DEVICE FOR SALVAGING OBJECTS ON THE SEABED

Abstract: A device (1) for salvaging objects on the seabed, e.g. sunken ships, submarines or other shipwrecked objects. The device (1) is in the form of a raisable and submersible dry-dock (1) with an extendable/retractable slip (2) with sliding/rolling guides (11). Furthermore the device (1) has controllable cranes (6) and winches (10) with means for securing and steering the shipwrecked object. The device (1) is pressure and depth-independent.

Description: Device for salvaging objects on the seabed. The invention concerns a device for salvaging objects on the seabed, e.g. sunken ships, submarines or other shipwrecked objects. Marine pollution is a growing problem to-day. For a number of years nuclear waste has been dumped in the sea and in addition several nuclear-powered vessels have been wrecked. One example is the soviet submarine "Komso olets" which went down near Bjørnøya in 1989. If this submarine amongst others remains lying on the seabed, sooner or later reactors and possibly weapons on board the vessels will start to leak. This will also apply to other radioactive material, such as barrels, reactors, etc. In recent times salvage operations and cleaning up of the seabed have become of more immediate importance due to these pollution hazards. At present there are several known salvaging devices. Amongst others the following patent publications can be mentioned: DE 2 902 917, DE 3 612 890, DE 406 643, DE 1 022 929, DE 138 599, GB 1 310 678, US 3 631 830, US 1 616 410, US 4 051 797, US 2 167 989, US 1 250 787, US 2 829 615 and US 3 722 448. US 4 051 797 describes a salvaging device comprising submer¬ sible elements which together with a surface vessel are con¬ nected to the wreck by wires. These wires are secured to the sides of the wreck by means of an explosive force. The wreck is freed from the seabed by detonating explosives under the wreck. US 829 615 concerns a rescue device comprising a dry-dock with ballast tanks, which are controlled from the surface. The dock is placed on the seabed and pulls the sunken vessel by means of a pulley system also controlled from the surface, into the dock. The ballast tanks provide the buoyancy. US 1 616 410 describes a device for raising sunken vessels from the seabed by means of wires which are passed under the vessel by means of a "claw or cable-pulling apparatus". None of the above-mentioned patent publications take into account possible sources of pollution such as radioactivity, etc. It is also known that salvaging operations have been performed or attempted with the use of large cranes with "gripping claws". These "claws" are very difficult to manoeuvre on account of ocean currents, etc. If such a salvaging opera¬ tion is unsuccessful, e.g. if the wreck either breaks up or works loose after the raising operation has begun, it will constitute a significant radioactive risk. In this case there can be a risk of releasing measurable emissions of radioactive materials into the upper layers of the ocean, and in the worst case also into the atmosphere. If such a rescue operation is conducted in the vicinity of Norway, it could also have dis¬ astrous consequences for the fishing industry and place a substantial damper on the export of fish. Thus it is desirable to provide a salvaging device which is capable of salvaging objects in the form of submarines, boats, aeroplanes, spacecraft, scrap, nuclear waste, etc. in a manner which does not pollute the environment. Furthermore it can be desirable for the device to be capable of performing operations on the seabed, such as positioning of oil installations, clean¬ up operations with handling/sorting of dangerous waste which, e.g., can be placed in radiation-proof containers. The object of the invention therefore is to provide a device which is in the form of a raisable and submersible dry-dock, and which simplifies such salvaging operations, while at the same time avoiding emissions in the form of, e.g., radioac¬ tivity from the salvage object. A particularly practical salvaging device is obtained when the device has no depth limitations. All of these objects are achieved with a device which is characterized by the features in the claims presented. The invention will now be described in more detail with the help of an embodiment which is illustrated by means of the drawings. The drawings comprise: fig. 1 is a side view of the device, fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device, fig. 3 is a side view of the device with extended support legs, fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device with a submarine ready for salvaging, fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device with a submarine secured and kept in position by means of support devices, fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the device with a submarine according to fig. 5, fig. 7 is a side view of the device during raising. In the drawing figs. 1-7 show the device 1 with an extendable and retractable slip 2, and with anchoring weights 3 with wires 8 provided on each side of the device 1. There are provided at least two hydraulically operated propellers 4 on each side of the device 1, see fig. 2. There are further provided robot cranes 6 on top of the device 1. These can be extendable and are equipped with different equipment according to requirements, e.g. a drill for oil prospecting, gripping and digging devices, etc. Furthermore there are extendable support legs 12 provided on at least one side of the device 1, for jacking up and down of at least one side of it. Fig. 5 also illustrates wires 10 together with hydraulic securing devices 13 for hauling in and securing salvage objects. Furthermore fig. 6 illustrates the dredging screw 5 provided in front of the slip 2, for removal of material, in order that the slip 2 can be manoeuvred in under the salvage object. The operation of the device 1 and miscellaneous equipment such as, e.g. a power supply for light, motors, cameras, etc. together with possibly the supply of air, is preferably performed via cables 7 from a surface vessel (not shown) , but the device can in principle also be designed to be "self-supporting" . All equipment is operated hydraulically from a unit (not shown) mounted on the device 1. Fig. 2 illustrates the device 1 viewed from above equipped with slip rollers 11 which can be hydraulically manoeuvred in the horizontal plane and are adjusted in