KR100486366B1 - Articulated pressure conduit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting vessels. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different pressures to allow transport between connected vessels. An articulating device for connecting vessels includes (a) a first vessel having an orifice on one side thereof, (b) a first rotating bearing and seal incorporated into the periphery of the orifice, (c) a second side and a first A first hollow wedge shaped segment having a rotating bearing and a first side rotatably incorporated into the seal, (d) a second rotating bearing and seal incorporated into a second side of the first hollow wedge shaped segment, (e) a second side And a second hollow wedge shaped segment having a first side incorporated into the second rotating bearing and the seal and rotatable relative to the first hollow wedge shaped segment.

Description

Articulated pressure conduit

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting vessels or vessels. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different pressures to allow transport between connected vessels.

Problems frequently arise in joining or connecting pressurized vessels that are under the same or different internal pressures or under the same or different internal pressures in water or in space. For example, serious problems arise in deep water when attempting to combine lifeboats with broken submarines. Broken submarines are often not level or upright, which makes it difficult or impossible to connect lifeboats to escape hatches to allow submarine crews to move to lifeboats and be transported to the ground.

Another problem arises when combining crew transporters or walkover capsules into submerged subsea well heads. Another problem arises when combining two or more pressurized vessels under vacuum or near vacuum space, upper atmospheric pressure, or any state where different pressures are present or under extremely bad temperature conditions.

Submarine rescue situations provide a good example of the inherent problems that must be overcome. There are many accidental situations that can cause a submarine to fail and return to the surface. The submarine has an escape hatch fitted in the upper section of the pressure fuselage to move the crew to a small submersible or life preserver such as a life bell and return to the ground in the manner described above. The lifesaving device has a lower trunk, which takes the form of a partial hemisphere with a cylindrical or sometimes relatively soft polymeric mating gasket on the outer edge.

US Patent No. 3,987,742, issued October 26, 1976, describes a representative apparatus and method for handling lifesaving problems in water. The patent discloses an air lock with a sealing ring to couple the underwater lifeboat to the submarine's escape hatch. The air lock consists of a bell fastened around the hatch of the lifeboat and a jacket section that is shaped like a ball joint and held with a small amount of movement. The protruding end supports the sealing ring. The inner end of the ball joint section has a groove that receives the ring and seals it against the bell. The inner circumference of the free bell end has a groove similar to the sealing ring. The space between the ball joint section bell and the sealing ring is filled with lubricating fluid maintained at a pressure slightly different from the hydraulic pressure. The difference between the two pressures is constantly adjusted so that the apparent mass of the movable jacket is neutralized to provide hydraulic buoyancy inside the bell.

Most life preservers have the ability to be limited to any position of the water column rather than upright. Changing the attitude of the life preserver from vertical is affected by the movement of ballast air or water, or by temporary thrust. In each configuration, there is an unavoidable degree of misalignment between the life preserver and the mating surfaces of the failed submarine. Beyond the degree of misalignment, it is impossible to seal the life-saving device by fitting it to a failed submarine. The mating hatch surface of a broken submarine is mostly out of square over one plane. In other words, the fuselage of the failed submarine is not horizontal to the front and rear and is in a rolling state slightly off the vertical at its periphery. Some life-saving devices use cables attached to the hatch of the failed submarine to move the life-saving device down the submarine, but these life-saving devices also need to move their angles in the vertical direction in order to build up the failed submarine. . In some cases, the physical size of the life-saving device relative to the length of the mating trunk hinders engagement without bringing the failed submarine close to vertical.

U.S. Patent No. 4,549,753, issued to Rene T. Nuytten on October 29, 1985, is useful in underwater conditions, for example in deep-sea diving suits, and the resistance to rotational movement or the possibility of leakage may cause moderate external pressure on the joint. A rotating joint of the first type is disclosed that can be configured in a manner that does not substantially increase. This rotary joint can be usefully used in a situation where the external pressure is not too high.

The joint preferably has a sealing member, a retaining member and a center member disposed axially between these sealing members and the retaining member. The central member has an annular first end dimensioned to form a first variable volume therebetween and axially slidably mounted on the holding end of the retaining member. The central member has a second end with inner and outer annular bearing members, each bearing member being rotationally adjacent to a corresponding sealing surface portion on the sealing member to form an annular portion of the second chamber. The second chamber is connected to the first chamber.

