US1324425A - Salvaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

G. A. LONG.

SAU/AGING APPARAUS.

APPLICATION. FILED JULY 2.1917.

Patented Del 9, 1919.

4 SHEE'TSF-SHEET I.

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G. A. LONG.

SALVAGING APPARATUS.` APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1917.

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APPLICATION FILED IULIY 2. ISI?.

Patented Dee. 9, 1919.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 3I G. ALONG.

SALVAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 2l Isl?.

1,324,425. Patented Deo. 9,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

oo l I ao00 GEORGE A. LONG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

SALVAGING APPARATUS.

y ASpecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed J'uly 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,162.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE. A. LONG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Salvaging Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to a' submarine salvaging apparatus and its object is to provide an apparatus of this kind, by means of which, one or more operators may descend to a submerged vessel, inspect same, and positively attach -cables and the like thereto, in any desired number, by means of whlch the vessel may be raised to the surface by suitable'hoisting and flotation means. This apparatus is particularly adapted to descend.y

to comparatively great depths and yet enable the operators therein to perform their work and to coperate and communicate with attendants at the surface.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of theapparatus on line 1--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig-.2 is a plan;

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a fixture for drilling through the steel sides of a vessel- Figf" is an enlarged view of a portion of fixture shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a section on :3d-5 Fig. a;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation ot' a fixture for boring through the sides of a wooden vessel;

Fig.. 7 is a. sectional elevation of the bow end of appara-tasca -T of Fig. S);

Fig.-` 8- is 'a sectioned `plan of the bow end of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is'a sectional elevation on 9 9 of Fig. look-ing forward;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a fixture for grappling a vessel through a port hole or other opening;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the above Fig. 12 `is an enlarged section on line 12-12 of Fig. 1 looking aft;

13 is a portion of a sectional side elevation amidships online 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 1l is a sectional side elevation'of the sternl portion of this apparatus on line 1l14 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 15 is a sectional end elevation on line 'l5-15 of Fig. 14 looking aft; and

Fig. 16 shows the method of grappling a sunken Vessel through the portholes.

Referring to the drawings, the operating mechanism is inclosed in a shell 'comprising a cylindrical body 20 and the heads 21 and 22 joined thereto.

Suitable openings are provided for purposes hereinafter described, the heads and all such openings being so joined and protected against leakage as to form 'a watertight compartment, within which the operators may convenient-ly move in order to observe and to control the action of the apparatus. The shell 20 is reinforced against collapsing by suitable bands 23, and ribs 24 on heads 21, 22, the whole forming a structure capable of withstanding a heavy pressure of surrounding water.

In the top of the structure and forming an integral part thereof yis the manhole 25, closed by the cover 26, which is connected thereto by a hinge joint 27 .or other suitable method. A packing ring 28 interposed between the flanged top of the manhole and the under surface ol' the cover insures a Water-tight joint, and a loc-king arm 29 is provided, whereby the cover maybe clamped in place by the operators within. For emergency use the locking arm is secured to shaft 30 extending through the cover and provided with the handle 31 by means of which the cover may be unlocked from the outside; a packing box and gland insuring waterctight conditions where the shaft passes through the cover. Surrounding the manhole is the platform 33 supported by brackets 34 secured to the shell, a hand rail 35 be-.

ing provided as a protection for the operators, in entering or leaving the manhole.

lVithin the shell, the fittings and attachments necessary to the operation -of the ap paratus, are disposed. with due regard to convenience, economy of room and balance of weight.

