GB1566608A - Connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber - Google Patents

Description

(54) CONNECTING DEVICE FOR JOINING A SUBMARINE TO A DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER (71) We, SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME INTER NATIONAL SUBMARINE SERVICES-INTER SUB, a French Body Corporate, of Estaque Gare, Chateau Bovis, 13016 Marseille, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to bei particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber.

Equipment is already known which is especially designed to allow two portions of conduits which are not perfectly aligned to be connected. There is no particular problem in assembling such portions of conduits when the pressure prevailing there is low or when the conduit is made in its definitive form.

However, difficulties arise when high pressures prevail in the conduit and in addition when the connection of said portions of conduits must be effected during various approach operations.

Such difficulties are particularly encountered in the domain of underwater equipment.

It is known that deep-sea divers must be returned to atmospheric conditions in socalled decompression chambers in which they remain for a specific length of time depending on the depth at which they were working.

It is also known that, according to an already well established technique, the divers are taken to their place of work and return to the surface by means of submarine vehicles.

In this way, after having finished their deep-sea work, the divers are taken back to the surface by the submarine, for example to a ship having one or more decompression chambers into which the divers are taken.

The problem to be solved concerns the connection of the 'submarine with such chambers, taking into account the high pressures which may, prevail both in the submarine and in said chambers, all the more so as the submarine is in certain cases simply placed on rails fixed to the ship.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a connecting device for joining two chambers in which high pressures prevail, said device facilitating the approach of the parts coming into contact and eliminating the instability of said parts and the sealing surfaces.

According to the invention a connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber with both under pressure comprises two cylindrical sleeves one end of one of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the submarine and one end of the other of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the decompression chamber, a deformable passage member joining the other ends of the sleeves and the passage member being deformable in its longitudinal direction and in a direction transverse thereto, and means for effecting said deformation of the passage member, for limiting said deformation and for withstanding the pressure prevailing in the passage member, the submarine and the decompression chamber tending to push the sleeves apart.

Preferably the deformable passage member is in the form of a bellows.

Conveniently said means includes at least two rams each pivotally attached at one end to one sleeve and at the other end to the other sleeve and, optionally, an annular chamber deformable in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage member and coaxial with said member, the interior of the chamber being in communication with the interior of said member, and the chamber being connected with one part to one sleeve and another part to the other sleeve.

The annular chamber may comprise two bellows coaxial with the passage member, one larger diameter bellows being attached to one sleeve and the other smaller diameter bellows being attached to the other sleeve, a collar integral with said one sleeve and attached to one end of the larger diameter bellows, and a peripheral member attached to said other sleeve and the other end of the larger diameter bellows.

Said means may include safety stirrups disposed between the rams, the stirrups each being connected at one end pivotally to one of the sleeves and at the other end to the other sleeve through a thrust pin attached to said other sleeve and cooperating with a hole in said other end of the stirrup.

The invention provides a device for connecting a submarine and a decompression chamber in which high pressures prevail, which enables on the one hand the possible mis-alignment of the openings to be accommodated and on the other hand a sealed joint in the longitudinal direction to be ensured with the bearing surfaces in contact.

The invention can be applied to the connection of a submarine to at least one decompression chamber, when the submarine is returned to the surface and placed on a ship. The connection between submarine and decompression chamber can be made under optimum security conditions.

The rams, pivoted on either side of the bellows, ensure on the one hand connection to the submarine and to the decompression chamber, or to an intermediate chamber associated with said chamber, and on the other hand, once the bearing surfaces are in contact with one another and centered and locked, the locking of the assembly in order to resist high pressures to prevent the deformation and deterioration of the bellows.

To allow locking of the rams, after they have been placed under pressure, each ram may comprise a non-return valve. Safety stirrups disposed between the rams may be so adjusted that a small clearance, of the order of five millimetres, is reserved between a pin and an opening in which said pin may move. In this way, if a hydraulic system to the ram fails, the divers and their equipment are safeguarded due to adjustable stirrups abutting on the pins at the moment of failure of said system.

