GB2131749A - A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water - Google Patents
A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2131749A GB2131749A GB08233868A GB8233868A GB2131749A GB 2131749 A GB2131749 A GB 2131749A GB 08233868 A GB08233868 A GB 08233868A GB 8233868 A GB8233868 A GB 8233868A GB 2131749 A GB2131749 A GB 2131749A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- inflatable
- gas
- tube
- space
- inflatable body
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 41
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000014443 Pyrus communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 210000000476 body water Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
- B63C7/06—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in or adjacent to vessels or objects
- B63C7/10—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects in which lifting action is generated in or adjacent to vessels or objects using inflatable floats external to vessels or objects
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
Abstract
A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprises a body having walls defining an at least partially enclosed space which, in use, is closed in its normally upper region and provided for receiving pressurised gas to provide buoyancy; means for permitting attachment of said body to said object; and a gas spill means to communicate said space with the exterior thereof at different vertical levels in the normal disposition of use of the body to permit the volume of air within the body to be controlled even with continued supply of pressurised gas. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water
The present invention relates to a device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water and is mainly concerned with the salvage of objects from the bed of a lake or river or from the sea bed wherein the lifting force is provided by buoyancy resulting from filling a body with a compressed gas, e.g. compressed air.
The present invention may also be used for purposes other than salvage, for example, where it is desired to lift and transport an object under water such as in the lifting and moving of moorings.
It is known to salvage objects from under water utilising an inflatable member in the form of a balloon which is open at its lowermost end and which is inflatable with compressed air. Such inflatable balloons when inflated have the general shape of a standard hot-air balloon i.e. of what might be termed generally as a "pear drop" shape with the lowermost portion of the balloon comprising a neck which is open at its lower end and ropes or cords depend from an upper portion of the balloon, downwardly to a connecting point which is attachable to the object to be salvaged or lifted. In use, compressed air is supplied to the balloon to inflate such until the amount of water displaced overcomes the weight of the object and any suction effect on the object and causes the object to be lifted.
It is found with such known lifting balloons, particularly where the object is being lifted from a considerable depth, that as the balloon with object supported therebeneath rises, the water pressure decreases and thus permits the compressed air within the balloon to expand and such expansion frequently causes an enlargement of the inflation of the balloon and an increase in the amount of water displaced with a consequential increase in the lifting force as a result of increased buoyancy and thus an acceleration in the speed of the balloon and object being salvaged occurs as they move towards the surface of the water and, in many instances, the object is lifted at an undesirably high and dangerous speed.In addition, these existing salvage balloons have a plurality of ropes or cords depending therefrom which may become snagged or in which a diver or his supply pipes or lifting rope may become entangled. Furthermore, the salvage balloon may become unwieldy and unstable especially in strong currents or rough sea conditions or when being towed. Additionally, as a result of the shape of the salvage balloon and suspension wires, the object being lifted is supported at some considerable distance beneath the surface of the water which may be a disadvantage in certain circumstances.
It is also known to use rigid bodies such as are referred to as "pontoons" which comprise empty metal tanks or drums which are flooded, sunk and arranged around the body to be lifted and then compressed air is introduced into the drum so as to displace water therefrom to provide buoyancy.
Such pontoons have the disadvantage of being costly and occupy considerable space whilst in storage and, furthermore are of a substantial weight and therefore more difficult to handle.
Also, when supplied with compressed air through a free opening in a lower region thereof, known pontoons suffer similar disadvantage as the known salvage balloons in that should lifting commence prior to complete filling of a pontoon, upon rising of the pontoon with an object suspended therebelow, the water pressure decreases as the pontoon rises and consequently more water is expelled from the pontoon and thus the buoyancy thereof increases and the speed of lifting accelerates undesirably.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water primarily though not essentiaily for salvage purposes.
According to the present invention a device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprises a body having walls defining an at least partially enclosed space which, in use, is closed in its normally upper region and provided for receiving pressurised gas to provide buoyancy; means for permitting attachment of said body to said object; and a gas spill means to communicate said space with the exterior thereof at different vertical levels in the normal disposition of use of the body to permit the volume of air within the body to be controlled even with continued supply of pressurised gas. By the phrase "different vertical levels" it is not intended that the spill level be variable along a vertical line but rather variable upwardly and downwardly.
