Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
[Communicated from abroad by MIDFORD PNEUMATIC SALVAGE COMPANY,
of 45 Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels.
I, REGINALD WALTER BARKER, of Monument Chambers, King William
Street, London, Middlesex, Patent Attorney, 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 :-
I also
In the employment of caissons, pontoons or the like for the purpose of raising
sunken vessels, recourse must be had to some expedient whereby such caissons &c.
may be conveniently lowered in the water to the wreck to which they are to be
connected, and such caissons to prove effective in practice must be so arranged that
they or a series thereof, may be rendered buoyant by simultaneous inflation, and
for ease in manipulation, preferably from a common supply. To this end and for
the purpose of providing apparatus which can be connected to a sunken vessel by
divers, to raise such vessel, I have invented certain devices consisting essentially
of means governing the entry of air into what I term a service pipe, said service
pipe acting as a common supply for a series of caissons which are arranged along
its route, the said governing means comprising a valve which is held normally
closed by hydrostatic pressure and is opened by a greater air pressure.
provide in connection with the air supply valves in the aforesaid service pipe,
means whereby said valves which are normally open when the caisson contains
water, may be automatically closed when the water has been displaced by air.
Thus the water discharge ports are arranged to be closed by float valves, which
have a mechanical connection with the aforesaid valves. With the devices thus
far named and by the arrangement of caissons preferably in tiers along each side
of the vessel to be raised, the caissons at either side of the vessel being connected
by suitable means passed underneath the vessel, air may be pumped through a
single connecting pipe passing from a wrecking vessel provided with suitable
pumping mechanism to the service pipe. The caissons which were filled with water
to enable them to be lowered to the place of action, may be all, or a series of them,
charged simultaneously with air, and the water expelled, whereby the said caissons
are rendered equally buoyant.
A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby in the event of a
storm arising or it being otherwise necessary for the wrecking vessel to leave the
wreck for a time, the caissons which may have been wholly or partly inflated, may
have the air released, allowing said caissons to fill with water again and thus lie at
the bottom of the sea, their connecting pipe being then disconnected from the
wrecking vessel, buoyed, and anchored pending the return of the wrecking vessel
to the scene of action.
In order that my invention may be clearly comprehended and explained in detail,
I have annexed drawings hereto illustrating the various parts in detail and showing
their relative arrangement and co-operative connection.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 indicates in side elevation a sunken vessel, and shows my improved
salvage apparatus, adjusted thereto, said apparatus comprising series of caissons
arranged in tiers longitudinally along the side of the vessel, it being understood
that the opposite side of the vessel is similarly provided, the caissons on either

page_text: side of said vessel being connected together by chains passing underneath the
vessel.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, clearly
showing the arrangement of caissons on both sides of the vessel, and their
connection.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal view of a caisson, showing the air service
pipe and its connecting devices.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a caisson taken on the line 4-4 of
Fig. 3.
Figure 5 is an end view of a caisson."
Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of a caisson, showing
in detail the hydrostatic valve and its connection with the service pipe.
Figure 7 is a further detail view of the hydrostatic valve box, showing the
flap valve therein.
Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged detail views showing more clearly the valves
controlling the passage of air from and to the service pipe, the float valve, and the
connection between said valves; also showing the vertical branch pipe with its
valve employed in deflating the caisson.
Figure 10 represents several caissons in front elevation, showing their
arrangement, and manner of connection.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 are detail views showing a modified construction of
hydrostatic valve.
In the said figures the caissons are indicated by the letter A. These caissons as
shown by Figures 1, 2, and 10, are arranged endwise, in horizontal rows or tiers,
at each side of the vessel to be raised. The caissons are secured together by
chains a, said chains also being passed underneath the vessel in order to connect
the caissons at either side of said. vessel.
Each caisson is provided with an air service pipe B, which extends longitudinally
through the caisson A, and said pipes B, in adjacent caissons, are connected together
by a flexible coupling tube b. Preferably the caissons are so connected together
in series, each series being supplied with and controlled through a single supply
pipe C, which should be connected to the service pipe B of the outer caisson of a
series, the other end of said supply pipe C having communication with an air pump
on a wrecking vessel (not shown).
The caissons which I prefer to employ are elongated in form and of a somewhat
greater diameter at the centre than at the ends, to prevent the danger of their
collapsing from outer pressure, being also strengthened against expansion by the
hoops c. The brace rods d, connected at the ends e of the caisson, further add to
its rigidity.