U.S. Patent No. 4,903,9111, issued to Rene T. Nuytten on February 27, 1990, discloses a second type of pressure balanced rotating joint that can easily function in deep external water. This rotary joint is for balancing external pressure with internal pressure. This rotary joint is useful for allowing free rotational movement between two parts connected by the joint in the presence of non-equilibrium pressure inside and outside the joint. This includes (a) first annular member means configured to be connected to the end of the first tubular object, (b) second annular member means configured to be connected to the end of the second tubular object, (c) first annular member means and second Configured to be positioned between the annular member means and capable of independently driving the first and second annular member means and forming a first chamber between the first annular member and a second chamber between the second annular member. Intermediate member means for forming; (d) first sealing means incorporated into the first annular member means and the intermediate member means and configured to seal the first chamber from inside and outside of the joint, (e) second annular member means and intermediate member Second sealing means incorporated in the means and configured to seal the second chamber from the inside and outside of the joint, (f) the pressure in the first chamber in the second chamber to bring them into equilibrium when the respective pressures are not balanced. A rotary joint comprising elastic valve means configured to adjust to pressure.

The present invention relates to (a) a first vessel having an orifice on one side thereof, (b) a first rotating bearing and seal incorporated into the periphery of the orifice, (c) a second side and a first rotating bearing and seal rotatable. A first hollow wedge shaped segment having a first side incorporated therein, (d) a second rotating bearing and a seal incorporated into the second side of the first hollow wedge shaped segment, (e) a second side and a second rotating bearing and And a second hollow wedge shaped segment having a first side incorporated into the seal and rotatable relative to the first hollow wedge shaped segment.

The first rotating bearing and the seal are connected to the orifice of the first vessel by a mating tube and a flange. The second side of the second hollow wedge shaped segment has a sealing gasket surrounding the periphery of the jacket.

The first vessel is controlled by a umbilical chain (or umbilical chain) and can be propelled by a propeller. The movable grappling arm can be connected to the vessel. This grappling arm has a movable handle at one end of its own and may be equipped with a magnetic attachment device.

The first vessel has a second orifice in itself for connection to the second side of the second hollow wedge-shaped segment of the second vessel. The second vessel can be operated remotely.

The second side of the second hollow wedge shaped segment has a hollow annular sealing ring that surrounds its periphery, and the hollow annular sealing ring has a port in itself for discharging fluid from the interior of the annular sealing ring.

The relative rotational position of the first hollow wedge shaped segment and the second hollow wedge shaped segment can be controlled by a motor, hydraulic cylinder or cable and pulley.

The present invention also relates to a method for connecting vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different pressures, the method comprising: (a) a first vessel having an orifice provided therein and the first vessel; Connecting a first hollow wedge-shaped member rotatably incorporated into an orifice of the second hollow wedge-shaped member and rotatably coalesced into the first hollow wedge-shaped member; and (b) connecting the second hollow wedge-shaped member to the second hollow wedge-shaped member; Connecting to the orifice of the vessel.

The first hollow wedge-shaped member and the second hollow wedge-shaped member may be relatively rotated such that one side of the second hollow wedge-shaped member opposite the orifice of the first vessel is parallel to the orifice.

The first hollow wedge-shaped member can rotate relative to the second hollow wedge-shaped member such that one side of the second hollow wedge-shaped member opposite the first vessel makes an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the orifice of the first vessel. .

The first vessel has a second orifice in itself, and the second orifice of the second hollow wedge-shaped member of the third vessel may be connected to the second orifice of the first vessel.

Although specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, these embodiments do not limit the spirit or scope of the invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for connecting vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different external pressures and the installation of conduits between the vessels. Conduits can be used for the transport of people or materials from one vessel to another vessel once a sealed connection is made.

The conduit in this embodiment has articulating capability such that the mating flange surface is parallel to the target mating surface even when the range of misalignment conditions is wide.

The device is useful for, for example, incorporating lifeboats into escape hatches of broken submarines to transport crew to the ground. It is also useful for joining a crew transporter or walkover capsule to a submerged subsea well head, or for joining two or more pressurized vessels under vacuum or near vacuum space, upper atmospheric pressure, or any condition in which different pressures are present. Do. Misaligned flanges must be matched under these different pressures and aligned under different pressures.