The body may be a rigid-walled body for receiving compressed gas which displaces water therefrom or may be an inflatable body i.e. having a wall or walls of flexible material and be inflatable with pressurised gas to provide the required buoyancy. For the purposes of simplicity and clarity of description, the pressurised gas receiving body will be subsequently referred to herein as an inflatable body although it is to be understood that the various arrangements disclosed herein can apply equally well to a body with rigid walls and even in certain circumstances to bodies for other purposes e.g. underwater vessels such as submarines or other submersible.
The compressed gas which is to be used with the present invention will normally comprise compressed air.
The gas spill means is provided to permit the volume of air within the inflatable body to be controlled and will preferably comprise a duct such as a pipe or tube, preferably flexible, communicating at one end with the space within the inflatable body and at the other end with the exterior of the body and is positionable at different vertical levels so as to determine different volumes of compressed gas within the inflatable body at which this gas will spill from said space through the duct to the exterior and thereby control the buoyancy effect. Alternatively, the gas spill means may comprise a plurality of openable and closable passages or apertures in the wall of the body disposed at different vertical levels in use so that the level at which compressed gas may escape from the space may be controlled.Securable closure bungs may be provided to permit opening and closing of the apertures or passages or suitable valves or other closure means may be provided as desired.
When the gas spill means comprises a flexible tube the end thereof may be closed by a suitable bung or plug or valve. It is found that divers operating in very poor visibility may operate the device by feeling the escape of bubbles from the end of the flexible tube and thereby determine whether the gas spill has been reached.
The gas spill means will preferably be a flexible tube and may comprise a rubber tube or "lay-flat" tube (i.e. a tube of flexible material which is nonrigid and normally lies flat, or a combination of rubber tube and lay-flat tube which latter portion might act as a non-return valve to prevent the passage of water into the interior of said inflatable body. Also, the gas spill means when in the form of a flexible tube will preferably be locatable at different levels by suitable engagement means located on the inflatable body and engageable with the free end of said tube.
It is possible that the end of the inflatable tube communicating with the exterior of the inflatable member may be weighted so as to ensure that such always falls downwardly to avoid accidental spillage of air or, alternatively, a float may be provided for the end of said flexible tube if alternative considerations apply (and a restrictor or bend in an upper region may be provided) to avoid complete exhaustion of the body, said float acting to avoid undesired raising of an object and the tube may be securable at a desired level.
It is possible that a very long elongate inflatable body may be provided and divided into a plurality of sections which will preferably be isolated from one another from the point of view of passage of air through the sections or the sections (spaces) of the body may be interconnected to allow flow of air if the particular use requires such. The gas spill means might alternatively even comprise a slot in the wall of the body along which a closure plate may be displaced by suitable means so as to close the upper end of said slot at different levels.
It is to be appreciated that the gas spill means according to the present invention may be incorporated in existing designs of salvage devices e.g. pontoons or inflation balloons, to provide for improved operation and control in accordance with the invention.
Preferably said gas spill means will be designed or have means provided so as to prevent the passage of water from the exterior of the body into said space and this may comprise a non-return valve located in the junction region between the ducting and the inflatable body or a suitable nonreturn valve in each of said plurality of closable passages in an alternative of the invention forming the gas spill means.
The air spill means of the present invention may be incorporated in an entire new form of inflatable salvage body which comprises wall portions of flexible material defining a completely enclosed space, means for inlet of pressurised gas into said enclosed space, and said gas spill means so as to permit the volume of air within the inflatable body to be controlled. It will be appreciated that such a closed inflatable body may be provided with a drain aperture or passages for removal of any water which might unintentionally flow thereinto.
Also closure bungs and/or an excess pressure valve or the like may be provided.
It should be appreciated that with such an inflatable body water is not required to enter the body since the body is so disposed and is so shaped and dimensioned that, in use, upon supply of compressed gas into the interior, the upper region of the space between the flexible walls becomes filled with compressed gas which causes the walls to be spaced apart and thereby displace water and, as a consequence create buoyancy and a lifting effect.It will be appreciated that the lower portion of the inflatable body need not be filled with water and in a partially inflated state of the body the lower wall portions will be simply pressed together by the pressure of water and as inflation progresses, the wall portions become separated by the compressed air as the volume of compressed gas within the body increases -- the air spill means comprising a passage communicating with the exterior in effect at an adjustable level will determine that level at which compressed gas begins to escape from the inflatable body - thereby determining the maximum volume of compressed gas within the inflatable body.
