US3814043A

US3814043A - Ship salvage apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3814043A
Application number: US00275064A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Krout
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-25
Filing date: 1972-07-25
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04

Abstract

Apparatus for salvaging sunken vessels or other sunken objects having enclosures. The apparatus includes inflatable flexible containers which are generally shaped to fit, when inflated, in rooms or enclosures of the sunken vessels or objects to be salvaged. The containers, normally in folded deflated condition, are adapted to be placed by divers in the rooms or enclosures for subsequent inflation. The containers are provided with flexible inlet and outlet air hoses, the inlet hoses having check valves and filling control angle valves, and the outlet hoses having combination automatic pressure-retention, pressure-release, manually releasable air discharge valves, the air discharge valves acting to cause the containers to remain inflated after initial filling, while providing automatic control of air release as the sunken vessel or object rises, to compensate for changing hydrostatic pressure and to avoid damage to the containers or structures adjacent thereto. The apparatus includes compartment door and porthole containerretenion devices and the containers are provided with outside straps and tie rings for securing the containers in desired buoyancy areas. Quick action couplings are employed for connecting the associated compressed air supply source through the inlet hoses or between the various valves or hoses and extension hoses, if used. Hose retention bracket assemblies are provided to hold the hoses fixed relative to the enclosures when the containers are inflated.

Description

1 SHIP SALVAGE APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Leo Martin Krout, 178 West St.,

Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 22 Filed: .luly 25,1972 21 App1.No.:275,064

52 us. or. 114/54, 137/495 51] 1111. c1. B63c 7/12 58 Field of Search 114/52, 53, 54; 137/495 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 497,249 5/1893 Niehoff 114/54 1,019,724 3/1912 Polizzi et a1. 114/54 1,332,433 3/1920 Deam 114/54 2,514,409 7/1950 Mulick 114/54 2,571,337 10/1951 Burnham 61/48 2,661,016 12/1953 Leffler.......... 137/495 3,019,754 2/1962 Welshausen.. 114/54 3,053,218 9/1962 Erickson 114/54 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerGregory W. OConnor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Berman, Bishoff & Platt [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for salvaging sunken vessels or other sunken objects having enclosures. The apparatus includes inflatable flexible containers which are generally shaped to fit, when inflated, in rooms or enclosures of the sunken vessels or objects to be salvaged. The containers, normally in folded deflated condition, are adapted to be placed by divers in the rooms or enclosures for subsequent inflation. The containers are provided with flexible inlet and outlet air hoses, the inlet hoses having check valves and filling control angle valves, and the outlet hose-s having combination automatic pressure-retention, pressure-release, manually releasable air discharge valves, the air discharge valves acting to cause the containers to remain inflated after initial filling, while providing automatic control of air release as the sunken vessel or object rises, to compensate for changing hydrostatic pressure and to avoid damage to the containers or structures adjacent thereto. The apparatus includes compartment door and porthole containerretenion devices and the containers are provided with outside straps and tie rings for securing the containers in desired buoyancy areas. Quick action couplings are employed for connecting the associated compressed air supply source through the inlet hoses or between thevarious valves or hoses and extension hoses, if used. Hose retention bracket assemblies are provided to hold the hoses fixed relative to the enclosures when the containers are inflated.

18 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures I SHIP SALVAGE APPARATUS This invention relates to ship salvage apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus for providing sufficient buoyancy in a sunken vessel or other sunken enclosuredefining object to cause the vessel or object torise to the surface of the water.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved marine salvage apparatus of the type employing flexible inflatable bags or containers adapted to be placed in sunken vessels or enclosure-defining objects and to be inflated by a source of compressed air, the containers being arranged to properly fit in the spaces in which they are employed and being provided with means to retain them in such spaces, the containers being further provided with inlet and outlet hoses for admitting compressed air to the containers and for automatically allowing air to be discharged from the containers as the sunken vessel or enclosure-defining object rises to compensate for changing hydrostatic pressure and to avoid damage to the container or to the adjacent structure of the vessel or object.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved marine salvage apparatus suitable for use in salvaging sunken ships, submarines, airplanes, and other objects having enclosures in which inflatable air or gasfilled containers may be employed, the apparatus facilitating the use of simple techniques of salvage and requiring minimum working time for divers at various depths under water, providing minimum possibility of failure of any part of the apparatus, the elements of the apparatus being relatively inexpensive, light in weight, and easily maneuverable.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical inflated buoyancy container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the structure of an automatic air release valve employed in the air release hose associated with the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the release valve element in open position allowing release of air from the associated container.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical cross-section view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing the portion of an inflated buoyancy container of the present invention adjacent the doorway of a compartment in a sunken vessel to be salvaged and illustrating how a retention device according to the present invention is employedin this area to prevent the container from bulging through the doorway.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and illustrating a portion of the retention device employed at the compartment doorway.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the portion of the in flated container adjacent a port-hole and illustrating the use of a retention device according to the present invention, employed over the port hole and preventing bulging of the container through the port hole.

. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the elements of a supporting bracket assembly employed with the retention devices, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical crosssectional view taken substantially on the line ll0--l0 of FIG. 1, and showing the check valve and angle valve employed in the compressed air supply hose, leading to the inflated container.

FIG. II is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 1I-ll of FIG. I. a

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through a portion of a filling hose assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 10 and illustrating the use of a coupling pressure relief pet cock in the filling air control portion of the hose adjacent the angle valve thereof which may be opened at any time to relieve excess pressure and to permit safe and easy disconnection of hose coupling elements when the associated angle valve is closed and the associated inflated container is in an independent operative condition.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through cooperating quick-action coupling elements which may be employed with the hoses associated with buoyancy containers according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of a compressed air supply hose assembly according to the present invention, employing an extension hose.

FIG. 15 is an end view of an automatic air release valve assembly which may be employed in a container such as that shown in FIG. 1, without the use of an extension hose.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 1616 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line l7-l7 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is an elevational view showing a typical extension hose section which may be employed in a marine salvage apparatus according to the present inventron.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a modified form of doorway or port hole retention assembly of a type different from that illustrated in FIG. 7, and wherein the assembly may be rolled up rather than folded.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of a rolled up retention assembly employing the structure illustrated in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a conduit retaining bracket assembly which may be employed in accordance with the present invention to clamp hose elements associated with inflatable buoyancy containers according to the present invention and to hold the hose elements against being drawn into an enclosure in which an associated container is positioned and is being inflated.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG..1 in a folded collapsed condition.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 24-24 of FIG. 23

and showing the structure of a typical tie ring provided on the container.

A prime purpose of the present invention is the provision of improved equipment for salvaging sunken ships, submarines, airplanes and other sunken structures which lend themselves to accepting and retaining air or gas filled containers. The improved containers of the present invention are adapted to be placed by divers in rooms, compartments, companion ways, and holds, and are arranged to be inflated in a positively controlled manner, the containers being provided with suitable supporting retention accessories, so that the containers will displace the amount of water necessary to cause reflotation of the sunken ship or other object being salvaged by internal buoyancy.

Another prime purpose of the present invention is to provide a complete, simplified method of salvage, which with improved safety, will minimize the time required for divers to work at various depths under Water, will minimize the possibility of failure of any part of the apparatus, will minimize the expense of manufacture of the apparatus and which will provide lightweight, maneuverable and flexible salvage units.

In previously employed techniques of ship salvage, the movements of the sunken vessel being raised are controlled by the application of lifting devices which may change the position of the vessel by causing it to roll, by causing it to right itself from a side position, or by causing one end to lift above the other, all of these maneuvers affecting the water pressure exerted on the buoyancy containers employed. An important characteristic of the apparatus of the present invention is that the changing position of the ship will not substantially affect the control action of the containers or the containers lifting power.

In many previously proposed systems of ship salvage, the proposed salvage equipment is impractical because of the lack of required support elements and in some cases, because of the proposed use of heavy and unwieldy structures whose underwater application is impractical or extremely time-consuming. In many of the previously proposed systems, there is no container pressure control or the containers may have release valves preset for one pressure only at one depth only, so that they do not operate to control the air release continuously as the ship rises, so that they do not compensate for the changing water pressure, thereby endangering the container structure or the structure of the associated ship being raised. Failure of the containers during salvage will cause the resinking of the ship and will be a great hazard for the divers engaged in the salvage operation.

Further important features of the present invention include containers provided with inlet and outlet tubes of sufficient length to ensure securement, use of external tie straps and/r tie rings, the use of inlet retention check valves and control angle valves which when closed, support the check valves in retention condition and ensure the non-entry of water should the external water pressure exceed the container pressure, the use of outlet combination automatic-pressure-retention, pressure-release non-entry valves with manual pressure release capability, the use of quick action couplings with all connections, the use of air supply filling hose angle valves with coupling pressure release means, the use of compartment door and port-hole container retention devices, the provision of inlet and outlet extension hoses, and the provision of multiple tube and hose retention devices.

The combined use of the above-mentioned items ensures that the containers will become fully inflated and will be selfsustained after their initial filling, eliminating the risk of over-pressure damage to the containers or to the adjacent ship structures, eliminating the need for using instruments or gauges under water, and minimizing the occurrence of accidents causing resinking of the ship being raised.

The apparatus of the present invention is of minimal cost considering that it provides greatly improved safety to the personnel using same, greatly increased efficiency in the salvage operations, and reduction to a minimum of the time consumed by divers and the associated salvage ship and crew to complete a salvage operation.

