WO2008029983A1

WO2008029983A1 - Method for generating buoyancy for vessel salvage

Info

Publication number: WO2008029983A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung-Man Baek
Original assignee: Seung-Man Baek
Priority date: 2006-09-07
Filing date: 2007-05-04
Publication date: 2008-03-13
Also published as: KR100812139B1; KR20080022642A

Abstract

Disclosed is a buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage capable of easily salvaging sunken ships in the water. For this purpose, the buoyancy generating method of the present invention may be useful to generate a buoyant force in a sunken ship by installing expandable tubes in a vessel, supplying seawater into tubes at a pressure higher than a hydraulic pressure of the vessel to expand the tubes, and supplying high-pressure air higher than the hydraulic pressure, thereby filling the tubes with air while discharging the seawater in the tubes after the containment of the seawater. Accordingly, the vessel salvage may be performed according to the above-mentioned method, and therefore it is possible to easily salvage a sunken ship from a place that it is difficult to reach, sufficiently salvage a sunken ship with the low salvage cost and manpower, and generate a sufficient lifting force using the minimum equipment.

Description

METHOD FOR GENERATING BUOYANCY FOR VESSEL SALVAGE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage, and more particularly to a buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage capable of generating a buoyant force in a sunken ship by installing expandable tubes in the sunken ship, supplying seawater into tubes at a pressure higher than a hydraulic pressure of the sunken ship so as to expand the tubes, and supplying high-pressure air higher than the hydraulic pressure to fill the tubes with air while discharging the seawater contained in the tubes after the containment of the seawater.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, underwater objects, particularly stranded vessels, sunken ships caused by marine accidents, crashed airplanes and the like are buried at sea to pollute the ocean, or cause serious damages to fortunes.

[4] As known methods for salvaging a sunken ship to prevent the burial of the sunken underwater objects at sea due to the sinking of the vessels, various methods are widely known in the art, including a method for winding a wire on an underwater vessel and salvaging the vessel by means of a traction power of a winch from a mother ship, a method for installing airbags around an underwater object to rise to the surface of the water, or a method for filling an inner space of an underwater object with floats, air or buoyant materials that generate a buoyant force.

[5] Among the known methods, Japanese Laid-open Publication No. Sho63-98897

(published on June 27, 1988) discloses "an apparatus for preventing sinking of a ship" as a kind of the method using floats, air or buoyant materials. In this case, if seawater flows in a sunken ship, the sunken ship is prevented from being sunken by sensing influx of the seawater and supplying inert gas into a buoyancy maintenance balloon to provide a buoyant force to sections in the sunken ship.

[6] As some methods similar to the known methods for floating a sunken ship or preventing a vessel from sinking, Korean Patent Application No. 1999-0014304 discloses "a ship anti-sinking system," and Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0033228 disclosed a "vessel having apparatus for preventing from sinking." However, these methods commonly provide a buoyant force to a vessel to prevent the vessel from sinking down.

[7] However, these known methods have problems that they may be used before a vessel is sunken, but additional methods should be used to salvage the vessel after the vessel is sunken.

[8] As another known method, there is a method for floating a sunken ship by directly infusing an external air into a cargo tank or a partitioned inner space to generate a buoyant force.

[9] However, the above-mentioned direct air injection system have problems that an opening such as the cargo tank should be closed hermetically, and the compressed air should be unlimitedly infused since it is impossible to hermetically close the opening elaborately.

[10]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention is designed to solve the above problems, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage capable of generating a buoyant force in a sunken ship by installing mechanically expanding airbags in a vessel, preferably sectioned inner part of the vessel and filling expandable tubes of the vessel with a buoyancy generating gas such as compressed air or inert gas when the vessel is sunken down.

[12] The buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used to solve all of the above-mentioned problems, install in an expandable tube an inlet capable of supplying buoyancy generating gas and seawater to expandable tubes, and supply the buoyancy generating gas and the seawater to a salvage ship that floats on the water.

[13] Other objects and effects of the present invention will be described clearly from the

Detailed Description of the present invention, and it is considered that exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described for the purpose of illustration, but does not limit the spirits and scopes of the present invention.

