Propellers and other Operations under water.
Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by HENRY PHILLIPS KIRKHAM, of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, Shipwright.]
Propellers and other Operations under water.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declaro the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is in the nature of an improvement in portable caisson and the
invention consists of a portable caisson constructed in the manner hereinafter shown
and described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents the caisson submerged as in use.
Figure 2 is a side view of the caisson partly in section.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken in the line x, x Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on the line y, y Figure 2 and
Figure 5, a plan or top view of the caisson.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.
The chief purpose of this invention is to enable the crew of a ship to make minor
under water repairs and so avoid the delay and expense incident to putting the vessel
on the dock for that purpose, besides permitting repairs of this character to be made
during the voyage and allow the vessel to proceed with safety without materia!
delay.
Among these minor repairs may be mentioned the loss of a propeller blade, which
is so common an accident that ships propelled by such means invariably carry duplicate
blades on board to replace the broken arms, but this replacing necessitates docking
the ship so that the duplicate blades are really not available until the vessel has
reached port after a lengthened voyage possibly made dangerous by the loss
sustained.
•

page_text: There are many other minor repairs such as the starting of a plate in iron ships and
the like, to repair which the present invention will be found useful, but since the
drawings show its application to the repair of a propeller blade I will confine, my
description of its application to that purpose.
Referring to the drawings A represents the caisson which may be of any convenient
size, and made of any suitable material, consistent with the purpose for which it is
designed. The form of the caisson is shown in the Figures 4 and 5. It is divided.
into three compartments B, C and D. The middle compartment C is convex on one
side as at a, and concave on the other as at b, and this middle compartment is separated
from the compartments on either side of it by water tight partitions e and f. These
partitions extend the entire length of the compartments as is seen in Figure 2, but
the compartment C as is also shown in that Figure is of less depth than the side com-
partments B and D these side compartments extending somewhat below the middle
compartment and thereby forming a space E between the lower projections g and / of
the side compartments which is unoccupied.excepting.when the caisson.is in use, as
hereinafter mentioned. The caisson is on all its sides tightly closed and rendered
waterproof excepting at its top side, which may or may not be closed by a cover or
other temporary means. In the convex side or concave side a of the middle com-
partment, or in both sides if desired are inserted.windows.k and in the concave side a
window the last named window being near the bottom of the compartment, or in
such a position as to enable a man when kneeling or sitting within the compartment
to see out of it. Also to the concave side b-and below the window are fixed flexible
tubular sections, F, terminating at their outer ends in mittens or gloves m, perforations
being made through the caisson corresponding to the openings in these tubular sections.
If desired the upper ends or tops of the side compartments B and D may be closed by
plates n, having manholes p to permit access to the said compartments, the said man-
holes being provided with suitable covers in the ordinary way. The centre compart-
ment C may have fitted to it a cover G hinged thereto; At or. near the bottom of the
prolongations y and of the side compartments B and D are fitted valves s operated
by valve stems t which extend through the compartments, and terminate in the hand
wheels v. Also in the compartments B, and D, may be inserted pipes w terminating
at their upper ends in a yoke pipe y. The caisson may be provided with suitable
eyebolts to which guys and hoisting chains H and J may be attached.
Now in the foregoing construction the caisson is in this way operated. Should it
be desired to replace a broken propeller blade the caisson with suitable tackle is lowered
over the ship's quarter, the valves s having been previously opened by operating hand
wheels the water in this way being permitted to enter the side compartiments B
and D and assist in sinking the caisson and also serve as ballast to maintain it in a
steady vertical position. The caisson descends with its concave side b facing the edge
of the broken propeller blade until the caisson rests on one of the blades which has
been turned to a horizontal position for that purpose the horizontal blade being secured
in the space E, as is shown in Figure 1. Then by means of suitable guys the caisson
is confined in that position, and the broken blade that is to be replaced is brought
within the reach of a man within the caisson, the concave side 6 bringing the hub of
the propeller shaft to which the blades are attached within easy reach of the operator,
since the swell of the blade can be received to some extent within the concavity of the
side 6 while the convex side a affords an increased space in the interior of the caisson
for the operator to occupy.
The caisson now in position, the operator within it kneels or sits down, thrusts his
arms into the tubular sections F and his hands into the mittens m and grasps a hammer,
wrench or other tool that has been lowered to him from above, and proceeds to remove
the remains of the broken blade and replace it with the new blade which has also been
lowered to him from above. The repairs being made the caisson by tackle is hoisted
up, the ballast water within the compartments B and D, finding exit through the open
valves s and the caisson is then stowed away and the ship proceeds.
On board ship the space that the caisson would occupy may be utilized by using the
caisson for a water tank or for stowing within it anything desired.

page_text: Under some circumstances as when a vessel has reached port and requires some
minor under water repairs, but is without a caisson, by closing the manhole p and the
cover G, and the valves s, the caisson may be towed to the vessel and sunk as described,
and when the repairs are made a pump on board the tug may be attached to the yoke
pipe y and by means of the pipes w empty the compartments B and D of the ballast
water and the caisson be towed ashore.
It must be understood in the foregoing description of the operation of the improved
caisson that when in use it is not wholly submerged, its top projecting above the
surface of the water, and the cover G left open, so that the operator below may have
both light and air, the windows k also admitting light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is:
First. A caisson consisting of three water-tight compartments, separated by water-
tight partitions, provided with windows and tubular flexible arm sections, which
terminate in mittens or gloves, whereby an operator may make repairs as and for the
purpose described.
Second. In a subaqueous caisson, the flexible tubular and gloved arm sections
permanently fixed to the caisson, combined with a window located and constructed to
permit the operator to guide his arms in the said tubular sections, as and for the
purpose described.
Third. In combination in a subaqueous caisson a middle compartment of less length
than the compartment on each side of the same whereby a space E without a bottom
is formed which enables the caisson to straddle a projecting object, as and for the
purpose described.
.
Fourth. In combination a subaqueous caisson constructed with convex and concave
sides, with the means hereinbefore described for operating the said caisson, as and for
the purpose described.
Fifth. A subaqueous caisson constructed with a concave or recessed side to receive
within it such projecting part or parts as need repairs, and bring the same within reach
of the operator in the caisson, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Dated this 24th da 01 April 1000.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.