US1980647A - Submarine life saving apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1934- D. A. VIVEIROS 1,980,647

SUBMARINE LIFE SAVING APPARATUS 7 Filed Aug. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 13, 1934.

' D, A. VIVEIROS 1,980,647

SUBMARINE LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

41 i 62 I mu 3a 35 li qi 1 11661 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT O ICE] '1 Claims.

My present invention relates to submarine life saving apparatus and more particularly to a device which may be utilized to indicate the position of a sunken submarine as well as being'able to provide for the establishment of contact with the submarine from outside sources.

Since a submarine may become disabled due to any one of a number of causes and also since the extent of the trouble may vary considerably 1,0 and can never be determined beforehand with any-degree of certainty, it becomes necessary when attempting to establish contact with the submerged vessel to provide apparatus which will meet any one or if needs be all of the obstacles which may be encountered. It is desirable that the device be capableof being operated by a rescuing party working to some extent in cooperation with the trapped crew in the submarine or if necessary it must be capable of being operated entirely by the rescuing party as in the case where all members of the crew in the submarine are incapacitated. There should be provision for contacting with the submerged vessel at several different points on the hull and in every instance be able to effect a suitable passageway into and out of the disabled vessel. All of these considerations are further topped by the requirement that such a device can be practically and infallibly applied under all kinds of weather and working conditions. The present device has been designed having the above conditions and diificulties in mind and is thought to effectually cope with them in every instance.

The principal object of my invention is therefore an improved submarine life saving apparatus.

Another object is an apparatus which can provide contact from the outside with a sunken submarine and also provide a means for indicating the position of the submerged vessel.

Another object is a device of the above specified qualifications which is capable of being independently and completely operated by a rescuing party on the outside.

Still another object is a device of the above character which is adapted to be applicable at various points on the hull of a disabled submarine.

Still another object is an apparatus of theabove specified characteristics which will be completely effective under practical working conditions in any kind of Weather.

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my invention will appear as the description of the same progresses.

In the drawings illustrating'the preferred embodiment of my invention I r V Fig. 1 shows a diving bell partly in cross-section and also a cross-section of a fragmentaryportion I of a submarine hull in which are respectively mounted the male and female units of the apparatus with a float member associated with female unit disposed at a water line and the male unit appearing just previous to the actual establishment of contact. 1 w I Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken vertically through the central axis of the female unit of the apparatus.

Fig. 3'is a plan cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the completely assembled apparatus taken centrally through its axis showing the. engagement of the male and female units prior to opening a passageway therethrough.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 showing a locking plate arrangement.

Fig. 6 is another vertical cross-section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4 showing means for locking the male unit extremity within the female unit.

Fig. 7 is an outer end elevation of the male unit and Fig. 8 is an outer end elevation of the'female unit. Y

Referring more in detail to the drawings 10 indicates'a conventional type of diving bell provided with a hose 10a located under water and having mounted in its side or other convenient portion what may be generally termed as the male unit of the complete apparatus and indicated by the numeral 11. 12 represents a fragmentary portion of the hull of a submarine shown in crosssection and located likewise under water and nearby the diving bell 10. Mounted in the hull 12, is a second part of my apparatus 13 which in a similar manner will be hereafter referred to in general as the female unit of the apparatus. Associated with the hull 12 is a float member 14 supported on the surface of the water indicated and regarding which further description will b set forth hereinafter.