[14]

Technical Solution

[15] In order to accomplish the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides a buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage that uses an expandable tube to salvage a sunken ship, wherein the expandable tube is installed in plural number in sectioned inner part of the sunken ship; at least two extraction ports and discharge ports are installed in the expandable tube; the extraction ports and discharge ports having check valves formed integrally therein to supply fluids only in one direction, the expandable tube being provided under a compressed vacuum condition; seawater and compressed air are supplied through the extraction ports formed in the expandable tube; a salvage ship for discharging seawater in the expandable tube through the discharge port is provided on the surface of the seawater; at least two drive pump for supplying and discharging seawater and compressed air into/from the expandable tube are installed in the salvage ship; at least two pipes for passing seawater and compressed air are installed when the pipes are coupled to the expandable tubes, the pump supplying seawater to the expandable tubes through the pipes coupled to the extraction ports to expand the expandable tube in the sectioned inner parts of the sunken ship in order to generate a buoyancy space for buoyancy generation; the tubes expanded by the seawater discharge outwardly seawater in the sectioned inner parts of the sunken ship through the discharge ports; the compressed air is supplied to an empty space of the buoyancy space to fill the empty space of the buoyancy space while the seawater is discharged into an empty space of the remaining buoyancy space by the discharged seawater; and the filled compressed air is supplied in an atmospheric pressure where the buoyancy space endures an underwater pressure to maintain the shape of the expanded tubes, the discharge of the seawater and the supply of compressed air being continuously repeated to fill the buoyancy space with compressed air.

[16] Also, it is characterized in that the check valve is selectively installed in the pipe.

[17] Furthermore, it is characterized in that the check valve installed in the extraction port is opened only in a flow direction of seawater and compressed air supplied inwardly to the tube, and the check valve installed in the discharge port is opened only in the discharge direction of the seawater discharged from the tube.

[18] In addition, it is characterized in that the compressed air is an inert gas.

[19]

Advantageous Effects

[20] As described above, the buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to the present invention may be useful to easily salvage a sunken ship from a place that it is difficult to reach, to sufficiently salvage a sunken ship with the low salvage cost and manpower, and to generate a sufficient lifting force using the minimum equipment by installing expandable tubes, which is mechanically expanding airbags, in sectioned inner parts of a vessel that remains sunken in the water, followed by filling the expandable tubes with a buoyancy generating gas such as compressed air or inert gas.

[21]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sunken ship and a salvage ship that is disposed on the surface of the seawater.

[23] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing tubes installed in inner parts of a vessel.

[24] FIG. 3 is an installation state view showing a tube used in the present invention before the tube is expanded. [25] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a tube used in the present invention when the tube is expanded by supplying seawater to the tube. [26] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing that compressed air is supplied to the tube expanded by the seawater. [27]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [28] Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, parts have the same reference numerals if the parts are functionally identical, or similar to each other in the accompanying drawings. [29] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sunken ship and a salvage ship that is disposed on the surface of the seawater, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing tubes installed in inner parts of a vessel. [30] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to the present invention is a method for salvaging a sunken ship by providing a buoyant force to a sunken ship 10 on the bottom of the sea. [31] Sectioned spaces are formed inside the sunken ship 10, and include cabins, cargo tanks, etc. [32] Tubes 20 used in the present invention are installed in inner parts, for example these sectioned spaces, of the sunken ship 10. The tubes 20 are made of high-strength synthetic resin materials, and preferably highly elastic rubbers. [33] When an inner space of the tube 20 is free from the air, the tube 20 is provided with the minimum area and has an extraction port 22 and a discharge port 24 formed in plural numbers in an outer side thereof. [34] The extraction port 22 and the discharge port 24 are formed to face each other, and the extraction port 22 and the discharge port 24 are preferably installed in positions that are spaced apart from the tube 20 in order to facilitate the supply or discharge of seawater and compressed air. [35] Preferably, check valves 26 are installed respectively in the extraction port 22 and the discharge port 24 to pass fluids only in one direction, and the check valves 26 used in the present invention has sufficient strength to endure an inner pressure of the tubes

20. [36] The tubes 20 may be installed in inner parts of the sunken ship 10 without any of limitations, but the sunken ship 10 should preferably have an enough space that can form a buoyancy space in expanding the tubes in the sunken ship 10. [37] In particular, the tubes 20 may be firmly fixed in the inner parts of the sunken ship 10, and separately installed by divers for vessel salvage. Such fixation of the tubes 20 may be carried out using a fixation method as disclosed in "a ship anti-sinking system" (Korean Patent Application No. 1999-0014304).

[38] The salvage ship 30 that floats on the surface of the water has various equipment formed therein to supply compressed air to the tubes 20, or to supply and discharge seawater to/from the tubes 20 to give a buoyant force to the tubes 20.

[39] For this purpose, at least two drive pumps 32 are installed in the salvage ship 30, and at least two compressors 34 for generating a high-pressure compressed air are also preferably installed in the salvage ship 30.

[40] In particular, the drive pump 32 pumps the seawater out, and then supplies the seawater, which is discharged by a compressor 34a, to the high-pressure tubes 20. The other compressor 34b generates a high-pressure compressed air, as described above.

