GB191074A - Improvements in means for rendering water-tight the apertures through which pass the operative members of submarines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

191,074. Prochazka, H. J., Prochazka, H. W., and Prochazka, D. R. Dec. 30, 1921, [Convention date]. Submarine vessels.-In submarine vessels in which arms carrying external articulated working- devices operated from inside the vessel pass through stuffing-boxes in the hull, entrance of water through the stuffing-boxes is prevented by flooding the boxes with a liquid which is automatically maintained at a pressure in excess of the surrounding water pressure. The tools are carried by shafts 2, 3 which pass through a stuffing-box 4 filled with oil and in communication through a duct 5 with the upper part of a cylinder 6 in which works a piston 7 acting in association with a larger piston 8 contained in a cylinder 9 in communication by way of the duct 15 with the outside water. This arrangement causes the oil in the cylinder 6 to be under the required excess pressure. When the piston 7 reaches its highest position, closure of an electric circuit causes a pump 11 to operate and return the piston 7 to its lowest position. In a modification a single cylinder is employed and the piston in addition to the water pressure, is acted upon by a constant force furnished either by a weight or spring. The invention is also applied to the closure of the entry for the power cable.