It should be appreciated that the present invention possesses the considerable advantage that as the inflatable body rises and the pressure of water thereon reduces (thus enabling the compressed gas to expand), the expanding compressed gas does not increase the volume of the inflatable body because said expanding gas spills out through the duct or passage forming the gas spill means to achieve pressure equilibrium and thus there is avoided the hitherto undesirable acceleration in an upward direction as the body and object supported thereby rises. The adjustable nature of the gas spill means enables the amount of buoyancy to be accurately adjusted for the particular object being lifted.
As referred to previously, existing inflatable salvage ballons have disadvantageous and sometimes dangerous means for connection in the form of a plurality of ropes or wires depending therefrom and being connectable to the object to be lifted.
It is also a separate object of the invention to provide a device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water with improved means for connection of an inflatable body to the object to be lifted.
Also according to the present invention there is provided a device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprising an elongate inflatable body having walls of flexible material defining at least one space for receiving compressed gas and for permitting inflation to provide buoyancy, means for permitting supply of pressurised gas into said inflatable body, and a strap or band of flat flexible material secured at least to a middle, normally upper region of said elongate inflatable body and extending over the normally upper portion thereof and depending on either side of the inflatable body downwardly in the normal position of use and being connected to attachment means for connection with said object to be lifted.The strap of flexible material will be of a substantial width, i.e. compared with cords or ropes utilised on known lifting salvage balloons, and said attachment means will preferably include a rigid member extending across or substantially across the width of the strap in a direction generally parallel to the length of extension of the inflatable member so as to provide for stable supporting. Preferably said attachment means will include a rigid member extending across at least a portion of the strap and connected to a lifting eye or like connection means for attachment to said object to be lifted such that said rigid member will spread the load across the width of the supporting strap and thereby distribute the load applied to the inflatable body when inflated and in use so as to provide desired suspension characteristics and spreading of the load applied to the inflated body.
When the suspension strap according to the invention is viewed end-on or in section, the lower portion forms a general V-shape with a rounded bottom wherein the ends are preferably secured thereat by welding together. Along the bottom region there extends a plastics material tube which is bonded by welding to the strap which is also preferably of plastics material, e.g. PVC or preferably polyurethane material and within said plastics tube there is provided a rigid tube, e.g. a rigid steel tube which is of tight fit within the plastics tube and an aperture in a central region of the strap is provided for the insertion of a lifting eye or like connection means therethrough and into a securing aperture in the rigid tube for securement e.g. by a threaded aperture or by means of a bolt or other securing means.
Preferably the elongated inflatable body of this second arrangement which is completely enclosed will be of what might be termined "pillow shape" which will be such that a middle or central region thereof will provide a generally circular crosssection in the inflated state whilst the end portions of said elongated inflated body preferably will form enlargements or will be restricted so as to comprise enlargements and thereby provide a stable structure. The two ends of the elongate body will preferably converge towards the longitudinal axis so as to provide a streamlined design.The restriction which might be provided at the end of said inflatable member to form an enlargement transverse to the longitudinal axis may comprise flat metal strips secured either side of the ends of the inflatable member and clamped together in parallel disposition so as to restrict the deformation of the inflatable member upon inflation. The plate members may comprise the connector member as is disclosed in our copending British Patent Application No. 7934937 published under number 2061364 and a connector device may be provided for towing purposes or a plurality of identical or similar inflatable salvage devices in accordance with the invention may be interconnected, for example, by said connector device of our prior application.
It should be appreciated that an elongate inflatable body in accordance with the invention, which is preferably completely enclosed except for any valves or closable apertures, may be disposed so as to lie along an object being raised thereby providing increased stability in location against the object.
When an object supported by the salvage device according to either arrangement in their preferred form is being towed, the connection therewith may be made via a connector member at one end of said elongate inflatable body so that a hydrodynamic towing effect is possible to provide for ease and stability of movement.
It should be appreciated that in the V-shaped section of the strip beneath the elongate member (the "saddle" gap) ancillary equipment may be located such as a compressed gas cylinder. Also or alternatively netting or other pocket forming means may be provided so as to provide a space into which tools may be located.
