US1097722A

US1097722A - Submarine dredging apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1097722A
Application number: US77835113A
Authority: US
Inventors: Simon Lake
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1913-07-10
Filing date: 1913-07-10
Publication date: 1914-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1931-05-26

Description

S. LAKE.

SUBMARINB DRBDGING APPARATUS. APYLIGATION FILED JULY I0, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. cA

S. LAKE.

SUBMARINB DREDGING APPARATUS.

AYPLIGATION FILED JULY 10, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Sme/who@ COLUMBIA PLANOGEAPH to., WASHINGTON. D. c..

S. LAKE.

SUBMARINB DRBDGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1913.

1,097,722, Patented Mayas, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0..wAsHlNuToN, D. c.

SUBMARINE DRBDGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1913. 1,097,722, Patented May 26,1914

' 5 slums-SHEET 4.

cul-UMBIA PLANOGRAPM c0..WAsH|NuTON. DA c.

s. LAKE. SUBMARINB DREDGING APPARATUS.

APPLIVOATION FILED JULY 10, 1913. Patented May 26 5 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C., WASHINGTON, DSC.

SIMON LAKE, 0F MIFORJ), CONNECTICUT.

SUBMARINE DREDGING APPARATU To all whom it may concern.' j j Be it `known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen "of the UnitedStates, residing atMilford, `in the county of` New `Haven and "State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Dredg,`- ing Apparatus, of which the following `is a specification.

`At the present time oysters are dredged `by means of drag nets carried by surface vessels which are propelled back and forth over the oyster beds, and by means oi Oyster tongs operated by hand `from small boats lying on `the surface. These methods are slow and` consequently expensive and with theuse of drag nets it is necessary to drag over the same territory a lnumber of times in order to fully cover the ground and to dredgethose places which are missed when the nets are hauled aboard the vessel to dump the oysters collected therein.

@ne oit the objects of this invention is to "provide a submarine dredging apparatus having `especially in view the dredging of oysters at less cost than with the present method and by which the dredging operations are carried on directly above the oyster beds thus enabling the operators to observe Vthe conditions of the beds and the operation of dredging.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the dredging of oystersby suction apparatus, the operation and arrange ment being such that the oysters are drawn up into the suction pipe and dumped into a chamber within the vessel without being passed through the suction pump, thus avoiding injury to the oysters.

The invention comprises certain peculiar and novel `features oi construction and arrangement of parts las will be hereinafter tully described and then claimed. A

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a diagrammatic vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same drawnon the line A-A of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section drawn on a larger scale on the line B-B of Fig. l. Fig. 4- isa longitudinal section of the amidships portion of the vessel drawn on a larger scale on the line D-D of-Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the tt'orwarddriving wheels and its support and driving gear. Fig. 6 is a sectional Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application iled July 10, `1913. Serial No. 778,351.

steering wheel.

Patented May 26, 1914.-.

View drawn on the line `(lV-G of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section drawn through the after end of the vessel, and the rudder illustrating the after supporting and Fig. 8 is a rear view of the rudder and wheel. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section drawn through one of the scoops.

Fig. l0 is a plan view of one of the scoops. Fig. ll is a detail perspective view illustrating the connection of the rake teeth to the rock-shaft carried at the forward end of the scoops, one of the arms carried by the shaft and the construction of theforward end of the grate sections of the scoops.

The apparatus comprises a submergible vessel lpreferably rectangular in cross section at amidships and formed with shipshape bow and stern sections as shown. lhe hull of the vessel is constructed of plating 2, braced by ribs or frames (not shown) in the usual manner and throughout its length it is divided by a horizontal partition or deck 3. lThe space below the partition 3 is divided by transverse partitions or bulkdieads 4 to provide a central well 5 which is open at its bottom, and by forward and aft partitions or bulk-heads 6 to provide storage compartments or holds 7 into which the oysters are pumped as will be hereinafter described. Forward and aft of the sto 'age compartments, that is, in the bow and stern, the hull `is divided by series of transverse partitions 8 into series of waterballast compartments or tanks 9 into which water is admitted to overcome the buoyancy oi the vessel when it is to be submerged. The water-ballast tanks 9 are connected by pipes (not shown) with a water-ballast pump 9 located in the working compartment -10 of the vessel, the passage through the pipes to the pump being controlled by valves which are arranged in a manifold 112 located adjacent to the pump. As this fea ture 'forms no part dt the present invention l have not thought Vit necessary` to illustrate or describe it in detail as any of the methods well known in the art of submarine torpedo boats for filling and emptying the tanks may be employed.