height and angle in relation to the seabed. Furthermore the slip 2 is articulated in such a way that it can be controlled hydraulically in order to facilitate its positioning under the salvage object. The device 1 can also be covered by means of a watertight gate and possibly a roof (not shown) . The bottom of the slip 2 is equipped with a flat bottom to enable it to "float/slide" on the seabed. For special assignments a flat bottom 9 can be mounted over the slip 2 on which objects, such as barrels, reactors, etc. can be placed. The salvaging of a shipwrecked object, e.g. a submarine, can be performed in the following manner: The device 1 is lowered to the desired depth and positioned in f ont of the wrecked submarine by means of the propellers 4. The support legs 12 are extended, thus raising the rear edge of the device 1. The oveable slip 2 is then moved out and in under the submarine by means of the dredging screws 5. The dredging screws 5 which are provided in the front of the slip 2 dig their way underneath the submarine, see fig. 3. Furthermore the slip 2 is articulated and acts in conjunction with the support legs 12, thus following the shape of the submarine. The slip 2 is steered in slots and rollers on each side and also on the underside. When the slip ^ 2 has been moved out, thus enabling the submarine to be rolled on to the slip rollers 11, wires 10 are attached around, e.g., the tower of the submarine by means of the cranes 6. The submarine can then be pulled into the device 1 by means of the slot 2 and the wires 10. The slot 2 may be provided in such a manner that the actual slip rollers 11 are operated hydraulically and "roll" the submarine into the device 1. The submarine is secured by means of the wires 10 and the hydraulic support device 13 provided on the inside of the device 1. To ensure a safe and stable ascent the device 1 is equipped with weights 3 anchored in it by means of wires 8, which are left on the seabed. The wires 8 are paid out over the winch 14 on the device 1, and if necessary can interrupt the ascent if unforseen problems should occur. In order to neutralize the suction effect against the bottom, the device 1 is equipped with facilities for pumping water/air in between the device and the seabed. In the event of a pollution hazard the device 1 can be covered, thus completely encapsulating the submarine. The device 1 can then, e.g., be equipped with an extendable/retractable roof and a door or gate. In order to be on the safe side and to prevent pollution, a material can be introduced into the device 1 before it reaches the upper layers of the ocean, thus complete¬ ly preventing any form of leakage. This mass can, e.g., com¬ prise asphalt and may be transferred from a surface vessel through the connecting system 7. At great depths there can also be incorporated pumping stations or satellites which provide a replenishment of the supply of air, thus avoiding the necessity of transporting large quan¬ tities of air aboard the device 1. Such tanks can be provided at several depths below the surface. The device 1 is preferably also divided into several balancing chambers, at least two and preferably four, in order to obtain reliable control of the device 1 during movement up and down under loading. The device 1 is pressure and depth-independent, thus ensuring a stable ascent and descent regardless of depth. The device 1 can perform working operations on the seabed, such as, e.g. , research projects, cleaning up, mineral extraction, assignments for the oil industry and the like. It can also be equipped with an internal dry-dock or device which is placed on top of the slip 2 for handling objects, which due to the danger of pollution have to remain encapsulated even after they have been salvaged and brought ashore. Furthermore the device 1 can be equipped with a concrete mixing plant for mixing con¬ crete on the seabed. The device 1 is used at great depths (several thousands of metres) and in shallow water. The device 1 can be specially outfitted with equipment for the different purposes and will be generally adaptable, since it is pressure and depth-independent.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A device (1) for salvaging objects on the seabed, e.g. sunken ships, submarines or other shipwrecked objects, characterized in that the device (1) is in the form of a raisable and submersible dry-dock (1) with an extendable/ retractable slip (2) , the slip (2) being equipped with sliding/ rolling guides (11) , that there are provided controllable cranes (6) and winches (10) with means for securing and steer¬ ing of the shipwrecked object and possibly the slip (2) in and out of the device (1) , and that the device (1) is manoeuv- erable in all directions by means of propellers (4) and that • the entire device (1) can be balanced in the horizontal plane. 2. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slip (2) is adjustable in height and angle in relation to the seabed. 3. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slip (2) is articulated. 4. A device (1) according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the slip's (2) roller or sliding element is operated hydraulically. 5. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has equipment (10, 13) for securing retrieved objects. 6. A device (1) according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that the equipment for securing the retrieved objects is cranes (6) . 7. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device ^ (1) has adjustable support legs (12) on at least one side for jacking up and down of at least one side of the device. 8. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has equipment for neutral¬ izing the suction effect between the device (1) and the seabed. 9. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is equipped with at least one compressor. 10. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is provided with dredging screws (5) for removal of material below the salvage object. 11. A device (1) according to claims 1-10, characterized in that all controllable elements are remotely controllable. 12. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has at least two balancing chambers. 13. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is coverable.

Inventors: STROM EINAR, STROEM, EINAR
Applicants: STROM EINAR, STROEM, EINAR
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B63C7
IPC codes: B63C7