Referring to the drawings, 25 generally designates a typical inflated buoyancy container employed in a ship salvage system according to the present invention. The containers may be made in various sizes and shapes most suitable for the particular inflation areas where they are to be used. In the typical container 25 illustrated in FIG. 1, the container is generally rectangular in shape. However, within the spirit of the present invention, the containers may be cylindrical, spherical, or may have any other suitable shape in accordance with the areas where they are to be employed.

The typical container 25, shown in FIG. 1, may be folded up in its deflated condition in the manner illustrated in FIG. 23 so that it then occupies minimum bulk and may be easily handled by a diver whereby it can be readily placed in the area-in which it is to be employed.

The container 25 may be constructed of any suitable light weight material, such as nylon, vinyl, or other commercially available synthetic flexible material, rubber or neoprene-impregnated, or plastic-coated to ensure the retention of air or gas. As above mentioned, the containers 25 are folded to a compact condition, when deflated, for ease in handling under water and placement in the intended inflation areas. The folding will be such that upon inflation the top wall of the container will be in the correct position to rise to the top of the associated enclosure in which it has been placed. A sufficient number of folded containers 25 will be installed by divers in the rooms, compartments, companion ways, and holds of the ship such that, when the containers are inflated, they will impart the necessary buoyancy to refloat the ship, or other object in which they are installed. To compensate for irregularities of contour in the enclosures in which the containers 25 are employed, the containers are preferably made so that they will be somewhat larger when inflated than the intended enclosures therefor to allow for maximum space utilization and to minimize stresses on the containers caused by thepresence of random projections or objects, such as beams, furniture, and fixtures.

In the typical container illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 23, an end wall 26 of the container is provided at its lower portion with a flexible air inlet hose 27 and a flexible air outlet hose 28, located substantially at the midportion of the lower margin of end wall 26 and spaced apart by a short distance.

The inlet and

outlet hoses

27 and 28 may be located at other desired portions of the walls of the containers, for example, may be located at proper heights to extend through a porthole 29, as shown in FIG. 8, rather than through the lower portion of a doorway 30, shown in FIG. 6.

The

flexible hoses

27 and 28 are suitably sealingly secured to the associated container wall, for example, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11, which shows the hose 28 sealingly secured to the container end wall 26. The hose 28 has the opposing

flanges

31 and 32 which receive therebetween the margin of the aperture at which hose 28 is connected and sealingly clamps said margin, or it may be suitably heat sealed thereto or alternatively, the

hoses

27 and 28 may be molded integrally with the container wall.

To facilitate proper securement of the containers, they are preferably provided with suitable tie means distributed thereover, for example, with tie rings 33 engaged with corresponding outwardly projecting loop elements 34 which are anchored to the container walls, as by the use of apertured fastening discs 35 engaged over the loop and adhesively secured to the container walls in the manner illustrated in FIG. 24. Outside tie straps or cables 36 may be secured to the tie rings 33 at various locations on the containers to facilitate the securement of the containers in their intended locations.

The

hoses

27 and 28 may have any desired length, sufficient to allow them to extend through portholes or doorways, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 6 and 8,

and to allow them to be engaged by suitable retention bracket means,such as that illustrated in FIG. 22 and to be presently described, for holding the oses against the inward pulling action exerted thereon during the inflation of their associated containers.

Thus, the typical bracket means shown in FIG. 22 is designated generally at 37 and comprises an elongated bottom member 38 of inverted T-shape having a base portion 39 and an upstanding web portion 40 which is formed with a plurality of spaced notches 41 adapted to receive hoses, such as

hoses

27 and 28 associated with inflatable containers 25. The member 38 is of sufficient length to extend across and overlap the respective sides of a doorway 30 or a porthole 29. Rigidly secured on opposite sides of the web member 40 at one end thereof are a pair of upstanding plate members .42, 42 between which is pivotally connected the end of the web portion 43 of another T-shaped bar member 44, said bar member 44 being provided with the top flange 45 which is partly cut away adjacent the pivoted end portion of web 43, as is shown in FIG. 22. The web 43 is pivotally connected between the plates 42 by a trans versely extending pivot pin 46. The web portion 43 is offset withrespect to the upstanding web element 40 of base member 38 so that it can move downwardly alongside web 40 to exert clamping action on hoses engaged in the notches 41. Pivoted to the end of web 40 opposite the

plates

42, 42 is a yoke member 48 which can be swung upwardly from the position thereof shown in FIG. 2 to lockingly engage over the flange 45 of member 44 when the member 44 is in its conduit-clamping position. Thus, the bracket assembly 37 may be employed to clampingly engage the

