US1800310A - Life-saving apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aplil 14, 1931. MCGEE 1,800,310

LIFE SAVING APPARATUb Filed June 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 14, 1931'. MCGEE 1,800,31Q

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed June- 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A a. r'regeg z a m... Jt 'onz 1 res thereof,

Patented 14, 1931 STATES {PATENT OFFICE V 345 312 McG'EE, or gnuore, PENNSYIfiVAjNIA, AssIe on or onE-mr'rn: To reap 5;

- :BROWN, or en BoIs, PENNSYLVANIA v LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS his in ntio re tes to a appa atus adapted for utilization in the rescue of survi ns-on a Wrecked u m rine Vessel, a mo e Part cular y to a d vi g bell adapt d to abellower d into position" adj cen in c ntact th the ubm n an to m a s iacilitating the transfer of any survivors i mth fw ck d vessel to the b ll- T e pr m ry obje t o the inv nt i the provision o mea where y, a te l ca ing the position ofthe wrecked vessel, the work may tee sily n exped u y ,szfieetea, i v Qther ehiec s of the inven i n e made #931 in t e f llowing spe ific wlien read vin c nnection wit the a i r ries d n a es ar sa ld ew gs i I J r fl i a (vertical ection taken h ou divin A. 1 i netic'ally ittac'hd to the hull of a sun en submarine 7 v is afrQnt ele ation of the b lll; fig, 3, is a horizon a ,ectio taken anagram (bell, lookiagsicnnne d y h rem sml, iiss vert cal sect on ke hr u the bell, and l oking "to ar s the fron reterr nes ecifi ell yto-t r w ng in wh ch --.li e rensze nume als ind c te :like' na tsfth oilghpnt the eral vi ws, 1 names the-infi l of a unken bma ine,

si vivcrsssa ve sel being pro ided with a .Ort 2i, and ind 'ce e h di ing l re er ed to as the bellclearly ndic ted n Fig 9 he hell '8 Qi igQ eralE sph rica informat on, excep forthe front portion thereof, and termed .nf metal suffii liently c -ans to re ist y p essnre manna may be su jecte W e .sabmerged, and of snific en intern d m sions vc int rt-a ly house the o upant thereof and the mechanismsnecessary to the salvage work. As here illustrated the-bell pre dedwit a 4, a vertical 'l a li p walla and a s id Wal 9 and .0,. r specb how ng h latt we,

a; other wreck dv ss llsuppcsed to c nta n t ely, e pa t i n 7 a so pr di wi the wall 5,"a tank room 11 adapted to contain oxygen and acetylene tanks 12. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the outer periphcry of the bell 3 carries a plurality of properly spaced anchors 13, adapted to receive guy line cables 14 leading to the mother boat (not shown) ,on the surface. As will be clearly understood, proper manipulation of the cables 14 from saidmother boat will L69 result in the vbell 3 being brought to workins po ition at es e t r e boat, telephonic, or other signalling devices, beingin connection between the bell and the mother boat, through wiring in the conduit The front end of the bell 3 is closed by a flat wall 16, and is provided with a port '17, normally closed by a door 18, provided with glass covered peep holes 18, said door {210 being'slidably mounted in runways formed by ahousi'ng' 19 secured to the wall 16 and surrounding the port 17 On the outer face of the wall 16 is an integrally-formed tubular, ri e y cyl dr cal n i n 1.20, v a diameter sufficient to surround the port 2 2 on the submarine 1; On the outer surface of the front end of the extension 20 is slidably mounted a rubber cushion 21, which is concentric with the'extension and projects-2,80 beyond the outer. end thereof. A tubular envelope 22 concentrically surrounds the outer surface of the extension 20, said 'envelope being provided with an outer end wall 23. Extending through the wall 16 35 of the bell, and the'wall 2301? the envelope 22, are a pluralityof rods 24, each carrying a presser foot bearing against and secured to the rear face of the slidable cushion 21,

the inner portion of the: rods 24 being inmgo powerful magnet 27, in circuit with wires carried by the conduit 15, and controlled by the switches 28, see Fig. 1. Brackets 29' plate 32, which is, in turn, secured to a flange 33 carried by the bracket 29, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer ends of the plates 30 and 32 provide a socket for the reception of a circular cushion 34, adapted for contact with the side of the sunken vessel 1, and beveled to conform to the contour thereof, asherein illustrated. i

