US2320948A - Automatic marine hitch - Google Patents

Description

June 1, 1943. c, MARTHEY 2,320,948

AUTOMATIC MARINE HITCH Filed Aug. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MARINE HITCH Clarence T. Marthey, Canton, Ohio Application August 17, 1942, Serial No. 455,054

12 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanism for locating and raising sunken vessels and more particularly to such mechanism carried upon a vessel and designed to be automatically put into operation when the vessel is found to be in a sinking position.

The invention has for its object the provision for mechanism carried upon a. vessel and adapted to be quickly and easily placed in a position to operate automatically to inflate and release a plurality of inflatable balls or buoys having light cables connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic hitch adjacent to the point where each inflatable ball o buoy is released and a headed sleeve designed to slide down the light cable and automatically operate the hitch for carrying heavier cables from a rescue vessel to the submerged vessel so that the same may be raised thereby.

A further object is to provide mechanism of this kind which will be automatically operated by compressed air when a series of valves areoperated.

Another object is to provide an air operated brake upon the drum which carries the light cable.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for inflating the inflatable ball or buoy through a flexible tube connected to the vessel and then automatically severing the tube so as to release the inflated ball and permit it to rise to the surface carrying with it one end of the light cable, the other end of which is connected to the drum upon the vessel.

A further object is the provision of a mechanical brake upon the drum which is automatically released when the inflatable ball starts to'rise toward the surface and automatically applied when the ball reaches the surface.

A still further object is the provision of mechanism such as above referred to all of which is enclosed in a water-tight chamber upon the inside of the ship and having a hinged door opening out through the hull or deck of the ship.

Another object is the provision of mechanism of this character in which the pressure within the water-tight chamber may be quickly equalized with the water pressure on the outside of the hull of the ship.

A still further object is to provide means for automatically opening the hinged door of the water-tight compartment to release the inflatable ball therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically movingv the automatic hitch outward through the open doorway of the water-tight compartment before the inflatable ball is released and permitted to rise to the surface.

Another object is the provision of a cylinder operated lock and seal for normally holding the hinged door of the water-tight compartment in closed position.

A still further object is the provision of pneumatic means for opening the hinged door after the lock thereon has been released.

A still further object of the inventionis the provision of an electric light bulb upon each inflatable ball arranged to automatically light as the ball rises towards the surface.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved mecha-. nism in the manner illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, in which- I v Figure 1 is a perspective view of a submerged vessel equipped with a plurality of units of the improved mechanism showing the same in various stages of operation from the time the ball is inflated and ready fo release to the time when the headed sleeve has slid down one of the light cables by gravity and become automatically locked to the hitch;

Fig. 2, an elevation partially in section'of one of the inflatable balls showing the manner in which the electric light bulb is automatically lighted;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view throughone of 7 the water-tight compartments showing the mechanism therein in the normal position;

Fig. 4', a section taken as on the line l4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the automatic hitch and shear blades and associated parts; and

Fig. 6, a section on the line B-6, Fig. 5.

Similar numerals throughout the drawings.

The invention includes a plurality of water tight compartments located around'opposite sides of the hull of the ship, and at each 'end of the deck if desired, the number of these compartments varying with the size and Weight of the vessel.

Each compartment contains one complete unit of the mechanism to which the invention perrefer to similar parts tains, including an inflatable ball or buoy with a light cable attached thereto and means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the shaft together with fluid operated cylinders for opening the door to the compartment and operating the various mechanism therein as will be further described in detail.

For the purpose of the disclosure one complete unit is illustrated and described in detail and it should be understood that any number of these units may be used depending upon the size and weight of the vessel equipped with the improved mechanism.

The water-tight compartments, indicated generally at.|0, may be located at spaced intervals around each side of the hull ll of the ship and if desired at each end of the deck l2, a sufficient number of compartments being provided to furnish the necessary number of cables to raise the vessel from the ocean bottom.

A door I3 is provided on the outside of each compartment being hinged thereto, preferably at its lower end, as indicated at M and provided with any suitable means for sealing the same so as to maintain the compartment in water-tight condition.