The working compartment 10 is arranged at the ami dships section of the vessel and is designed for the location of the engine and other working parts used in the operation of the boat. The said compartment extends from the deck 3, up through the upper deck 3 and "is formed with an arched top for the purpose of adding strength to the structure without increasing its weight. The space 11 between the decks and 3 is constructed airand water-tight so as to provide a high center of buoyancy to the vessel when operating submerged. The compartment is braced by ribs or frames 10', Figs.V 3 and 4, and extending` down into the compartment through the arched top is a hollow mast 12 through which access to the working compartment is had from the surface when the vessel is operating submerged. An opening is provided at the lower end of the mast leading into the working compartment and is controlled by an inwardly opening door 12. At the top the mast is provided with a hatch cover -3 and immediately below the top is arranged a lookout platform 14 upon which the lookout stands when the vessel is operating submerged and from which position he controls or directs the movement of the vessel.

i' 7ithin the well at each side of the vessel is mounted a drive wheel 15, Figs. 5 and 6, for navigating the vessel over the water-bed. Each wneel is loosely mounted upon a shaft 15 journaled in the outer ends of links 16 which are held at their forward ends on a shaft 17 journaled in brackets 18 secured to the front wall of the well 5. Keyed on the shafts 17 are worm wheels 19 which mesh with teeth of friction disks 20 slidingly keyed on the shafts 15. Each disk is formed with an annular V-shaped groove 21 into which fits an annular V-shaped rib 22 formed upon the abutting face of its coasting drive wheel 15,. and upon the outer face of each disk is held a flanged ring 28 between which and the body of the disk are held the heads 24 of short bolts or rods 25 which extend over the periphery of the disk and through casings 27 secured to ears 16 formed integral with the adjacent link 16. The outer ends of the bolts or rods 25 are provided with nuts between which and the casings 27 are interposed expansion springs 2G which serve to normally hold the fric-j tional faces or clutch surfaces of the wheel and disk apart, In order to force the said faces into contact to rotate the drive wheels 15, mount an air cylinder 28 on the inner end of each shaft 15 in each of which opcrates a piston 2S the rod of which extends into a bore formed in the end of the shaft and engages a bar 2) held in a slot formed in said shaft and which bears against an anti-friction bearing 30 which rests against the hub of the friction disk. Air is fed into the outer end of each cylinder through .i pipe 31 extending` from a source of compressed air supply located in the vessel. By this arrangement of the clutches it will be apparent that when air pressure is supplied to the cylinders the clutch or friction disks will be forced into engagement with the ribs ing comparti-nent.-

of their co-acting wheels to thus lock them together. The worin wheels 19 are driven by worms 32 held upon the lower ends of vertical shafts 33' journaled in the well 5 and the upper ends of the shafts are provided with bevel pinions 34 Fig. 4 which mesh with bevel pinions 35 carried at the outer ends of a horizontally arranged shaft 35 journaled in the upper end of the well 5. he shaft 55 is provided intermediate its ends with a bevel pinion 36 which is meshed by a similar pinion 37 fixed upon the lower end of. a vertical shaft 38 extending downwardly from the working compartment through the deck 3. The upper end of the shaft 3S is provided with a worin wheel 39 Fig. 3 which is meshed by a worm 40l carried by a drive shaft 41 extending longitudinally throughout the length of the work- The shaft 41 is driven by a belt extending from the drive wheel of a suitable motor 42j Fig. 1, preferably an internal combustion engine, and the exhaust from the engineY is carried off through a pipe 42 extended through the dome of the compartment 10 up above the top of the hollow mast 12.

Connected to the outerend of each shaft 15 is a link 43 Fig, 4 to the free end of each of which is connected a coil spring 43 snspended from a bracket mounted in the top of the well. VThese springs when fully eX- tended are designed to take up the full weight of the wheels and their co-acting parts as will be best understood from the description of the operation of the apparatus. Connected to the links 43 are arms 45 to each of which is connected a wire or cable 46 each beingl extended over guide rollers 47 mounted in the well and thence up into the working compartment 10 and having its upper end connected to a suitable indicator 48 by which the weight of the wheel resting on the water bed is ascertained as will be more fully described hereinafter.

