US1823965A - Method of and apparatus for hydraulic prospecting - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1931. E. A. ADLER 1,823,965

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPECTING Original Filed June 25. 1929 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 1 a Wm an mum 1 I v w M. l.

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Sept. 22, 1931. E. A; AD-L R 1,823,965

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPECTING Original Filed June 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Edward A.AdLer',

jj i i d HLZ Attorne Patented Sept. 22, 1931 EDWARD A. ADLER, OI SCHENEGIADY, NEW YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPEGIING Application filed June 25, 1929, Serial No. 378,522. Renewed larch '6, 1931.

This invention relates to hydraulics, and more particularly to the performance of operations beneath the surface of hydraulic bodies.

In. the past sub-surface operations have been carried out mainlyby the several methods of diving. Although the me hod of diving is entirely operative, it entails the serious disadvantage, that even at comparatively moderate depths, the person of the diver is subjec'led to enormous pressures and chilling temperatures which decrease the efliciency of his activities, limit the period for which he may remain beneath the surface, and very often result in serious permanent injury to his health.

Accordingly, an object of this inven.ion

- is the'provisionof a sim le, reliable and cffective method for provi ing communication between the surface and points beneath the surface of an hydraulic body, in which persons engaged in operations beneath the surface will not be subjected to hydraulic pressures, together with a reliable and efiicient form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect.

In illustrating my invention in one form thereof, I have shown it as embodied in an apparatus particularly adapted for providing access from the surface of the sea to a sunken submarine.

In carrying my invention into effect in one form thereof, I cause an open ended tubular enclosing wall to be "secured in position extending from the surface to the point beneath the surface where operations are to be carried on, and then cause the liquid within the enclosing wall to be rotated at a speed sufficient to cause a vortex to be formed therein, affording communication from the surface to the point of operations.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be made to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a. view in elevation, partly in section, of a form of apparatus suitable for carrying my method into effect; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, a barge 10 is provided with a centrally disposed opening formed therein by the cylindrical wall 11. As shown, the opening extends entirely through the barge, and is of a size suflicient to permit the sections of tubing 12 to be lowered into the water beneath the barge.

In order that the tubular enclosing wall 12 may remain in an upright or vertical position substantially unaffected by the roll or pitch of the barge 10, the enclosing wall 12 1s universally supported with respect to the barge 10 in the the annular rings 13, 13a and 136. As shown the ring 136 is provided with a flange which is secured to the barge, and ring 13a is pivoted with respect to ring 136 to permit of its rotation about a horizontal axis, whilst ring 13 is pivoted with respect to ring 1311 to permit of rotation of ring 13 about a transverse horizontal axis.

' The tubular enclosing wall 12 is supported within the annular ring clamping dogs 14, 14a and 146, etc., with which the ring is provided.

As thus constructed the rings 13, 13a and 13b constitute a universal mounting or support between the barge 10 and the tubular g enclosing wall 12, permitting the latter to be suspended from the former after the fashion of a plumb bob, substantially unaffected by rolling or pitching motion of the barge.

The extremities of each section of tubing 12 35 are provided with outwardl extending annular flanges 15, to permit 0 the sections being secured together by any suitable fastening means, such for example as by the bolts shown passing through the flanges. In order to facilitate the handling of the tubular section 12, cranes or derricks 16 and 17 are provided upon the bar 10, and serve to lift and place the sections 0 tubing 12, end

to end to be fastened together and then to lower the tubular enclosing wall 12 through the opening in the barge into the water beneath.

The sections of tubing 12 may be constructed of any'suitable material and are of such glmbal mounting comprising 85 13 by means of 75 means such for example as the paddle wheel 18, together with a suitable means for rotating the same such for example as the electric motor 19, the stator member of which is secured to the tubing 12 by struts or braces 20 which ma be formed integrally with the wall of the tu ing or may be secured thereto by suitable fastening means.

Additional motors and liquid impelling means spaced from each other by suitable intervals may be secured to intermediate sections of the tubular enclosing wall, as illustrated by the motor 21 and impeller 22 suported within the tube section 12?). The numher of paddle wheels and electric driving motors will, of course, depend upon the depth of the point beneath the surface at which operations are to be carried on.