This sealing means may be in the form of a rectangular frame I5 slidably mounted around the door opening and having the down turned upper and lower flanges l6 and I1 respectively for engaging behind the upper and lower flange plates I8 and I9 respectively mounted upon. the door, and having the vertical flanges 29 at each side of the door opening for slidably engaging behind the flanges 2| carried by the door, the flanges 20' being provided with cut-out portions 22 to accommodate the flanges 2| when the rectangular frame 15 is moved to the locked position. Thus a combined seal and locking device is provided for the door.

For the purpose of operating the various mechanisms within the compartment ID a supply pipe 23 is provided, being connected to an air compressor, compressed air chamber or other source of fluid pressure.

A cylinder 24 is mounted upon the inside of the compartment 19, above the door opening, the piston 25 thereof being connected to the slidable rectangular frame l5, as indicated at 25.

Tubes 2'! and 28 respectively connect the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 24 to the fluid pressure pipe 23, through the valves 29 and 35 respectively.

A fluid gauge 3| is mounted upon the exteriorof the compartment l0 and connected by a pipe 32 with the interior of the compartment for indicating the pressure within the compartment. For the purpose of equalizing the pressure within the compartment with the water pressure outside of the hull of the ship, a pipe 33 leads from the outside of the hull to the interior of the compartment Ill being controlled by a valve 34 and having a fluid gauge. 35 thereon for indicating the water pressure on the outside of the hull.

An inflatable. ball or buoy 35 is housed within the compartment and connected by a flexible hose 31 with the fluid pressure. pipe. 23,,through a valve 38, a fluid gauge 39 being provided for indicating the pressure within the inflatable ball.

A check valve 4| is provided at the point of communication between, the: flexible hose 3'! and the ball 36 to-prevent escape of air from the ball when the hose 3'! is severed and a pop valve 4i is provided in the ball-for quickly deflating. the same when desired.

An electric light bulb 38 is fixed in the opposite side of the inflatable ball and connected by a wire 39 to the bateries 43 which are slidably mounted within the frame 4| to which the bulb is also connected as by a wire 42.

The inflatable ball is normally located in the compartment ID with the bulb 38 located at the bottom of the ball so that the batteries 40' are held out of contact with the contact point 43 at the lower end of the frame 4|. However when the ball floats in the position shown in Fig. 2 the batteries 40' by gravity will contact with the contact point 43 so as to illuminate the bulb 38.

A light cable 44 is, connected to the ball at a point diametrically opposite from the bulb 38 and leads from a drum 45 located within the compartment l0 and fixed upon a shaft 46 journaled in the bracket 41 which is mounted within the compartment.

An air operated brake, indicated generally at 48, is provided upon the drum 45 and arranged to be released by air pressure from the pipe 49 connected to the fluid pressure pipe 23 and provided with a valve 50.

An automatic brake 5| is also provided upon the drum and adapted to be applied as the ball reaches the surface of the water so as to prevent the light cable 44 from further unwinding or becoming tangled.

This automatic brake 5| is in the form of a metallic brake band located around the drum, the opposite ends thereof being connected as at 52 and 53 to a lever 54 on opposite sides of the fulcrum 55 thereof. A tension spring 55 is connected to the outer end of the lever 54 and to the bracket 41 for normally tightening the bracket band 5| upon the drum.

For the purpose of operating the brake 5| a lever 51 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the bracket 58 depending from the slidable block 59, which is mounted in the horizontal ways 60. a pulley 6| being carried by the bracket 58 and a pulley 62' being mounted on the forward end of the lever 59.

The cable 44 extends from the drum 45 over the pulley GI and over and around the pulley 62 and then upward through the automatic hitch indicated generally at 63 and carried by the sliding block 59 the cable 44 then extending down and being connected to the inflatable ball 36.

The inner end of the lever 51 is connected, as by a link 54, to a rocker arm 65 upon the rocker shaft 66, and a rocker arm 61 upon such shaft is connected by the link 58 to the upper end of the brake lever 54 so that an upward pull upon the forward end of the lever 5! will operate the lever 54 to release the bracket band 5|.

