AN IM- PROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER OBJECTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hunter Rutherford, of the Town and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Physician and Surgeon, for the Invention of "AN IM-
PROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER
OBJECTS."
Sealed the 15th August 1876, and dated the 24th June 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Hunter Rutherford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
JOHN HUNTER RUTHERFORD, of the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Physician and Surgeon. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER OBJECTS."
This Invention relates to the application of hydraulic power to the raising and
recovering of sunken vessels and other bulky objects, and consists in a novel
arrangement of apparatus, which will admit of being floated over the sunken
vessel, and connected thereto by lifting chains, to serve as a sustaining platform
for resisting the strain of the submerged vessel on the connecting chains when they
are drawn taut by the action of the hydraulic lifting apparatus.
In order to raise a sunken vessel according to my Invention I provide two
buoyant hulls of a floating capacity sufficient to sustain the weight to be raised
while the same is submerged, and also to support hydraulic apparatus for drawing
in the chains or rods that are to be connected to the sunken vessel. These hulls
are connected together by a framework of longitudinal and cross girders upon
which the hydraulic apparatus is to be mounted, and they are held by this frame-
work at such a distance apart as will allow of the sunken vessel when raised taking
n position between the two hulls.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation; and Figure 2,
a plan partly in section of the general arrangement of my improved apparatus for
raising sunken vessels, and Figure 3 is a cross section of the same on the line 1, 2,
of Figure 2, shewing the mode of connecting the apparatus with a sunken
vessel.
In these Figures A, B, are the two hulls, and D, the sunken vessel; C, C, are the
transverse girders in pairs resting on the bulwarks, which may be strengthened by
longitudinal beams t, t; d, d, are hydraulic rams arranged in pairs. From the cross
heads i of these rams depend steel bars or links, which are attached to the wire
ropes passed under the keel of the submerged ship, as shewn in Figure 3.
[Price 8d.1

page_text: All the rams (see the enlarged detached views, Figures 4, 5, 6, and 8) are pro-
vided with emptying cocks r, r, Figures 4, 5, and 8, and at the junction of the
hydraulic tube g, g, with each pair of rams a stop back valve u is introduced for
the purpose of immediately closing, should any part of the hydraulic apparatus
break down or the hydraulic tube burst. The action of these valves under such 5
circumstances will be to close and keep the rams or pistons from descending until
the damaged part has been repaired. In front of the stop back valves u stop-cocks
or valves v are fitted for closing the communication with the pipes g when the
emptying cocks are to be opened to bring the piston down for another lift.
By referring to the plan, Figure 2, it will be observed that the power to work
the whole of the rams is derived from two engines E and E*, which communicate
by means of two or more hydraulic tubes g*, g*, passing from one hull to the other,
thus all the rams are alike connected with the supply pipes, and receive the same
amount of motive power when in working order, so as to produce a uniform strain
on each point of suspension.
Figure 4 is an enlarged part plan of one pair of girders supporting a pair of
rams, of which Figure 5 is an elevation, showing, as before mentioned, the positions
When the
of the stop back valve u, the stop-cock v, and the emptying cocks r, r.
piston has reached its highest position the wedge-shaped piece h (see Figure 8) is
put under the link pin to take the weight; the stop-cock vis then turned off, and
the emptying cocks r, r, are then opened. This will bring down the piston ready
to take another bearing. The emptying cocks are next to be closed, and the stop-
cocks v again opened to admit water under pressure below the rams.
Figure 6 is a section on the line 3, 4, of Figure 5 to show the steel bars, which
are made of a suitable length, so that when the rams are at the full lengths of their
stroke a wedge-shaped piece h may be placed, as shown in Figure 8, under a link
pin to take the bearing of the chain while the top links, shewn in dotted lines, are
being detached, and the cross head i and pistons brought down and made secure
for the next lift, as shown.
The hauling chains or wire ropes may be passed under the hull of the sunken
vessel by the aid of divers, as heretofore practised; but, in cases where the vessel
has sunk in the mud or sand, I prefer to employ the arrangement shewn at
Figure 7, which will enable me to lay them under the hull by the aid of mechanical
pressure.