The diving bell 10 which houses the male unit of the apparatus has been proposed as one of 'sevv eral modifications by which the male unit could be directed into engagement with the female unit and only requires that some form of glass window or observation panel be provided above the area wherein the male unit is located. Another modi- 1 fication which it is considered mightbe applicable in this connection would be a small boat capable of operating under Water to the extent of having self-propulsion such as would facilitate the bringing together and locking of the two units specified.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged cross-section of the female unit comprising a cylindrical housing 15 provided with a flanged portion 16' which is adapt ed to seat against the exterior of the hull 12 of a submarine or if desired could be recessed in the hull 12. The housing 15 extends through the hull inwardly to a point at which it could be contacted with by members of the crew located in that section of the submarine. Located on the inner edge of the housing 15 is a bracket portion 16a in which is hinged a man-hole cover '17 having an outer recessed flange portion 18"adapted to seat tightly against the inner face 19 of the housing 15. Axially located through the manhole cover 1'7 is a bushing20 having a square nut portion 21 formed onits outer periphery adjacent the inner side of the man-hole cover 17. Solidly mounted on the nut portion 21 of the bushing 20 is a key-plate 22 which is firmly maintained against the inner side of the man-hole covervl'l by means of a'nut 23 threaded over the inner extremity of the bushing 20. The key-plate 22 has its outerperiphery formed with three outwardly extending lug sections 25 which are adapted to enter thehousing 15 and engage over complementary lug sections 26 formed on the inner periphery of the housing member 15. At some point on one of the lugs 26 is provided an upstanding post element 27 against which the keyplate 22 is rotated by means of a spanner wrench arrangement not shown adapted to engage with the plate 22 at the openings 28 provided on the face thereof. Threaded over the outer extremity of the bushing 20 is a second .nut 24 adapted to clamp the man-hole cover and key-plate together on the said bushing 20. It is to be noted that the assembly of the man-hole. cover 17 and key-plate 22 may be released by loosening either ofthe nuts 23 or .24 thereby providing a very flexible adjustment means for releasing the man-hole cover which could either be operated by members of the crew within the submarine or by members of the rescuing party from the outside as will be better understood after the description of the male unit following and this feature becomes'a'practical necessity in those cases Where all members of the submarine crew are incapacitated.

The inner periphery of the flange 16 is beveled to form a seating for afloat member 14 located thereagainst. The float member 14 comprisesa conically formed shell extending inwardly into the housing 15 and is provided with an inner face plate 30 having an opening therein through which passes a cable member 31. Within the shell portion of float member'14 is mounted a spool unit 32 upon which the cable 31 is carried andithe lat-' ter member has one extremity grooved along the periphery of the float member and extending. out-v ward to become secured at some convenient point on the submarine hull as 33. The face plate 30 is further constructed with a threaded opening centrally located therein. Internally threaded through the bushing 20 is an adjustment bolt 34 having its innerextremity extending beyond the bushing and provided with. a threaded butt portion 35 adapted to engage with the central opening in the face plate to the extent of not more than one complete turn and oppositely pitched with respect to thepitch of the threads on the adjustment .bolt 34' engaging with the bushing ,20

bolt 55.

so that the first full turn given to the bolt 34 will disengage the butt portion 35 from the face plate 30 and further'turns will cause the adjustment bolt to advance through the bushing 20 against the face plate 30 and thereby force the float member 29 outward breaking the seal between the fioat and the beveled edge of the housing 15 to the effect that the float member will be free to pass upwards to the surface of the water. By these means it would be possible for the disabled vessel to indicate its position under water and if for any reason the float was not released, itsconstruction must necessarily be, such that a diver could easily release it after the ship had been located by some longer method.