49, Figs. 7 and 8, designates the rudder arranged at the after end of the vessel. The post 50 of the rudder is hollow and is eX- tended up into the airand water-tight compartment 11 and provided with a grooved wheel 51 around which operates a tiller line 51 extending from the steering` wheel 52, Figs. 1 and 2, mounted in the forward end of the workingcompartment 10. The rudder 49 is substantially U-shape in horizont-al section and mounted in the side members thereof are journal boxes 53 in which are mounted the ends of a shaft 54 having i worin wheel 55 which is meshed by a drive worm ocarried by and adjacent to the lower end of a drive shaft 57 extended through the rudder post 50. The upper end of the shaft 57 is provided with a bevel gear 58 which is meshed by a bevel gear 59 carried at the rear end of a shaft 60 journaled in the compartment ll and having its torward end extended into the Working compartment 10 and provided with a sprocket Wheel over which operates a sprocket chain G0 Fig. l Working over a sprocket Wheel carried by the main shaft 41.

A clutch 62, shown diagrainniatically in Fig. l, is connected to the sprocket Wheel et the shaft 4:1 for controlling the rotation of the shaft 60.

Supported on the Worin Wheel shaft 54 are arms G3 in the outer ends of which is journaled a shat't 64 upon which is loosely mounted a drive Wheel 65 and a Worin Wheel 66 Which is meshed by the Worin Wheel 55 in a similar manner as that described with respect to the forward Wheels l5. rlhe Wheel 65 is supported by a coil spring G7 hung in the rudder, `and connected to one arin 63 is a piston rod G8 Whose piston titl, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, operates in a hydraulic cylinder 7() hung upon a shaft connecting the sides ot the rudder. To the upper end et the cylinder is connected a flexible pipe '7l extending troni a pipe 72 arranged in the vessel and the opposite end of the pipe 72 is connected t0 the lower end of a hydraulic cylinder 73 inwhich operates a piston Til (Fig. t), havinga rod which extends up through the upper head of the cylinder and provided with an index iingcr 75 which o crates over a scale arranged adjacent to the cylinder. By this arrangement the Weight of the after Wheel resting on the Water bed is indicated, it being understood1 that as the vessel rises the Wheel will drop down against the tension of the spring and Will draw the piston in the cylinder downwardly which uf'ithdrau's the Water from the cylinder 73 and allows the piston Z-l to drop to cause the index linger to more along the scale.

Arranged inthe lower end of the Well 5 and extending belouT the bottom et the vessel are scoops 77 which are arranged side by side entirely across the Width oit' the vessel. lhese scoops, best shown in Figs. 4l, 9 and l0, are each constructed with abottomS and sides 79 which diverge troni the after rounding end to a point adjacent te their forward ends Where they are arranged parallel to each other. ln the forward end of each scoop is :mounted a rock shaft 8() having rake teeth 8l which are held in slots 82 `termed in the shaft to prevent them from turning and troni displacement by a single bolt as shown. The bottoms ot the scoops are solid -for about tivo thirds of their length and at their forward ends are slotted to provide grate sections 83 to permit sand, dirt and small gravel to escapeiroin the scoops as the oysters are raked up and pushed back toward the rear ends of the sections. rlhe trent end of each slotted section is formed with a plurality of open slots providing lingersll Which are bent around the shaft'between the teeth. Si to thus hold the forward end in position. An arin 85 is keyed adjacent te each end of each shaft and to the free ends of the arins are connected the forward ends of coil springs 36 which serve to hold the teeth 8l in operative position and to return them to such position should they come into engagement with an unyielding object as the scoops are dragged over the Water-bed. By thus mounting the shafts it will be understood that inthe event ci the teeth coming into contact with an unyielding object the shafts Will be rocked and the outer ends ot' the arms 85 Will be swung outwardly against the tension of the springs 8G so that the moment the teeth pass over the object the springs "Will draw the arms backuuirdly thus turning the shafts and adjust-ing the teeth into operative position. At their rear ends the scoops are provided with top sections or plates 87 having openings Si" in each of which is extended the `lower end oi.i a suction pi po ddlfig. ll, the upper end oi each pipe being connected to a fiexible section 8S each of which is con neel-ed to one branch et a T S9 arranged in a pipe 8S) located in the upper part of' the Well7 each pipe having its forward and a'lter end extended through the 'front and rear Walls of the Well into the respective storage compartments er holds 7 ot the vessel.. The discharge ends et the pipes are fitted with swinging valves 00 operated iti-cin the Working compartment by which the discharge of the material into either compartment may be controlled.