In the preferredform shown, storage vbatteries 36. are disposed on cit-her side of the longitudinal axis, and connected to form one unit. Supported from the top of the shell are tanks .37 for compressed air also connected to form one unit. Water tanks 38 are fitted to the bottom, and for convenience are made in sections, several 'such sections being united by water tight joints 39 to form an independent unit, two such units being shown in the accompanying drawings. T o

yconsists in l controlling, under orders,

resist the pressure of the water, each section is reinforced by suitable ribs or stays 40.

ln the preferred form of apparatus herein shown and described, it is proposed to employ two operators, coperating with each other but having independent duties, and for purposes of distinction, they may be designated as operator and assistant respectively. It is obvious, however, that the apparatus may be operated .by one man by rearranging the controlling mechanism. Broadly speaking the duties of the operator are those that pertain to the guidance and control of the apparatus in grappling a sunken vessel, and the duty of the assistlnt ie tanks, and in giving water, air and vacuum be required by such auxiliary help as may `the operator.

Mounted over the rear water tank is the motor 41, the center line of its shaft 42 being coincident with the center line of the propeller shaft 43, mounted in the extension 44 of the head 22. To prevent leakage where the shaft passes through the ,shell to 46 and gland 47, and housed inthe extension 44 is indicated the thrust-bearing 48 of any suitable construction, against Which'the propeller and propeller shaft react.

vConnection between thefinotor shaft and the propeller shaft is made by means 'of the clutch member 49 mounted on the motor shaft and slidable thereon, and the clutch member 50 rigidly mounted on the propeller shaft, the member 49 being operated to engage the member 50 by means of the forked connection 51 engaging the groove 52 in clutch member 49.

The forked connection is mounted on the shaft 53 journaled in the bearings 54, and is rigidly connected to one end of the lever T o the other end of the lever is pivoted the 'connection 56 which is extended v forward@ and pivotally joined at its other end to the hand lever 5 This lever is pivotally mounted in the bracket 58 and is provided near its upper end with a spring latch 59 which engages the are 60, supported on standards 61, secured to the water tank 38 in such position that the ,lever ma be operated by the pilot.

Exten ing fore and aft in a convenient location is the shaft 62 journaled in suitable bearings as at 63. Rigidly secured near the rear end of the shaft is. the pulley 64 alined with the corresponding pulley 65 mounted on the motor shaft 42, and driven therefrom through the medium of the belt 66. Near the forward end of the shaft 63 is the clutch pulley 67 loosely mounted thereon, and which may be engaged by the clutch member 68 slidably mounted on shaft 62 and operates by means of the lever 69 pivoted at 70,

and engaging the groove 71 in clutch meniber 68. Lever 69 is so placed that it-.may be readily operated by the pilot.

Journaled in the inwardly extending hub 72 of the forward head 21 is a shaft 73 the forward-end of which is enlarged at 74 and provided with a socket 75 shaped to engagecorresponding projections 76 formed on4 the ends of the several fixtures, to be hereafter described, that may be used in grappling. interposed between the enlarged portion 7 4 and the recess in the hub 72 is a thrust bearing 77. The shaft 73 is extended rearward through the packing 78 and gland 79, and rigidly mounted thereon and alined with the pulley. 67 and driven therefrom 4by the belt 80 is a pu11ey'81, for the purpose of rotating the shaft 73and through the' lleys, 89 from the hub- 86y along opposite the propeller 45 there is provideda packing sides ofthe shell, the other ends Ibeing secured to the lever- 90. rigidly fastened to one end of. the shaft -91 which-extends through the 'packing box'f92 and. the hub 93 formed on. the head 22. f.

On the opposite side of the centerline of the shell andaliiie/d with the hub 93 is a similar hubv 94 in theouter endof which is recessed lthe pivot 95, projecting from the hub of a lever 96 and aiming-With the shaft\91. L

Secured to the outer end of the shaft 91 is a `similar lever 97, and connecting the outer ends of the levers 96 and 97, and rigid therewith is the blade 98, :forming `a rudder, by the action of which, the direction of movement of the apparatus is controlled laterally. The action of the cords 86 and 87 is such, that as the wheel 82 is turned on the shaft 73, one cord is wound about the hub, as the other is u nwound, thus shortening the length of one cord directly as the other is lengthened, in the familiar manner. lThis action results in a rotative movement of the lever 90 on its shaft across the longitudinal center line of the shell, which is transmitted through the shaft 91 and lever .97 to the rudder 98. The rudder 99 is similarly formed, and operated by means of the cords 100, 101, connecting thelever 192 with the hub 103 formed on the wheel 83. The center line of rotation through the hubs 104, 105, being at a right angle with the center line of rotation of the rudder 98, causes the rudder 99 to move in a vertical plane, when actuated by the means above described, thus acting to raise or depress the head end of the device, to change its level through the action of the propeller 45.