The construction of the electric motors for driving the paddle wheels and the manner in which they are supported will best be understood by reference to Fig. 2. As shown in that figure the motor is in alternating current induction motor and comprises a stator frame 23 upon the punchings of which a distributed polyphase winding 24 is wound, and a rotor member 25 which maybe of any suitable type such for example as the wound rotor, or the more rugged squirrel cage type. The rotor winding is'fixedly mounted on a hollow shaft 26, which also carries the liquid impeller 18.

The rotor member 25 of the motor is rotatably mounted with respect to the stator member 23 by upper and lower annular bearing blocks 27 and 28 supported by upper and lower stator end shields 29 and 30 respectively. Any suitable fastening means such as the bolts shown in the drawings may be employed to secure the end shields 29 and 30 tightly to the stator frames. The annular bearing blocks 27 and 28 may be made of any suitable material, but are preferably made of lignumvitae, which is a very hard wood particularly adapted for bearings located in water, such for example as the packing bearings for ship propeller shafts.

It will be seen from the above description that the stator frame 23, end shields 29 and 30, lignumvitae bearings 27 and 28 and hollow shaft form a water tight casing for the stator and rotor windings and punchings of the motor, and it is desirable, though not absolutely essential, that water should be excluded from the current carrying windings of the motor.

As an added precaution against the ossible harmful effects due to the possibihty of water gaining access to the rotor and stator windings, the motor is preferably designed as a low voltage high current motor.

In order that alternating current of a suitably low potential may be available for supplying the motor, a step down transformer comprising a primary winding 31 and a secondary winding 32 is provided in a water Alternatmgcurrent of a suitable voltage.

and frequency is supplied to the primary winding 31 of the transformer from a suitable source of supply such for example as the alternating current generator 36 located on the barge 10. -Alternator 36 may be driven by an suitable driving means such for example as the electric motor 37 supplied from the shipsmains (not shown).

The terminals of generator 36 are connected to the primary winding 31 of the transformer by means of a cable 37. As shown in the drawings, each section of the tubular enclosing wall 12 is provided with a section of submarine cable 37a suitably secured to the wall 12. As the sections 12 of the tubing are assembled, connections are made between the cable sections by suitably insulated connectors 38.

One of the supporting arms 20 is hollowed and communlcates with the surrounding liquid by means of an orifice 39 provided in the tubular enclosing wall 12. Water for lubricating the bearings is thus admitted through the orifice 39 and through tube 20 to the interior of the motor whence it is distributed to upper and lower lignumvitae bearing blocks 27 and 28 by means of tubular passages 40 and 41 respectively, provided within the stator frame. After passing through the bearing blocks, the water is discharged from parts 42 and 43 located in the bottom shaft 26 and in the lower end shield 30 respectively.

The blades of paddle wheel 18 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to hollow shaft 26. As shown they extend radially outward from the shaft toward the tubular enclosing wall 12; sufiicient clearance being left between their extremities and wall 12 to permit of their being rotated with respect thereto.

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suitable intervals along the interior of tubu-- lar wall 12.

The supports 20 for the motors, as well as the supports 45, 46, etc., are preferably stream lined to present the least possible resistance to rotary motion of water within the tube.

The lowermost section of the tube may be provided with a loose fitting collar member 47 of a diameter slightly larger than the tubular member 12, and is loosely secured thereto by a suitable fastening means such as the chains 48 and 49. The collar 47 serves as an extension of tubular member 12, and is particularly advantageous in extending the tubing 12 into engagement with surfaces of submerged bodies lying at an angle with the horizontal. It is also advantageous for maintaining a continuous enclosing wall between the surface and the point of operations despite vertical or slight swinging motion of the tubular enclosing wall, as will be the case when the surface is rough.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3,v all of the elements are the same as those already described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that the lowermost section of the tubular enclosing wall 12 and the ladder 44 are curved. The motor 19 in this section is preferably supported so that the liquid impeller 18 is in the straight part of the-tube just above the point Where the curve begins. In this modification of the invention, no particular degree of curvature is required but a gradual curve is more to be preferred than a sharp curve.

lVith the above understanding of the parts and elements comprisin an apparatus suitable for the practice of my invention, the operation and method will readily be understood.

