US994611A - Means for raising sunken vessels. - Google Patents

Description

J. SKATSGHKOPP. MEANS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED D130. 17, 1009.

994,61 1. Patented June 6,1911.

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994,61 1 Patented June 6, 1911.

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JAMES SKATSCHKOFF, OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

MEANS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SKATSCIIKOFIF, a subject of the Emperor of Russia, and a resident of 1 Degtiarnoipereoulok, St. Petersburg, Russia, practical engineer, have invented a new and useful Means for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the case employed for in closing the upper portion of a vessel to be raised. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic side view, with portions broken away, of a sunken vessel having the apparatus for raising it applied thereto as in practice.

In carrying out the invention, a case or casing is made of waterproof tarpaulin which is open at the bottom, the plan view of the ease resembling the form of the vessel which is to be raised. The case thus consists of a top portion and side walls, which latter extend down far enough to inclose the upper portion of the hull of the vessel.

In order to raise a sunken vessel the usual practice is to apply the hoisting power of air bags, barrels and other arrangements, by suspending the vessel which it is intended to raise to them, or the vessel is raised by means of a floating crane. In both cases the vessel represents dead Weight which it is necessary to raise. In the proposed means of raising of sunken vessels, this latter does not form a dead weight, but becomes a selfraising apparatus in View of which fact the water filling it is discharged and replaced with air.

On cutting down the masts and high chimneys, the case is let down with the aid of divers upon the vessel and the sides of this latter are grasped by the walls of the case which are fastened in some way to the sides of the vessel. For this purpose, for instance, several rows of steel ropes e, c, c, furnished with tightening devices, are fastened to the lower edge of the case. WVhen the case has been placed upon the vessel and the ropes have been tightened, the whole arrangement will have the appearance shown in Fig. 3. Two series of pipes for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 17, 1909.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Serial No. 533,682.

air delivery 5, Z) and water suction a, a, pass through the cover of the case (as at 0, 0, (Z, (Z) the ends of the latter must be let down near the bottom of the vessel and the former can end at the very cover. After the case has been placed upon the vessel and made fast on the same, they form a closed space filled with water, which has to be forced out and replaced with air in order that the vessel may obtain buoyancy. This is attained by the delivery of air through pipes 71, I) and in the case of necessity by pumping out the water through pipes a, a, keeping up the pressure of the air in accordance with the depth at which the vessel has sunk. lVhen the water inside the vessel has been replaced with air it obtains immense hoisting power, while the dead weight is reduced by an amount equal to the weight of all the water which filled it and the vessel floats up. When the vessel is being raised the exterior pressure will become less and therefore, automatic safety-valves must be installed in the ease, in order to balance it with the interior pressure. Under these con ditions the material of the case hardly undergoes any tension and therefore the danger of its tearing apart is done away with. It is of course understood that the calculation for determining the strength of all the parts must be made specially for each separate case.

"What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For raising sunken vessels, the apparatus hereinbefore described, the same comprising an airand water-proof case having pendent sides and a closed top and the general form of the vessel which is to be raised, whereby it is adapted to be applied over the upper portion of the vessel, means for securing such case to the hull of the vessel, and pipes attached to the case and serving to remove water and admit air, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, an airand water-proof case formed of flexible material and made of a size and shape corresponding to the vessel over whose upper portion it is to be applied,

ropes having fastening devices and adapted In testimony whereof, I have signed my to be passed around the vessel lengthwise name to th1s speelfioatlon in the presence of thereof and over the lower edge of the case two subsoriblng Witnesses.

for clamping the case tightly to the hull, JAMES SKATSCHKOFF. and water and air pipes forming an attaoh- Witnesses:

ment of the upper portion of the case, as H. A. LOVIAGUINE,

shown and described. A. TSOHERALOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents, Washington, D. G.

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