The deformation of the bellows may be limited by the deformable annular chamber, which has an effective section substantially equal to that of said bellows.

In the latter arrangement embodiment, the rams are used only to cause the movement of said bellows to vary its length when connecting the device between the openings. The length of the safety stirrups is adjustable according to the stroke of the rams, which is predetermined.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a submarine connected to an intermediate chamber, associated with a decompression chamber, by means of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, half in section and half from the outside, of one device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view, half in section and half from the outside, of another device according to the invention, equipped with an automatic balancing system with deformable annular chamber placed under the same pressure as prevails inside the device.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a submarine A connected to a decompression chamber B via an intermediate chamber C and a device 1 according to the invention. The device is disposed between an access conduit or opening A 1 leading from the lower part of the submarine and a collar C 1 fast with the chamber C. The device 1 is fixed by bolting to said collar C 1 and to said access conduit A 1, by means of a locking apparatus 2 of known design.

It will be noted that the collar C 1 may in certain cases be fixed to the end of a conduit extending from the intermediate chamber C to allow connection between the submarine and the chamber when there is a difference in their level.

The device 1 shown in Fig. 2, forms a connection of adjustable length, with a circular cross section. The device comprises a pleated bellows 3 having, for example, nine pleats. The bellows is welded by its ends to two sleeves: a socalled "bottom" sleeve 4 and a so-called top" sleeve 5. These sleeves 4, 5 are cylindrical and tubular. The sleeve 4 comprises at its free end a collar 4a to be assembled ;by bolting onto the collar C 1 of the chamber C; the sleeve 5 comprises at its free end a rim Sa adapted to allow the centering and locking of the device 1 on the submarine A by means of the locking equipment 2. The collar 4a and the rim 5v are welded to the sleeves 4, 5.

The means for centering the device 1 on the access conduit A 1 of the submarine are constituted by guides Sb, for example four in number, disposed along two diametrical axes perpendicular to one another.

Each guide Sb is welded to the rim Sa and is profiled firstly to engage and then to centre the conduit A 1 and the device 1.

In this way, each guide comprises a straight portion Sc extending in line with the internal surface of the rim over a distance substantially equal to 30 mm, and an inclined portion Sd on the inside of the conduit and approximately of the same length.

The external contour of portions 5c, Sd is circular, in accordance with the internal curvature of the rim Sa and the conduit A 1.

The means for locking the device 1 to the conduit A 1 consists in a flange Se of trapezoidal cross section adapted to cooperate with the internal part of the locking means 2.

To bring about the extension or retraction of the bellows 3 with a view to modifying the length of the device 1 and possibly a slight lateral deflection, said device comprises rams 6, for example three in number, distributed around its periphery, parallel to its longitudinal axis and equi-distant therefrom, which rams are disposed at 1200 with respect to one another. Said rams 6 are double-acting hydraulic rams and opposite ends are pivotally connected to the sleeves 4 and 5 on either side of the bellows 3.

The connection of the bodies of the ram 6a to sleeve 4 is ensured by spindles 7 located in brackets 4b welded to collar 4a. The rods of rams 6b are connected to the sleeve 4 by spindles 8 located in brackets 5f fixed to a band 5g integral with the sleeve 5.

As sooty as the device is brought to the desired length, the hydraulic rams are locked and remain under pressure while the device remains connected.

To overcome a failure in the hydraulic system when for example a high pressure prevails in the device 1, safety stirrups 9 are provided which are pivotally connected to the sleeves 4 and 5 on either side of the bellows 3. These stirrups 9 are three in number and are disposed between the rams 6, at 1200 with respect to one another.

Each stirrup 9 is composed of a top end piece 9a and a bottom end piece 9b connected by a threaded rod 9P.

The top piece 9a is connected to the sleeve 5 by a spindle 10 located in a bracket Sh fixed to the band 5g integral with the sleeve 5. The bottom piece 9b is connected to sleeve 4 by a thrust pin 11 which is located in a bracket 4c fixed to the collar 4a of said sleeve.