A plurality of such salvage devices may be provided and connected either side by side or lengthwise and in the latter instance a common rigid load spreading member (possibly provided by interconnection) may be provided between the bottoms of the V's of the straps. A plurality of lifting eyes may be provided connected to said member which will preferably be a load spreading bar or tube.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device for lifting and/or suspending objects under water incorporating both inventive concepts of the present invention, i.e. the gas spill means and the inflatable body provided with novel suspension means for the object to be lifted;
Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 illustrates an end fitting for the flexible tube forming the gas spill means and the locator therefor.
An inflatable device is illustrated in the drawings and comprises an enclosed elongate inflatable body 1 of generally "pillow" shape with converging end portions when inflated and made of flexible polyurethane material. Elongate metal plates 2, 3 are clamped at each end on either side and such plates may, if desired, be in the form of the connector units disclosed in co-pending
Application No. 7934937.
In an upper region of the inflatable body, a flexible tube 4 is secured and communicates at 4' with the interior of the body 1. The tube 4 may be a rubber tube or a "lay-flat" tube i.e. a weakly resilient tube which will collapse in the absence of air pressure or it is possible that a resilient rubber or like resilient tube may be provided in combination with "lay-flat" tube to provide a nonreturn valve effect i.e. for prevention of passage of water into the interior of the body 1.
The flexible tube 4 passes through a guide eye 5 located on the end connector plates 2, 3 at one end of the inflatable body to provide a restriction as to the amount the tube 4 may rise. The free end of the flexible tube has a closable outlet member 6 into which a bung (not shown) may be secured by screwing to close the end. The member 6 is made of metal and acts as a weight to sink the end of tube 4. A projection 6 extends from the outlet member 6 and is locatable at various different vertical levels by engagement in locating apertures 7 in the upwardly extending end plate 2, 3 of the inflatable body so as to be adjustable in an upward direction. Alternatively a slide arrangement may be provided to permit the end of tube 4 to be slidably adjustable at the end of the body 1.
When inflated the central section 1 of the inflatable body 1 forms a generally cylindrical shape and has a wide strip or strap 8 also of polyurethane extending therearound and being secured by welding at 8' to the body 1 in the upper half thereof which is referred to as the saddle region. The strap 8 depends downwardly beneath the inflated body 1 and is interconnected by welding in a lower region around a plastics tube 9 into which a rigid steel pipe 10 is located with the ends of said steel pipe 10 terminating short of the edges of the strap 8 so as to avoid
contact of said metal pipe 10 with divers in use.
An aperture is provided in said strap 8 and in plastics tube 9 and also in said steel pipe 10 for securing of an eye 11 by means of a nut 12 engaging on a threaded portion 1 3 of a shaft of the eye or the like means. The provision of the steel pipe 10 and disposition of the strap 8 ensure the spreading of the load and the avoidance of
excess creases or undesirable application of load to the central portion 1 of the inflatable body 1.
At the junction between the flexible tube 4 and the inflatable body a non-return valve 14 is
provided in the form of a spring biased flap valve
to prevent water entering the interior of body 1 via
tube 4. Additionally a pressure relief valve 1 5 is
provided in a lower region of the inflatable body 1
to avoid over inflation or excess pressurisation of
the body. A suitable drain valve 1 6 is also
provided of known type.
The end of the flexible tube 4 may be provided
with a float (not shown) to ensure such rises and
also provided with a tie-down string so that the
position of the end may be adjusted thereby.
In the region 1 6 defined between the V-portion
of the strap 8 netting or other sheet material (not
shown) may be provided for the receipt of tools or other devices and/or the means (not shown) for receiving a gas bottle or air cylinder may be provided.
By "pillow shape" used herein there is intended to mean
Claims (25)
1. A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprises a body having walls defining an at least partially enclosed space which, in use, is closed in its normally upper region and provided for receiving pressurised gas to provide buoyancy; means for permitting attachment of said body to said object; and gas spill means to communicate said space with the exterior thereof with the outlet of the gas spill means being locatable by locating means at different vertical levels along the height of the body in the normal disposition of use of the body to permit the volume of air within the body to be controlled even with continued supply of pressurised gas.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the body is a rigid-walled body or an inflatable body.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the gas spill means comprise a duct communicating at one end with the space within the body and at the other end with the exterior of the body and said other end is positionable at different vertical levels so as to determine different volumes of compressed gas within the body at which this gas will spill from said space through the duct to the exterior and thereby control the buoyancy effect.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the gas spill means comprises a flexible tube having an outlet end thereof closable by a suitable closure means.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the flexible tube comprises a rubber tube or "lay-flat" tube (i.e. a tube of flexible material which is nonrigid and normally lies flat) or a combination of rubber tube and lay-flat tube portion which lay-flat tube or portion acts as a non-return valve to prevent the passage of water into the interior of said inflatable body.
