US2397210A - Salvaging unit - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1946. M, SCHRAMM SALVAGING UNIT Filed Nov. 15, 1943 Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'SAIJVAGING'UNIT William -Schramm, Pasadena, Md.

Application November 13, 1943, Serial No. 510,189

' (o1. Hal-51) 3 Claims.

This invention refers to marine equipment and more particularly to a salvage unit for raising submarines and wrecks from the bottom of the sea or ocean. It has among its objects to provide for the raising and transportation of wrecks .in a convenient and expeditious manner. Another object is to avoid the use of pontoons and other cumbersome equipment for the purpose, and to provide instead, a vessel that can travel under its own power to the place of use, ready for operation in the salvage Work.

' These and other objects will occur t those skilled in the art, in View of the following description, drawing and appended claims.

The customary manner of raising submarines consists in towing large tanks or pontoons to the place of the wreck by a barge or the like. These tanks are hard to handle on the sea during such towing, and their placement for handling at the wreck involve other troubles due to the difficulty of manipulating same. They are usually filled with water and sunk close to the vessel to be raised, and require the displacement of the water in them afterwards, in order to bring them back to the water surface with the wreck connected to them. Their attachment is usually insecure, frequently permitting the wreck to slip back to the bottom, after it has been raised, requiring additional eifort and time t repeat the work, with little assurance that the additional work would be a success. In this invention, the method is new in marine practice, but is none the less effective. It provides for the attachment of the wreck with chains .or cables in a somewhat conventional manner. These chains and cables are attached to winches supported on a vessel straddling over the wreck on the surface of the sea above. They are wound up and lift the vessel bodily to the surface, similar to that employed in lifting loads on land. When the wreck has been brought close to the surface, it is secured and brought into port between this device, and theredeposited, where it can be repaired or investigated with facility and convenience. The salvage work can be done completely, instead of in the partial method now employed, where the more valuable cargo and articles only are removed, the remainder of the ship is allowed to stay sunk and abandoned. The method used in this invention enables the whole ship with cargo to be saved. Repairs may be made also in many cases so the ship may be recommissioned, instead of being junked at a considerably less valuation.

In connection with the description herewith appended, the following drawing is provided, in

which:

Figure 1 is an end view of an embodiment of the invention, in which ships are indicated in general outline and with portions broken away to show the machinery used in connection therewith. A dotted outline of a submarineisalso indicated to show how same is brought up from the bottom of the sea, and

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

'In. the drawing I0 represent a pair of marine vessels of similar form in general. They are spaced from each other normally and kept spaced by the framework ll, having a series of transverse beams I2 and 33 respectively and reinforcing longitudinal stringers I3. These transverse beams are adjustable to permit the spacing between the vessels to be varied to suit conditions which arise in the use of the device.

This is performed through the use of the pins 14 located in the holes [5 to suit the separation needed. These pins are of metal, having heads to limit their passage through, and cotters lock them in place when inserted through holes in the stem of the pin. The framework has arms l9. which support pulleys 20 over which cables 2| are carried. The cables are provided with grapples 22 that are used for attachment to a wreck 23 at the bottom of the ocean. The upper end portions 24 of the cables are wound on winches 25, which enable them to raise the grapples and.wreck with them. The winches are operated by engines or motors 26 in a conventional manner.

The framework is securely bolted to the vessels [9, so as to make respond like a single vessel. The vessels have the usual equipment for propelling the ship and for manipulating its working parts. The springs 21 introduced in the cable lines takes up the stresses induced by the movement of the waves and eliminates the danger of snapping them. The beams are arranged to form a cradle for the wreck and hold it secure for transportation. This is done by bringing it up tight against them and lashing them thereto. This may be readily done after the raising is accomplished.

In operation, the salvage unit, proceeds under its own power to the locus of the wreck. After it reaches this spot, it stopsand locates itself over the wreck. The grapples or other method of attachment are connected with the wreck. The

cables are then wound up on the winches, and

the wreck raised. The buoyancy of the veswhile the wreck is being raised. The framework keeps the vessels together and prevents them sidetipping. The spacing of the vessels and location 7 of the cables and pulleys brings the wreck between them so its weight is evenly distributed between them. It is not necessary to raise the wreck above the surface in normal salvaging. When it is brought up to the beams 33, and lashed thereto, it becomes as it were, a partof the salvage unit, and offers no appreciable difliculties to its navigation.

It is carried along under th surface of the sea. While this is being done, divers can work on the wreck and begin any minor repairs that will enable its buoyancy to be increased. Such as emptying the water tanks, etc., of the wreck, by pumping from the salvage unit. Also by removing the equipment that is unnecessary or in the way. The advantage of keeping the wreck under water, reduces the dead weight that the salvage unit has to lift.

The springs 21 in the cable lines take up the up-and-down movement of the waves, and prevent excessive stresses in the cables, framework and Vessels.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in thespecifications, it is not desired to limit this apscope: thereof, as it is appreciated that other members to connect same longitudinally, lifting forms of construction could bemade that would use the same principles and come within the scop of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: g

1. In a salvag unit of the class described comprising in combination, a pair of floatable members spaced apart, a series of adjustable cross beams mounted on saidfloat members and con necting same longitudinally, a plurality of lifting arms mounted on the beams adjacent the inner walls of said float members in an overhanging manner, cables mounted on said lifting arm's,

lazy-tongs resiliently connected to said cables,

and means for operating said cables and lazy tongs between the float members.

arms connected to said buoyant members in an overhanging manner, cables mounted on said lift-' ing arms, lazy-tongs connected by a spring to said cable, and means for operating the cables and' raising salvaged ships connected to said lazytongs,

3. In a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a plurality of floatable members, a plurality of adjustable supports mounted ing salvaged ships connected to said lazy-tongs between said fioatable members. a

- WILLIAM M. SCHRAMM.

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