Said bottom piece 9b is generally rectangular in form and an opening 9d which is also rectangular with rounded edges is formed therethrough, in which opening the pin 11 may move.

Said stirrups 9 further comprise two lock nuts 9e, 9f cooperating with the threaded rod 9c, which is screwed in the top and bottom pieces 9a, 9b.

As shown in Fig. 2, the adiustment of the opening 9d with respect to the pin 11 is effected so that a space e of a few milli metres is left therebetween, for example the space e may be 5 mm. The stirrups 9 are adjusted after the length of the device has been brought to the desired dimension, under the action of the rams 6.

Each ram comprises a non-return valve for the supply of hydraulic fluid to be interrupted after the device 1 has been locked on the access conduit A 1 of the submarine A.

According to another embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 3, the device according to the invention comprises an automatic balancing system 12. This system is composed of an annular chamber 13 deformable in the longitudinal and transverse direction and comprising two coaxial bellows 13a, 13b the former being of larger diameter than the latter and is closed at the top by an annular partition 13c and at the bottom by a collar 5j welded to the top sleeve 5. Said partition 13c obturates the section defined by said bellows 13a, 13c.

The bellows 13a is on the one hand fixed to the outer periphery of the partition 13c and on the other hand to the periphery of the collar Sj by means of a short ferrule 13d.

The bellows 13b is fixed on the one hand to the inner periphery of the partition 13c and on the other hand to the top sleeve 5, at 5k. A clearance J is left between the enclosure 13 and the top sleeve 5 at the level of the annular partition 13c so as to allow the relative displacement of said sleeve and the enclosure 13. This latter is connected to the bottom sleeve 4 by a cylindrical ferrule 14 extending from the periphery of a collar 4d fixed to said sleeve 4 up to the upper part of the enclosure 13 at the level of the annular partition 13c, with which it cooperates to hold the bellows 13a at one of its ends.

The top sleeve 5 comprises orifices Sl which are for example circular and twelve in number, placing the conduit and the annular enclosure 13 in communication.