6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the locating means for the flexible tube to permit such to be locatable at different levels comprise engagement means located on the inflatable body and retainably engageable with the free end of said tube.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which the engagement means comprises an adjustable slide arrangement or a projection on the free end of the tube engageable in any of a plurality of apertures or eye-like members spaced apart vertically relative to said body.
8. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, in which the end of the flexible tube communicating with the exterior of the inflatable member is weighted so as to ensure that such always falls downwardly to avoid accidental spillage of air.
9. A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, in which a float is provided for the end of said flexible tube if alternative considerations apply and the tube is always to float upwardly and a restrictor or bend is provided in an upper region to avoid exhaustion of the body; said float acting to avoid undesired raising of an object and the tube being securable at a desired level.
10. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which a very long elongate inflatable body is provided and divided into a plurality of sections which will preferably be isolated from one another from the point of view of passage of air through the sections or the sections (spaces) of the body may be interconnected to allow flow of air.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the gas spill means comprise a slot in the wall of the body along which a closure plate may be displaced by suitable means so as to close the upper end of said slot at different levels.
12. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to
11, in which the gas spill means will be designed or have means provided so as to prevent the passage of water from the exterior of the body into said space, such as a non-return valve located in the junction region between the ducting and the inflatable body.
13. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to
12, in which the body is an inflatable salvage body which comprises wall portions of flexible material defining a completely enclosed space having means for inlet of pressurised gas into said enclosed space, and said gas spill means to permit the volume of air within the inflatable body to be controlled.
14. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which the closed inflatable body is provided with a drain aperture or passages for removal of any water which might unintentionally flow thereinto.
1 5. A device as claimed in claim 14, in which closure bungs and/or an excess pressure valve or the like are provided in the walls of the inflatable body.
16. A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprising an elongate inflatable body having walls of flexible material defining at least one space for receiving compressed gas and for permitting inflation to provide buoyancy, means for permitting supply of pressurised gas into said inflatable body, and a strap or band of flat flexible material secured at least to a middle, normally upper region of said elongate inflatable body and extending over the normally upper portion thereof and depending on either side of the inflatable body downwardly in the normal position of use and being connected to attachment means for connection with said object to be lifted.
1 7. A device as claimed in claim 16, in which said attachment means will preferably include a rigid member extending across or substantially across the width of the strap in a direction generally parallel to the length of extension of the inflatable member so as to provide for stable supporting.
18. A device as claimed in claim 16, in which said attachment means includes a rigid member extending across at least a portion of the strap and connected to a lifting eye or like connection means for attachment to said object to be lifted such that said rigid member will spread the load across the width of the supporting strap and thereby distribute the load applied to the inflatable body when inflated and in use so as to provide desired suspension characteristics and spreading of the load applied to the inflated body.
19. A device as claimed in any of claims 16 to
18, in which the elongated inflatable body is pillow-shaped such that a middle or central region thereof provides a generally circular cross-section in the inflated state whilst the end portions of said elongated inflated body form enlargements or are restricted so as to comprise enlargements and thereby provide a stable structure.
20. A device as claimed in any of claims 16 to
19, in which the two ends of the elongate body converge towards the longitudinal axis so as to
provide a streamlined design.
21. A device as claimed in claim 19, in which the restriction when provided at the end of said
inflatable member to form an enlargement transverse to the longitudinal axis comprises flat
metal strips secured either side of the ends of the
inflatable member and clamped together in parallel disposition so as to restrict the deformation of the inflatable member upon inflation.
22. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21, in which a plurality of such salvage devices are provided and connected either side by side or lengthwise and in the latter instance a common rigid load spreading member (possibly provided by interconnection) provided between the bottoms of the V's formed by the straps.