The caissons A are each provided with one or more (preferably three) ports D,
whereby, when said caissons are put overboard, they may fill with water and sink
to the bottom, there to be adjusted and connected, to the sunken vessel by divers,
in the manner indicated in the drawings.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanism and means which I employ to
cause the water within the caissons to be displaced by air, to render said caissons
buoyant and capable of raising the suuken vessel to the surface, and the means
for governing the air passed into the caissons.
The service pipe B, within each caisson is provided with a valve E, which when
the caisson contains water, is normally held closed by hydrostatic pressure. Said
valve E comprises a shutter f which fits slidably in a groove or recess f' in pipe B,
dividing said pipe and preventing the passage of air therethrough. A stem f2
connects the shutters f with a piston head f3, which is arranged to move vertically
within a box f4. A spiral spring f5 is arranged between the piston head f3 and
the top of box 4, the tension of said spring causing the shutter f to be normally
seated in its recess f. But a pipe g which affords an open communication between
the interior of box f4, above. the piston head f3, and the water outside; the
submerged caisson, enables the hydrostatic pressure to keep the valve a
normally

page_text: closed. is a pipe communicating between the interior of box f4, underneath the
piston head f3, and that portion of pipe B situate between the shutter f and its
exterior point. 92 is a pipe which communicates between the pipe B, on the
opposite side of shutter f, and the box f4, underneath piston head 3, its point of
communication being preferably opposite that of pipe g'. The pipes gl and g2,
are each provided where they enter box f4, with a flap valve g 3, which seat
respectively against the mouth of said pipes g' and g².
In Figures 11, 12, and 13 will be seen a modified construction of the hydrostatic
valve, and which I prefer to employ in practice.
J indicates the valve box and ka piston head contained therein. Said piston
bead is provided with a right angularly arranged annular flange enabling it
to slide or move freely in a vertical line within the box J. A gate valve K is
connected to the piston head k by a swivelled piece k 2, said gate valve K, when
closed operating to shut off the pipe B, in the same manner as the shutter fof
valve E, previously described. Above the piston head k, free communication
is established with the exterior of the caisson, by a pipe l, which abuts from the
top of box J.
Below said piston head k are arranged two valves m and m', one
upon either side of gate valve K, and each of them when open, communicating
with the interior of pipe B. Said valves mand m', each consist of a box n, a disk n¹
therein and held downward to close an aperture o leading into pipe B, by a spring n 2;
holes 3 being provided around the box n, said holes being situate above the
normal seated position of disk n'.
F indicates valves which, when the caisson is emptied of water, serve, one each,
to close the ports D. Said valves F are made of some buoyant material as cork,
or are rendered buoyant, so that when the caisson contains water, the said valves
will be floated away from the ports D. A guard and guide way h serves to limit
the play of said float valve and directs it to its seat. indicates a vertical rod
which is passed through a guide slot h2 in guard h and is connected to the float
valve F. A bar i is arranged approximately right angularly to said rod h¹, being
pivoted at one end to the upper end of said rod . Said bar is weighted at its
free end as by weight, or otherwise, and said bar i is pivotally supported, as
at i2 by an arm i3 of a bracket i4, which is suitably sustained, as will appear
hereinafter.
G indicates a plug valve, which is connected to and communicates with the
interior of pipe B. Said valve G supports the bracket 4, whose other arm i 5,
shaped as a crotch at its upper end, serves as a guide for the bar i. The stem 6
of the valve G is provided with a slotted portion i7 at its upper end, the bar i
being passed through the slot. By the connection thus described between the
valve G and float D, it will be seen that the one is controlled by the movement
of the other. The mouth of the valve G has a flap valve i8, seating inwardly,
the same being shown (in Fig. 8), partly raised, for the purpose of clearer
illustration.
H indicates a vertical branch pipe which is supported upon, and communicates
with the interior of pipe B. The upper end of said pipe H is preferably arranged
right angularly to its length, so that the line of its mouth shall be approximately
vertical, as indicated in Figure 9. Also in the same figure will be seen a flap
valve j, pivoted at j', so as to swing downwardly, and having an outward
bearing, as indicated at j 2.
I indicates a spring safety valve, the same being arranged to open against a
given pressure.
J is an opening in the end of the caisson, whereby access can be had to its
interior, the said opening being suitably closed and secured, as shown.