. of grappling either a steel .orwoide-nvesself .per- .end fof.. lever .deseribed,=, the motor al is controlled.

l.by means=ofqsuitable piping and itt'ing i T he power for operatingfthe motor` is rez-I" ceived frointhe storage batteries 36, through the conducting wires 10G `107, the motor being in circuit and controlled by the rheostat 108.! Provisionisinade for reversing the following mannerz-I. I

of pump maybe used if desired and it is also obviousfthat instead of expelling the water fro'i'n' 'thetanks by admitting air *l under pressure, other expelling 'means may J ournaledinthe v`be.aiiirVigas, 109, 110 is the= shaft 111 to which is rigidlyv secured one end of the lever 112. The i'eversing rnechanism 113 otl the motor-11 is connectedtothe up- 111 in a suitable -positionisv the' lever 117, by means ofwhichthe shaft 1 11isfoscillated,` and through the intermediate mechanisi'i'i i -1`hecombination of theanechanisni above described, all within easy access of' thepilbt'," enables limi to advance or recede, lchange,"

.. directionl of 'the device, and 'operate anyt'rolthe n'i'oistiire within 'the head' lights due direction fof rotation the t.,

v p be` employed, foi' example, an ordinary direction Iof. revolution Q the .IHQOI' 11 1 the 'v 'foiieefpunip ployed to 1 exhaust air from vacuum tank 134, Vwhich may be securely' fastened to one lfof the water tanks or in any other conveni- ,112 by iiieansof the link', 111 pivoted at 115,116, Secured 'to the shaftf 'ent place. i The pipe 135 connects the pump witlrthe tank, a check valve '136, and gage l'il'fb'eingused for purposes similar to those describedinconnection with the air pump.

the .fixtures to. be Edescribed, for thepurpose j The subinersion of tlietleiicefis'.controlled from I the. airl tanks 87 ivatfer. t'anksj38 the assistant?, Noi

theiinclosed. devices i and niechanfisnis bei arranged within tottrin'i or presaxrve levels.

From the vacuum tank leads the pipe 138 branching to separate' pipes 189, V14a) which extend forward to the lhead lights 14.1 and v arei:con treated therewith.1=fiThe degree of vacuiiiiiiii"tli'ipipes-139, 140 is independ- 'ently controlled by vmeans off the valves 142.

The purpose ot' tlieseconnections is to conto' temp'cr'a'turechanges; which would otherlens'surfacesfrom 4thciiiOiSture in the air -water tanks. empty isgsiich tiliatgit` will tlola'tl, 'head1liglits"Y The tanks 38 are here arranged in independentgiimitsfto enable the operator to fill or discharge ieither tank ,at- ,w, i ll., thus causing a' (if-depressing the bow onstern as may be required, or b\'- tilliiig both tanks to cause the apparatustosubnierg e.l .iifater is adl valves 123 controlling the, flow.

pressure and are connected with the water tanks by meansof the pip es 124,r125, 126, valves 127 controlling the flow to the tanksV 38. the'air main 12k-is the airpuiiip 128 by creases "ivh'e'ii-'the apparatus is submerged. B v"partiallyexhausting the'air from the rough `thel pipes 139, 140 the y iayxbe keptfree froin'precipitatiiif =`=f Y k Connecting with the various pipes described are la; series otgages 1424a mounted a'suitable position, b v mealisvof which, 'the assistant i'nay 'have information as to the preponderance finaweight Aforgthe purpose witted; through -the ,-i nlet 118,and passesi Athrough the pipes 119, 120, 121 .to the tanks,