hoses

27 and 28 associated with a container 25 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein the hoses are clamped in the bracket member 37, said bracket member being positioned across a porthole 29 through which the

hoses

27 and 28 extend, whereby the hoses are held against inward movement through the porthole 29 during the inflation of the container 25.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for supporting the container against outward bulging through doorway 30, portholes 29, or other openings in an enclosure in which the inflatable flotation container 25 is placed. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an enclosure 56 in a sunken vessel or other object to be salvaged, the enclosure 50 being provided with a doorway 30, and a container 25 being positioned in the enclosure with its associated air inlet and air

dis charge hoses

27 and 28 extending through the lower portion of the doorway 30. A retention device 51 is provided between the container 25 and the doorway 30, the device 51. being located inwardly adjacent the doorway and overlapping its margins. The typical retention device 51 comprises a plurality of transverse channel bars 52 to which are pivotally connected a plurality of vertical transverse channel bars 53 to define a grating or lattice assembly having rigid elements, the channel bars being spaced apart and being pivotally connected by rivets or bolts 54 at their crossing points, namely, at their transversely abutting web portions, the flanges of the vertical channel bars being directed to the right, as shown in FIG. 6, and the flanges of the hor- .izontal channel bars 52 being directed to the left, as

shown in FIG. 6. Due to the pivotal connections at 54, the vertical and horizontal channel bars may be collapsed, so that when the retention device is installed, the vertical channel bars 53 are folded so as to be closely adjacent to each other, whereby the assembly is quite compact and can be easily inserted through a doorway 30 by a diver. After the folded retention device is thus inserted, it can be expanded by spreading the channel bars 53 to the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein channel bars 52. are transverse to the channel bars 53, and in which state the retention device has maximum area. The retention device may be held against the inside margins of the doorway 30 by employing one or more anchor assemblies designated generally at 60. Each anchor assembly comprises a channel bar 61 of sufficient length to span a doorway 30 or other opening in an enclosure'and to engage across its side margins at the outer side thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. A hook-shaped bolt member 62 extends through an aperture 63 provided in the web portion of the channel member 61 and a clamping nut 64 provided with a handle 65 is threadingly engaged on the outer end portion of the hook bolt 62, the bight portion 66 of the hook bolt being engaged around a transverse channel member 52 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6. With the channel member 61 in transverse abutment spanning the side portions of the doorway 30 or other enclosure opening, the diver tightens the nut 64, employing the handle 65, so as to clamp the retention device comprising the afore-mentioned grating structure against the inside marginal portions of the doorway so that said retention device is firmly held in proper position to support the adjacent wall surface of the flotation container 25 as it is being inflated and to prevent this portion of the container from bulging through the doorway.

As shown in FIG. 8, a retention device similar to that above described may be employed across a porthole 29 and may be secured in operative position by an anchoring assembly similar to that employed with the doorway arrangement of FIG. 6. The retention device employed for use with a porthole is obviously substantially smaller than the retention device employed for a larger opening, such as a doorway 30.

FIGS. and 21 illustrate a modified form of retention device which performs substantially the same function as the retention device shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and which comprises a plurality of parallel channel bars 52, connected by flexible web members 67 which are transversely connected to the parallel channel bars 52' and which are spaced apart in the same manner as the vertical channel bars 53 in FIG. 7. The use of the spaced flexible strap members 67 allows the retention assembly to be rolled up in the manner shown in FIG. 20, wherein a typical rolled-up assembly is designated generally at 70. The rolled-up assembly 70 is relatively compact and can be easily handled by a diver and can be readily installed through an opening, such as a doorway 30 or porthole 29 for placement in operative position. The retention assembly of FIGS. 20 and 21 can be readily anchored in position by employing anchor assemblies similar to those above described and illustrated in detail in FIG. 9, the bight portions 66 of the hook bolts 62 being engageable over the horizontal channel bars 52' in the same manner in which said bight portions 66 are engageable over the horizontal channel bars 52 of the retention assembly embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7. The flexible strap members 67 may be made of any suitable webbing material, such as nylon webbing, and the horizontal channel members 52' are secured to the flexible webbing strips 67 by suitable bolts or rivets 71'.

The channel members 52 and 53'of the embodiment of the retention device shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fastened together by relatively loosely fitting bolts or rivets 54 to permit easy collapsing of the retention device for under water handling and for surface storage convenience. The openings defined between the channel bars 52 and 53 in the expanded condition of the retention device of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are of sufficient size to readily extend the

hoses

27 and 28 therethrough as above described. As above mentioned, the anchoring device 37 is employed for temporarily securing the

hoses

27 and 28 and to prevent them from being drawn into the inflation area containing the inflatable container during inflation and to ensure that the con tainer is properly aligned for maximum efficiency of occupany of the inflation area in the enclosure 50. The same considerations apply to the modified form of the retention device shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. As above mentioned, anchoring assemblies, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 are employed to fasten the retention devices over doors or portholes in proper po sitions to retain the associated container within the inflation area in which it is employed.