The tube e, Figure 7, is formed in segments of a suitable radius, and may be
made, as shown in Figure 9, to contain two wire ropes, the ends of which are
secured in a cap or carriage k (see Figures 10 and 11) provided with wheels to run
on a tramway within the tube. There may be several of these carriages, as circumn-
stances may require. The cast-iron shaft 8 would be of sufficient size for working
conveniently therein, and at or near the bottom there would be a branch o secured
by a water-tight door h that would be forced open when the first segment of the
Water is prevented
tube is driven by the ram 1, and thrust down the branch.
entering by each segment being covered by a lubricant, but should any water force
its way in it falls into the sump, and is forced out by a force pump through the
After the segments have been pushed under the vessel, and made their
appearance on the other side, the ram and the working gear are removed to allow
the two ropes, fitted as shewn in Figures 9, 10, and 11, to enter the tube.
wheels of the carriage or carriages are placed on the tramway, and after the last
carriage has entered the tube the workmen ascend to the surface, and the rope is
allowed to travel at its own rate and knock off the cap n, and emerge from the
tube in readiness for the divers to pick up and attach to the steel bars hanging from
the cross heads. The shaft is then removed, leaving the rope to be attached to the
steel bars or links.
valve m
The
The arrangement shewn in Figure 7 is only required where the vessel has sunk
in the sand, as in the case of Her Majesty's ship "Vanguard."
Figures 13, 14, and 15 are a modification of this arrangement. In this instance
one or more flat or round bars of iron or hollow tubes, or better a plate of iron i

page_text: made to pass between the guide rollers w¹, w11, and the bending rollers w, w*.
This process causes the plate to take a curve, as shown, the radius of which is
governed by the position of the roller w*, which is provided with means of adjust-
ment to make the said plate take the curve of the branch o*. The rollers may be
placed in bearings a, a, Figure 15, and the bars, tubes, or plate forced between
them by hydraulic rams *, *, which act with a downward force upon the flange or
forging b, b, (Figures 13 and 15) suitably secured to the plate. When the pistons
have travelled their full extent, and driven the plate so far through the rollers, the
pistons are returned, and the flange readjusted for another propulsion of the plate.
This operation is repeated again and again until the plate is forced completely
through the branch o*, being supplied on its way with a lubricant, and followed by
a second plate (2, see Figure 13), which however is returned by a reverse action of
the rams as soon as the plate (1) is passed beyond the water-tight door *. The
return of the second plate causes the water-tight door to close from the external
pressure of the water. The shaft may now be removed to be used elsewhere,
leaving the two ends of the plate (1) protruding from the sand or mud ready to
have bolted thereon a forging to which the steel bars or links are attached, as
shewn in dotted lines in Figure 13.
To prepare the ends of this plate to receive the above-mentioned forging the
upper part of the branch o*, Figures 13 and 15, is furnished with holes p*, p*, for
the purpose of admitting the drilling tool of a portable drilling machine; the
plate being thus drilled the holes are not distorted by subsequently passing between
the rollers.
Where the density of the sand or mud is not great a small portable rolling mill
suitably arranged might be placed over the mouth of the branch, and the plate
passed vertically through it. The grip of the rolls would, in addition to producing
the curve, pass the plate onward through the branch into the sand or mud. This
arrangement would dispense with the hydraulic rams *, *, and might be driven
from the surface by any suitable gearing.
Guide wheels p, p, Figure 3, should be provided for receiving the links as they
ascend, in order that the strain on the outer rams may be perpendicular.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that my improved lifting
apparatus is applicable not only to the raising of sunken vessels, but also to the
recovery of other bulky submerged objects.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Method of
and Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels or other Objects," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The use of hydraulic apparatus supported on a floating structure for
raising, by the aid of suspension chains or rods, sunken vessels and other bulky
objects, in the manner and for the purpose above described.
Secondly. The arrangement of apparatus above described with reference to the
Drawings, for raising the load and sustaining the same during the intermittent
action of the hydraulic rams.
Thirdly. The means above described for passing wire ropes, chains, or bars
under the hulls of sunken vessels, as described with reference to Figures 7
and 13.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hunter Rutherford, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
JOHN HUNTER RUTHERFORD. (L.S.)