For the purpose of slidably moving the block 59 within the channel ways 60 a cylinder 69 is provided the piston 10 thereof being connected to a lug 7| upon the top of the block 59.

Flexible hose l2 and 13 lead from the forward and rear ends respectively of the cylinder 69 to the fluid pressure pipe 23, being provided with valves 14 and respectively-1 The automatic hitch, indicated generally at 63, includes a substantially U-shape bracket 76 pivotally mounted upon the block 59 as by the trunnion 11- and pivotally mounted therein, by

s means of the short shafts 18, is a plate 19 provided with a central opening 80.

A pair of hinged plates 8| are connected to opposite edges of the plate 19, as by the hinges 82, and normally held up against the bottom of the plate 79 as by the springs 83.

The plates 8| have cooperating, half round notches 84 in their swinging edges forming a circular opening somewhat smaller than the opening 80 in the plate 19 and registering concentrically therewith.

For the purpose of regulating the speed. of the drum 45 a governor may be provided including a steep pitch worm gear 85 mounted upon the drum shaft 46 and meshing with a worm screw 86 upon the vertical shaft 81 journaled in the bracket 41, a governor of conventional design, indicated generally at 80, being mounted upon the shaft 81.

In order to sever the flexible hose 3'! when the ball 36 is inflated a shear is provided comprising the stationary blade 89 connected to the cross bar 90, and the movable blade 9| connected to the slidable block 59. Each of these blades may be provided with V-shape cutting edges 92 and normally the flexible hose 31 is located between the blades as best shown in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of opening the door I3, when it is desired to operate the mechanism, a fluid cylinder 93 is located in the lower port on of the compartment I having its rear end swivelled as at 94 upon a bracket 95 fixed within the compartment.

The plunger 96 of the cylinder is pivotally connected as at 91 to an arm 98 connected to the lower portion of the door. Flexible tubes 99 and I00 connect the forward and rear ends respectively of the cylinder 93 to the fluid pressure pipe 23 through the valves IM and I02 respectively.

In the operation of the device, in the event a vessel is in sinking condition, or in the case of a submarine even after the same has sunk to the bottom, members of the crew operate each of the units to inflate and release the inflatable balls or buoys 36.

First the valve 34 is operated to permit water from outside of the hull to pass through the pipe 33 to the interior of the compartment I0 equalizing the pressure therein with the outside water pressure.

The valve 30 is then operated to raise the piston 25 of the cylinder 24 sliding the rectangular locking and sealing frame I5 upward so as to release the same from engagement with the upper and lower flange plates I8 and I9 and the side flanges 2 I.

The valve IOI is then operated. withdrawing the plunger 96 within the cylinder 93 and opening the hinged door I3. The valve 38 is then operated admitting air under pressure to the inflatable ball 36, inflating the ball and permitting it to be released from the compartment through the open doorway as shown at 36a in Figure 1.

When the gauge 39 registers suificient pressure within the ball the valve 15 is opened operating the cylinder 69 to move the sliding block 59 outward and at the same time operating the shear blade 9| to sever the flexible hose 3']. The check valve 40 prevents air from escaping from the ball when the hose is severed.

The valve 50 is then operated to release the air brake 48, permitting the drum 44 to unwind as the inflated ball rises to the surface of the water.

It will be seen that as the ball rises it pulls upward upon the cable 44 pulling against the pulley 62 and raising this end of the lever 57, the other end of said lever pulling down upon the link 64 and rocker arm 65 rocking the shaft 66 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, raising the rocker arm 61 and through the link 68 raising the free end or the lever 54, against the pull of the spring 66, releasing the brake band 5|.

As each ball 36 reaches the surface the pull upon the forward end of the lever 51 will stop permitting the spring 56 to pull the lever 54 downward applying the brake band 5| to the drum and preventing further unwinding or tangling of the cable 44.

As the ball 36 is released and starts to rise in the water it will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 the light bulb 38 being at the top of the ball while the batteries 40 will drop by gravity making contact at 43 and lighting the bulb thus indicating the position of the sunken vessel at night as well as during the day.

Each rescue vessel should be equipped with a plurality of heavy tubular sleeves I04 which may be several feet in length and to each of which is connected a heavy cable I05.

