US1085009A - Diving apparatus for submarine work. - Google Patents

Description

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M. BEMBINA & L. DURAND. DIVING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE WORK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1912.

1,085,009. Patented Jan. 20, 1914 I WITNESSES INVENTORS ATTORNEYS MELGHIORRE BEMBINA AND LEONE DURAND, 0F PALERMO, ITALY.

DIVING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE WORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

Application fi1ed September 20, 1912. Serial No. 721,376.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, MELGHIORRE BEM- BINA and LEONE DURAND, both subjects of the King of Italy, and residents of Palermo, in the Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diving Apparatus for Submarine Work, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete specification.

The present invention refers to a diving apparatus for submarine work formed by a hull mounted upon four wheels, which works like a small submarine boat designed to perform submarine explorations as well as submarine searches and work, and which hereinafter will be referred to as a microsubmarine boat.

The invention consists in means for equalizing the pressure near the divers wrists, especially when the micro-submarine has to reach a great depth. These means consist in two large india rubber bags, filled with air and subjected to the pressure of the water, which bags are connected to the hull, and which by means of tubes blow compressed air into the insulated chambers provided near the divers wrists. Before disclosing the said improvements, it will be convenient to briefly describe the general arrangementand shape of the micro-submarine.

In order to fully understand the specification, reference is to be had to the appended drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the submar ne in a prostrate position; Fi 2 is a partial cross section of the spherica joints.

The micro-submarine boat substantially comprises two portions, namely the metallic hull which shelters the diver, and the outside frame which incloses the same and which is provided with four spherical wheels; the apparatus is also provided with means securing its connection with the tug boat.

The metallic hull 1) has a suitable shape and a sufficient width for containing a man; it is divided into three portions, namely in the upper portion 1-, or helmet, in which stands the divers head, 1n the middle portion 2-, or body chamber, where are and move the arms, and in the hind or stern portion 3-, in which stand the legs of the diver. The hull is provided with tubes, which communicate with the tug-boat in order to establish inside the submarine the atmospheric pressure as well as to supply fresh air to the diver. The body chamber 2- is provided with two ball oints, through which pass, perfectly airtight, the forearms of the diver, whose hands, if necessary, must work in the Water, and moreover it contains also the pressure compensating device according to the present invention.

The frame (Fig. 1) consists of three rings 8 securing the connection with the metallic body, of two lateral tubes 9, and of four spherical wheels, of which the two rear wheels 10 have rigid axles placed perpendicularly to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the apparatus, while the axles of the front wheels 11 are revolving around journals forming right angles with the said axles, for the purpose of controlling the direction of the submarine; these axles are caused to move by the diver, who with his hands projecting from the ball joints acts upon an appropriate crankl2 connected to the connecting rods -13 (Fig. 1).

The grasping device in the body chamber comprises two circular holes (Fig. 1) at both sides of the plane of symmetry. In these holes are formed the seats 16 showing internally a spherical surface; in each of them fits exactly a sphere 17, (Fig. 2) which is perfectly air-tight and may turn in any direction. Each sphere has a cylindrical boring -18 capable of receiving the divers forearm. Inside this boring slides in a perfectly air-tight manner a ring 19, from which starts an india rubber cuff 20 which ends at the armlet 2l formed by two semi-oval bands which by suitable means are hermetically fastened around the divers wrist. By means of two bent rods -22- the armlet 21 is linked to the sliding ring 19; the travel of this ring is stopped within the boring 18- by means of the rings 23 at the inner ends of the spheres 17 and the shoulders 23 at the outer ends of said spheres. On the inner edge of the seats 16 is fastened the edge of an india rubber sleeve 2%, which is strengthened by a metallic armature -25, and ends at the armlet 2l.