The air vided' with two sockets 143 on opposite. sides of the axis j of tlie shell. *Within these l "socketsfare secured 4the electric lamps 144. i tanks3 7 are designed yto joiitainair lindenA switches, vomitted in the drawings for conven'ienceQ. By means of tlie'reflector 146 Siiitably` placed and connectingwith the beam ofiliglit is concentrated'and passes through the vlei'isesli?, 148 to illuminate the means of which the pressure ,in the. air tanks may be restablished when necessary. tanks 37 are connected by means ing 129 and connection 130 forthepurposc of maintaining uniform :pressure in all the tanks. Afcheck valve 131 between the air pump =128-andithevair .main 124 insures against the escape of air through the pump when it is inactive. Gage 132 connected to the air main, indicates the pressure inthe pipes and tanks, which-must be suiiicient to clear the tanks, 38,=of.vvater. Whendesiied.

The l ot the pip.

surroundingsfin front of the apparatus, suitabljpacking rings 149, 150, 151 being interposed to secure Iseparation of the lenses Pump 128 is shown as motor driven` the usual connections and switch being omitted in the. drawings for convenience.

Itisobvious however, that another form anda watertight joint'when the packing mit 152 jis tightened thereon. A port 153 lis 'also' provided at a suitable level above the axis ofA the device to enable the pilot to inspect conditions and observe the action of the fixture'us'ed for grappling the vessel. This port is closed b v means of the heavy glass, 154, recessed in the head 21 and packaged at 155. 15G against leakage. the frame 157 serving to secure the whole firmly in place.

The. several Fixtures used in connection with this device' are shown in detail in Figs.

4, 4", 5, 610,11. These fixtures are each designed to fit a socket formed in the pro-l jection1'58, from the forward lhead 21.

Avessel. After each fixture is Placed in po- Referring to Figs. and 11, the fixtures, and the process above described repeated. shown areused -when grappling a sunken In order to facilitate the action of raising vessel in which there ,are existing ports or and lowering of the.l apparatus, and for the other openings through the hull;. 159 is a purpose of economizing power in operation, head connected to the body part 160 Which the heads are provided with the eyes 177,. has an extension .161 forming astem to fit preferably integral therewith. To these eyes the., socket in 158. A collar 162 integral are connected cables 178, joined tothe main therewith, limits the inward movement of cable 179, Fig. 16, which is connected at its lthe=fixtures 'andv serves as a `thrust collar upper end with suitable mechanism on against the-endof .projection 158. The the lighter, the lighter being moved to abutment 163 from the collar 161, engages a a suitable' position above the sunken vesrecess in .the end of socket 158 and serves sel. The movement of this lighter may to 'preventrotatiom A lateral groove 164; be governed by meanSof telephone C011- cut in the stem -161is engaged bythe ca`m` jnection .between the pilot below and the at- 165 preventing,end vvise movement. This tendant on the'lighter; Such an apparatus camiis secured to the ,end of theshaft 166l vindicated at 180 and itis obvious that the which is j ournaled in the, projection 158 and Conducting wires to the surface may be made packed againstleakage at 167...A`handle integral with the cable/179 or independent,

' 168is rrigidly Secured, .toL the innerA end of as desired.

the shaftIlGG-.fenablingthe operator to rotate Fiese, 4a, 5 show fixture, for use in 'I `the-shafti-lfor-thepurposeqof dse'n'gag7' grappling a steel 'vessel which may lack 1, 2 5.

