GB260843A - Improvements in means for locating sunken vessels and raising same - Google Patents

Abstract

260,843. Hodges, T., Hodges, T. R. W., and Hodges, R. March 23, 1926. Buoys.-Apparatus for locating and raising sunken vessels comprises two or more members 3, Fig. 1, secured, preferably in gimbals 34, to the deck of the ship, over which are mounted releasable buoys or floats 1 having attached to them cables passing through the members 3, and down which may be passed shackles to engage spring pressed catches 37, the arrangement being such that on the shackle engaging the catches a float 45, Fig. 6, is released to indicate that coupling is complete. A rod 8 to which the rope is attached is universally jointed to the float at 9, passes through the member 3, and is screwed at its lower end to receive a split nut 13 the upper part of which is cylindrical to receive a cylindrical boss on which is mounted a sleeve carrying a trunnion 30 engaged by a forked end of a lever 26 pivoted on a pin 27 in a slot 28 and acted on by a spring 32 at its other end. The lever is normally held up by a catch 26<a>. To release the buoy the catch 26<a> is moved out of engagement with the lever 26 by means of a cable 26b, thus allowing the lever 26 to turn about the pin 27, lifting the collar 31 and allowing the split nut 13 to fall away from the rod 8. The turning of the lever 26 causes the release of a telescopic mast 14 on the top of the buoy by means of a train of rods 21 - - 25 engaging the forked end 19 of a bell-crank, the other end of which normally engages under the end of the mast which is hinged in a bracket 17 and acted on by a spring 16. The mast may m rising tear open the lid of a calcium light mounted on the buoy. The shackle which is slid down the rope, in engaging the hooks 37, presses back links 46, 49, Fig. 6, to raise a rod 50 so as to permit a compressed spring to move a rod 52 universally connected to a rod 48 so as to release the float 45, the rising of which indicates the completion of the coupling.