The forward ends of the scoops are connected by links 91 to brackets secured to the bottom of: the vessel, and at their after ends the scoops are connected to the lower ends ot' the suction pipes by short chains 92. rlhe Weight of the rear ends ot scoops and the suction pipes is supported by counter-indw ance Weights 93 carried by cables Slet which extend over guide pulleys 95 secured to brackets held to the top of the Well, the said cables being connected to the upper ends of the pipes 8S as shown. 96 designates suction plunps located in the Working compartment and driven by belts operating over pulleys carried by the main drive shaft 4l. rllhe pumps have their intake pipes 96a extended through the horizontal partition or deck 3 into the upper ends ot the storage compartments 7 at the opposite ends of the compartments from the pipes 89 and the dis charge pipes 96" ot the pumps are extended through the sides of the vessel as shown in 2. Screens 97 are arranged over the inlet ends ot the pipes 96L to prevent the oysters from being1 drawn into the pumps when the compartments are filled and the oysters are piled up therein to a point Within the influence ci the pumps. Pipes 9S conneet the compartments 7 to permit tree passage of water from one compartment to the other and the ends of these pipes are extended into the screens te prevent them from being clogged.

1n practice the storage compartments 7 are kept entirely filled with water and free from air pockets so that they form practically enlargements arranged in the suction pipes of the pumps, hence when the pumps are set in motion the water and any object scraped into the scoops will be drawn into the suction ends of the pipes SS in the same manner as if the said pipes extended direct from the pipes 961. However, owing to the size of the compartment 7, the oysters after passing through the pipes 89, will by their own weight drop down into the compartment out of the direct path to the suction and in consequence will be deposited in the compartments 7 Without being passed through the pumps and only the water that is drawn into the pipes 88 will pass through the pumps and be discharged outboard. 'Vater is let into the compartments 7 when the vessel is to be submerged through openings formed in the bottom of the vessel, the openings being controlled by valves 7 oper ated from the working compartment 10. lVhen the vessel is in operation the valves 7 are closed so that the water will be drawn inte the compartments through the suction pipes 88 only.

In the forward end of the after compartment 7 is built an observation room 99 which communicates with the well 5 through an opening controlled by a door 100, and with the working compartment through a hatch 101 controlled by a hatch cover 102. On either side of the door 100 the partition 4 is formed with an opening each of which is closed by a semispherical glass hood 102:5 into which the attendant in the observation room may extend his head to look toward the bottom of the well and to observe the character of the materials being scraped into the scoops. In order that a clearer view of the forward ends of the scoops may be had 1 mount a casing 104 over the outer end of each scoop.. each of which is open at its bottom and provided with a glass panel 105 in its top. As shown in Fig. 4 the casings are mounted so that their tops are extended into the well and slightly vabove the surface of the water and the water is kept from the casings by compressed air which is supplied to the casinos through pipes 104 connected to the tops thereof. By the employment of the casings it will be understood that the observer has only to lock through a thin sheet of water and is thus enabled to get a clearer view of the materials entering the scoops than would be possible were he compelled to look through a depth of Water equal to the distance fre-m the bottom of the vessel to the bottom of the scoops. 1n practice an elec- .throngh the suction pipes 88.

tric light 106 will be arranged in the top of each casing to light up the water immediately over the mouth of the scoops. 109 indicates an electric motor arranged in the working compartment for supplying current to the light- 106 and to the other electric lights (not shown) arranged throughout the vessel. The weight of the casings and of the forward ends of the scoops is counterbalanced by weights 104 mounted in the well similar to the weights 93, and by which the weight ef the scoops rest-ing on the water-bed is regulated.