ingthe cam fromrthergroove andpermittingk suitable; ports or openings at the point where the' stem 163;1to be. r,Withdraw-"n.--froin the' u 41t isdeslred to attach a cable.^fA clamp 181 acable-170 'extending i.to,.1,accompanying .formed with the hub 183, to engage` the lighters or other supportlngfdevice at the mner side 4of the vessel and the other arm surface. Pivoted at 170 in the head1'59fare is provided with an extended hub: 181 the armsf1.71norn 1allye.ngaging-y grooves" .formed With a tongue 185, to engage a cor- 'l therein. Thefixture iS bored on its axisto h 'responding slot 186 in the holder` 187.v The receive a shaft ,172,.extending to a point hub 184 is recessed in a portion of its length neartheapex, of y,the head. A portion of and threaded to receive the sleeve 188, withths endof `the shaft is threaded at 173 und in which is journaled the shaft 189 one end engages with-.correspondingthreads 174 vof which' is formed at 190 to fit socket 75 formedzin the hubs ofthe levers.A To provide against end movement, thisshaft is groovedat 175 near its inner end, and enandthe other end provided with a drill pomt 191, which journals in the forward part of hub 184, thus furnishing, in connece .l socket 7 5.as above described, The operation V is -propelledpforward the head'159 passes gagedffbyxthe set screw7 176 in the stem. vtion with the sleeve 188, a stable support The shaft 172 is extended. beyond the end for the clamp 181. The hub 183 is bored on of the stem 168 and formed at 76 to fit the the axis of the shaft 189, to a size which will permit the passage of the drill point of this fixture is as follows As the device and shaft. If preferred, the drill portion 191 may be made independently and socketl through the port or :other opening in .the ed into the end of shaft 189 in the usual sunken vessel. The clutch 68, is then opermanner employed with drill spindles and ated by the pilot to transmit rotary motion interchangeable drills. The holder 187 is to the shaft 73 and through the socketed formed with a chamber 192 closed by a cap joint 7576. to.. the shaftr172. As vthe shaft ,193, within which is'assembled the mechais limitedin its endwise movement by the l nism required to feed the drill asit bores set screw 176, the resulting action on the through the side 194 of the sunken vessel. levers 171, rotates them about their axes A preferred form here-shown consists of a to the positions shown at The clutch 68 ratchet 195 rigidly secured to the inner end is released and the cam 165 rotated to disof the sleeve 188. This ratchet is operated engage the groove 164; the rotation of thev by means of the pawl 196 pivoted in the 'motor is reversed, and the apparatus is backed away, leaving the fixture grappling the hull, and connected asabove described lever 197, engage the eccentric 198, rigidly with the lighter or other supporting means. secured to the shaft 189. The hubs of the This process is repeated until a sufficient ratchet 195, andof the eccentric 198 bear number of fixtures are placed, at which time against the Walls of the chamber and limit suitable mechanism above is employed to the endWise-movement of the drill shaft act on the various cables to raise the sunken 189. Pawl 196 is held in contact with the forked lever 197 which is journaled on the. shaft 198 1n cap 193. The forked arms of ratchet 195, by a spring 199, the able depth is reached and from his inspecwhich isfgovernedby the screw200. This f "holder 1187 =isffitted tothe 'so'ck'et Ii158, held 201 being provided in the c' socket 75, the stem portion 2' and operated; inplthemsanie mannergffasthe As theshaft: i189 isgrotated' fron vtl '1 'stenr of the; grapplingfixtui-e first described j'Thezoperation -`of l this; ,fixturelf'is' asv fol- '1 -loWsE-The clamp inl its e.\: tren1'eLy ,forwardf i position in the holder, is lowerejdpverithe rail of-thfsunken .vesseh as show faire. 4.

ie line :shaft 62, by the intermediate" nieclninism'A #already described-the eccentric in its rotation oscillates the forked lever 197 on its axis 198.