These orifices are located on a circumferential line lymg in a plane perpendicular to the conduit and located between the bellows 13a, 13b and the collar Sj, WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber with both under pressure, comprising two cylindrical sleeves one end of one of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the submarine and one end of the other of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the decompression chamber, a deformable passage member joining the other ends of the sleeves and the passage member being deformable in its longitudinal direction and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In this way, each guide comprises a straight portion Sc extending in line with the internal surface of the rim over a distance substantially equal to 30 mm, and an inclined portion Sd on the inside of the conduit and approximately of the same length. The external contour of portions 5c, Sd is circular, in accordance with the internal curvature of the rim Sa and the conduit A 1. The means for locking the device 1 to the conduit A 1 consists in a flange Se of trapezoidal cross section adapted to cooperate with the internal part of the locking means 2. To bring about the extension or retraction of the bellows 3 with a view to modifying the length of the device 1 and possibly a slight lateral deflection, said device comprises rams 6, for example three in number, distributed around its periphery, parallel to its longitudinal axis and equi-distant therefrom, which rams are disposed at 1200 with respect to one another. Said rams 6 are double-acting hydraulic rams and opposite ends are pivotally connected to the sleeves 4 and 5 on either side of the bellows 3. The connection of the bodies of the ram 6a to sleeve 4 is ensured by spindles 7 located in brackets 4b welded to collar 4a. The rods of rams 6b are connected to the sleeve 4 by spindles 8 located in brackets 5f fixed to a band 5g integral with the sleeve 5. As sooty as the device is brought to the desired length, the hydraulic rams are locked and remain under pressure while the device remains connected. To overcome a failure in the hydraulic system when for example a high pressure prevails in the device 1, safety stirrups 9 are provided which are pivotally connected to the sleeves 4 and 5 on either side of the bellows 3. These stirrups 9 are three in number and are disposed between the rams 6, at 1200 with respect to one another. Each stirrup 9 is composed of a top end piece 9a and a bottom end piece 9b connected by a threaded rod 9P. The top piece 9a is connected to the sleeve 5 by a spindle 10 located in a bracket Sh fixed to the band 5g integral with the sleeve 5. The bottom piece 9b is connected to sleeve 4 by a thrust pin 11 which is located in a bracket 4c fixed to the collar 4a of said sleeve. Said bottom piece 9b is generally rectangular in form and an opening 9d which is also rectangular with rounded edges is formed therethrough, in which opening the pin 11 may move. Said stirrups 9 further comprise two lock nuts 9e, 9f cooperating with the threaded rod 9c, which is screwed in the top and bottom pieces 9a, 9b. As shown in Fig. 2, the adiustment of the opening 9d with respect to the pin 11 is effected so that a space e of a few milli metres is left therebetween, for example the space e may be 5 mm. The stirrups 9 are adjusted after the length of the device has been brought to the desired dimension, under the action of the rams 6. Each ram comprises a non-return valve for the supply of hydraulic fluid to be interrupted after the device 1 has been locked on the access conduit A 1 of the submarine A. According to another embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 3, the device according to the invention comprises an automatic balancing system 12. This system is composed of an annular chamber 13 deformable in the longitudinal and transverse direction and comprising two coaxial bellows 13a, 13b the former being of larger diameter than the latter and is closed at the top by an annular partition 13c and at the bottom by a collar 5j welded to the top sleeve 5. Said partition 13c obturates the section defined by said bellows 13a, 13c. The bellows 13a is on the one hand fixed to the outer periphery of the partition 13c and on the other hand to the periphery of the collar Sj by means of a short ferrule 13d. The bellows 13b is fixed on the one hand to the inner periphery of the partition 13c and on the other hand to the top sleeve 5, at 5k. A clearance J is left between the enclosure 13 and the top sleeve 5 at the level of the annular partition 13c so as to allow the relative displacement of said sleeve and the enclosure 13. This latter is connected to the bottom sleeve 4 by a cylindrical ferrule 14 extending from the periphery of a collar 4d fixed to said sleeve 4 up to the upper part of the enclosure 13 at the level of the annular partition 13c, with which it cooperates to hold the bellows 13a at one of its ends. The top sleeve 5 comprises orifices Sl which are for example circular and twelve in number, placing the conduit and the annular enclosure 13 in communication. These orifices are located on a circumferential line lymg in a plane perpendicular to the conduit and located between the bellows 13a, 13b and the collar Sj, WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber with both under pressure, comprising two cylindrical sleeves one end of one of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the submarine and one end of the other of which sleeves is arranged for attachment to an opening in the decompression chamber, a deformable passage member joining the other ends of the sleeves and the passage member being deformable in its longitudinal direction and

in a direction transverse thereto, and means for effecting said deformation of the passage member, for limiting said deformation and for withstanding the pressure prevailing in the passage member, the submarine and the decompression chamber tending to push the sleeves apart.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the deformable passage member is in the form of a bellows.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said means includes at least two rams each pivotally attached at one end to one sleeve and at the other end to the other sleeve.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said means includes an annular chamber deformable in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the passage member and coaxial with said member, the interior of the chamber being connected with one part to one sleeve and another part to the other sleeve.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the annular chamber comprises two bellows coaxial with the passage member, one larger diameter bellows being attachable to one sleeve and the other smaller diameter bellows being attached to the other sleeve, a collar integral with said one sleeve and attached to one end of the larger diameter bellows, and a peripheral member attached to said other end of the larger diameter bellows.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said other sleeve is formed with openings which communicate between the annular chamber and the passage member

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means includes three double-acting rams disposed at 1200 from each other about the passage member.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said means includes safety stirrups disposed between the rams the stirrups each being connected at one end pivotally to one of the sleeves and at the other end to the other sleeve through a thrust pin attached to said other sleeve and co-operating with a hole in said other end of the stirrup.

9. A connecting device for joining a submarine to a decompression chamber with both under pressure substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 1 and 3.