US1816759A - Ship raising apparatus - Google Patents

Description

28,1931} w. E. BAHR 1,816,759

7 I SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Filed Jan; 17, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l v A7 z LLLD INVENTOR.

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July 28, 1931. w. E. BAHR SHIP RAISING APPARATUS FiledJan. 17, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 'I-NVEN TOR.

1 9 ATTORNEYJZ J yvzs, 1931- w. E. BAHR 1,816,759

SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 17, 1929' 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 28, 1931. w, E, 'BAHR 1,816,759

SHIP RAI SING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1'7, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I @5@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 1 @GQQQQGQQQQQQQQQ INVENTOR v Q T 52 Q QQQ zf'dWlfidil? Patented July 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE v WILLIAM E. BAHR, OF INDIANHEAD, MARYLAND SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Application filed January 17, 1929. Serial No. 333,045.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ship raising apparatus and has for its primary object to provide a submersible structure from which an oporator anchors the same adjacent a sunken vessel, the submersible structure having apparatus for attaching hoist cables to the sunken vessel while the submersible structure is equipped with devices to permit certain movements thereof relative to the sunken vessel for correctly positioning the same, such as forwardly and rearwardly positioned propellers, water ballast devices for each end of the structure as well as gyroscopic mechanism to permit side tilting or rolling motion of the submersible structure.

Another object of the invention is to prof vide a ship raising apparatus wherein a float or pontoon is equipped with cable hoists and anchor grapples lowered by the cables for attachment to a sunken ship,'such as being interlockingly engaged with the walls of port holes and a submersible structure having guide cables with which the grapple devices are associated, the submersible structure carrying means manually operable from within for positioning the grapple in engagement with the sunken vessel.

With the above and other objects in View that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed. 1

In the drawings Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the submersible structure of the ship raising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the submersible structure with a part of the sunken vessel shown in section, illustrating the magnets for 5 anchoring the submersible structure to the sunken vessel and the grapple or lifting device engaged with the sunken vessel;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a float or-pontoon with a Windlass 59 carrying an anchor device attached to the v longitudinal section;

sunken vessel, a part of the submersible structure and guide cable for the grapples;

Figure 4 is a horizontal detail sectional view showing the grapples partly projected through a port hole opening in the sunken vessel;

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional of the grapple illustrating the socketed block 7 to receive a plunger rod from the submersible structure for forcing the grapple through a port hole or window;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the grapple showing the guide cables therefor; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of. the mechanism for positioning the grapple in the port hole opening and the plunger rod for breaking the glass of the port hole;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a similar structure carrying a telescope and a periscope;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a portion of the submersible structure showing an electro-magnet carried thereby and engaged with the sunken vessel for holding the submersible structure stationary and the mechanism for moving the electro-magnet;

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the submersible structure with the operating mechanism for the electro-magnet shown in Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1212 of Figure 11;

' Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13- 13 of Figure 14 showing the lead to the switch board from a source of electric energy, the operating mechanism for the magnet, an air compressor and pump, and a water P p; I

Flgure 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view for the submersible structure showing the end ballastchambers and the intermediate compartment for the operators with the gyroscope therein;

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view of the submersible structure showing the water pump and pipe lines leading to and from the ballast ends;

} Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1616 of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l717 of Figure 14, showing the gyroscopic mechanism associated with the submersible structure; and

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1818 of Figure 17.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the submersible structure 1 is preferably in the form of a cylindrical casing having tapered ends 2 and while the same may be constructed of any desired size and dimensions, it is believed that the same will be found to be more practical to be of substantially eighty feet in length and sixteen feet in diameter. The upper side of the submersible structure 1 has attaching plates 3 fixed thereto to which hoisting cables 4 are anchored, the structure being raised and lowered through the medium of the cables 4 and further through the medium of ballast devices to be later described. A float or pontoon 5 that is broken away to show a motor driven windlass 6 has a cable 7 wound on the Windlass, depending from the pontoon to travel around the sheave 8 on the s imken ship anchor device with the other end of the cable 7 extending upwardly to the'pontoon and suitably anchored therein.