[41] Furthermore, a discharge pump 36 is installed in the salvage ship 30. The discharge pump 36 is coupled to the discharge port 24 of the tube 20, and functions to discharge seawater in the tube 20.

[42] As described above, the buoyancy generating method according to the present invention may be used to supply seawater and compressed air through the tubes 20 installed in inner parts of the sunken ship 10 on the bottom of the sea, and simultaneously discharging the seawater to give a buoyant force to the tubes 20.

[43] Next, an operation and effects of the buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage and will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 3 to 5.

[44] First, FIG. 3 is an installation state view showing a tube used in the present invention before the tube is expanded, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a tube used in the present invention when the tube is expanded by supplying seawater to the tube. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, according to the buoyancy generating method according to the present invention, at least one expandable tube 20 installed in inner parts of the sunken ship 10 has an extraction port 22 and a discharge port 24 installed integrally therein, wherein the pipes 40 are coupled to the extraction port 22 and the discharge port 24.

[45] The pipes 40 are coupled to the drive motor 32, the compressors 34a 34b, and the discharge pump 36 to supply or discharge compressed air and seawater.

[46] Furthermore, the pipes 40 are coupled to the drive pump 32 and the compressor 34a of the salvage ship 30, and the discharge port 24 is coupled to the discharge pump 36.

[47] When the drive pump 32 is operated, seawater is sucked in, and the introduced seawater is supplied to the tubes 20 through the compressor 34a under a vacuum condition to expand the tubes 20.

[48] At this time, the introduced seawater is supplied the tubes 20 at a pressure greater than an underwater pressure, thereby expanding the tubes 20. In this case, the discharge port 24 prevents the seawater, supplied through the check valve 26, from being discharged out.

[49] If a sufficient amount of the seawater is supplied to expand the tubes 20, the discharge pump 36 is operated to discharge the seawater from the tubes 20.

[50] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing that compressed air is supplied to the tube expanded by the seawater. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, if the seawater is discharged from the tubes 20, the tubes 20 are compressed by the underwater pressure, and therefore the compressed air is supplied to the tubes 20 through the compressor 34b to equilibrate the underwater pressure and a pressure of the tubes 20. At this time, the inner pressure of the tubes 20 is preferably higher than the underwater pressure.

[51] As described above, the tubes 20 are finally filled with the compressed air by discharging the seawater from the tubes 20 while the underwater pressure and the pressure of the tubes 20 are equilibrated to the suitable extent.

[52] If the tubes 20 are filled with the compressed air, the tubes 20 are modified into buoyancy-generating units for generating a buoyant force, and a buoyant force is given to the sunken ship, the buoyant force allowing the buoyant force to float on the surface of the water.

[53] And, a plurality of the tubes 20 are installed in the sunken ship 10 to give a sufficient buoyant force to easily salvage the sunken ship 10, as described above.

[54] The description proposed herein is just an exemplary embodiment for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention might be not defined within the scope of which is described in detailed description but within the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] A buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage that uses an expandable tube to salvage a sunken ship, wherein the expandable tube is installed in plural number in sectioned inner part of the sunken ship; at least two extraction ports and discharge ports are installed in the expandable tube; the extraction ports and discharge ports having check valves formed integrally therein to supply fluids only in one direction, the expandable tube being provided under a compressed vacuum condition; seawater and compressed air are supplied through the extraction ports formed in the expandable tube; a salvage ship for discharging seawater in the expandable tube through the discharge port is provided on the surface of the seawater; at least two drive pump for supplying and discharging seawater and compressed air into/from the expandable tube are installed in the salvage ship; at least two pipes for passing seawater and compressed air are installed when the pipes are coupled to the expandable tubes, the pump supplying seawater to the expandable tubes through the pipes coupled to the extraction ports to expand the expandable tube in the sectioned inner parts of the sunken ship in order to generate a buoyancy space for buoyancy generation; the tubes expanded by the seawater discharge outwardly seawater in the sectioned inner parts of the sunken ship through the discharge ports; the compressed air is supplied to an empty space of the buoyancy space to fill the empty space of the buoyancy space while the seawater is discharged into an empty space of the remaining buoyancy space by the discharged seawater; and the filled compressed air is supplied in an atmospheric pressure where the buoyancy space endures an underwater pressure to maintain the shape of the expanded tubes, the discharge of the seawater and the supply of compressed air being continuously repeated to fill the buoyancy space with compressed air.

[2] The buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is selectively installed in the pipe.

[3] The buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to claim 1, wherein the check valve installed in the extraction port is opened only in a flow direction of seawater and compressed air supplied inwardly to the tube, and the check valve installed in the discharge port is opened only in the discharge direction of the seawater discharged from the tube.

[4] The buoyancy generating method for vessel salvage according to claim 1, wherein the compressed air is an inert gas.