Referring now to the male unit 11 of my apparatus as shown in Fig. 4, 35 indicates an outer cylindrical housing member provided with a flange portion 36 adapted to seat against the exterior of a diving bell through which the housing member 35 is mounted. Internally mounted through the housing member. 35 is a cylindrical bushing member 37 having its outer periphery partially threaded to the eiiect that the bushing 37 is rotatably and slidably disposed in the housing 35. The inner face of the housing member 35 is formed with two yoke portions 33-and 39. R0- tatably mounted on the bushing 3'? adjacent the inner face of the housing member is a locking ring member 40 provided with an opening 41 adapted toyreceive a bar lever 42 for the purpose of rotating the locking ring. Adjacent the looking ring 40 and encircling the bushing 37 but not engaging with it is a yoke ring member 43 provided with yoke portions 45 and 44 symmetrically disposed with respect to the yoke portions 38 and 39.? Located between the yoke portions 38 and 45 is a block member 46 secured therebetween by means of a bolt 47. Similarly a block member 48 is located between the yoke portions 39 and 44 and secured by a bolt 49. Adjacent the yoke ring 43 and about the inner extremity of the bushing 37 has been solidly pressed on an adjustment ring 50 provided with an opening 51 adapted to receive a second bar lever 52 for the purpose of r0 tating the bushing member 3'7. Outstandingfrom the face of the adjustment ring 50 is mounted a post 52 about which is pivoted a locking bar 53 having a hooked extremity adapted to engage with the post 54 oppositely disposed on the face of the adjustment ring. Centrally threaded through the locking'bar 53 is an adjustment bolt 55 provided with a conical point. Internally raised on the inner periphery of the bushing 37 is a valve seating 56 against which is disposed a valve 57 provided with a spindle portion 58 extending rearwardly through the bushing 37 to a point adjacent to the extremity of the The spindle extremity is conically recessed for. the purpose of receiving the conical point of the adjustment bolt 55 and is adapted to be solidly held against the valve seating 56 when the bolt .55 is tightened.

The outer extremity of the bushing 3'? is provided with a recessed engaging male portion 60 adapted to facilitate engagement of the male unit within the housing of the female unit. Located on the outer periphery of the male portion 60 and outstanding therefrom are three lug portions 59 formed with curved engaging surfaces 61 and proand adapted to receive the locking pins62 there-' submarine to the rescue craft.

in when the male portion 60 has been properly seated by means of the adjustment ring and further compressed rearwardly into place by means of the locking ring 40.

In operation, assuming that a submarine had become disabled under water, the first step would be to release the float member 14 which would be effected by rotating the bolt member 34. The next step would be to locate a rescue ship as near to the disabled ship as possible and lower a diving bell or other apparatus previously discussed equipped with the male unit of my apparatus near the vicinity of the submarine. In practice it would probably prove advantageous to employ the services of a diver for purposes of bringing the two vessels together and entering the male unit through the housing of the female unit. As soon as solid contact had been effected, the two units would be drawn together with flange 16 seating tightly against flange 36 and the male portion 50 taking a position in the housing 15 ahead of the lugs 63 and further rotation of the locking ring 40 would compress the male portion 60 rearwardly against the lugs 63 solidly locking the same into place. It is to be noted that the entire operation so far could be successfully carried out with no help or signals from the inside of the submarine. As soon as the two units are locked together, the compression bolt is released and the locking bar swun open and the valve 57 drawn out leaving a passageway open to the key-plate 22 in the housing 15.

By employing a spanner wrench arrangement, it is now possible to unscrew nut 23, release the key-plate 22 and disengage it from the lugs 26, allowing the man-hole cover 1'7 to be pivoted inwardly carrying the key-plate with it and thereby providing a practical means of egress from the Obviously a reversal of the above described procedure would maize it possible to reseal the opening in the submarine in a water-tight manner. It has been further proposed that several of the female units of the apparatus should be mounted in different sections of the submarine hull both for the purpose of facilitating operations for any position in which the disabled vessel might be situated and for the purpose of contacting isolated compartments of the submarine locked outof communication with the rest of the ship. In the event that contact should be established with a compartment of the submarine which had become flooded, evidence of such a condition could easily be determined by means of a stop-cock arrange ment located through the man-hole cover and adapted to be operated from the key-plate side before the final steps were taken. The engaging male portion 60 of the male unit 11 has been partially surrounded with a beveled collar portion 64 forming a part of the housing 35 which is adapted to facilitate engagement of the units 11 and 13 under varying conditions of oblique disposition in which the two units might be in respect to one another due to the particular list of the disabled vessel when approached by the diving bell or other mode of rescue craft.