1 shows a side view of an articulated pressure conduit according to the present invention. The articulated pressure conduit 2 consists of a mating tube and flange 4 connected to the top of the upper wedge segment 10 which is hollow by means of a first rotating bearing and seal 6. The direction of rotation between the mating tube and flange 4 and the upper wedge segment 10, which occurs via the first rotating bearing and seal 6, is controlled by the drive motor 8. The upper drive motor 8 rounds the upper wedge segment 10 by gears, racks, cables, hydraulic cylinders or levers (not shown in Figure 1 and shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13). Rotate about the mating tube and flange 4 about the first rotary bearing and seal 6.

The bottom surface of the hollow upper wedge segment 10 is rotatably connected to the top of the lower hollow wedge segment 14 by a lower rotating bearing and seal 16. The direction of rotation of the lower wedge segment 14 relative to the upper wedge segment 10 is controlled by the lower drive motor 12. The bottom circular surface of the hollow lower wedge segment 14 has a circular sealing gasket 18 around its periphery.

The device 2 may use the connection joint and seal shapes disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,549,753 or 4,903,9111, which are incorporated herein by reference. The two angled or wedge segments 10, 14 of the conduit rotate relative on the pressure balanced rotary joint face 1, 16 to provide a deflection of the centerline. The two types of bearing and seal assemblies described in these two patents are suitable for accepting or excluding pressure differentials and for transporting cargo from one wedge segment of the device to another segment while allowing rotation under extreme pressure. .

The bearing and seal are non-equilibrium when the segments need to be rotated to a parallel mating position and there is no pressure differential when the segments do not need to move after a “pump-down” or when different pressure situations are initiated. Can be in the form.

Alternatively, the bearings and seals may be in equilibrium form as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,903,941. This structure allows the conduit to bend or continue to rotate under relatively high pressure differentials and to be mechanically locked in the final position rather than due to pressure effects on the seals and bearings in non-equilibrium conditions.

1A shows an articulated pressure conduit such that the mating tube and flange 4 and the bottom surface of the first rotating bearing and seal 6 are parallel to the bottom surface of the lower wedge segment 14 and the lower circular sealing gasket 18. It is a front view which shows the direction which is shown. This direction is obtained by arranging the rotational shapes of these wedge segments such that the wide sides of each wedge shape of the upper wedge segment 10 and the lower wedge segment 14 are located opposite each other.

1B shows an articulated pressure conduit 2 such that the bottom face of the mating tube and flange 4 and the bottom peripheral surface of the lower wedge segment 14 and the bottom sealing gasket 18 are disposed at an angle of about 45 ° to each other. It is a front view which shows the direction which is shown. This direction is obtained by rotating them so that the wide sides of the upper wedge segment 10 and the lower wedge segment 14 coincide with each other. Likewise, the thin sides of each wedge 10, 14 coincide with each other. Similarly, three wedges offset from each other by 90 ° may be used instead of the two wedges.

In a preferred embodiment, the articulated conduit is attached to the bottom of the crew transport device, such as a chained diving bell or autonomous submersible submersible 20, as shown in FIG. The wedge shaped segments 10, 14 are rotated such that the bottom mating and sealing gasket 18 is held in a vertical position.

The submersible submersible 20 autonomously as shown in FIG. 2 has a chain 22 connecting the submersible to a supply vessel located on the water surface thereon. The position of the submersible 20 is controlled by a series of propellers 24 that provide thrust in various directions, controlled by the submersible 20 operator or from the supply vessel. The submersible 20 has an extended grappling arm 26 having opening and closing pincers or other attachment means, such as a suction cup or other electromagnet pit 28, for connection with the submerged vessel as described in detail later. Equipped.