The pavvl 1,97 engages thefratchet 195 to rotate the sleeve 188 step by step. The threaded surface of the sleeve engaging the thread in the recess of the hub 184 caus the drill point to advance as it rotates, to and through the side pf the sunken vessel, and into the bore of the hub 183. In this position the shaft 189 forms a shackle for the clamp 181 and /the fixture may be released from its soc et in projection 158, in the manner described in connection with the grappling fixture already' escribed, the eye amp 181 to which maybe attached acablef/for the purposes already specified. l I! The fixture, shown in l ig. 6 may be used for boring through the vessel, and /consists of the 'sleeve 202, in which is jou'rnaledthe shaft 203 to one end of which is rigidly attach'e the bur 201 the other end being formed' a 205 to fit .the of the sleeve 202 bein interchangeable I,with the other fixtures escribed. The operation of this fixture is similar to' that of the other fixtures, but'its purpose differs, in that it is used solely to bore through the sides of the vessel in' order that the grappling fixture may be'employed.` In this fixture, the eye 207 is used only to attach a float line vor other safeguard against loss of the fixture, by premature release from the socket.

The general operation of my apparatus is as follows z- Alighter or lightersor other tender is used in connection with the apparatus deafter submerging. The operators having descended into the apparatus, and the manhole being closed, the water tanks are filled, causing the apparatus to submerge as the supporting cable is unwound. As the .apparatus sinks, the pilot telephones or slgnals to the attendants on the tender when a suitindependent actionhothe .apparati in 'its own' fpower, vwithout li nter-fe rence,from theE tender." The operatorgthen@ describedgytofgrapple the wreck;

tio'n gives such directions as are necessary I tto; vguide: the lighter ywith the suspended` aplparams, to a favorablefpositionfor, operation.- Sufficient water.. .is then forced lout kof the ttan-ksyto cause theapparatusy to yfioat yat the depth attained-w "lhe 'attendant `is ,then vdiiectefdlto.r t'ension l'on thecable;sufficiently` 'Oates 'as 'this is accomplished he releases the grappling fixture, and backs away leaving the fixture hoisting means. Air pressure is then apconnected by a cable to a suitable buoy or -plied to the water tanks, and as the water is driven out, the apparatus rises to the surface, and is hauled alongside the tender as. the cable `is Wound up. Another grappling fixture is applied to the fixing apparatus, and the process repeated, the compressed air and electric storage being restored as occasion demands, whileA the device is at the surface.

What I claim is 3 1. A salvaging apparatus, consisting of a submarine vessel provided on its exterior with a fixture adapted to grapple a sunken vessel or other body; a lighting device secured to the submarine, and inclosed in a water tight chamber; means for directing the light through a lens forming a transparent side of the chamber; and means for exhausting the air and vapor from the interior of the chamber, by devices under the control of the operator; and other means for controlling the illumination, and the movements of the submarine, forthe'purpose of engaging the fixture with a sunken body.-

2. A salvaging apparatus, consisting of a submarine vessel, provided on its exterior with a socket, adapted to engage the shank of a fixture designed to grapple a sunken body; thatfixture; means for securing the fixture in lts socket, ad for releasing it 'from the socket; a cablesecured to the fixture Aand supported by suitable buoyant4 means; a shaft journaled in the wall of the submarine vessel, and provided with an enlarged portion or head, projecting into the socket, and adapted to engage a projection formed on a shaft journaled in thefixture and co-acting with mechanism within` a' chamber formed in .the fixture, for the purpose of securing the fixture to a sunken body; means by which an operator may control the movements of the submarine vessel and the operation of` the grappling fixture.

3. A salvaging apparatus, consisting of a submarine vessel, provided 4on its exterior with a socket, adapted to receive the shank of a xture, designed tograpple a .sunken bodygthat fixture; means for securingl the fixture in the socket,` and for releasing it from the Socket; a cable secured to the fixture and supported by 'suitable .buoyant l means; a shaft journaled in the `wallof the submarine, and` provided with an enlarged portlon o'r head, projecting mto the socket,4

and ada ted to engage 'a projection, formeel .on a sha t,'journaled m the fixture; a thready ed portion of the shaftengaging mecha .pose of operating the fixture,

inisni .adapted to secure the fixture to a submarine vessel. y' Signedby nieat Boston, Massachusetts,

this tu-'entynnth day of June, 1917.

GEORG-Ea. LONG.

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