Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels or other Submerged Objects.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels or other Submerged
Objects.
I HUBERT SCHON, of 33 Second Street, Allegheny City in the County of
Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Moulder do
hereby declare 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for raising sunken vessels submerged articles,
materials &c. consisting principally of a marine vessel having a two-part hull,
with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidly connected with each
other overhead by a framework, and hoisting devices supported in the said vessel
and arranged to engage the sunken vessel, to raise the latter into the space
between the two hull parts.
The invention also consists in certain parts and details, and combinations of
the same, as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, with parts in section and a
sunken vessel raised;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a cross section of the same, on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the hoisting device with parts.in
section;
•
Figure 5 is an end elevation with part in section ;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the same; and
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the brake for the hoisting device
on the line 7-7 in Figure 3.
The vessel A, has its hull inade in two parts A1 and A2, placed a suitable
distance apart so as to form a free space to receive the vessel to be raised, as
hereinafter more fully described. The two hull parts A¹ and A' are rigidly con-
nected with each other overhead by a suitable framework A³, as plainly indicated
in the drawings. The bull parts A¹ and A' support at their adjacent ends the
cranes B and B respectively, adapted to swing obliquely from the hull parts to the
sides thereof, as plainly indicated in Figure 2, so as to stand with their outer ends
over the vessel to be raised.
The cranes B and B carry the grappling devices C and C' respectively, both
alike in construction, and adapted to be raised and lowered by the hoisting chain E,
forming part of each crane B or B'. The grappling devices C and C¹ are
adapted to engage a sunken vessel D, at the sides thereof, as plainly indicated in
Figures 1 and 2, at the time the grappling devices are lowered to the sunken vessel,
with the marine vessel A standing at right angles to the sunken vessel D, directly
over the same, as indicated in the drawings.
Referring more particularly to Figures 4, 5, 6 it will be seen that each hoisting
chain E of each of the cranes B or B is provided at its lower end with two branch
chains E and E2, connected with the ends of the arms F and F' respectively
fulcrumed at F on a bracket F, through which passes loosely a rod G, forming
part of the gripping devices for the grappling tongues F1 and F³, forming

page_text: extensions of the arms F, F,frespectively. The rod G is provided at its upper
end with a cross arm Gl, in which are secured two downwardly-extending pins G
and G adapted to engage loosely apertures in the connecting rods H and H¹
pivotally connected with the arms F and. F respectively. The free ends of the
said rods H and H₁ are fitted to slide in guideways H and H³ respectively,
pivoted on the arms F1 and F respectively.. This the rods H and H extend from"
their respective arins F and F horizontally or approximately so, to the arms F1
and F respectively.
.
J
Now, as long as the pins G and Glare in engagement with the said rods H.
and H', the grappling arms F and F are held in an open position, as indicated in,
Figure 4, but when the grappling device C or C₁ is lowered and the lower end of
the rod G strikes the deck of the sunken vessel D, then the pins G. and G³ are
withdrawn from the rods H and H', and consequently the weight of the grappling
devices F and F causes the latter to close, as the arms F and F¹ are now
unlocked owing to the withdrawal of the pins G and G. The grappling hooks F
and F now engage the hull of the vessel D, as indicated in Figure 1, and when
the chains E! E are raised by the windlasses on the cranes, the sunken vessel D
is carried within the grappling devices, and consequently raised to the position
shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is, the sunken vessel Ď passes into the space
between the adjacent ends of the hull parts A' and A².
At the time when the grappling devices C or C₁ are lowered, I attach to the
cross bar G and the rods H and H¹, a light cord I carrying a float I preferably
in the shape of a ball filled with air, as indicated in Figure 4. Now when the
rod G. strikes the vessel, it breaks the cord I between the cross bar G aud the
rods H, H',so that the float. I is liberated and quickly rises to the surface of
the water, thus indicating to the attendants on board of the vessel A that the
grappling hooks: Fi and E have closed upon the vessel D.,.
...
In order to prevent the cranes B and B from swinging out of their oblique
positions, as shown in Figure 2, in case of a rolling sea or other movement of the.
vessel A, I provide a brake-band J for the vertical shaft of each crane B, B, see
Figures 3 and 7. When the vessel D is raised to the position shown in Figure 19
then the vessel A, either by its own machinery and propelling mechanism is moved
to a landing, dock, or other place where the vessel D is to be delivered, or the
vessel A is propelled or moved forward by tugs or other marine vessels.
" Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion; and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is.
:.
1 1
S I
An apparatus: for, raising sunken vessels, comprising a marine vessel having
a two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidly connected
with each other overhead by a suitable framework, and hoisting devices supported
in the said vessel and arranged to engage the sunken vessel, to raise the latter into
the space between the two hull parts, substantially as shown and described.
2. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, provided with a marine vessel
comprising two hull parts placed a suitable distance apart longitudinally, and
framework for rigidly connecting the two hull parts with each other overhead,
substantially as shown, and described.
3. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprising a marine vessel having a
two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidly connected
with each other overhead by a suitable framework, two cranes held in adjacent
ends of the said hull parts, and grappling devices held on the hoisting chains of the
said cranes, substantially as shown and described.,.
4. An apparatus for raising sunken, vessels, comprising a marine vessel having a
two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidly connected
with each other overhead by a suitable framework, two cranes held in adjacent
ends of the said hull parts, grappling devices held on the hoisting chains of the
said cranes, and a locking and tripping device for holding the grappling forks

page_text: of the said grappling devices in an open position during the time the grappling
devices are lowered and for automatically releasing the grappling forks when
striking a vessel, substantially as shown and described.
5. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels comprising a marine vessel having a
two-part hull, with the parts placed a suitable distance apart and rigidly connected
with each other overhead by a suitable framework, two cranes held in adjacent
ends of the said hull parts, grappling devices held on the hoisting chains of the
said cranes, a locking and tripping device for holding the grappling forks of the
said grappling devices in an open position during the time the grappling devices
are lowered and for automatically releasing the grappling forks when striking a
vessel, and an indicator for indicating the engagement of the grappling forks with
a vessel, substantially as shown and described.
6. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels provided with a grappling device
comprising pivoted forks, arms extending therefrom, rods connected with the said
arms, and pins engaging the said rods and held on a slidable bar, substantially as
shown and described.
1
100%
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.