3 is a side view of an autonomous submersible submersible 20 with articulated conduits including an upper wedge segment 10 and a lower wedge segment 14 at a depth in contact with the outer surface of a failed submarine 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the life-saving submersible 20 reaches the failed submarine 30 and determines that the mating surface (ie, the escape hatch 32) of the failed submarine 30 is out of angle and thus the chain line 34. Lower and attach to the broken submarine (30). Alternatively, the preliminary attachment link may be a mechanical arm 26 and gripping member, magnetic pit 28 or pump / suction port (not shown) as shown in FIG. These may be achieved by sealing the seal (described later with reference to FIG. 8) down the articulated conduit 2 or as a preliminary means for attaching a fully balanced mating fitting when the lifesaving device and the failed submarine and atmospheric pressure are equal. Can be used if

4 is a front view of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with a connection chain for connection to the exterior of a failed submarine and an articulated conduit arranged such that the outer surface of the conduit is parallel to the mating surface of the failed submarine.

In particular, FIG. 4 shows a submarine 30 in which the wedge-shaped sections 10, 14 of the articulated conduit are rotated by a life-diving pilot (not shown), causing the polymer mating gasket 18 on the bottom of the lower wedge segment 14 to fail. It is shown to move parallel to the mating surface of the escape hatch (32). As shown in FIG. 4, the grappling chain 34 and the electromagnet plate 36 are moved downward and connected to the failed submarine 30. The chain 34 is pulled to move the bottom surfaces of the lower wedge segment 14 and seal 18 in parallel adjacent the escape hatch 32.

5 is a side view of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with articulated conduits connected to the mating surface of a failed submarine, provided for transporting crew from the submarine to the lifeboat. The submersible submersible autonomously, as shown in FIG. 5, is lowered by the chain 22 and pulled out of the grappling chain 34 so that the angle of the lower sealing gasket 18 and the escape hatch 32 of the lower wedge segment 14 is lowered. Face parallel outer surfaces. Once sealed, the segments 10 and 14 can be pumped out and the escape hatch 38 open. The crew 40 may then climb up the interior of the lower wedge segment 14 along the ladder 38, through the upper wedge segment 10 and finally to the autonomous submersible submersible 20. When the appropriate number of crews 40 are transported into the submersible 20, the lower sealing gasket 18 is separated from the escape hatch 32 and the submersible 20 is raised to the surface by the chain 22.

In an alternate embodiment, the articulated conduit may take the form of a remotely operated vessel (ROV) with a thruster, television camera, light, sonar, and other optical / acoustic navigation / docking electronics.

6 is a front view of a remotely operated submersible lifeboat (ROV) with articulated conduits on the underside of the remotely operated vessel. As shown in Figure 6, the remotely operated vessel 42 is steered and controlled by a series of propellers 44 that can be angled to propel in the proper direction. The remotely operated vessel 42 is equipped with a grappling arm 26 and a magnetic pit 28. As described above in connection with the submersible 20, the lower side of the remotely operated vessel 42 may include a first rotating bearing and seal 6, an upper hollow wedge segment 10, a lower rotating bearing and seal 16 and a lower portion. It is attached to the wedge segment 14. The lower sealing gasket 18 is located at the bottom periphery of the lower wedge segment 14. The upper surface of the remotely operated vessel 42 has a life-saving submersible mating surface 48 in the circumferential direction. The remotely operated vessel 42 is controlled from the surface via a control umbilical cord 48.

In this configuration, the conduit ROV 42 is powered and controlled by a umbilical control chain 48 connected to the water surface. The ROV can be operated autonomously, for example powered by itself by a battery, or most preferably autonomously (without a chain chain) when control is performed acoustically or optically.

The purpose of the ROV 42 is to attach the bottom sealing gasket 18 of the articulated conduits 10, 14 to the failed submarine 30 to provide a parallel mating surface for the lifeboat or device reached. A unique advantage of ROV 42 is that two or more ROV conduit assemblies 42 can be joined on a surface or bottom surface to accommodate the greater degree of misalignment as shown in FIG.

7 is a front view of another embodiment of two remotely operated vessels in which articulated conduits are connected side by side. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower first ROV 42 is coupled to the lower sealing gasket 18 of the upper and lower wedge segment combinations 10, 14 of the second ROV 50 via the upper mating surface 46. Controlled by a second control belly chain 52. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the combination of the first ROV 42 and the second ROV 50 allows a 90 ° connection to an escape hatch or other underwater vessel of a failed submarine. The combination shown in Figure 7 is useful when the failed submarine is turned over or the escape hatch faces in the horizontal direction rather than in the vertical direction. Three or more ROV 42 units may be connected side by side to each other to accommodate a large degree of offset. For example, a submerged vessel may be inverted to approach the lower side. In this case, several ROV units can be fixed together to form a “U”.

