendable levers  12  are actuated from the retracted position to the extended position via interaction with the dome shaped top surface  38  and slots  40  of the piston  34 . Referring to  FIG. 5A , the extendable lever assembly  8  is shown in the retracted position. The top surface  38  of the piston  34  is positioned directly adjacent the flat bottom surfaces  50  of the levers  12 . In  FIG. 5B , the piston  34  is moved along the direction of arrow “B” by movement of the attached rod  24 , which is forced in this direction by action of the spring  28  as it expands from its compressed condition. As can be seen, the top surface  38  of the piston  24  engages the flat bottom surfaces  50  of the levers  12 . Because the point of engagement between the piston and levers is offset from the axis of rotation of the pin joints  46 , the levers  12  rotate outward about the pin joints  46 . In  FIG. 5C , the piston  34  continues its movement along the direction of arrow “B” causing the bottom surfaces  50  of the levers  12  begin to seat within the slots  40  in the piston  34 . In  FIG. 5D , the piston  34  movement is complete, and the levers  12  are fully extended and seated within the associated piston slots  40 . Though not explicitly shown, the levers  12  are also seated within associated slots  44  in the cylinder  36 . The levers  12  remain locked in this extended position as long as the piston  34  remains in the position shown in  FIG. 5D . 
     As previously noted, a seal  16  is attached to the extendable levers  12  so that when they levers rotate out to extended position the seal is opened up to cover the hole  18  in the hull of the ship. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the seal  16  is pressed between the levers  12  and the outside surface  20  of the ship&#39;s hull, minimizing further ingress of water through the hole  18 . In one embodiment, the seal  16  is made from an elastomeric sheet material, which in one non-limiting example is neoprene. The seal  16  can be coated with a lubricating material to ensure that it will not stick to itself when it is unfolded as the levers  12  extend. In one embodiment, the seal  16  is adhered to the extendable levers  12 . Alternatively, mechanical attachments such as rivets, screws, and the like can also be used. 
     The entire extendable lever assembly  12  may be covered with a thin plastic cover (not shown) that is pre-scored to allow it to break apart easily. The cover serves two purposes: first, it protects the levers  12  and the seal  16  during storage, and second, it further facilitates insertion of the device into the hole in the ship&#39;s hull while water rushes in. The bullet shaped tips  48  of the levers  12  combined with the plastic cover are expected to cause the inrushing water to flow around the device, reducing the overall resistance caused by the water during device insertion. 
     Actuation of the rod  24  and piston  34  is accomplished using a triggering mechanism  51  that includes a triggering pin  49 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the triggering pin  49  extends through the shaft  2  and rod  24  (in a manner similar to safety pin  52 ) and prevents the rod from moving within the longitudinal bore  26 . To actuate the device, the triggering mechanism  51  is actuated and the triggering pin  49  is withdrawn from the rod  24 , allowing the rod  24  to move in direction “B” under the force of the compressed spring  28 . Once the device has been fully actuated such that the levers  12  have been fully extended ( FIG. 1B ), reverse movement of the rod  24  and piston  34  can be prevented by reinserting the safety pin  52 . 
     In one embodiment, the triggering mechanism  51  may include a lever  53  attached to the triggering pin  49  that enables the triggering pin  49  to be withdrawn from engagement with the rod  24  by actuating the lever  53 . A first end of the lever  53  may be connected to the triggering pin  52 , while a second end of the lever  53  may reside within a slot in the handle  55  of the device  1 . The lever  53  may be pivotable about a pivot point  57  positioned between the triggering pin  52  and the handle  55 . The handle  55  may be of any appropriate design, and in one embodiment it may be similar to a shovel D-handle. To actuate the triggering mechanism  51 , the user simply presses the second end of the lever  53 , moving it within the slot in the handle and causing the lever to pivot about the pivot point  57 . The corresponding movement of the first end of the lever causes the attached triggering pin  52  to withdraw from its engagement with the rod  24 , enabling the rod  24  to move within the bore  2  in the shaft  2 . 
     As previously noted, the guide arm assembly  10  is provided ensure that the device  1  remains in close contact with the ship&#39;s hull by sandwiching the hull between the guide arms  14  and the levers  12  (and seal  16 ). Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the guide arm assembly  10  comprises a collar  54  that fits around the circumference of the shaft  2  so that it is slidable along the shaft. The collar  10  has a plurality of guide arms  14  connected thereto so that as the collar slides along the shaft, the guide arms  14  slide with it. Thus, when the extendable lever assembly  8  is configured in the extended position and engaged with the outside of the ship&#39;s hull, the guide arm assembly  10  is movable along the shaft (typically by hand) until the guide arms  14  engage the inside of the hull. 