The grapple supported on the cable 7 for raising the sunken vessel is shown more clearly in Figures 3 to 7 and includes a hori-.

zontal arm 9 having openings in opposite ends thereof for the passage of a looped guide cable 10 from the surface ship the lower end loop of the guide cables 10 passing around the sheave 11 upon brackets 12 carried by the outer side wall of the submersible structure 1. Hinged closures 9a permit automatic separation of the cable 10 from the grapple. A pair of upstanding bearings 13 on the horizontal arms 12 provide a journal bearing for the sheave 8, the grapple being threaded on the guide cables 10 of the surface ship and lowered to the submersible structure 1. A block centrally depending from the horizontal arm 9 is socketed as at 14 for purposes presently to appear, while a laterally directed arm 15 projects from the horizontal arm 9. Thearm 15 is bifurcated as at 16 and has a latch head 17 pivotally mounted as at 18 in the outer end thereof. The outer end of the arm 15 inwardly of the bearing 18 is provided with a side pocket 19 in which a coiled spring 20 is seated, and when the latch head 17 is longitudinally disposed, substantially as illustrated in Figure 4, one side of the latch head 17- engages the spring to hold the same under compression. A collar 21 is slidable upon the arm 15 and normally surrounds one end of the latch head 17 as shown in Figure 4. The grapple is lowered into alignment with the port hole 22 in the side wall 23 of the sunken vessel and by devices to be later described, the projecting end of the latch head 17 is forced through the port hole. During this movement, the ring 21 is moved into engagement with the side wall 23 of the sunken vessel and continued movement of the grapple causes the arm 15 to be projected through said opening while the collar 21 is retained at the outer side of the sunken vessel and when the inner end of the latch head is released from the collar 21, the spring 20 moves the latch 17 to a right angle position relative to the arm 15 e as shown in Figure 5 to secure the grapple to the sunken vessel.

The devices for moving the grapple into the port hole 22 are shown in detail in Figure 8, the devices projecting from and being operable from within the submersible structure 1. A bracket plate 24 projects inwardly from the side wall of the submersible structure that is illustrated as being of double wall construction and supports ,a cylindrical body 25 upon its upper side, said cylindrical body 25 having a longitudinal axial bore 26 through which a tubular shaft 27 is both slidable and rotatable, said shaft being provided upon a section thereof with screw threads 28. The forward end of the tubular shaft 27 passes through a 'stufling box 29 in the side wall of the submersible structure and at its outer projecting end is provided with a laterally offset plunger head 30. A bevel gear 31 is engaged with the threads 28 on the tubular shaft 27 and meshes with the bevel pinion 32 on the stub shaft 33 projecting laterally from the forward end of the cylindrical body 25, an angle bracket 34 having one end forming a bearing for the outer end of the shaft 33 and its other end forming a bearing for the tubular shaft 27. The hand wheel 35 fixed to.the shaft 33 effects rotation of the gears 32 and 31 and the tubular shaft 27 longitudinally of the cylindrical body 25. A pair of rear end opening sockets 36 are diametrically formed in the cylindrical body 25 into which guide rods 37 from the bracket plate 38 extends while a cylindrical bearing 39 carried by the bracket plate 38 supports the tubular shaft 27 and extends into the bore 26 of the cylindrical body 25. A bevel gear 40 is fixed to the rear projecting end of the tubular shaft 27 as shown in Figure 8 and is engaged by the bevel pinion 41 upon the shaft 42 journaled in the angle iron extension of the bracket 38, the hand wheel 43 effecting rotation of the pinion and gear 41 and 40 and the tubular shaft 27. A striking or plunger rod 44 extends through the tubular shaft 27 and projects from opposite ends thereof. When the grapple is aligned with a port hole 22 of a sunken vessel, the

striking or plunger rod 44 is forcibly proj ected by percussive contact with its inner end to break the window of the port hole. The

40 and 41 for rotating the tubular shaft 27 to position the plunger head 30 in direct alignment with the block socket 14. The

tubular shaft 27 is then forwardly projected by the hand wheel to move the latch head 17 through the port hole22. When the tubular shaft 27 is forwardly projected by the gear devices 31 and 32, the gears and41 remain idle, but move forwardly with the bracket 38 and rods 37 that move into the sockets 36, the gears 31 and 32 remain idle during operation of the gears 40 d 41 for rotating the tubular shaft 37.

Substantially the same mechanism described above is illustrated in Figure 9 except that the tubular shaft 27a is of larger diameter to house a telescope and periscope 45 and46, respectively, the telescope 45 being straight from end to end, while the projecting end of the periscope 46 is angularly directed as at 47 for lateral vision. The same gear mechanism is associated with the tubular shaft 27a for forwardly projecting the telescope and periscope 45 and 46 and for rotating the tubular shaft 27 to dispose the angle end 47 of the periscope 46 in diflerent positions.

