Patent GB-158561-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to submarine salvaging and exploring apparatus
IPC: B63C11/38
Filed: 1921-01-26
Abstract: 158,561. Lake, S. Feb. 7, 1920, [Convention date]. Submarine vessels; dredgers. - Apparatus for submarine salvage and exploration, dredging, or like operations comprises a surface vessel 1, Fig. 1, and a submarine 7 connected thereto by a tube 5 having a swivelling connection 6 with the submarine and mounted on a universal joint 4 in a well 2, at the bow of the vessel. The tube is stayed by guys 12, which run over pulleys 11 on pontoons 8 connected to the vessel by arms 9 pivoted at 10. Lateral guys 22 are also provided, and parallel guys 27, 28, maintain the submarine in a horizontal position. Cushioning devices consisting of a piston 15, Fig. 13, working in a fluidfilled cylinder 14 connected to a pressure tank 21 may be used on the guys. A cable 15 runs from the piston-rod 16 round a pulley 18 attached to the guy 19, and thence to a winding-drum 20. The universal joint 4 is of the ball-and-socket type, the socket having trunnions journaled in brackets mounted on the vessel, or the trunnion bearings may be mounted in cross-heads 34, Fig. 17, slid. ing in guides 35, and connected by rods 36 to pistons 39 working in both directions against fluid pressure in cylinders 38, the upper and lower ends of the cylinders being in communication with two pressure tanks, so that the tube 5 may be kept in proper relation to the surface irrespective of the trim of the vessel. The tube 5 is provided with a branch 42 at its upper end, and cleats and rail. ings in its interior by means of which operators can descend to the submarine, and extends into a well 145, Figs. 2, 7, and 8, in the stern of the submarine, guides 146 being provided for lateral support, and passages 43 in the hollow trunnions 44 of the swivelling connection 6 give access to the interior. At the bow of the submarine is an observation and control compartment 47, with windows 47', telephones, and control apparatus. This compartment is in communication with the stern compartment 48 through a duct 49, Fig. 10, extending through but isolated from the other compartments, so that the fore compartment may be under atmospheric pressure. The working ccmpartment 50 is provided with trap. doors 52 giving access to diving chambers 53 which open to the sea, but are normally closed by gates 54 sliding in guides 55 and operated through rack- and-pinion gear by hand-wheels 57. Observation windows protected by sliding shutters 60 are provided. Aft of the chamber 50 are compression and decompression chambers or air locks 65, 66, 67, and 68 with air-tight doors 69, and below are ballast chambers w. A companion way 73 leads to the deck 72. A collar 76 on the tubular mast 74 carries a boom 75 and may be rotated in either direction by the motor 87 through gearing comprising reversing clutches and a brake. Hoisting- drums 89 for the derrick are also driven by the motor 87 through clutches. Mounted below the mast is a pair of traction wheels 94 adapted to be moved vertically by an air cylinder 96, and driven through gearing from the shaft 100 which is driven by a motor 186. The wheels may be turned about a vertical axis by a band-wheel 109 through worm gearing 107. To facilitate lateral movement of the submarine, propellers 25 and 26 are provided, both driven by the motor 114, the upper propeller being mounted to as to swivel on a bearing 123, while the lower is housed in a transverse tunnel. For salving sunken cargoes such as coal or ore, a flexible suction tube 147, Fig. 2, provided with a rigid nozzle 149 and suspended from the derrick, is used. This tube is connected to a pipe 150, Fig. 20, carried by the tube 5, which has a telescoping section at its lower end. At the upper end is a Y connection 153 communicating through swivel points 155 in line with the ball-and-socket joint 4, to the suction and delivery sides of a pump 156, valves 158 and 163 being placed in each branch. When raising a cargo, the valve 158 is opened and the valve 163 shut; water carrying the raised material will then be discharged from the pipe 159 and may be received on a screen. When it is desired to raise a sunken ship by pumping into the hull a material of low specific gravity, the valve 158 is closed, the valve 163 opened, and the material fed into the hopper 160. Water will be drawn through the valve 161, and will carry the material through the pump and down the pipe 150 to the wreck. In a modification of this part of the apparatus, the branches of the Y connection are rigid and are carried out-board and act as lateral struts to the tube 5, their converging ends being secured to a bracket sliding thereon. The pumping mechanism may also be used for dredging. For use at great depths, a chamber 188, Fig. 27, equipped with tools and grabs, and manipulated by an operator therein is employed. Fig. 27 shows the operation of salving cargo from a sunken ship. This chamber is suspended from the boom 75, and communicates with the submarine by means of a pressure-operated telescoping tube 183, and an armoured flexible tube 185, with ball-and-socket joints 171, 184, 180.