US2272785A - Ship salvaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, i942. c. M. ZOLL 2,272,785

SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Feb. 10, 1942. C, M, ZOLL 2,272,785

SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. l0, 1942. Q M ZOLL 2,272,785

SHIl'j SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1941 4 SheetS-Sheei 3 .Hlm

Feb. 10, 1942. c. M. ZOLL SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. l0, 1942 Carl M. Zoll, Dundalk, Md., assigner to Universal Hydraulic Stress Equalizer, Inc., Dundalk, Md.

Application April 23, 1941, Serial No. 389,974

21 claims.

This invention relates to ship salvaging apparatus for raising sunken ships.

It is a common practice in raising. sunken vessels to sink water lled pontoons alongside the ship, secure them thereto by chains vpassed under the ship and blow out the water with compressed air. The buoyancy of the pontoons is then supposed to be utilized to'raise the ship. `Such a process requires much under-water work on the part of divers in positioning and securing the pontoons in place and it is extremely diiiicul't to so position the pontoons that the sunken ship will rise evenly. In fact experience has shown that one end of such a ship will break free from the bottomvwhile the other end is still held by the mud or sand and the pontoons will slip od the risen end. Further, if the sunken ship be lying on her side it will be practically impossible by this method to restore her to an even keel position so that, even if successful shewill be brought to the surface on her side as shelay onv the bottom.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus whereby a sunken ship may be raised with a minimum of work by divers.

A second important object of the inventionis to provide novel salvaging means whereby it will be possible to raise a sunkenvship without the employment of pontoons.

A third important object of the 'invention is to provide a novel salvaging apparatus whereby a sunken ship may be raised on an even keel even though lying on its side in sunken position.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel salvaging apparatus whereby the hoisting of a sunken ship will not be affected by storms of any ordinary intensity.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a novel salvaging apparatus including hoisting means attachable at spaced points on each side of the sunken ship and wherein even and equal stresses will be maintained on all the hoisting means independently of wave action.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel salvaging apparatus wherein hydraulic means are -used to equalize the weight of the sunken ship at various points in its length.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide such a salvaging apparatus having hoist supporting girders carried by barges or iioats and maintained at a uniform position in space independently of weather and sea conditions. L

An eighth .important object of the invention is in the apparatus may be readily adjusted for any length and beam measurements of a sunken ship Within the upper limit of tonnage and size of ship the apparatus is designed toraise.

A ninth important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of novel construction wherein the major parts may be readily assembled for use and disassembled for movement from one place to another.

With the above and other objects in view, theinvention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out the appended claims.

In the 'accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure l is an end elevation to small scale ofl the complete apparatus with the two barges forming the supports for'the remainder of thel apparatus at the same level. Figure 2 is a. view similar to Figure 1 but with the barges at different levelsv and certam parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the apparatus in position for raising a sunken vessel, the latter being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line @-6 "of Figure 3.

Figure 5= is a similar section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. y

Figure 6 is a further enlarged section on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the weight supporting cylinders used in this device.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9.is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a plan view of one of the balancing cylinders used in this device.

Figure 11 is a section on the line lI-'|I of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line |2--I2 of Figure 2. f

Figure 13 is a side v elevation of the detail shown inFigure 12.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a portion of an equalizer device .suitable for use herein.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary section through one end portion of the device shown in Figure 14.

The structure as disclosed in the present drawings includes in general a pair of barges or iloats to provide a novel'apparatus' of this classwhere- 55 F each carrying a set of tower structures T. The

towers T of onel barge are connected to corre- 4sponding towers of the other barge byhoisting self propelled or they may be moved from place to place by tugs or the like.

