Patent GB-185151-A (GB)
Title: System of salving sunken ships
IPC: B63C7/16
Filed: 1921-03-31
Abstract: 185,151. Natale, E. March 31, 1921. Sunken ships, raising.-An anchor device for salvaging-apparatus of the type wherein a submarine vessel is employed to drill holes in the hull of a sunken ship and anchor devices are inserted in the holes, comprises an expanding hook formed in halves and provided with screwthreads adapted to engage screw-threads on a working-tool and on a blocking-member mounted on the shaft carrying the tool and having screwthreads adapted to engage screw-threads on the shaft. The forward wall 1, Fig. 1<a>, of the hull of the submarine vessel is strengthened by a plate 2 having holes, through each of which passes a cylinder 4 which can rotate in a stuffing-box 9. The inside end of the cylinder 4, Fig. 1, encloses a ring 6 of elastic material and is continued in a ring 7 carrying pressure screws 8. A toothed wheel 10 on the cylinder 4 is driven from a driving-shaft by a chain-transmission. A shaft 11 keyed to and free to run longitudinally in the cylinder 4 carries a cap 13 provided with holes 52 equal in number to the pressure screws 8, the cap 13 and the shaft 11 being connected by a screw 14 having a passage 15 and a screw 16. A yoke 17 connected to a travel mechanism encloses a knob on the screw 16. A shaft 19 carrying a cutter 20 screws into the shaft 11, and a hook 21, formed in two portions held together by bolts 23, Fig. 4, is connected to a cable from a mother ship. The bolts 23 are provided with racks and catches and are fixed in the under half of the hook 21, flanges 24 being adapted to rest on seats on the upper half, the two parts being held together by springs 25, Figs. 2 and 3, acting on levers 26, 26' provided with slots 27, 27<1> and stoppers 29. A block 32 is mounted loosely on the shaft 19. When a hole has been cut in the ship's plating, the cutter 20 is advanced until one-half of the hook 21 has entered the hole. The mother ship then pulls on the cable so as to open the hook, and the cutter 20 is advanced still further until a screw-thread 33 on the block 32 engages a thread 34 on the hook 21, a cross-piece 36 on the shaft 19 communicating movement to the block 32. The motion of the shaft 19 is then reversed, causing a thread 31 on the cutter 20 to engage with a thread 30 on the hook 21, and at the same time a thread 38 on the shaft 19 engages a thread 37 on the block 32. On continuing the reversed movement, the shaft 19 unscrews from the shaft 11. If the shaft 19 cannot be released from the shaft 11, a drawing-back movement is effected until the pressure screws 8 engage with the holes 52. The yoke 17 is then opened and the screw 14 drawn out so as to free the shaft 11. Compressed air may be injected through the passage 15 to aid the operation. Fig. 8<a> shows an arrangement in which the cutter can be utilized to fix pipes for admitting compressed air to the hull. The cutter 39 is hollow and has openings separated by radial ribs. Four vertical perforated sectors 40 carrying stoppers 43 are supported by arms 41 pivoted to rings 42 slidable on the shaft 50, and are provided with springs 44. A block 45 lined with rubber 46 has an annular groove 47, to which compressed air is admitted through a pipe 48. Washers 49 of rubber and canvas keep the whole water-tight. Fig. 9 shows a cutter arranged as a mine, electric conductors 55 being led into a chamber 54 containing a charge.