In ROV mode the articulated conduit 2 must have some means for attaching in a fixed shape to the failed submarine fuselage before the life device 42 is reached. The ROV 42 is equipped with an upper hatch (not shown) so that it can be pumped down and held in place by hydraulic pressure outside the ocean (usually a life preserver), or by means of the machine, magnetic or pumping down described above. Is fixed in position.

Unlike these fastening methods, the conduit ROV may have a lower seal with two central polymer rings with annulus therebetween. 8 is a cross-sectional view detailing the articulation component of an articulated conduit including an annular seal device. As shown in FIG. 8, the annular seal 56 uses a cup-shaped ring shape 56 having a pump discharge port 58 instead of the conventional lower sealing gasket 18 shown in FIG. A pair of concentric polymeric sealing rings 56 fits on the outer edge of the hollow ring 56. Once the annular seal 56 is coupled to the surface of the failed submarine's escape hatch or other suitable surface and the seal 60 is engaged, a vacuum is created inside the seal 56 by discharging the contents through the pump discharge port 58. do.

The annular seal is pumped down essentially the same way the entire trunk is pumped down in lifeboat mode and the conduit ROV is held firmly in place by hydraulic pressure outside the ocean.

FIG. 9A is a side view of a submersible lifeboat and articulated conduit lowered by a Bedouin chain. FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the grappling chain 34 is held by the grappling arm 26 and is ready to descend by control commands transmitted through the umbilical chain 22.

FIG. 9B is a front view showing an articulated conduit with a submersible lifeboat and a navel-shaped chain with the connecting chain lowered into the submarine. As shown in FIG. 9B, the grappling chain 34 with the magnetic plate 36 at the lower end is ready to descend for engagement with the outer surface of the escape hatch 32 of the failed submarine 30.

9C is a side view of an articulated conduit with a submersible lifeboat and a navel conduit connected to the escape hatch 32 of a submerged broken submarine. In the position shown in FIG. 9C, the grappling chain 34 is pulled into the conduit 10 and connected to the outer surface of the escape hatch 32 of the failed submarine 30. Once the pressure is internally balanced, the seawater is pumped from the interior of the conduits 19, 14 and the escape hatch 32 is opened so that the crew 40 passes through the ladder 38 and opens the interior of the conduit assembly 10, 14. It is sucked into the inside of the submersible 20 through.

FIG. 9D is a side view of the submersible lifeboat and articulated conduits 10, 14 ascended from the broken submarine 30 underwater after the crew has been transported to the lifeboat 20.

10 is a detailed front view of the power accessory for operating the articulated conduit. An upper drive motor 8, which may be hydraulic or electric, as shown in FIG. 10, drives the mating tube and flange 4 against the upper wedge segment 10 via a first rotating bearing and seal 6. In this way, the lower drive motor 12 drives the lower wedge segment 14 to rotate relative to the upper wedge segment 10 via the lower rotating bearing and seal 6. The hydraulic hose and water pumping hose 62 are shown connected to various points on the entire upper wedge segment 10 and lower wedge segment 14 assembly. These hoses and other facilities may be conventional and are not part of the present invention. These allow the relative rotational position of the upper wedge segment 10 to be steered relative to the mating tube and flange 4, with the lower wedge segment 14 passing through the lower rotating bearing and seal 16 to the upper wedge segment 10. It allows you to locate with respect to. In addition, some of these hoses, as described above, pump seawater from the interior of the upper wedge segment 10 and the lower wedge segment 14 once the watertight seal is formed between the lower sealing gasket 18 and the escape hatch of the failed submarine. Can be used to In a modified form, the bottom sealing gasket 18 may be of the annular seal 56 shown in FIG. 10 shows various nipples connected with hoses to pump air into the conduit assembly 19, 14 to drain water from the interior of the assembly and perform other functions required for operation of the conduit assembly 10, 14. And other connections.