The barge 10 may be towed to the point where salvaging or other sub-surface operations are to be carried on, for example to the point above a sunken vessel, such as the submarine 50 shown in the drawings, and there anchored against movement by winds and tides and against rotary movement, by suitable anchoring means, (not shown).

The clamping dogs 14, 14a, 146, etc., will then be raised to permit of the lowermost section of tubular enclosing wall 12 containing driving motor 19 and impeller 18 to be lowered through the centrally disposed opening 11 in the barge 10 by either of the cranes 16, 17 The clamping dogs may then be set to clamp the section of the tubular member while another section is raised by the cranes and placed upon the first or lowermost section and fastened thereto by bolts passing through the circumferential flanges 15. Electrical connections are then completed between the cable sections 37a by connectors38. hen this step iscompleted the clamping dogs are again raised and both sections of the tube are lowered a distance equal to a tube section and the clamping dogs are again set to retain the assembled sections while another section is fastened to those already assembled.

In this manner the tube is ass iuubled section by section until enough sections have been assembled to afford communication from the surface to the point of operations beneath the surface, e. g., the submarine 50. \Vhen the tube is finally assembled, the electrical connections between the motors 19, 21, etc., are completed and the motor generator set 37, 36 is started up to supply alternating cur rent to the primary windings 33 of the transformers and thence to the stator windings 24 of the motors. The motors 19, 21, etc., will then rotate at a speed dependent upon the frequency of the current supplied to its stator and the liquid impellers, i. e., the paddle wheels 18, 22, etc., mounted upon the shafts of the motors will likewise be rotated the result of which will be to set the water within the enclosing wall 12 into rotation. At a. critical speed, a clean vortex will be fori'ned therein, communicating from the surface to a point beneath the lowermost liquid impeller.

Any suitable means may be employed for varying the speeds of the motors 19, 21 but this will preferably be accomplished by vary ing the speed of the motor 37 which drives the supply generator 36, by any suitable methods of speed control as is well understood in the electrical art. In this manner, the driving motors may be run at the speed most suitable for maintaining a perfect vortex between the surface of the liquid body and the point 'of operations. In practice it has been found without being subjected to thechilling tem- I perature of the sea water. 7

The collar 47 might be secured to the submarine, and after suitable communication having been made with the interior of the submarine, as by drilling, air might be supplied to the interior thereof either from the air column within the vortex, or from a hose communicating with a source of compressed air on the barge.

By fitting the collar 47 over the conning tower of the submarine or over any suitable aperture provided for the purpose, and then creating a vortex within the tubular enclosing wall in the above described manner, the conning tower hatch or aperture may be opened and the crew permitted to escape without be ing subjected to the enormous hydraulic pressures existing at the depth at which the submarine is submerged.

Operations on the side of a submerged body may be carried on by employing the curved section of Fig. 3 as the lowermost section of the tubular enclosing wall 12.

Although the inventlon has been explained in connection with a tubular enclosing wall extending from the surface to the point of operation, I would have it understood, that atubular enclosing wall is not essential, since a vortex may be created by simply rotating,

an impeller at the point of operations. The

. vortex formed .in open water is, however, not

I tions,

' to be prospected.

so easily controlled as'the vortex formed within a smooth tubular enclosing wall.

I would have it understood that my invention is not limited to the salvaging of submarines or the rescue of entrapped-crews, since obviously any sub-surface operation may be carried out by this method. It is also to be understood that this invention is not limited to sub-surface operations initiated at and carried on from the surface since obviously similar operations may be initiated at and carried on from the point of operations, for example from. a sunken or" submerged submarine.