In the typical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, a source of compressed air may be connected to the container 25 for inflating same at the air inlet hose 27 through a manually controlled angle valve 73 and a check valve 74. Thus, the air supply hose may be connected to the manually controlled angle valve 73 through

successive nipple units

75 and 76, as shown in FIG. 1, at the inlet side of angle valve 73, and the outlet side of angle valve 73 may be connected to the inlet side of check valve 74 by a short nipple element 77, as shown in FIG. 10. The outlet side of check valve 74 may be connected to the container air admission hose 27 through another short nipple element 78, the connections being made in a conventional manner and the assembly being incorporated with the container 25. The air supply hose is preferably connected to the initial nipple element 75 by means of a quick-action coupling assembly wherein the nipple element 75 is provided with the female segment 78 and the air supply angle valve 95 is provided with the male segment 80, as shown in FIG. 13. The male coupling member 80 is provided with the reduced neck portion 81 having oppositely projecting bayonet pins 82, 82, and the portion 81 is engageable in the enlarged bore portion 83 of female segment 78, the interior of the enlarged portion 83 being provided with

opposite bayonet grooves

84, 84 in which the

pins

82, 82 may lockingly engage. Thus, the portion 81 may be slipped into the enlarged bore portion 83 with the

pins

82, 82 slidably engaging in the longitudinal portions of

bayonet grooves

84, 84, after which member 80 may be rotated relative to member 78 to engage the

pins

82, 82 in the transversely directed end portions of

bayonet grooves

84, 84. To facilitate this action, the

members

78 and 80 are provided with the outwardly extending

handle rods

85 and 86, shown in FIG. 13. A sealing gasket 87 surrounds the reduced conduit portion 81 and is located adjacent the annular shoulder defined at the main body portion of member 80 as shown in FIG. 13. When the male and

female segments

80 and 75 are interlockingly engaged in the manner above described, the rim of element 78 sealingly compresses the gasket 87 and provides a sealed connection between the male and female segments of the coupling assembly.

It will be understood that the above-described quickaction coupling assembly may be disconnected by following the reverse procedure to that above described.

The angle valve 73 is of conventional construction and is provided with the operating handle 88 which is rigidly secured to the apertured stem portion 89 of the valve to enable it to be manually rotated for opening and closing the valve.

The check valve 74 comprises a chamber in which is pivoted a flap element 90 which is biased against its seat by a coil spring 91 engaged between the flap element 90 and an opposite abutment 92 provided in the valve body. The valve body, shown at 93, is provided with a removable sealing cap 94 which covers and seals the enclosure containing the pivoted flap member 90 and which provides access to the spring 91 when removed. As will be apparent from FIG. 10, air under pressure can swing the flap member 90 in a counterclockwise direction so as to flow there past towards the conduit element 78' and thence through hose 27 into the container 25, but reverse flow of the air is prevented by the closure of the flap element 90. Compressed air can thus be delivered to the container 25 to inflate the same and reverse flow through the hose 27 will be prevented by the checkvalve action provided by the spring-biased valve flap element 90.

The filling hose, shown at 94, is provided with a coupling pressure shutoff valve 95 similar to valve 73, but provided with a coupling pressure relief bleeder valve 97. Thus, the angle valve 95 and bleeder valve assembly 97 are mounted on conduit body 98 which is con nected between the air supply hose 94 and has the male quick-action coupling 80 connected to the opposite end of conduit 98, as shown in FIG. 13. The relief valve 97 comprises conduit element 99 having a manually rotatable screw cap 100 threaded thereon, the cap 100 being manually rotatable to expose an aperture 101 thereof to the conduit 99 when the cap is rotated outwardly a sufficient distance so as to allow air trapped between

closed angle valves

73 and 95 to escape, thereby reducing'the pressure in the conduit portion between

valves

73 and 95 and facilitating the uncoupling of the quick-

action coupling segments

75 and 80. This permits the safe and easy disconnection of said quick-action coupling segments, when desired.

in the typical arrangements illustrated in FIG. 1, the air discharge hose 28 is connected to a discharge hose 102 through an automatic pressure retention valve assembly 103 shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. As is further shown in FIG. 1, the hose 102 is connected to the outlet end of the valve assembly 103 by means of a quick-action coupling assembly similar to that above described, and having the male and female cooperating coupling elements 80 and-75 provided with their associated operating handles 86 and 85.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the automatic pressure re-.

lease valve 103 comprises a main conduit body 104 threadedly connected at one end to the female coupling segment 75 and being provided with an enlarged opposite end portion 105 which is internally threaded to threadedly receive the air discharge hose 28 associated with the container 25. The annular valve seat member 106 is adjustable threaded in the right end of the body 104, as viewed in FIG. 2, and has a frustoconical seat 107 which sealingly receives the conical center element 108 of a movable valve plunger 109 slidably positioned in the body 104. The plunger 109 is provided with a plurality of air passages 110 which are placed in communication with the central bore 111 of seat member 106 when the plunger 109 is forced away from seat 107, as will be presently described.