While I have shown a particular form of construction for the two units of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications in the construction and operation thereof be exercised while still continuing to adhere to the original spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1 A submarine life saving apparatuscomprising the combination of a housing member embedded in the wall of a submarine, a float member adapted to fit inside said housing having its outer surface flush with the exterior of the said housing in its normal position, a man-hole cover hinged at the inner end of said housing, a screw shaft member located in the center of said man-hole cover and axially disposed to said housing, the outer end of said shaft engaging in a threaded orifice in the said float member, locking means surrounding said shaft member on said manhole cover and adapted to lock said man-hole cover to the inner end of said housing in a Water tight manner, means for unlocking said man-hole cover from either side of man-hole cover, a second housing member adapted to be attached to a diving bell having a male outer cylinder adapted to engage inside of said submarine housing memher and locking means attached to said male end and inner surface of submarine housing member, a beveled valve seat and valve lip located onsaid submarine housing and diving bell housing respectively adapted to form a seal between the two said housings, means located inside of said diving bell and attached to said diving bell housing adapted to lock said diving bell housing tightly to said submarine housing member, a valve member located axially within said diving bell housing adapted to tightly close its exterior end and to remain closed until after the two said housings are solidly bonded together, means for releasing said valve and the removal of same from said diving bell housing, said valve retaining and re-' moving mecahnism comprising a compression member located within said diving bell attached to the rear end of said male portion of the said housing. I e

2. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the side wall, of a submarine and a male unit adapted to be associated with a diving bell and to engage with said female unit, said female unit comprising a housing member, a float member recessed in said housing in a detachable manner, a

spool element mounted within said float member cover with respect to said housing in a threaded manner, said bushing provided with a square nut portion adjacent the inner face of the said manhole cover, a key plate mounted on the said square portion of the bushing member adapted to lock the said man-hole cover in a closed position, means for clamping the said key-plate and the man-hole cover together in a water-tight manner, the said male unitcomprising a housing member mounted in the said diving bell, a cylindrical male element located within the said diving bell housing, locking mechanism associated with the said cylindrical element adapted to adjust and lock the cylindrical male element extremity within the said female housing, a valve member adapted to be removed from the interior of the said male element for the purpose of providing a communicating chamber from the said diving bell to the said locking mechanism associated with the manhole cover in the said female unit, means for unlocking the said man-hole cover from the said diving bell.

3. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the wall of a submarine and a male unit adapted to be associated with a diving bell and to engage with said female unit, said female unitcomprising a housing member, a float member recessed in said housing in a sealed manner, a face plate located at the inner extremity of the saidfloat member having a threaded opening centrally located therein, a spool element mounted on said plate and within said float member adapted to receive a cable element thereon, said cable element having one extremity secured to the outside of the hull of the said submarine, a man-hole cover hinged to the inner end of the said female housing, a bushing member axially disposed through the center of the said man-hole cover with respect to said housing in a threaded manner,said bushing provided with a square nut portion adjacent the inner face of the said man-hole cover, a key-plate mounted on the said square portion of the bushing member and provided with lug sections on the outer edge thereof, lug elements located on the inner periphery of the said female housing member adapted to engage with the said lug sections ofthe key-plate and lock the said man-hole cover in a closed position, means for clamping the key-plate and the manhole cover together in a water-tight manner, a bolt member threaded through the bushing member adapted to engage with the said threaded opening in the face plate of the float member, the said male unit comprising a housing member mounted in the said diving bell exterior, a cylindrical male element located within said diving bell housing, locking mechanism associated with the said cylindrical element adapted to adjust and lock the cylindrical male element extremity within the said female housing,-a valve member adapted to be removed from the interior of the said male element for the pur-x pose of providing a communicating chamber from the said bell to the locking mechanism associated with the man-hole cover in the female unit, means for unlocking the said man-hole cover fromthe said diving bell.

l. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the side wall of a submarine, a removable plate adapted to' seal said female unit on its inner side, a male unit" associated with a diving bell adapted to engage within said female unit comprising a housing member mounted through the wall of thesaid diving bell, a cylindrical male element sildably and rotatably disposed in said housing, lockingmechanism associated with said cylindrical element on the inner side of said diving bell adapted to lock the said male andfemale units together in a water-tight condition, a valve member adapted to be removed from the interior of the said male unit for the purpose of providing a communicating chamber from the said diving bell to the locking mechanism on the removable plate in the femalemember, means for unlocking said removable plate from said diving bell.