The towers T are spaced longitudinally of the respective barge and may be as many as desired from two up. Preferably the spacing between ,centers of the towers is uniform. All the towers are of like construction and each includes a base IIJ whereon is suitably mounted a turntable or platform II the periphery of which constitutes a worm gear engaged by a worm I2 actuated by a' motor I3. The motor I3 may be of any suitable kind but is preferably an electric motor obtaining its power from a suitable source (not shown) which may be an electric generating plant carried bythe barge or may be brought on board through an electric cable from a mother ship. By this means the towers may be rotated if and when desired. Mounted on each platform II is a structural steel frame having vertical corner posts and inclined braces indicated as at I4. A square frame I5 holds the uprights and braces in proper relation at the top of each tower. n each platform II is a winding drum I6 actuated by a suitable motor l1. Above .the winding drum and its motor is a lower tower deck I8 and spaced between the deck I8 and frame I5 is an upper tower deck I9. Between the frame I and deck I9 on those sides of the tower which normally constitute the forward and after sides is a pair of vertical-guides 20 and between each pair of these guides fits a guide bar 2| fixed on one side of a carriage or housing 22 which may thus slide vertically of the tower. Rollers 23 serve to engage the guides to render easy the up and down movement of the carriage and to prevent jamming of the latter under twisting stresses which may be induced by rocking of the barge. These rollers are omitted from Figures 1 and 2 because of the small scale of those figures.

Each of the bridges or girders B is here shown as consisting of three I-beams 24 but it is to l e understood that any desired construction if girder may be used and that the. constructirn will vary bothin form and size in accordance with the maximum dimensions and weight of vessel the particular embodiment of this invention is designed to salvage. The beams 24 may be connected to form a unitary girder by any preferred means as here indicated in Figures 12 and 13 at 25. Also these girders may be formed in two or more sectionsreleasably secured together as by fish plates 26. Each girder has one end slidably mounted in the carriage 22 of. one tower of a barge and its other end slidably mounted in the carriage 22 of the corresponding tower on the other or second barge. Thus the barges may be adJusted to anysuitable distance apart within the limits determined by the lengths of the girders.

It is intended that normally the carriage 22 shall lle, when the weight of the sunken ship S is fully supported on the apparatus by the means presently to be described, about half way between the frame I5 and upper deck I9 and to the end there is mounted on the deck I8 beneath the central beam 2l a cylinder 21 which extends up to deck I9 and in that deck is an openingso that a plunger 28 tightly fitting the cylinder 21 may extend through this deck. The plunger 28 is provided with a head 29 carrying a roller 38 engaging against the under side of the carriage 22. Also fixed on the deck I8 is a pressure chamber 3| and the lower ends of the cylinders 3I and 21 are connected by a nipple 32a. The lower part of the cylinder 3l constitutes a hydraulicv portion, being lled preferably with a suitable oil which also fills all of the cylinder 21 below the plunger 28. The upper part of the cylinder 3I constitutes a compressed air chamber 32, being iilled to the desired pressure through a valved pipe 33. While the air in the chamber 32 may exert pressure directly on the oil below it is preferred to interpose a floating piston 34 provided with air tight packing 35 between the oil and air. With the arrangement shown, these pistons equalize the load in case one side of the sunken ship,is heavier than the other, the air pressure on the heavier side being greater than that on the lighter side.

Also, on each deck I8 there is provided a pair of stress equalizing cylinders 36 aligned below the lateral beams 24. These cylinders are arranged like the cylinder 21 and are each provided with a piston 31 having a head 38 carrying a roller 39 which engages beneath the carriage 22. Pipes 48 connect the cylinders of the several towers of the barge, each pipe being provided with valves 4I so that any cylinder may be isolated for repairs or if the conditions are such that its use is\not necessary or desirable. plunger has an oil duct 43 leading from its bottom end to a point adjacent its top where it is provided with a lateral outlet 44 to which is fitted one end of a pipe 45, which leads by suitable bends to a point within the tower and'above the girder B. There are thus two pipes 45-for each tower and the pipes of each tower on one barge are connected tothe pipes 45 of the corresponding tower on the other barge through transverse pipes 46 provided with flexible or other expansion joints 41 to absorb the variations of the space between the towers caused by rollingy or other movement of the barges. By the arrangement of the Ipipes 40 and 46 the pressure up-v wardly on the pistons 31 will ybe equalized under all conditions of operation. For example, if, as shown in,.Figure 2, the left hand barge is raised by wave motion higher than the right hand barge the rise in the oil level in the left hand cylinders which would take place were the cylinders not connected from one barge to the other is immediately counter-balanced by flow through the pipes 48 so that the levels of -the bottoms of the pistons 31 and consequently the bridges or girders will remain at their original. levels. The same compensation in level is obtained under pitching of the barges. through the pipes 4l) and through both sets of pipes under any working conditions of combined pitching and rolling.

