US3656308A - System for joining the lock chambers of a submarine and an underwater enclosure - Google Patents

System for joining the lock chambers of a submarine and an underwater enclosure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3656308A
US3656308A US8801A US3656308DA US3656308A US 3656308 A US3656308 A US 3656308A US 8801 A US8801 A US 8801A US 3656308D A US3656308D A US 3656308DA US 3656308 A US3656308 A US 3656308A
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United States
Prior art keywords
submarine
platform
lock chamber
axis
wheel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US8801A
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English (en)
Inventor
Francisco M Serrano
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Total Compagnie Francaise des Petroles SA
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Compagnie Francaise des Petroles SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
    • B63G8/001—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
    • E02B3/20—Equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. bollards
    • E02B3/24—Mooring posts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
    • B63G8/001—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations
    • B63G2008/002—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations unmanned
    • B63G2008/008—Docking stations for unmanned underwater vessels, or the like

Definitions

  • One object of the invention istherefore to provide a device for the economical and practical joining of a submarine installation and a lock chamber of a submarine vehicle.
  • the submarine installation involves a platform parallel to the axis of the entry chamber and the submarine vehicle is provided with may be easily increased by increasing the weight of the submarine so that the approach to the target is practically not influenced by the prevailing current.
  • the energy required to move the vessel on the platform may be small, which is a very important advantage in small-dimension vessels.
  • Another object of the invention is'to facilitate the handling of the submarine by controlling the rolling means with motors which move and brake the submarine on the platform or on the surrounding ocean bottom.
  • Another object of the invention is to increase the speed of axles, serving as thrust-blocks and rolling means in the toric guide track.
  • the support of the two wheels on the guide track easily alignsthe axis of the submarinevessel in the direction of the center of the platform.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a submarine vessel of the type indicated, involving carrying skis as well as rolling means and lateral guide means.
  • Each of these means is retractable to protect them when the vessel is made to touch ocean bottom. Furthermore, the retraction of the wheels facilitates the movement of the vessel when it leaves the ocean bottom.
  • Another object is to increase the maneuverability of the vessel by equipping it with lateral movement means. Under these conditions, thesubmarinemay very rapidlyalignits axis to coincidewith that of the lock chamber of the installation and accomplish the junction.
  • Another object is to facilitate the rotation of the vessel around the center of the platform, using (wheels with horizontal axles, the direction of each of theseaxlespass ing through the center of the platform, said axles remaining locked in this direction.
  • a convenient means is thus provided for moving the vessel on the platform by rolling it on a circular track without having to use large lateral displacement forces.
  • Another object of the invention is to facilitate the junction of the lock chamber of the submarine vessel to the submarine installation by equipping said vessel with a thrust-block whose attachment axis may be moved from the side opposite the lock chamber when'the axis of the submarine and the axis of the lock chamber of the installation are aligned.
  • the thrust-block which keeps the vessel at a certain distance from the lock chamber of the" submarine installation, may be withdrawn so that the simultaneous movement of the submarine vessel in a direction to maintain contact between the thrust-block and the guide track will bring about the junction of the lock chambers.
  • Another object of the invention is, again, the method thus applied, according to which the submarine, equipped with a thrust-block, establishes contact by means of said thrust-block with a guide surrounding the lock chamber of the submarine installation, moves with the aidof rolling means while remaining in contact with said guide, and advances in order to establish Contact with the lock chamber of the installation the moment the lock chamber of the submarine 'vessel is opposite the lock chamber of the installation, the junction then being the approach maneuver by using a junction device of the type indicated including a lateral guide track, while the submarine vessel itself is equipped with .a thrust-block, cooperating with the guide track. This renders it possible to perform the maneuver in the absence of any visibility whatsoever.
  • Another object of the invention is to achieve a further increase in the speed and safety of the approach maneuver performed by the submarine vessel by employing, for the platform of the submarine installation, a horizontal platform whose guide track consists of a toric surface, bordering on said platform, and being connected to an access ramp leading to said platform by means of a horizontal circular crown.
  • FIG. I represents a schematic elevation view of the lock chamber of the submarine installation according to the invenpoint whereit bumps, by means of its thrust-block, into the toric track.
  • the submarine thus more easily reaches the level from which the junction will be performed.
  • this guidance method at any moment permits the instantaneous release of the submarine since the latter is not connected to the guidetrack but only comes to rest against it.
  • Another object of the invention is to facilitate the orientation of the submarine while it clears the access ramp and returns to the horizontal position, by providing, below and toward the stern of the submarine, two wheels with vertical tion and of the lock chamber of the submarine vessel in junction positions;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the device shown in Fig. l
  • FIG. 3 is the schematic elevation view of a guide wheel of the submarine vessel in its rolling track.