Devices are carried by the submersible structure for anchoring the same relative to the sunken vessel while operating the grapples above described and include a pair of electro-magnets 48 shown in" Figures 2 and 1O -to 12, the magnets being energized through the medium of electric conductors 49 extending from a source of supply on the surface ship, each magnet being carried by a shaft 50 havingan angle end 51 connected thereto. The operating mechanism of the shaft 50 is similar to the operating mechanism for the telescope and periscope 45 and 46 and the tubular shafts 27 and 27a as shown in Figures 8 and 9, it being understood that when the electromagnets 48 are electro-magnetically connected with the sunken vessel 23, the shaft 50 may be rotated in the desired direction to efiect slight raising or lowering movement of either end of the submersible structure 1 for aligning the grapple shown in Figure 5 with the port hole 22. The shafts 50 are moved inwardly and outwardly of the submersible structure for positioning the latter a desired distance a from the sunken vessel and such shafts are rotatable for purposes previously mentioned. The submersible structure 1 including the conical ends 2 are of double wall construe tion comprising inner and outer walls 52 and 53 which are held separated, and braced by intervening reinforcing members and said structure embodies an intermediate or central mechanism and operators compartment 54 as shown in Figure 14, end ballast chambers 55 adjacent the conical ends 2, while 'the latter contain electric motors 56 controlled by one of the switches upon the board 57 shown in Figure 13 for operating the propellers 58 shown in Figuresl and 2, the propeller 58 being. operated to cause longitudinal shifting movement of the submersible structure relative to the sunken vessel. The intermediate compartment 54 houses the- .operating mechanism for the grapples adapted for attachment to the sunken vessel, the operating devices for the periscopes and the operating devices for the electro-magnets, the intermediate oompartment also housing gyroscopic mechanism, and air and water pumps for the ballast chambers 55.

Each ballast chamber 55 is of water and airtight construction alforded by the spaced disk walls 59, one wall adjacent the compartment 54 and the other wall adjacent the conical end 2, while tubes 60 extending between the walls 59 afford a passage for air between the compartment'54 and the conical end. A pair of enlarged tubes 61 arranged at the upper ends of the disk plates 59 afford passage for' an operator to pass from the compartment 54 into the conical end 2 for necessary repair of'the motors 56. or for other purposes, step ladders 62 affording access to the tubes 61. The inner ends of the tubes 61 are closed by the hinged covers 63 opening into the intermediate compartment 54. l I

A platform or floor 64 is mounted in the intermediate compartment 54' and supports an electric motor 65 controlled in its operation from the switch board 57 for'o crating the air pump 66,- one pipe 67 extending from the air pump 66'to one end ballast chamber 55 while the other pipe 68 from the pump 66 "extends to the other ballast chamber at the opposite end of the submersible structure, each of said pipes 67 and 68 being valve controlled as at 69. The ballast chambers'55 can either be filled or emptied of air for urposes of leveling the structure, and said allast chambers 55 may be filled with air to I add buoyancy to the submersible structure when it is desired to raise the same. The chambers 55 may have water ballast supplied 7 7 and communicate with the inlet pipe 72 of the pump 71 inwardly of the valve 72a, while the outlet pipe 73 of the pump 71 has an exhaust pipe 78 valve controlled as at 79 extending through the side walls of the submersible structure. Water may be admitted to the ballast chambers 55 to add weight to the submersible structure during its lowering movement or submersion and to fill the ballast chambers with water, the valves 77 and 79 are closed and the valves 72a and opened, permitting water to be drawn into the inlet pipe 72 through the pump 71, pipe 73 and branch extensions 74 to the ballast chambers. When it is desired to exhaust water from the ballast chambers 55, the valves 72a and 75 are closed andvthe valves 77 and 79 opened, water being drawn by the pump 71 through the pipes 76 to the inet pipe 72 for the pump inwardly of the valve 72a, through the pipe 7 3 and outlet pipe 78.