FIG. 11 is a detailed front view of a modified embodiment of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with articulated conduit, grappling accessory, and power accessory for actuating the articulated conduit. As shown in FIG. 11, lifeboat 64 is equipped with a pair of buoyancy tanks 66. The upper and lower wedge segments 10, 14 are connected to the lower side of the submersible 64 via mating tubes and flanges 4 as described above with reference to the drawings.

11 shows one position where the bottom sealing gasket 18 is at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal bottom of the submersible 64 and the bottom sealing gasket 18 is horizontal and parallel to the horizontal bottom of the submersible 64. A hydraulic cylinder controlled by a hydraulic pump or motor in such a way that the lower wedge segment 14 is rotated relative to the upper wedge segment 10 via the lower rotating bearing and seal 6 between a range of rotational directions so as to be set in the opposite position. 68, cable 70 and pulley 72 or alternatively is made by a network of air pumps and motors. The hydraulic and air motors and electric motors together with the hydraulic cylinder 68, the cable 70 and the pulley 72 are conventional as shown in FIG. Motorized rack and pinion systems can also be used to perform the rotation.

Fig. 11 shows in arc shape the range of positions made by the grappling arm 26 and controlled by a conventional hydraulic or air cylinder or other suitable power mechanism.

12 is a detailed front view showing parts of the articulated conduit connected to the escape hatch of a failed underwater submarine arranged at an angle. As shown in FIG. 12, the hydraulic or air cylinder 68 rotates the lower wedge segment 14 about the lower wedge bearing and seal 16 relative to the upper wedge segment 10 so that the lower sealing gasket 18 is moved. It is parallel to the outer surface of the escape hatch 32 of the failed submarine 30 to be matched thereto.

FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of parts of an articulated conduit connected to an upright escape hatch of a failed submarine. The lower wedge segment 14 is rotated about the upper wedge segment 10 via a hydraulic or air cylinder 68 and a cable 70, as shown in FIG. 13, causing the lower sealing gasket 18 to be horizontal, resulting in a failed submarine. It is made to match neatly with the horizontal surface of the escape hatch 32 of 30. FIG. The direction shown in Fig. 13 is exceptional because it is not the usual way of setting a failed submarine on the bottom of the seawater at an appropriate height position. However, the combination of extremes shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 demonstrates the versatility of the conduit assembly 10, 14.

Those skilled in the art can change and modify the present invention in various forms within the spirit of the present invention in light of the above description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of an articulated conduit in accordance with the present invention.

1A is a front view of one embodiment where the articulated pressure conduits are arranged such that the connecting flange provides a parallel outer connection surface.

1B is a front view of one embodiment in which the articulated pressure conduits are arranged such that the flange provides an outer surface that is 45 ° relative to the other outer surface.

2 is a front view of an articulated conduit attached to the bottom of an autonomous submersible crew transport apparatus.

3 is a side view of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with articulated conduits reaching the outer surface of a broken submarine.

4 is a side view of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with articulated conduits arranged so that the outer surface of the conduit is parallel to the mating surface of the failed submarine with a connecting chain for connection to the outside of the failed submarine.

5 is a side view of an autonomous submersible lifeboat with articulated conduit connected to the mating face of a failed submarine in the transport of the crew from the submarine to the lifeboat;

6 is a front view of an autonomous submersible remotely operated lifeboat with articulated conduits on its lower side;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment where two remotely operated lifeboats with articulated conduits are connected side by side;

8 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the articulation component of an articulated conduit including an annular seal device.

9A-9D are flowcharts,

9A is a front view of a submersible lifeboat and articulated conduit positioned below by a navel chain.

FIG. 9B is a front view of an articulated conduit with a submersible lifeboat and a navel chain with the connecting chain lowered into the submarine; FIG.

FIG. 9C is a side view of an articulated conduit with a umbilical conduit connected to a submersible lifeboat and an escape hatch of a broken submarine underwater;

FIG. 9D is a side view of a submersible lifeboat and articulated conduit raised from a broken submarine underwater after a crew member has been transported to the lifeboat; FIG.

10 is a detailed front view of the power accessory for operating the articulated conduit.

11 is a detailed cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a propelled submersible lifeboat with articulated conduit, grappling accessory, variable ballast, and powered accessory actuating the articulated conduit.