In the diving apparatus described, the double connecting system of the body chamher with each of the armlets fixed around the divers wrist, is the only weak point of the whole structure from which danger may arise when the pressure becomes excessive, the whole hull being strongly built of metal, except the cuff 20 and the aforesaid sleeve 2 t-. As already stated, the sleeve -24s is strengthened by a metallic armature, but the cuff --2O- cannotbe strengthened, as otherwise would be diminished its flexibility which is indispensable for enabling the diver to move his hands. Between the cuff 20 and the sleeve is left a chamber 26-which is separated both from the outer liquid mass and from the inner space of, the hull. The pressure inside this chamber, and consequently upon the calf 20, is originally the atmospheric pressure; however, the same may vary and varies through the shiftingof the divcrs hand. In practice there may be rather a diminution, instead of an increase of ressure owing to the fact that the fastening of the armlet is carried out when the hand has already been stretched outside. The exterior pressure exerted upon the cuff -20? is, on. the contrary, higher than the atmospheric pressure, when the diving apparatus is submersed, andv increases considerably when the hull is caused to reach great depths, It ensues that upon the cuff --20 acts prevaljently the pressure of the water, which may cause the same to break. This must be avoided at any rate, because, as already stated, the double connecting system, that is to say the sleeve and the cult, is of greatest importance for the safety of the diver. This object is attained in the following way:

iigainst the body chamber 2, on the opposite side of the spheres of the ball joints, are placed one near to the other (Fig. 1) two india rubber bags 2 7 (in the drawing is shown but one). Each of these bags is inclosed within casings 28-, which, in the middle portion have a. cylin drical shape, while at the two ends they are shaped conically; the casings are fastened tothe said body chamber by means of metallic straps 29 and belts -30. The conically shaped ends 31 are provided with holes allowing of the water to bear against the rubber bags, which under the variable pressure of the water freely extend or contract within the casings. These bags by means of the tubes -32 communicate through the grooves 33- provided in the spherical zones 16- with the chambers 26. The inner pressure, which is that of the compressed air coming from the bags, is necessarily equal to the outer pressure of the water; consequently, the pressures exerted upon the end 20 are compensated.

Having now fully described this our invention, and how the same is to be carried out, we declare that what we claim is:

1. A diving apparatus comprising a body chamber, two ball joints formed by spheres revolving within stationary spherical zones, each of the said spheres having a cylindrical boring, for the passage of the forearm of the diver, and each ball joint being provided with an armlet designed to be secured to the divers wrist, a ring sliding in the cylindrical boring, an india rubber cuff fastened to one edge to the armlet, and with the other edge fastened to the sliding ring, and an india rubber sleeve connected with one of its end edges to the said armlet, and with the other tothe stationary spherical zone, in which turns the sphere of the joint, this sleeve being strengthened by a metallic armature.

2. A diving apparatus comprising a body chamber, two ball joints formed by spheres revolving within stationary spherical zones, each of the said spheres having a stationary cylindrical boring, through which passes the forearm of the diver, and each ball joint being provided with an armlet designed to be secured to the divers wrist, an india rubber cuff, and an india rubber sleeve strengthened by a. metallic armature, both of them being fastened to the armlet and to the ball, two indiarubber bags, each of which is placed within a. metallic casing cvlindrically shaped in the middle portion and conically shaped at the two ends, these conically shaped ends having holes for the admission of the water, means for connecting the casings with the body chamber, and means for establishing communication between the bags and spheres.

3. A diving apparatus comprising a body chamber, two ball joints, each ball joint being provided with an armlet to be secured to the divers wrist, a cuff, and a strengthened sleeve, a separated chamber placed between the aforesaid cuff and sleeve, a groove provided in thespherical zone which is the seat of the ball joint, and communicating with the aforesaid chamber, two india rubber bags, two metallic casings containing the said bags and partially provided with holes for the admission of the water, means for connecting the two casings to the body chamher, and a tube for each bag which establishes communication between the bag and the aforesaid groove.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

MELOl-IIORRE BEMBINA. LEONE DURAND.

W itnesses COLOMBO VALENTINO, BRAUCALEONE G. Bn'rrnsrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eactnby addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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