Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-16

trapped in sunken submarines our
ing tragedies like that of only
few weeks ago-the sinking Of the
British submersible Poseidon under
% fathoms Of water off the coast Of China
when 10 members of the crew were drowned?
Experts of the United States Navy think so.
They point with pride to the sensational new
diving bell just developed under the supervision
of Lieut.. CoIndr. A, E. Mccain, y. S. N. noted
submarine authority, and with major details
of technical construction handed by Lieut..
Com6r j. w. Page
The new rescue chamber is expected to
repolutionize modern rescue methods for it
was designed to save up to 20 men at time.
Indeed officials point out that the bell is the
1inal and probably the most important device
in a long series developed since the tragic sink
ing Of the S-4 OF Cape Cod Bay several years
ago This terrible accident, combined with
an aroused public opinion, literally forced the
Navy to immediate action, and ever since then
Uncle Sam has been conducting what is prob
ably the most extensive study of submarine
tragedies ever undertaken by any one nation
m appearance the bell resembles a giant
pear. It is a huge steel chamber, inside Of
which is q closed section controlled by too
operators. The bell is designed to operate with
positive buoyance, from a tender stationed at
the waters surface, down along the guidehne
TO the wrecked submarine, attach itself by vacu-
Um and sea pressure 70 the face Of the sub
marine and offer speedy way Of escape for
the crew members trapped below.
The most revolutionary phases Of the new
device are these: that 1t may be controlled
from within, continues to be stable during
the entire descent and is buoyant enough 10
swing independent Of the motion Of the tender.
Moreover t4aL chamber is believed 10 be
H.Saw IN he
utilized to advantage at depths between 400
and 600 feet. Important tests at these depths
viii be conducted soon by the nAyy's best div
inc experts at the submarine bases at New
London. Conn San Diego, Calf; Pearl HarbOE.
Coco Solo, Canal Zone and Cayite, Philippine
Islands Prior TO these tests at the i've sub
marine bases, preliminary experiments with the
hen vii be conducted with the reeondiuoned
Sd OF the coast Of New London.
During the journeys TO Davy Jones locker
and back, the two operators Of the bell can
maintain telephone communication at all
times with men stationed on the tender by
means OF batteryless telephone. High-powered
searchlights are carried within the chamber 50
as 10 light up the darkness around the oceans
bottom
THE exact operation of the bell is described
rs follows by Lieut.. Comdr Mccain: The huge
steel chamber is propelled by self-cOntai1ed alr
motors which slide the bell down to the deck
Of the submarine steel cable which pre-
VtOyEiF has been hooked 10 an eye on AdAS
hatch of the submarine by 3 skilled diver. The
bel itself Is operated by two men, who remain
IN an air-tlght upper compartment
The lower half of the bell is open 70 the
sea The bell is drawn around the hatch OF
the submarine, and a rubber gasket presses
tightly against q circular steel plate around
the hatch and completes a seal. Whereupon
tlae water in the lower part OF the chamber Is
expelled making the chamber a giant vacuum
cup which Is held rigldly to the deck by the
pressure Of the water outside. In case the
proper vacuum conditions do not prevail, the
bell may be elamped down with bolts by
diver
when the lower compartment Is empty OF
water 1t is possible for the two men IN the
upper section Of the bell TO open a watertght
hatch, descend TO the deck Of the sunken sub
marine and escort the crew of the craft into
the bell itself The number Of those who thus
can be escorted is limited only by the space
Of the upper chamber However, II is estimated
that about 20 men, including the crew Of the
bell, can crowd into this chamber in extreme
emergencies.
GN lHEN the rescued men are safe in the
Wv upper compartment the next step Is
for the two operators Of the bell to replace the
cover hatch, reflood the lower compartment
by. a mere turn Of the lever, and the bells
bUoYancy causes IL "a break away. and rise
TO the surface, Speed Of rise may De reep-
lated by hrakin0 device conneC6ed with the