Air under pressure is supplied to the well to expel the water when the vessel is submerged and to counterbalance the external pressure and prevent ingress of water to the well during the dredging operation through a pipe 113 extending from a suitable air compressor 113 arranged in the working compartment or from suitable storage tanks 213 located in the air-tight compartment 11.

114 is a vent pipe extending from the working compartment, and 115 is an observation dome used when the vessel is traveling on the surface.

116 designates the propeller which is geared to t-he main drive shaft 41 by sprocket and chain connection 116.

117 indicates a. clutch for controlling the operation of the propeller.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The compartments 7 are first filled with water through the valves 7 and then sufficient water is let into the ballast-tanks 9 to cause the vessel to submerge and so that the scoops will rest on the water-bed with suiiicient weight to cause the rake teeth of the scoops to effectively dig into the oysterheds as the vessel is moved over the surface being dredged. Air is then turned into the well to expel the water and to prevent ingress of water during the dredging operation. Compressed air is then let into the cylinders 28 of the shafts 15 to throw the clutch surfaces of the disks 20 into engagement with the wheels 15 to rotate the wheels to move the vessel over the surface to be dredged. rIhe suction pumps 96 are then set in moticn and immediately begin to suck in the water through the mouth of the pipes 88 from the surrounding body of water, the water passing through the compartments 7, through the pumps 96, and out through the discharge pipes 96b into the surrounding body of water. In the meantime, it should be stated, the valves 7 are closed so that water may enter the compartments 7 only New as the vessel is moved over the oyster-bed and the oysters are raked up into the scoops 77 and forced back toward the suction ends of the pipes SS they will be drawn into the pipes the moment they come within the sphere of the influence cf the pumps and be deposited Will fall aWay from the direct paths to the;

pumps and be deposited in the bott-oms of the compartments.

When the dredging operation is started the vessel is ballasted so that the

Wheels

15 and 65 Will but slightly rest upon the Waterbed, their Weight being taken up by their

respective springs

43 and 67. NOW as the oysters .are pumped into the compartments 7 the vessel Will become heavier ballasted `and consequently caused to rest With more Weight upon the Wheels. This additional Weight Will move the vessel nearer to the Water-bed and cause the Wheels to swing around on their

shafts

17 and 45, Which movement Will be indicated by the indicators 48, and by the index linger Working over the scale adjacent to the latter, thus registering the Weight of the vessel resting on the Wheels. As this additional Weight is taken into the vessel Water is bloWn or pumped from the tanks 9 to give the vessel additional buoyancy and cause it to rise and be maintained `at the proper distance from the oyster-bed. During these varying movements of the vessel, it Will be understood, the .scoops Will constantly rest upon the Waterbed at `the required Weight to cause the rake teeth to effectively dig into the oyster-bed, their rise and fall being taken up by the

counterbalance Weights

98 and 104.

The vessel is steered over its course by the steersman at the Wheel 52. NOW, When the vessel has reached the end of its course and it is desired to reverse its movement the `clutch of one of the Wheels 15 is throWn out of position by releasing the air pressure in its cylinder 28, the Wheel 65 is then thrown over o to swing the vessel around on the idle Wheel 15, the latter acting as a pivot, so that the vessel may be adjusted into position to dredge the surface immediately next to the surface previously dredged. Thus it Will be seen that the entire Water-bed may be covered Without necessitating` numerous operations as is necessary With surface dredges.

l/Vhen the compartments 7 have been filled sufficient Water is pumped or bloWn from the ballast tanks 9 to cause the vessel to rise to the surface. The oysters may be removed from the compartments throi'lgh hatches 200 in any suitable manner.

A platform 300 is arranged in the Well 5 upon Which the operators stand in examining the Working parts of the apparatus in the Well. `When entrance is to be had to the Well the operators close the hatch 102 and admit compressed air to the observation roo-1n to equal the ressure in the Well When the door 100 may e opened and access had to the well.

It Will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, that the mast 12 is made of a length to remain above the surface of the Water When the vessel is in operation, thus avoiding the necessity of the operators Working under compression as the Working compartment is supplied With fresh air through the holloW mast 12 and through the pipe 114, the foul air and the exhaust gases from the engine being carried olf through the pipe 42.