Seat member 106 is provided at the right side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2, with a plurality of toolengagement recesses 112 for engagement with pins of an adjusting tool for adjusting the position of member 106 in body 104.

Threadedly engaged in the left end portion of body 104, as viewed in FIG. 2, is an apertured guide bushing 113 having air passages 114 and having a central bore 115 through which slidably extends a piston rod 116 which is threadedlyconnected to the plungerelement 109. A coil spring 118 surrounds rod 116, bearing between bushing member 113 and plunger element 109 to bias the plunger element rightwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, namely, towards seating relationship with the seat member 106, namely, towards seating engagement of conical valve element 108 with the frusto-conical seat 107. Rod 116 is provided at its left end, as viewed in FIG. 2, with a transverse handle bar 119 which is normally received in parallel relationship to and between a pair of

parallel ribs

120, 120, provided on bushing member 113 to normally hold rod 116 against rotation. Cross bar 119 may be at times grasped and pulled leftwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, and then rotated to transversely overlie the

ribs

120, 120, whereby to hold the valve plunger 109 in open position, namely, in the position thereof shown in FIG. 4, whereby to allow air to flow freely in a leftward direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4, from hose 28 to conduit member 75, for example, when it is desired to deflate the associated container 25. This is, of course, done with the coupling element 75 detached from the valve body 104.

10 The spring 1118 establishes a predetermined pressure differential, which, when exceeded, causes plunger element 109 to become unseated and to allow air to escape from the associated container 25 to the exhaust hose 102. Thus, when the container 25 is inflated in a vessel at a considerable depth in the water, a sufficiently high pressure must be developed in the container 25 to inflate the same against the substantial hydrostatic pressure existing at this depth. When the vessel rises due to the buoyancy provided by the inflated container, and others similarly placed in the vessel, the hydrostatic pressure decreases, and eventually the pressure differential provided by the spring 118 is exceeded and compressed air is allowed to escape from the associated container 25 past the unseated valve element 109. When sufficient air has escaped from the container to reestablish a pressure differential less than that represented by the tension of spring 118, the spring overcomes the pressure in the container 25 and causes its associated valve plunger element 109 to return to the seated position of FIG. 2, terminating the release of air from the container at this level. As the vessel continues to rise, another level will be reached wherein the hydrostatic pressure has reduced sufficiently to overcome the differential represented by spring 118 and the above-described process is repeated.

It will thus be seen that valve assembly 103 operates to automatically maintain a predetermined pressure differential between the air in the container 25 and the associated discharge hose or conduit, namely between the pressure valve in the container and the hydrostatic pressure value to which the conduit element is exposed, thereby automatically reducing the pressure in the container 25 as the sunken vessel rises to corre spend with the reduced hydrostatic pressure acting externally thereto. This automatically prevents excessive build-up of stresses in the walls of the container and in the structures in the vessel enclosure engaged thereby. This prevents unnecessary damage to the container and the adjacent structures.

The automatic air release valve 103 also acts as an indicator to the diver that the container is fully inflated, since the valve 103 will permit release of air when the pressure differential between the air in the container and the hydrostatic pressure exceeds that which can be overcome by the spring 118. The opening of the valve 103 at this point allows air to escape from the container 25 and the escaping air from the exhaust hose indicates to the diver that the container is fully inflated. This is also an indication that the maximum amount of water has been expelled from the inflation area in which the container 25 is positioned.

As above mentioned, when the vessel has been fully raised and it is desired to deflate the containers 25, the associated coupling elements 75 are detached from the valve bodies 104 and the valves are manually opened by means of their cross bar elements 119, as above described, allowing the containers to be deflated.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show a modified form of automatic release valve, designated generally at 103, which may be employed when no extension hoses 102 are employed for exhausting air. Thus, the modified automatic release valve 103' comprises a valve body 104 having a flanged end portion which is connected to the release hose 28, in the same manner as described above in connection with the first-disclosed automatic release valve 103. At its left end portion, as viewed in FIG. 16, the valve body 104 is provided with the valve seat member 106' which has a pair of

air passages

122, 122, the member 106 being threadedly engaged in the body 104' so that its position can be readily adjusted. An apertured plunger member 109' is carried on a plunger rod 116 which extends rightwardly in the body 104, as viewed in FIG. 16, towards a cap 123 threadedly engaged on the right end of body 104', the rod 116 being provided at its right end with a transverse handle bar 119 which is normally located adjacent a slot 124 in cap 123 through which the handle bar 119' may be at times pulled outwardly and transversely rotated for manually opening the valve in the same manner as previously described in connection with the handle bar 119 in the valve shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