12 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing a state in which parts of an articulated conduit connected to an escape hatch of a failed submarine are arranged at an angle;

13 is a detailed front view of a part of an articulated conduit connected to an upright escape hatch of a broken submarine.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

2: articulated pressure conduit

4: mating tube and flange

6: first rotating bearing and seal

8: drive motor

10: upper wedge segment

14: lower wedge segment

18: sealing gasket

26: Grappling Arm

32: Escape Hatch

34: Grappling Chain

62: pumped hose

56: sealing ring

Claims (14)

An articulation device comprising: for connecting first and second vessels, such as underwater vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different internal pressures: A first hollow wedge shaped segment having first and second opening ends, wherein the first end of the first segment described above is adapted to be connected to the first vessel described above; A second hollow wedge shaped segment having first and second opening ends; The first rotating bearing and seal assembly interconnecting the aforementioned first end of the aforementioned second segment and the aforementioned second end of the aforementioned first segment, the aforementioned first rotating bearing and seal assembly comprises the aforementioned second segment Allow the first rotation of the first segment to rotate relative to the aforementioned first segment and the moved first and second segments remain in supportive relationship to each other; The above-mentioned first and second segments are defined by the above-mentioned first opening end of the first segment in which an imaginary first plane passing in parallel through the opening defined by the second opening end of the second segment described above. From the first point traversing the imaginary first plane passing through the defined opening in parallel, the second segment can be rotated from the first point to the second point where the first and second planes are substantially parallel. has exist. 2. An articulation device according to claim 1, wherein said first segment is connected to said first vessel by a mating tube and a flange. 2. The articulation device according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the aforementioned second segment has a sealing gasket at its periphery. An articulation device according to claim 1, wherein the first vessel described above is controlled by a navel chain. 5. An articulation device according to claim 4, wherein said first vessel is propelled by a propeller. 6. An articulation device according to claim 5, wherein the first vessel described above has a movable grappling arm connected to the vessel. 7. The articulation device of claim 6, wherein the grappling arm has a movable handle at its end. 7. The articular device of claim 6, wherein the grappling arm is provided with a magnetic attachment device. The method of claim 1, wherein the second end of the aforementioned second segment has a hollow annular sealing ring therein surrounding its periphery, the hollow annular sealing ring having a port for discharging fluid from the interior of the annular sealing ring. Joint device, characterized in that it has therein. The joint device according to claim 1, wherein the relative rotational position of the first segment and the second segment is controlled by a motor and a hydraulic cylinder. The articulation device according to claim 1, wherein the relative rotational position of the first segment and the second segment is controlled by a cable and a pulley. The articulation device according to claim 1, wherein the relative rotational position of the first segment and the second segment is controlled by a motor driven rack and pinion system. In a method of connecting first and second vessels, such as underwater vessels having the same or different internal pressures or surrounded by the same or different pressures, the first vessel described above has a first orifice therein and the second vessel described above. The vessel has a second orifice therein and comprises: The first orifice in the aforementioned first vessel is interconnected to the aforementioned first hollow wedge shaped segment having first and second opening ends, wherein the first end of the aforementioned first segment is connected to the aforementioned first vessel. Connected; The aforementioned first segment is connected to a second hollow wedge shaped segment having first and second opening ends, wherein the first end of the second segment is connected to the first end of the second segment, The rotary bearing and the seal assembly interconnect the first end of the aforementioned second segment and the second end of the aforementioned first segment, and the aforementioned first rotary bearing and seal assembly comprise the first mentioned above. Allowing rotation about the segment, while the aforementioned first and second segments are held in a holding relationship relative to each other, and the aforementioned first and second segments are second openings of the aforementioned second segment. An imaginary first plane passing in parallel through the opening defined by the distal end passes in parallel through the opening defined by the aforementioned first opening end of the first segment described above. That is arranged so that the second segment to the above-mentioned from the first point, one of the above-described first and second planes are substantially parallel to the second branch transverse to the virtual first plane to rotate; And Connecting the second end of the aforementioned second segment to the aforementioned second orifice in the aforementioned second vessel. 3. The articulation device of claim 2, wherein said second rotating bearing and seal assembly interconnects said first opening end of said first segment to said mating tube and flange.

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