Gyroscopic mechanism is arranged in the intermediate compartment 54 of the submersible structure and is operated to cause the structure to assume an' even keel or upight position should the same be resting on one side or listing, when lowered to position adjacent the sunken vessel, and such mechanism is shown more clearly in Figures 14, 17 and 18. The gyroscopic mechanism comprises a ring 80 rotatable in the submersible structure and guided by the angle flanges 81 secured to the inner wall 52 and carrying radial spider arms 82 supporting at their inner adjacent ends, a casing 83 housing a gyroscopic mechanism including the weighted wheel, the latter being rotated by the motor 84 supported on one of the spider arms 82 and controlled from the switch board 57. An internal ring gear 85 is secured as at 85a to the inner wall 52 of the submersible structure adjacent the frame ring 80 and is engaged by the pinion 86 on the stub shaft 87 journaled at one end in a spider arm 82 of the gyroscopic ring 80 as shown in Figure 18 while its other end is journaled in the bracket 88 extending angularly from said frame arm. A worm wheel 89 is keyed to the stub shaft 87 adjacent the gyroscopic ring and is engaged by the worm shaft 90 j ournaled in the bracket 88, the crank handle 91 efiecting rotation of the worm shaft 90. Should the submersible structure list to either side, the gear unit is operated to shift the ring 80 and the gyroscopic mechanism carried thereby to'the desired angular position, this movement being accomplished by operating the worm shaft 90 and worm wheel 89 by the crank handle 91, the pinion 86 rolling over the ring gear 85, the said parts being so retained in their shifted position by the worm gear mechanism and in this position being locked to the submersible structure by the pinion 86 and ring gear 85. The gyroscopic mechanism is then operated by the motor 84 and as the same moves to a vertical position, the submersible structure is laterally shifted therewith. This mechanism is also utilized to shift the submersible structure for positioning the plunger hood 30 of the tubular shaft 27 and plunger rod 44 associated with said tubular shaft directly in alignment with a port hole of a sunken vessel, as well as positioning the electromagnet 48 for contact with the sunken vessel.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof, will at once be apparent, it being observed that the operators gain entrance to the intermediate compartment 54 through the hatch hole 96 in the upper side of the compartment that is closed by the hinged cover 97. The lifting or grappling devices for the sunken vessel have the cable 7 from the Windlass 6 placed upon the sheave 8 and the guide cables 10 from the surface ship to the submersible structure are threaded through the ends of the horizontal arms 9 of the grapple and retained therein by the hinged closure 9a. When the submersible structure 1 is lowered by the cables 4, depending from the surface ship, the guide cables 10 are also spent outwardly and hold the grapple positioned adjacent the side walls of the submersible structure, the Windlass 6 unwinding to permit lowering movement of the grapple with the submersible structure. The periscopes 45 and 46 are then used for locating port holes in a sunken vessel and are capable of adjustment in a manner before described, the gyroscopic mechanism being capable of operation for securing direct alignment of the positioning apparatus for the grapple in direct alignment therewith. The electro-magnets 48 are then forwardly projected by operating the shafts 50 and minor adjustments are procured by rotating the shaft 50 for slightlyshifting the electro-magnets relative to the sunken vessel, the electro-magnets operating for hold-' ing the submersible structure rigidly positioned. Suitable percussive force is then applied to the striking rod 44 for projecting the forward end thereof through the glass window of a port hole and the plunger head 30 upon the tubular shaft 27 is then engaged in the block socket 14 of the grapple and upon forward projection of the tubular shaft 27 the latch head 17 of the grapple is moved through the port hole 22 of the sunken vessel 23. The collar 21 is disengaged from the inner end of the tensione'dlatch head upon complete projection thereof, through the port hole 22, the spring 20 moving the latch head to a right-angular position relative to the arm 15 to extend across the port hole 22 for locking the grapple to the sunken vessel. The guide lines 10 are then disengaged from the grapple by moving the submersible structure away from the sunken vessel by automatically opening the closures 9a, and another grapple may be placed on the guide cables 10 and lowered to the submersible structure. The Windlass 6 is motor driven as indicated in Figure 3 and after the desired number of grapples have been attached to the sunken vessel, the windlasses are operated for raising the vessel.

While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without-departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, it being understood that equipment characteristic of apparatus of this kind is to be employed, such as a telephone in the operators compartment for communicating information to the surface ship;

I claim:

for rotating the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. BAHR.

1. In apparatus of the character described, I

a grapple comprising a cable suspended block, an arm carried by the block, a latch head pivoted intermediate its ends on the outer end of the arm, a spring for projecting the head at right angles to the arm, a collar slidable on the arm for retaining the latch head inoperatively positioned and parallel with the arm and a rotatable and longitudinally shiftable member adapted to beengaged with the block for moving the same into operative positioma percussive element carried by said member, the member being of tubular form and the percussive element being slidable therein.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a grapple comprising a cablev suspended block, an arm carried by the block, a latch head pivoted intermediate its ends on the outer end of the arm, a spring for projecting the head at right angles to the arm, a collar slidable on the arm for retaining thelatch head inoperatively positioned and parallel with the arm and a rotatable and longitudinally shiftable member adapted to be engagedwith the block for moving the same into operative position, a percussive element carried by said member, the member being of tubular form and the percussive element being slidable therein, said tubular member being externally threaded intermediate its ends and a driving gear engaged with the threaded portion of the tubular member for shifting the same longitudinally.

3. In apparatus of the character described a grapple comprising a cable suspended block, an arm carried by the block, a latch head pivoted intermediate its ends on the outer end of the arm, a spring for projecting the head at right angles to the arm, a collar slidable on the arm for retaining the latch head inoperatively positioned and parallel with the arm and a rotatable and lon 'tudinally shiftable member adaptedto 0 en-

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