23. A salvage device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
24. A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water comprises a body having walls defining a completely enclosed space for receiving pressurised gas to provide buoyancy; means for permitting attachment of said body to said object; and a gas spill means to communicate said space with the exterior thereof at different vertical levels in the normal disposition of use of the body to permit the volume of air within the body to be controlled even with continued supply of pressurised gas; said gas spill means comprising a plurality of openable and closable passages or apertures in the wall of the body disposed at different vertical levels in use so that the level at which compressed gas may escape from the space can be controlled.
25. A device as claimed in claim 24 in which each passage or aperture has means to prevent the passage of water from the exterior of the body into the interior of the body.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08233868A GB2131749B (en) | 1982-11-27 | 1982-11-27 | A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08233868A GB2131749B (en) | 1982-11-27 | 1982-11-27 | A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2131749A true GB2131749A (en) | 1984-06-27 |
| GB2131749B GB2131749B (en) | 1986-04-16 |
Family
ID=10534569
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08233868A Expired GB2131749B (en) | 1982-11-27 | 1982-11-27 | A device for suspending and/or lifting objects under water |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2131749B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2222190A (en) * | 1988-07-01 | 1990-02-28 | Norwegian Contractors | Installing large, heavy structures on the sea bottom |
| WO2000029285A1 (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2000-05-25 | Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited | A buoyancy device |
| US6789587B2 (en) | 2001-07-13 | 2004-09-14 | Triton Logging Company Inc. | Method and apparatus for underwater tree cutting and retrieval |
| CN110329453A (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2019-10-15 | 张西达 | Underwater lift control system, method and the quick lifting force generator of portable underwater |
| CN110329455A (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2019-10-15 | 张西达 | The quick lift generating device of portable underwater and its lift control method |
| GB2618994A (en) * | 2022-04-14 | 2023-11-29 | Italmatch Chemicals Gb Ltd | Apparatus for raising or lowering a load in a body of water |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB618836A (en) * | 1946-06-19 | 1949-02-28 | Wingfoot Corp Manufactures | Salvage apparatus |
| GB867942A (en) * | 1958-09-08 | 1961-05-10 | Us Rubber Co | Improvements in collapsible salvage device |
| US3866253A (en) * | 1973-01-08 | 1975-02-18 | Dacor Corp | Divers buoyancy vest |
| GB2045693A (en) * | 1979-04-04 | 1980-11-05 | Manti G | Apparatus for lifting objects |
-
1982
- 1982-11-27 GB GB08233868A patent/GB2131749B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB618836A (en) * | 1946-06-19 | 1949-02-28 | Wingfoot Corp Manufactures | Salvage apparatus |
| GB867942A (en) * | 1958-09-08 | 1961-05-10 | Us Rubber Co | Improvements in collapsible salvage device |
| US3866253A (en) * | 1973-01-08 | 1975-02-18 | Dacor Corp | Divers buoyancy vest |
| GB2045693A (en) * | 1979-04-04 | 1980-11-05 | Manti G | Apparatus for lifting objects |
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2222190A (en) * | 1988-07-01 | 1990-02-28 | Norwegian Contractors | Installing large, heavy structures on the sea bottom |
| GB2222190B (en) * | 1988-07-01 | 1992-07-22 | Norwegian Contractors | The transportation and installation of large, heavy structures on the sea bottom. |
| WO2000029285A1 (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2000-05-25 | Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited | A buoyancy device |
| GB2359280A (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2001-08-22 | Controlled Variable Buoyancy S | A buoyancy device |
| GB2359280B (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2002-06-12 | Controlled Variable Buoyancy S | A buoyancy device |
| US6460476B1 (en) | 1998-11-16 | 2002-10-08 | Controlled Variable Buoyancy Systems Limited | Buoyancy device |
| US6789587B2 (en) | 2001-07-13 | 2004-09-14 | Triton Logging Company Inc. | Method and apparatus for underwater tree cutting and retrieval |
| CN110329453A (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2019-10-15 | 张西达 | Underwater lift control system, method and the quick lifting force generator of portable underwater |
| CN110329455A (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2019-10-15 | 张西达 | The quick lift generating device of portable underwater and its lift control method |
| CN110329455B (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2023-09-05 | 张西达 | Portable underwater rapid lifting force generating device and lifting control method thereof |
| GB2618994A (en) * | 2022-04-14 | 2023-11-29 | Italmatch Chemicals Gb Ltd | Apparatus for raising or lowering a load in a body of water |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2131749B (en) | 1986-04-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19991127 |