*5. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the hull of a submarine, a removable plate adapted to seal said female unit on its inner side, a male unit associated with a diving bell adapted to engage Within said female unit, said male unit comprising a housing member mounted through the wall of the said diving bell, a cylindrical male element slidably and rotatably mounted disposed in said housing, an adjustment ring solidly pressed on over the inner extremity of the said cylindrical element adapted to rotate the said element in the said housing, a locking ring member threaded over the male element adjacent the said bell housing, the latter provided with yoke portions adapted to receive bolts therethrough, a yoke ring disposed about said male element adjacent the said looking ring and provided with yoke portions adapted to engage with the said bolts on the housing yo-kes, a valve member adapted to be removed from the interior of the said male unit for the purpose of providing a communicating chamber from the said diving bell to the locking mechanism on the removable plate in said female member, means for unlocking said removable plate from said diving bell.

6. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the hull of a submarine, a removable plate adapted to seal said female unit on its inner side, a male unit associated with a diving bell adapted to engage within said female unit, said male unit comprising a housing member mounted through the wall of the said diving bell, a cylindrical male element slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing, an adjustment ring solidly pressed on over the inner extremity of the said cylindrical element adapted to rotate the, said element in the said housing, a locking ring member threaded over the male element adjacent the said bell housing, the latter provided with yoke portions adapted to receive bolts therethrough, a yoke ring disposed about the male element adjacent the 7 said locking ring and provided with yoke portions adapted to engage with the said bolts on the locking ring, a valve seating located on the inner periphery of said cylindrical male element, a valve member adapted to seat against the said valve seating, a bar and compression bolt associated with said valve adapted to lock same within said male element, said valve member adapted to be removed from the interior ofthe said male unit for the purpose of providing a communicating chamber from the said diving bell to the locking mechanism on the removable plate in said female member, means for unlocking said removable plate from said diving bell.

7. A submarine life saving apparatus comprising the combination of a female unit embedded in the side Wall of a submarine and a male unit adapted to be associated with a diving bell and to engage with said female unit, said'female unit comprising a housing member, a float member recessed in said housing in a detachable manner, a face plate located at the inner extremity of the said float member having a threaded opening centrally located therein, a spool element mounted on said plate and within said float member adapted to receive a cable element thereon, said cable element having one extremity secured to ery of the said housing member adapted to engage with the said lug sections of the key-plate and lock the said man-hole cover in a closed position, means for clamping the said key-plate and the man-hole cover together in a water-tight WY manner, a bolt member threaded through the said bushing member adapted to engage with the said threaded opening in the face plate of the float member, the said male unit comprising a housing member mounted through the wall of the said diving bell, a cylindrical male element slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing, an adjustment ring solidly pressed on over the inner extremity of the said cylindrical element adapted to rotate the said element in the said male housing, a locking ring member threaded over the male element adjacent the said male housing, said housing provided with yoke portions adapted to receive bolts therethrough, a yoke ring disposed about the said male element adjacent the said locking ring and provided with yoke portions adapted to engage with the said bolts on the looking ring, a valve seating located on the inner periphery of the said cylindrical male element, a valve member adapted to seat against said valve seating, a bar and compression bolt associated with said valve adapted to lock same solidly in place, said valve member adapted to be removed from the interior of the said male element for the purpose of providing a communicating chambe! from the said diving bell to the locking mechanism on the removable plate in said female unit, means for unlocking said removable plate from said diving bell.

BENTO A. VIVEIROS.

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