Should either of the compartments 7 fill more rapidly than the other the swinging valves 90 on any one or all of the pipes 89 may be closed to thus discharge only into the opposite compartment as Will be readily understood.

4 While I have shown and described the apparatus for use in dredging oysters l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this use as it Will be apparent the apparatus may be used With equal facility in deepening channels and in dredging trenches and the like.

What I claim is 1. A submarine dredging apparatus, comprising a submergible vessel having a Well open to the surrounding body of Water and provided With Wheels for navigating over the Water-bed, a storage compartment arranged in the hull of the vessel, a scoop suspended from the Well into contact Wit-h the Water-bed, a suction pipe co-actingwith said scoop and discharging into said storage compartment, and a suction pump having its intake connected to said storage compartment and its discharge emptying into the surrounding body of Water.

2. `A submarine dredging apparatus, comprising a submergible vessel having a Well open to the surrounding body of Water and provided With Wheels for navigating over the Water-bed, a storage compartment adapted to be filled With Water arranged in the hull of the vessel, a scoop suspended from the Well adapted to rest upon the Water-bed, a suction pipe having its intake arranged in the scoop and its outlet opening into said storage compartment, and a suction pump having its intake connected to said storage compartment and its discharge emptying into the surrounding body of Water.

3. A submarine dredging apparatus, comprising a submergible vessel having a Well open to the surrounding body of Water and provided with storage compartments and a Working compartment, propelling Wheels arranged in the Well and at the after end of the vessel, said Wheels having a vertical swinging movement for the purpose specified, scoops suspended from said Well adapted to drag over the Water-bed, a suction pipe cofacting with each scoop, each pipe discharging into both compartments, and suction pumps arranged in said Working compartment having their intakes connected to said storage compartments and their discharge pipes extending outboard of the vessel..

e. A submarine dredging apparatus, ccmprising a suhmergihle vessel having a Well open to the surrounding body of Water and provided With storage compartments and -a Working compartment, said storage comw partments heilig adapted to he lled With Water, propelling 'Wheels arranged in the Well and at the after end of the vessel, said Wheels having a vertical movement for the pi rpose speciiied, means for rotating said Wheels, clutches interposed in said rotating means controlling the rotation of the Wheels, scoops suspended from said Well adapted to drag overthe Water-bed, suction pipes having their intake ends vextended into said,v scoops and discharging into said storage compartments, andsuction pumps having their intake pipes connected'to the storage compartments and their `discharge pipes eX- 5 tended outboard of the vessel.

5, A submarine dredging apparatus, comprising a sulomergihle vessel yhaving' a Well .open Vto the surrounding body of Water, means to supply compressed air to said Well to expel the ivaterfstorage compartments and a Working compartment built in the' hull of the vessel, said storage compartments being adapted to he iilled with Water, scoops suspended from said Well adapted to dragV over the Water-hed, suction pipes extending from said scoops to one end'cf said storage;

. the Water-hed,

compartments, Suction pumpe having their intake pipes extended into the opposite ends of the compartments and having their discharge pipes extended outboard'foi' the vessel, and Wheels for navigating the vessel .over .the Water bed- 6 A submarine dredging apparatus, eemprising a submergible "vesselhaving a Well .Open te the Surrounding body Of Water, means to supply compressed air to said Well for the purpose specified, storage compartments and a' Working compartment arranged in the vessel, an observation room huilt in one of said storage compartments communieating with said Well and with said Working compartment, means controlling the communications, means suspended from the Well for collecting material from the Water-hetl, suction means col-acting with said collecting means for delivering the materials to said storage compartments, land Wheels for navigating` the vessel over the Water-hed.

7. A submarine dredging apparatus, comprising submergilole vessel having a Well Open to the surrounding body ot Water and provided with Wheels for navigating over said Wheels having a vertical movement, indicators operatively connected to said Wheels for indicating the movement thereof for the purpose specified, and means arranged in the Well for dredging and collecting material from the Water-hed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 'hand this 9th d ay Vet July, A, D. 1913.

SIMON LAKE.

u\"Vitnesses M, D. BLONDEL, C.. E. ADAMS.

Copies. of this patent may be detainee .frlive eentje each, addressing the Commissioner .of atents,

Washington, D, Gf