  • the submarine vessel 7, FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with retractable wheels 8 having horizontal axles. These wheels may be mounted on a pivot and equipped with a locking device that can be activated when their axles converge toward the center of the circular platform 3.
  • the height of the platform is such that, when the submarine vessel rests on its wheels 8, as shown in FIG. 1, the axis 9 of the submarine coincides with the axis of the support crown 2.
  • the wheels 8 are mounted on skis l and 11 on which the submarine may rest after the retraction of the wheels.
  • the details of the wheels, including their retraction, pivoting and locking means have not been illustrated in the interest of simplicity. Such features are old in the wheel art, and any suitable form may be used.
  • each of the skis and 11 has, in the rear, a wheel 12 with a vertical axle whose function is to serve as a thrust-block and as a rolling means when the submarine 7 comes alongside the platform 3 and moves laterally.
  • the position of one wheel 12 on guide track 4 is shown more clearly in FIG. 3.
  • the toric surface 4 receives the wheel 12 along a contact arc sufficient to provide an effective lateral rolling track, permitting the submarine to move on the platform while remaining at a specific distance from the center of the platform.
  • the submarine vessel carries, in its stern portion, an orientable nozzle 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, which surrounds screw 15.
  • This nozzle which provides great maneuverability, could be replaced by an orientable screw or by small transverse motors or jets.
  • the submarine When it is desired to join lock chamber 16 of the submarine vessel and access 17 of the installation, the submarine is made slightly heavier by taking on ballast.
  • the center of thrust P and the center of gravity G of the submarine have been shown in FIG. 1.
  • the submarine Using a low-precision sonic spotting system, the submarine is directed toward the installation at slow speed.
  • the submarine runs into and up access ramp 6 on skis 10 and 11 and continues its advance until it rests on the horizontal platform 3.
  • the retractable aft wheels 12 are then let down, as are the horizontal-axle wheels 8, when the latter are mounted on a pivot.
  • the wheels 8 may be driven by small hydraulic motors 21 through reduction gears. This facilitates the moving of the submarine on the platform while expending a considerably smaller amount of energy than would be used employing the main propulsion engine. Even in the presence of a strong current, the submarine can furthermore remain motionless on the platform by simply locking the brakes 23 of the wheels 8.
  • the main engine thus advances the submarine until wheels l2 run into toric guide track 4.
  • the submarine thereby assumes a direction converging toward the center of the platform. If the horizontal-axle wheels have not yet been let down, it then suffices to activate their automatic placement device. This solution is suitable when the directions of the axles are locked so as to converge toward the center of the platform.
  • a simple, low-power transverse thrust from the nozzle 13 causes the vessel to turn around the center of the platform until the axis 9 of the submarine and the axis of the support crown 2 coincide.
  • the guide track could include two spaced depressions to accommodate the wheels 12 when axis 9 of the vessel coincides with the axis of crown 2.
  • platform 3 may involve two grooves or two small gutters parallel to the axis of support crown 2 and set apart from each other the same distance as the skis, their depth then being such that the axis of the entry chamber will coincide with the axis of support crown 14 when the skis are at the bottom of the grooves. In this manner we thus prevent any transversal movement of the submarine.
  • a system for joining an entry lock chamber of an underwater enclosure to a lock chamber of a submarine vessel comprising in combination:
  • wheel means on the submarine to enable it to move on the platform including at least one thrust absorbing wheel on the submarine having a vertical axle and adapted to cooperate with the guide track, and
  • the perpendicular distance between the platform and the axis of the entry lock chamber being equal to the perpendicular distance between the platform and the axis of the submarine lock chamber when the submarine rests on its wheel means on the platform.
  • the platform is horizontal
  • the guide track is a toric channel lying along the edge of the platform, and further comprising,
  • a system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a pair of parallel skis on the submarine to which the wheel means are mounted, the skis, the wheel means and the vertical axle wheel being retractable.
  • a system as defined in claim 1 further comprising lateral drive means for the submarine.
  • wheel means have horizontal axles and are vertically pivotable, and further comprising means for locking the wheel means from pivoting in a position such that the axles of the wheel means point in the direction of the center of curvature of the platform.
  • a system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for moving the thrust absorbing wheel further aft on the submarine when the axes of the entry lock chamber of the enclosure and the lock chamber of the submarine are aligned.
  • a system as defined in claim 4 further comprising two parallel guide tracks on the platform parallel to the axis of the entry lock chamber and spaced apart the same distance as the submarine skis.
  • a system for joining an entry lock chamber of an underwater enclosure to a lock chamber of a submarine vessel comprising in combination:
  • the perpendicular distance between the platform and the axis of the entry lock chamber being equal to the perpendicular distance between the platform and the axis of the submarine lock chamber when the submarine rests on its wheel means on the platform, and
  • the axis of the submarine lock chamber coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the submarine.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
  • Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
US8801A 1969-02-05 1970-02-05 System for joining the lock chambers of a submarine and an underwater enclosure Expired - Lifetime US3656308A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR6902512A FR2031717A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-02-05 1969-02-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3656308A true US3656308A (en) 1972-04-18