The modus operandi of the apparatus is as follows:-
Assuming the caissons A to have been filled with water, sunk to the bottom,
and connected to a sunken ship, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a supply pipe C
connected to each series of caissons by being coupled at one end of pipe B in
the first caisson of the series, and it being remembered that normally the valves E

page_text: in each caisson are closed by hydrostatic pressure, it will be seen that the air which
is now pumped through pipe C will pass through pipe gl into the box f4 beneath
piston head f3, or into box J, through box n. Being prevented by flap valve 93,
or by valve m in the modified construction, from passing through pipe g2 or its
equivalent, the pressure will quickly force up the piston head f3 or k against the
hydrostatic pressure, which action will of course remove the shutter for K from
the path of pipe B, and the passage will thus be clear through the length of said
pipe in that particular caisson and through the coupling pipe to the succeeding
caisson. The valve E in said second caisson is overcome in the same manner, and
so, in quick succession are the valves E opened in the caissons of the series, tlie
pipes B throughout the entire series of caissons being thus formed into a continuous
service pipe. Said pipes B thus charged inflate simultaneously all the caissons of
the series through the valves G, the air thus entering the caissons serving to expel
the water therefrom through ports D. In this connection 1 may say that the
function of the weight at the free end of bar i, is to act as a counter balance-to
prevent the suction caused by the outflowing water, from seating the float F. When
the water has been expelled from the caisson as from each of the caissons of the
series and sufficient air pressure has accumulated within the caisson to seat the float
valve F, the action of such seating, communicated through rod ', bar i, and
stem 6, will automatically close the valve G and thus shut off further air supply
from pipe B. The caissons, thus inflated, will perform their duty of raising the
sunken vessel.
The stand pipe H is provided for the contingency of a storm or some other
emergency arising when perhaps the caissons may have been wholly or partly filled
with air, and it becomes necessary to sink them again so that they be not lost or
damaged, whilst the wrecking vessel seeks a place of greater safety. With the
provision of said pipe H, and the aid of pipe g2 or its equivalent, and flap valve i8
it is only necessary to slowly open the pipe C, and to buoy and anchor it so that it
may be found again. The air pressure within the caissons will open valve j and
passing through pipes H and B, will open shutter f, or K, by passing through
pipe 2 into the box 14 and forcing up a piston head f3, or through valve m
into box J, forcing up piston head k. The flap valve g3 of pipe g', or the disk n'
in box m, serve to prevent the air from passing out without raising shutter for K.
The function of the flap valves i8 in this connection, is to become seated against
the mouth of valve G owing to the action caused by the passage of air through
pipe B in exhausting, and thus said flap valves prevent the water, which by the
exhaust of air will enter at ports D, from passing through valves G into pipes B
and H. It will be noticed that the caisson is deflated through a valve j situate in
the higher position of the caisson, but should water be permitted to pass up said
pipe H, it would close the valve and prevent the air from escaping. Hence the
importance of said valves i 8.
I am aware that various modifications or improvements may be employed without
departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore do not wish
to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, a series of caissons in a row, a
service pipe in each caisson, and connecting pipes between adjacent caissons, and
a single supply pipe connecting with the service pipe in one of said caissons, together
with valves normally closing the passage of each of said service pipes, substantially
as set forth.
2. In a caisson for raising sunken vessels, the combination with a water exit
port, and a float valve to close the same, of a counter balance for said float to
prevent it from, closing by the suction of outgoing water, substantially. as set
forth.

page_text: 3. In a caisson for raising sunken vessels, the combination with a water exit
port, and a float valve to close the same, of a weighted lever pivotally connected
with said float valve, and acting as a counter balance, substantially as set forth.
4. In a caisson, an air service and discharge pipe passed therethrough, a valve
in said pipe, said valve closing by hydrostatic pressure, and a connection between
said pipe and valve from either side of the valve, whereby a greater pressure
passed through said pipe in either direction will cause the said valve to open,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a caisson, a service pipe passed therethrough, a vertical branch pipe
communicating with said service pipe, and a valve in said branch pipe permitting
egress from, but preventing ingress to said caisson, substantially as set forth.
6. In a caisson having a service pipe passed therethrough, and an opening from
said pipe to the caisson, a valve arranged to close said opening by the passage of
air through said pipe, substantially as set forth.
7. The improvements in apparatus for raising sunken vessels, substantially as,
and for the purposes herein before described, set forth, and illustrated in the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 20th don of Man 1900
REGINALD W. BARKER.