Although, sions of the patent statutes, I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form, I would have it understood that the invention is not limited thereto, since modificaalterations and equivalent arrangements will readily suggest themselves to skilled workers in the art without departing from the true spirit of the invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of prospecting below the surface of a-body of a liquid that.,..co1 nprises.

creating a vortex in the liquid in the region 2. The method of salvaging bodies submerged beneath the surface of a liquid that includes setting the liquid above the body into rotation, andin maintaining the "speed of rotation at a value suflicient to eausea vortex to be formed in said liquid.

3. The method of providing air to animate beings entrapped beneath the surface of a liquid body, that includes rotating the liquid above the point of entrapment at a speed sufficient to cause a vortex to be formed therein.

4. The method of sub-sea prospecting that consists in setting the water into rotation at a point beneath the surface of the sea, and in thereafter maintaining the water in rotation at a speed of rotationsuflicient to cause an opening to be formed therein between said point and the surface.

5. The method of providing access to the surface of an hydraulic body from points said body communicating between the surface an d a point beneath the surface.

7. The method of admitting air to a point beneath the surface of a body of water that includes placing an enclosing c linder in said body of water in a substantial y u right 0- sition, and in rotating an impel er wit in said cylinder at a speed suflicient to form an opening in said body of water extending irom the surface to a point beneath the surace.

8. A device for ex loring beneath the surface of hydraulic b0 ies comprising an open ended ubular enclosing wall, means for supporting said enclosing wall in position to extend from the surface of an hydraulic body to a point beneath the surface, and means supported within said enclosing wall 1 at the lower extremity thereof for rotating in accordance with the provlv means for supporting said wall in a substantially uprightposition in an hydraulic body against rotation, a plurality of impellers located at spaced intervals from each other within said tube and supported thereby, and means for rotating said impellers at a speed sufficient to cause avortex to be formed in the liquid within said enclosing wall to afford communication between the surface and a point beneath the,- surface.

' 10. Apparatus for. providing access to points beneath the surface of hydraulic bodies including in combination, a tubular enclosing wall, means for supporting said enclosing wall against rotation in position to afford communication fromthe surface to apoint beneath the surface, a liquidimpelling means for rotating the liquid within said enclosing wall, and an electric motor comprising a stator secured to said enclosing wall, and a rotor secured to said mpelhng means for rotating said impelling means, said rotor being provided with an axial opening to permit access to points beneath said motor.

11. Apparatus for providing access between the surface of an hydraulic body and points beneath the surface comprising an open ended tubularcenclosing wall, means for supporting said wall against rotation in a substantially upright position in an hydraulic body, an electric motor havin*'g a stator secured to said enclosing wall, a rotor, bearings for said rotor supported by said stator, a liquid impelling means secured to saidro tor for setting the liquid enclosed within said wall in rotation, said rotor being provided with an axially disposed opening to permit communication from one side thereof to the other. y

12. Means for providing communication from the surface of a liquid body to a point beneath the surface, comprising in combination a tubular enclosing wall, means for securing said' wall against rotation in a substantially upright position in said liquid, an alternating current induction motor secured to said wall, said motor being provided with a hollow shaft, a liquid impelling means mounted on said shaft, and a variable frequency source of alternating current for supplying said motor.

1.3. An hydraulic exploring device comprising in combination, a tubular member consisting of a plurality of sections, means for securing said member in a desired position in an hydraulic body, a plurality of electric motors disposed at intervals along the inner wall of said member, means for securing the stators of said motors to said mem her, a liquid impelling means secured to the rotor of each of said motors, a source of power for said motors, and means for adjusting the s eed of rotation of said motors, the

. rotors 0 said motors being provided with axially disposed passages to permit communication therethrough.

14. A device for providing communication from the surface of an hydraulic body to a submerged body comprising an open ended tubular member, a liquid impelling means supported at the lower extremity of said member, a variable speed electric motor supported within said member for rotating said impelling means at a speed sufiicient to create a vortex in the liquid within said tube, and a collarmember loosely "surrounding the lower extremity of said member and attached thereto, to provide for relative movement between said collar and said tubular member.

In witness whereof,- I have hereunto set my hand this 22d da of J umx1929.

ED ARD ADLER.

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