In order to overcome or check any variations in the longitudinal positions of the girdersin the towers each girder has attached to each side a pair of aligned dash-pot cylinders 48 provided with pistons 49' abutting against a center plate 50 xed in the carriage 22. These cylinders 48 thus constitute a species of air cushions to resist movement ofthe girder. In order that the girder may be adjusted when desired the girder is provided Each are more fully shown in Figures 12 and 13. The

upper block of this tackle comprises a body member 53 resting on the lower flanges oi the beams 24 and secured in desired position by bolts 5 4 passing through selected ones of the spaced bolt holes. The body 53 supports a plurality of sheaves number of sheaves to suit the number carried by the body 53. The hoisting cable 58 is led around these sheaves and to the winding drum 56 and the lower block 51 also carries aas indicated at 15. In another manner of posi'- tioning the barges they may be moved individually into position, connected by the cables 14; and moored. The girders, are then assembled with the towers. When the barges are in position the hoists or tackles are attached to the sunken ship. V

by divers if the ship is entirely submeregd. The hoistingnirums are then manipulated to. take up the slackl on the cables. The air chambershaving been chargedv to the desired pressure, to equalize possible diierence in weight of the two sides of the ship, the bridges will be in proper y normal height and the hoisting of the sunken I6. In its passage tol the drum the cable is led under an idler sheave 59 carried by a lever 60 which is pivoted tothe tower at 6l. This lever is connected to the carriage 22 by a rigid link 52 as by suitable pivot connections atv each end of the link. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent undesirable changes in the tension of the hoisting cables. The manner in which this is eiected will be best understood .by observation ofFigure 2. If it were not for this arrangement the lift of the left hand barge, the girder B remaining constantly in position in space, would shorten the distance between the winding drum I6 and upper blockl with a consequent slackening of the cable. However, the lift i of the barge causes the lever 60 to swing `down with respect to the drum I6 and the action of the idler thus takes up the slack. Similarly the drop of the right hand barge increases the dis "tance between the drum I6 and upper block, but the lever 60 swings up at the same time and thus lessens the angularity of the parts of the cable at opposite sides of the idler and, in eiect, lengthens the cable in accordance with the drop.

'Ihe towers 4on each barge may be connected by overhead bridges 63 removably suppcrtedon brackets 64 carried by the towers.

It may, in some cases be desired to spread the supporting arca along the length of the sunken.

ship at one. or more towers and to that end an equalizer E may be hung from a lower block 51.

One such equalizer is shown in Figures 14 and 15.

In this form a row of upper sheaves 65 are carried by bolts 66 which extend between bars 61.

Lower blocks 68 carrying hooks 69 are arranged f below these bars and a cable 69a is led over these upper and lower sheaves and anchored to bolts 10. A yoke bar 1| of inverted V-shape has its ends secured by bolts 12.

In order to facilitate assembling and disassembling of the girders in relation to the towers an ordinary jib-crane 13 may be. mounted on each tower by which the girder sections may be separated and each section withdrawn from its tower and lowered onto the deck of the barge or the barges may be moved apart, while the cranes support the girderends, until these ends'areclear ship may proceed. When the ship has been raised to a desired height the repair work may proceed to enable the ship to be pumped out and floated, such repairs andv pumping taking place where the ship was sunk or the barges and suspended ship may be moved bodily to any convenient place for such work. If the superstructure of the sunken ship is, when the latter is raised, in danger of fouling the bridges the amount of fluid in cylinders 36 may be increased whereupon the bridges may be moved toward the tops of the towers by the upward movement of pistons 31 to maximum height.

`What is claimed, is:

1. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iioatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the` fioatation means, ship hoisting' supported from the iloatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a bo'dy of water supporting said iioata tion means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means.

2. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iiloata-V tion means, elevated girders spanning the space between the oatation means, ship hoisting means carried by saidsgirders, and leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above-the horizon of a body of water supporting said floatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements. I

3. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced oatation means, elevated girders spanning the spacebetween the oatation means, shipdhoisting means carried by said girders, and leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said floatation means independently of vvertical movements kof the oatation means,y said levelingmeans including hydraulic pressure eleof the towers when the barges may be moved together and the entire girder swung around to lie on the deck of one barge. Alternatively, the girders may be separated into two sections and run in until the sections have their central portions supported in the towers and the towers rotated after the bridges 63 are removed and stored on deck. A

In raising a ship the girders may be assembled in the towers while the barges are in port and cables used to connect the barges which may their be towed as a unit into position to stradle the sunken ship S and there moored by anchors 75 ments supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends of the girdersuin series. p y

4-111 a .ship salvaging apparatus, spaced oatatlon means, elevated girders spanning the space between the floatation means, ship hoisting means carried by 4said girders, leveling means supported from the iloatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said oatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, and pneumohydraulic weight compensating means carried by the oatation means and supporting the ends of the girders to equalize the' extent of weight supported by the respective girders.

5. In a ship salvaging aparatus, spaced fioatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the oatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the fioatation means and maintaining` the girders at constant heights above thehorizon of a body of Water supporting said oatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, and pneumohydraulic weight compensating means carried by the floatation means and supporting the ends of the girders to compensate the extent of weight supported bythe respective girders, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end ofiw the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements. Y

6. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced floatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the floatation means, shiphoisting means carried by said girdersp leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water support-l ing said oatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, and pneumohydraulic weight compensating means carried by the oatation means and supporting the ends of the girdersto compensate the extent j of weight supported by the respective girders,

said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends of the girders in series. 2

7. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iloatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the oatation means, ship hoisting v'means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon-of a body of water supporting said floatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, hoisting drums on the oatation means each having a respective hoisting means connected thereto, and compensating means acting on the connections between the drums and hoisting means and compensating variations in distances between the floatation means and girders caused by wave motion and the like.

v8. In a ship salvaging apparatua, spaced 'oatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the floatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from' the floatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said floatation means independently of vertical 'movements' of the fioatationmeans, -hoisting drums on the floatation means each having a respective hoisting means connected thereto, and compensating means acting on the connections between the drums and hoisting meansl and compensating variations in distances between the floatation means and girders caused by wave motion and the like, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting *the pressure elements.

9. In a 'ship salvaging apparatus, spaced 75 floatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the iioatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the oatation means and tions between the drums and hoisting means and compensating variations in distances betweenthe iloatation means and girders caused by wave motion and the like, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends of the girders in series.

10. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iioatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the floatation means, ship'hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the iloatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said iioatation means independently of vertical movements of the iioatation means, pneumohydraulic weight compensating means carried by the oatation means and supporting the ends of the girders to compensate the extent of weight supported by the respective girders, hoisting drums on the ioatation means each having a respective hoisting means connected thereto, and compensating means acting on the connections between the drums and hoisting means vand compensating variations in distances between the floatation means and girders caused by wave motion and the like. l

11. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced oatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the fioatation means, shipV hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said iloatation means independently of vertical movements of the floatation means, pneumohydraulic weight compensating means carried by the iioatation means and supporting the ends of the girders to compensate the extent of weight supported by the respective girders, hoisting drumson the oatation means each having a respective hoisting means connected thereto, and compensating means acting on the connections between the drums and hoisting means and compensating variations in distances between the oatation means and girders caused by wave motion and the like, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements.

12. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iioatation means, elevatedgirders spanning the space between the floatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the iloatation means/and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the `horizon of the body of water supporting said :lioatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, pneumohydrauilc weight compensating means carried by the iioatation means and supporting the en'ds of the girders to compensate the extent of weight supported by the respective girders, hoisting drums-on the oatation means each having a respective hoisting means connected thereto, and compensating means acting on the connections between the drums and hoisting means and compensating variations in distances between the :tloatation meansand `girders caused by wave motion and the like, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends of the girders in series.

13. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iioatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the oatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said oatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, and motion limiting and checkingl means interposed between end portions oi each girder and the oatation means and arranged to permit resisted and limited longitudinal girder movement with respect to the oatation means. y

14. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced iloatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the iloatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the oatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a bod'y of water supporting said oatation means independently of vertical movements of the iioatation means, and motion limiting and checking means interposed between end portions ofeach girder and the, floatation means and arranged to permit resisted and limited longitudinal girder movement with respect to the oatationmeans, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elementssupporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements.

15. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced fioatation means, elevated girders spanning the by the respective girders, and motion limiting and checking means interposed between end portions of each girder and the iioatation means andr arranged y to permit resisted and limited longitudinal girder movement with respect to the oatation means.

1'7. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced) oatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the iioatation means, ship hoisting supporting the ends of the girders to compenmeans carried by said girders, leveling means 'supported from the floatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said iioatation 4means independently of v ertical movements of the iioatation means, pneumo-hydraulic weight compensating means carried bythe oatation means and supporting the ends of the girders to compensate the extent of weight supported by the respective girders, and motion limiting and checking means interposed between end portions of each girder and the oatation means and arranged to permit resisted and limited longitudinal girder movement with respect to the floatation means, saidk leveling means in'- cluding hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements.

18. In a ship salvaging apparatus, spaced oat.- ation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the oatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the iioatation means and maintaining the girders at constant heights above the horizon of a body of Water supporting said iioatation means independently of vertical movements of the oatation means, pneumo-hydraulic weight compensating means carried by the iioatation means and sate the extent of weight supported by the respective girders, and motion limiting and checking means interposed between end portions of each .girder and the oatation means and arranged to permit resisted and limited longitudinal. girder movement with respect to the iioatation means, said leveling #means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of space between the iioatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means supported from the floatation means and maintaining the girders, at constant heights above the horizon of a body of water supporting said iioatation meansl independently of vertical movements of the oatationmeans, and motionlimiting and A checking means interposed between end portions 'of each girder and the oatation means and arranged to permit resisted and limited longitudinal girder movement with respect to the floatation means, said leveling means including hydraulic pressure elements supporting each end of the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends ofV the girders in series.l

16. In a ship salvaging apparatus,`spaced floatation means, elevated girders spanning the space between the floatation means, ship hoisting means carried by said girders, leveling means.

supported from the oatation meansand maintaining the/girders at constantiieights above the horizon of/a body of watersupporting said oatation means independentlyI of vertical movements of the iioatation means, pneumo-hydraulic weight compensating means carried bythe floatation meansand supporting the ends of the gird' ers to compensate thextent of weight supported the respective girders and piping connecting the pressure elements and other piping connecting all the pressure elements at like ends of the girders in series. Y I

19. In a ship salvaging device, a spaced pair of like barges, a series oi spaced towers supported on each barge, carriages each slidably mounted for verticalmovement in a respective tower, hydraulicmeans carried by said towers and supporting said carriages, girders each having one 20. In a shipsalvaging devicesaced pair of like barges, a series of spaced ers supported on each barge carriages each .slidably mounted for vertical movement in a respective tower, hydraulic means carriedby said towers and supporting said carriages, girders each having one end supported in the carriage of a respective tower of one barge and its other end supported in the carriage of the corresponding tower of the like barges, a series. of spaced towers supported. on each barge, carriages each slidably mounted for vertical movement in a respective tower, hydraulic means carried by said towers and sup'- porting said carriages, girders each having one end supported in the carriage of a respective tower oi one barge and its other end supported in the carriage of the coresponding tower of the other barge, hoisting means carried by said girders and operated from said towers, and piping connecting certain of the hydraulic means of one barge with corresponding hydraulic means of the other barge and connecting the said certain means of each barge in series, said hydraulic means including cylinders receiving iiuid under pressure/ and plungers supporting said girders, the normal quantity of uid supporting the girders in midmost position of vertical movement and the cylinders being adapted to receive additional fluid for moving the girders to maximum position of height in the towers.

CARL M. ZOLL.

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