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US8801A Expired - Lifetime US3656308A (en) 1969-02-05 1970-02-05 System for joining the lock chambers of a submarine and an underwater enclosure

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3656308A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2002242A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2031717A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1287787A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7001038A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3857351A (en) * 1971-03-25 1974-12-31 Us Navy Subsurface submersible mating system
US4799825A (en) * 1983-12-08 1989-01-24 Meyerhoff Shirley B Oil transfer system
EP1389581A1 (de) * 2002-08-14 2004-02-18 ABB PATENT GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Versorgen und Warten von baulichen Einrichtungen auf dem Meer
US10279878B2 (en) * 2015-10-06 2019-05-07 Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Underwater docking system for autonomous underwater vehicle

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10308499A1 (de) * 2003-02-26 2004-09-16 Aloys Wobben Offshore-Windenergieanlage

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US581213A (en) * 1897-04-20 Submarine vessel
US1792118A (en) * 1928-10-15 1931-02-10 Henry L Pegg Submarine rescue ship
US3323312A (en) * 1966-03-14 1967-06-06 Mark P Banjavich Diving bell and decompression vessel combination and improved method for handling diving personnel

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US581213A (en) * 1897-04-20 Submarine vessel
US1792118A (en) * 1928-10-15 1931-02-10 Henry L Pegg Submarine rescue ship
US3323312A (en) * 1966-03-14 1967-06-06 Mark P Banjavich Diving bell and decompression vessel combination and improved method for handling diving personnel

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3857351A (en) * 1971-03-25 1974-12-31 Us Navy Subsurface submersible mating system
US4799825A (en) * 1983-12-08 1989-01-24 Meyerhoff Shirley B Oil transfer system
EP1389581A1 (de) * 2002-08-14 2004-02-18 ABB PATENT GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Versorgen und Warten von baulichen Einrichtungen auf dem Meer
US10279878B2 (en) * 2015-10-06 2019-05-07 Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Underwater docking system for autonomous underwater vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7001038A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-08-07
FR2031717A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-11-20
DE2002242A1 (de) 1970-09-03
GB1287787A (en) 1972-09-06

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