     The collar  54  may include one or more pawls  56  configured to engage a plurality of ratchet teeth  58  formed in or on the surface of the shaft  2 . The ratchet/pawl arrangement is such that the guide arm assembly  10  can be freely movable along the shaft  2  in the direction of the extendable lever assembly  12  (indicated by arrow “C”) but can be restrained from reverse movement (direction indicated by arrow “D”). As the assembly  10  moves in direction “C” the pawl  56  slides up and over the ratchet teeth  58 . The pawl  56  can be spring biased, forcing it down into engagement with the ratchet teeth  58  and preventing the assembly  10  from moving in the reverse direction. 
     In one embodiment, spring biasing is achieved by disposing a spring  59  in or on the collar  54  to press a first end of the pawl into engagement with the corresponding ratchet teeth  58 . The pawl itself may be attached to the collar  54  by a pin connection. This pin connection  61  enables a user to disengage the pawl from the ratchet teeth by pressing down on a second end of the pawl. This pressing movement overcomes the spring force and lifts the pawl out of engagement with the teeth. 
     To operate the device  1 , the user holds the device by the handle  55  and folds down and opens the guide arms  14  to the extended position (see  FIG. 1B ). The user may then pull out the safety pin  52  thus arming the device for use. Once the safety pin  52  is removed, the user holds the device  1  with one hand by the handle  55  and places his other hand on the shaft  2  beyond the guide arms  14 . From this position the user may further manipulate the device, and with his hand holding the handle  55  he can thrust the device  1  into the hole  18  in the hull where the water is rushing in. 
     The user can thrust the device into the hole  18  until the guide arms  14  either make contact with the inner surface of the hull  22  (letting the operator know that the device will cover the hole in the hull) or until the guide arms  14  pass through the hole (letting the operator know that the hole is bigger than the device can efficiently cover). In the latter case, the guide arms  14  can be extended in the manner previously described) to allow the device  1  to cover the hole  18 . 
     Once the device  1  is in position, the user pushes down on the lever  53  with his thumb. This raises the pin  52  out of the rod  24 , enabling the spring  28  to expand, moving the rod  24  and the piston  34  toward the folding lever assembly  8 . The piston  34  pushes the extendable levers  12 , which fold out, along with the polymer cover, to cover the hole  18  in the hull. The levers and seal are held again the outside of the ship&#39;s hull by the force of the guide arms pushing against the inside of the hull, and the ratchet/pawl arrangement holds the guide arm assembly in place. 
     In the illustrated embodiments, the guide arms  14  are attached to the collar  10  at 90 degree intervals, equally spaced around the device&#39;s center line. As noted in relation to the folding levers  12 , it will be appreciated that the number of guide arms  14  is not critical, and greater or fewer guide arms may be provided as desired. 
     As shown in the figures, the guide arms can be foldable to reduce the total amount of space required for the device. The guide arms  14  may be extendable by unfolding, or they may be axially extendible, or a combination of both so that the device is relatively compact in the stowed position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7C , each guide arm  14  may comprise multiple arm segments  14 A,  14 B,  14 C that can be adjusted with respect to each other to provide the guide arm with a desired length. The first segment  14 A may be connected to the collar  54  of the guide arm assembly. The second segment  14 B may be connected to the first segment via a pin joint  60  so that the second segment  14 B can be pivoted (see  FIG. 7C ) between a stowed configuration ( FIG. 7B ) and a deployed configuration ( FIG. 7A ). The pin joint  60  may include a quick release pin to allow quick pivot adjustment of the first and second segments  14 A,  14 B with respect to each other. This quick release pin can also enable the second and third segments  14 B,  14 C of one or more of the guide arms  14  to be removed if they would interfere with the cinching of the device against the hull. 
     The third segment  14 C may be telescopically associated with the second segment  14 B so that in the stowed position at least a portion of the third segment  14 C is received within the second segment  14 B. A quick release pin  62  may be provided for each guide arm  14  to allow the third segment  14 C to be adjusted with respect to the second segment  14 B. A plurality of pin-receiving holes  64  may be provided in the second and third segments  14 B,  14 C to allow the guide arm  14  to be adjusted to a variety of desired lengths, depending upon the particular application. 
     As previously noted, The guide arms  14 , once opened, may be used as a guide to inform the user about whether the device  1  will be able to completely cover the hole  18  in the hull. If the guide arms  14  can engage the inside of the hull, the device  1 , when fully deployed, will cover the hole plus an area about six inches around the hole. It will be appreciated that the device can be manufactured in any of a variety of different sizes to cover different size holes. In one embodiment the device is sized to cover a hole in the hull having a diameter of about 12 inches, with an overlap of 6 inches all around the opening. For larger holes, two of the devices can be used side by side, although they may not be as strong as a single device because they will have to support each other at the point where they overlap. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.