In the top of the bell 3 is mounted a pump 35, secured to the wall 6, compressed air foroperating said. pump being fed through the flexible conduit 36 extending through the top of the hell, or, if more desirable, the pump may be electrically operated and in connection with the circuit wires leading through the conduit 15, and adapted to draw air through the pipe 36. In any event the pump is equipped with pipes 37, leading to the space between the magnetic cells, whereby to direct a flow of cooling air around said cells while the magnet is in operation,as will be hereinafter referred to. The pipes 37 are provided with hand valves 38 to control the How of air, as will be under stood. In view of the foregoing it will be clear that, divers having first located the sunken boat, the bell is lowered as nearly as calculations-will permit, to a position adjacent the most exposed side thereof. The boat 1 is in view of the operators within the, bell, through the glass 18, and by signalling the mother boat, the bell may be so moved vertically and laterally that the cushions 21 and 34 willcontact the sides of the boatl, and the end of the extension 20 be positioned concentrically around the port 2 on the sunken boat. In this position theswitches '28 are manipulated to throw the magnet 27 I into operation,fthe result being that the magnet will exert a very powerful pull upon the metallic side of the boat 1, and compress the cushions 21,;and 34 thereagainst, re-

venting the ingress of water to the extension '20, and the hand wheels 26 are then all turned to more tightly compress the cushion 21 against the side of the submarine 1.. The ,7 pump 35 is then thrown into operation to force compressed air through the pipe 39,

leading intothe interior of the extension 20, whereby to. eject water from the latter, through the check valves 40. When the extension 20,is cleared of water, the door 18 is moved from its closedposition, as follows:f V

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the door 18 is of elongated construction, and is slidably mounted within a housing 41, secured to the wall 16, the rear edge of the door structure being provided with a bar 42 carrying ratchet teeth adapted to engage a pinion 43, mounted on rotative shaft 44 secured to the said wall. A handwheel 45 is rigidly secured to the shaft 44, and" rotation of said wheelwill obviously cause the engaged teeth on the pinion and door to pull the front portion 18 pfthe door out of its housing, a reverse rotationof the wheel restoring the door 18 to its position, suitably packed to prevent entrance of water into the bell.

The door 18- having been opened access may be had to 'theiport 2 of the submarine 1, and the survivors of the wreck apprised by may he opened by an acetylene torch. 'In

any event entrance to the cells of the Wrecked boat may be effected inthis .manner and the survivors or their bodies, taken. into the bell 3, through the extension 21, and subsequently delivered to the surface. A pipe 46 leads into and supplies thebell with fresh air, the foul 'air being taken offib'y a Pipe47. V

In order to further facilitate the manipulation of the bell so that the cushions 21 and 34 may be brought to a position where 'they may contact the hull. 1 concentrically of the port 2, I prefer to provide a plurality of small propellers'48' having ashaft'49 extending through the hull of the bell 3, each propeller beingu rotat'ed iby -"a separate motor 50, electrically connected to the wires in f the conduit 15, and controlled byftfhe switches 28.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an apparatus adapted; to

greatly facilitate the salvaging of 'thefo ccupants of wrecked submarines. The 'g'lasscovered peep-holes 18 permit inspectionof thev hull of the sunken boatas it is appreached by the bell 3, and the movements .of the bell, before being magnetically secured to the hull 1, may be accurately controlled by operators in the mother boat,'upon signals from the bell. Furthermore, the interior of thebell is equipped with all. devicesnecesments falling fairly within the scopeof the appended claims;- p I claim: I. v 1, Salvaging apparatus" adapted for operation in connection with a sunken boat having a metallichu'll, comprising'a hollow bell, a tubular extension projecting from said bell and leading thereinto, a slidablymounted, resilient cushion surrounding the outer end of said extension and projecting therefrom, a magnate surrounding said extension and adapted to retain said cushion in close contact with said hull, and means in said bell adapted for operation to automatically adjust the position of said cushion.

2. Salvaging apparatus for operation in connection with a sunken boat having a metallic hull, comprising a hollow bell, a tubular extension projecting from said bell and leading thereinto, two concentrically mounted circular cushions carried by the outer end of said extension and adapted for contact with said hull, means in said shell adapted for operation to move one of said cushions longitudinally of said extension whereby to increase or decrease the pressure thereof upon said hull, and magnetically operated means adapted to retain said cushions in contact with said hull.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARVEY E. MoGEE.

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