A coiled spring 118 surrounds rod 116, bearing between the plunger 109 and the cap member 123 and biasing the plunger member 119 leftwardly, as viewed in FIG. 16, to establish the release pressure differential above described. Plunger member 109 is provided with a pair of parallel longitudinally extending

positioning pins

125, 125 which slidably engage in

recesses

126, 126 provided in member 106' to prevent rotation of plunger member 109. Plunger member 109 is provided with a pair of

air passages

127, 127, and a sealing gasket 128 is provided between member 109 and member 106, the gasket being smaller in diameter than the bore 130 of body 104', and being movable with plunger member 109' when the above-described pressure differential is exceeded so as to allow excesspressure air to flow through the passages 122 of member 106', and past the gasket 128, so as to be released through the body 104 and slot 124. The valve 103 thus operates in the same manner as the abovedescribed valve 103 to allow airto automatically escape from the associated container 25 as the sunken vessel rises, whereby to prevent excessive build-up of pressure in the container and to substantially maintain a safe pressure value in the associated container 25 as the vessel rises towards the surface.

The valve 103' operates in the same manner as the valve 103 to indicate to a diver when the associated container 25 is fully inflated, since when the inflation pressure in the container rises-to avalue exceeding the pressure differential defined by the biasing spring 118, the associated plunger member 109 moves rightwardly and allow air to escape through the cap slot 124.

lnlet and outlet extension hoses may be employed as required for the particular salvage operation. Thus, as shown in FIG. 14, a suitable extension hose 140 may be employed between the check valve 74 and the inlet hose 27 of the associated container, the extension hose 140 being provided with a male quick-coupling member 80 adapted to be coupled with a corresponding female quick-coupling member 75, not shown, secured to the end of the container inlet conduit 27. Similarly, a suitable extension hose 140 may be employed between the air release hose 28 and the automatic release valve 103, as shown in FIG. 19, the extension 140 being provided with a male quick-coupling member 80 adapted to be coupled with a mating female coupling element 75, not shown, provided at the end of the air discharge hose 28. Extension hose sections 140 may be employed in the system as required by the-particular circumstances of the salvage operation. The extension hoses are provided at their opposite ends with male and female quick-coupling members 80 and to facilitate their connections and to enable divers to use them in the system as required with minimum effort.

While certain specific embodiments of salvage apparatus for raising sunken objects have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic salvage apparatus for raising sunken objects of the type having enclosures, comprising an inflatable container of flexible material adapted to be carried in a deflated, collapsed folded up condition and installed in an enclosure in a sunken object by a diver, the container being totally flexible and being provided with spaced respective air inlet and outlet conduits extending from a wall thereof and arranged to both ex tend externally from the enclosure through a single opening thereof when the container is installed, air inlet valve means including a check valve connected to the air inlet conduit, means to connect said air inlet valve means to a source of compressed air for inflating the container to cause it to expand to substantially conform with the interior of the enclosure, and automatic air release means connected to said outlet conduit and exposed to hydrostatic pressure, said air release means including normally closed release valve means arranged to open in response to a predetermined pressure differential thereacross, whereby the air pressure in the container will be automatically reduced continuously as the object rises from its original sunken position, whereby to provide maximum space utilization and to avoid damage to the container and the adjacent structure in the enclosure.

2. The salvage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said automatic release valve means comprises a housing having a valve seat, a plunger element slidably mounted in said housing and having means to sealingly engage against said seat, and spring means biasing said plunger element towards sealing position, the plunger element being exposed at one side thereof to hydrostatic pressure which acts in the same direction on the plungerelement as said spring means, and being exposed at the other side thereof to the compressed air in the inflated container.

3. The salvage apparatus of claim 2 and retention means for supporting portions of the container against outward distension through openings in the enclosure, said retention means comprising collapsible lattice means composed of rigid elements which can be inserted through openings in the enclosure and which can then be expanded to overlie the inside margins of the openings to prevent bulging of the inflated container through the openings.

4. The salvage apparatus of claim 3 wherein said collapsible lattice means includes parallel rigid bar members and means movably connecting said rigid bar members together and maintaining them substantially in parallelism.

5. The salvage apparatus of claim 4, and means to releasably clamp the lattice means to the inside margins of the openings in the enclosure.

6. The salvage apparatus of claim 5, wherein said clamping means comprises cross bars engageable across the outsides of the margins of the openings and hook bolt members engaged through the cross bars and supportingly and clampingly engaged with at least one of said rigid bar members, said hook bolt members having manually operated clamping nuts.

