GB1040761A - Submerging vessels - Google Patents

Abstract

1,040,761. Vessels for submarine exploration. BROWN BROS. & CO. Ltd. Aug. 6, 1964 [May 6, 1963], No. 13767/63. Heading B7A. [Also in Division E1 In a vessel for submarine exploration (or for laying pipes 12) comprising a positively buoyant part and a negatively buoyant part, the buoyancy of the buoyant part is adjustable so that the vessel as a whole may be made positively or negatively buoyant, and the two parts are movable relatively to one another both vertically and horizontally so that the vessel may submerge and surface and manoeuvre itself along the water bed by relative movement between the parts. The Figs. (not shown) are diagrammatic views of a vessel having a positively buoyant hull 1 formed with an open bottomed enclosure 5 accommodating the negatively buoyant part which is a weight 2 attached by cables 3, 4 to winches 6, 7. Fig. 2a shows the vessel as a whole positively buoyant; in Fig. 2b the weight has been lowered on to the bed; in Fig. 2c the hull 1 is being ballasted to sink; in Fig. 2d the vessel is resting on the bed and rams 8 pivotally mounted in the enclosure 5 are connected to the weight. The hull is raised to lift the weight 2 from the bed (Fig. 3a); the rams are operated to swing the weight (Fig. 3b); the weight is lowered (Fig. 3c); the rams operated to swing the hull (Fig. 3d) and the hull lowered to its new position (Fig. 3e).