Each ball 36 is raised out of the Water b the rescue vessel and the light cable 44 is severed near the ball and one of the sleeves I04 is sli-d over the light cable and permitted to drop by gravity to the corresponding hitch 63 through which the cable 44 is located.

The diameter of the sleeve I04 may be substantially the diameter of the opening 84 formed in the opposed edges of the hinged plates 8I of the hitch and a tapered head I06 is provided at the lower end of the sleeve I04, of such diameter that it will just pass through the opening in the plate I9.

The sleeve will thus by gravity pass through the opening 80 and depress the hinged plates BI until the head I06 of the sleeve passes downward between said hinged plates at which time the springs will throw the plates back against the underside of the plate I9 the sleeve being thus automatically locked to the hitch.

When all of the sleeves I04 have beenlowered into position and locked to the various hitches the heavy cables I05 may then be pulled upward by a windlass or other suitable mechanism upon the rescue vessel raising the submerged vessel to the surface.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the-compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and p o d with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the under side of said plate. said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy ca'ble attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

2. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken Vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for: the compartment, locking means for the door, fluid cylinder means for unlocking the door, means foropening. the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the under side of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

3. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, fluid cylinder means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the under side oi said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

4. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, fluid cylinder means for unlocking the door, fluid cylinder means for opening the door, an infiatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the' cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates belowsaid plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the under side of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end. said head being. of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and: of larger diameter than the cutout portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

5. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball: will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a brake upon the drum, means controlled by the ball and cable for releasing the brake as the ball starts to float to the surface, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cutout portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

6. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a brake upon the drum, means controlled by the ball and cable for releasing the brake as the ballstarts to float to the surface, means for automatically applying the brake as the ball reaches the surface, a. hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cutout portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

7. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door,,means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, a flexible hose connected to the ball, a check valve at the point of communication between the hose and ball, means for admitting air under pressure through the hose to inflate the ball, means for severing the hose to release the ball from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

8. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, an electric light bulb in ball diametrically opposite to the point where the cable is attached to the ball, a battery in the ball, gravity operated means for electrically connecting the battery to the light bulb when the ball floats to the surface, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

9. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a pivoted hitch in the compartment comprising a pivoted plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an Opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tu-

bular sleevev having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said'sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light'cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

10. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels includinga compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in' the compartment, a flexible hose connected to the ball, a check valve at the point of communication between the hose and ball, means for admitting air under pressure through the hose to inflate the ball, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch slidably mounted in the compartment and comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cutout portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in the plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a blade carried by the slidable hitch for severing said hose, fluid cylinder means for sliding the hitch out of the compartment and simultaneously operating the blade to sever the hose and release the ball so that it will float to the surface, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

11. Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a vessel, a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, said locking means including a rectangu lar, flanged frame slidably mounted within the compartment around the door opening, flanges at the top, bottom and sides of the door cooperating with said flanged frame, fluid cylinder means for sliding the frame out of engagement with said flanges for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it will slide down the light cable'by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

12. Apparatus for locating; and raising sunken vessels including a compartment in a Vessel. a door for the compartment, locking means for the door, means for equalizing the pressure within the compartment with' the pressure outside of the vessel, means for unlocking the door, means for opening the door, an inflatable ball in. the compartment, means for inflating the ball and releasing it from the compartment when the door is open so that the ball will float to the surface, a light cable attached to the ball, a drum in the compartment upon which the cable is Wound, a hitch in the compartment comprising a plate having an opening therein, a pair of hinged plates below said plate and provided with cooperating, half-round cut-out portions in their opposed edges forming an opening smaller than the opening in said plate, yielding means for normally holding the hinged plates against the underside of said plate, said cable extending through the openings in said plates, a heavy, tubular sleeve having a head at its lower end, said head being of smaller diameter than the opening in said plate and of larger diameter than the cut-out portions in the hinged plates, a heavy cable attached to said sleeve, and means for slidably mounting the sleeve upon the light cable so that it Willslide down the light cable by gravity and be automatically locked to the hitch.

CLARENCE T. MARTHEY.

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