7. The salvage apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rigid bar members of the expanded lattice means are spaced sufficiently to allow the air inlet and outlet conduits to extend outwardly therebetween.

8. The salvage apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means movably connecting said rigid bar members comprises a plurality of additional parallel rigid bar members pivotally connected to said first-named rigid bar members.

9. The salvage apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means movably connecting said rigid bar members comprises spaced parallel bands of flexible web material transversely connected to said rigid bar members to allow the lattice means to be rolled up to diminish its bulk and allow it to be inserted through the openings in the enclosure.

10. The salvage apparatus of claim 7 and rigid bracket means clampingly engageable with the out wardly extending air inlet and outlet conduits and being of sufficient length to extend across the outside margins of the openings to retain the inlet and outlet conduits against inward pulling force tending to pull the conduits into the associated enclosure.

ill. The salvage apparatus of claim 2 and wherein said air inlet valve means includes a manually operated angle valve located ahead of said check valve.

12. The salvage apparatus of claim 11 and extension conduit means and quick-acting coupling means interconnecting said extension conduit means in circuit with said inlet and outlet conduits, said quick-acting coupling means comprising cooperating interengageable male and female coupling segments on the ends of the conduits and extension conduit means, and means to lock the male and female segments together in coupled relationship responsive to rotation of one with respect to the other.

13. The salvage apparatus of claim 2 and a plunger rod secured to the plunger element, abutment means on the housing a cross bar element rigidly secured on the plunger rod, and means for at times positioning said cross bar element so that it engages with said abutment means to hold the plunger element in non-sealing position with respect to said seat, said abutment means being recessed to receive said cross bar element at other times to allow the plunger element to sealingly engage the seat.

14. The salvage apparatus of claim 13 and wherein said spring means comprises a coiled spring surrounding said plunger rod and bearing between said plunger element and said abutment means.

15. The salvage apparatus of claim 13 and wherein said abutment means comprises an apertured guide bushing mounted in the housing, said plunger rod extending slidably through said guide bushing, said guide bushing having parallel ribs adjacent said cross bar element, and the cross bar element being rotatable to transversely overlie said ribs to hold the plunger element in said non-sealing position against the force of said spring means.

16. The salvage apparatus of claim 13 and wherein said abutment means comprises an end cap secured on the housing having a slot through which said cross bar element can be pulled, said cross bar element being then rotatable to transversely overlie said slot to hold the plunger element in said non-sealing position against the force of said spring means.

17. The salvage apparatus of claim 11, and auxiliary conduit means, including a manually operated valve, adapted to be connected between said source of compressed air and said air inlet valve means, said auxiliary conduit means being provided with manually operated bleeder valve means between said lastnamed manually operated valve and said air inlet valve means to facilitate disconnection of said auxiliary conduit means from the air inlet valve means at times.

18. The salvage apparatus of claim 2, and wherein said container is provided over its surface area with spaced tie rings for securing the container in a predetermined position in an enclosure.

Claims

1. An automatic salvage apparatus for raising sunken objects of the type having enclosures, comprising an inflatable container of flexible material adapted to be carried in a deflated, collapsed folded up condition and installed in an enclosure in a sunken object by a diver, the container being totally flexible and being provided with spaced respective air inlet and outlet conduits extending from a wall thereof and arranged to both extend externally from the enclosure through a single opening thereof when the container is installed, air inlet valve means including a check valve connected to the air inlet conduit, means to connect said air inlet valve means to a source of compressed air for inflating the container to cause it to expand to substantially conform with the interior of the enclosure, and automatic air release means connected to said outlet conduit and exposed to hydrostatic pressure, said air release means including normally closed release valve means arranged to open in response to a predetermined pressure differential thereacross, whereby the air pressure in the container will be automatically reduced continuously as the object rises from its original sunken position, whereby to provide maximum space utilization and to avoid damage to the container and the adjacent structure in the enclosure.

2. The salvage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said automatic release valve means comprises a housing having a valve seat, a plunger element slidably mounted in said housing and having means to sealingly engage against said seat, and spring means biasing said plunger element towards sealing position, the plunger element being exposed at one side thereof to hydrostatic pressure which acts in the same direction on the plunger element as said spring means, and being exposed at the other side thereof to the compressed air in the inflated container.

10. The salvage apparatus of claim 7 and rigid bracket means clampingly engageable with the outwardly extending air inlet and outlet conduits and being of sufficient length to extend across the outside margins of the openings to retain the inlet and outlet conduits against inward pulling force tending to pull the conduits into the associated enclosure.

11. The salvage apparatus of claim 2 and wherein said air inlet valve means includes a manually operated angle valve located ahead of said check valve.