US 4,226,205 AGranted

Auxiliary submersible for deep-sea work

OwnerPaul Bastideinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

This invention relates to naval construction and oceanology. It relates to a one-man submersible characterized, firstly, by external shapes designed to prevent any accidental fouling with any fixed obstacles; secondly, propulsion and steering units which give it excellent maneuverability and the possibilities of quick neutralization of any reaction experienced by the submersible; thirdly, by the fact that the operator has available a system comprising, at the extreme forward part of the submersible a swivelling and extensible tool-holder system with a coaxial and protected swivel seat; finally, a tall horizontal crane with one or two swivelling and extensible jibs, and four hydraulic columns with a special baseplate, these all being features which enable any work to be carried out with increased rapidity, accuracy and safety. The above submersible has numerous advantageous applications in various areas of ocean exploration and working.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A submersible comprising:

a thick hull which consists, firstly of a main body formed from two hemispherical elements interconnected by a circular base cylinder having a longitudinal axis, and secondly a system of four identical strong cylinders disposed so as to be capable of being used as trim or list correction tanks and as submersible compensation tanks;
a lightweight body, which particularly contains diving ballasts, completely surrounding the main body of the thick hull and having an external shape which is rounded throughout and completely smooth, the only discontinuity in the outline being, firstly in the extreme forward part of the submersible and, secondly, on the longitudinal side walls, and finally on the top and bottom walls, in the form of a plurality of recesses which are open to the exterior as widely as possible and are connected at their periphery to the outer part of the lightweight body of the submersible by connections of very rounded shape;
said submersible including two main propulsion and steering devices and two additional propulsion and steering devices;
and said lightweight body having an outer surface which comprises firstly, in its two longitudinal side walls, two wide rounded chambers of revolution, the horizontal axis of which passes through the center of gravity of the submersible and which are symmetrical to one another with respect to the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of the submersible, and are intended to protect the main two propulsion and steering units of the submersible;
secondly, at its top and bottom parts respectively, two smaller rounded chambers of revolution, the vertical axis of which passes through the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy of the submersible and are intended to protect the two additional propulsion and steering devices, each of the four propulsion and steering devices being adapted to receive additional protection in the form of a wide-mesh grating, the general shape of which fits into that of the outer surface of the lightweight body.

2 more elements

A submersible comprising a thick hull which consists, firstly of a main body formed from two hemispherical elements interconnected by a circular-base cylinder having a longitudinal axis, and secondly a system of four identical strong cylinders disposed so as to be capable of being used as trim or list correction tanks and as submersible compensation tanks, a lightweight body, which particularly contains diving ballasts, completely surrounding the main body of the thick hull and having an external shape which is rounded throughout and completely smooth, the only discontinuity in the outline being, firstly in the extreme forward part of the submersible and, secondly, on the longitudinal side walls, and finally on the top and bottom walls, in the form of a plurality of recesses which are open to the exterior as widely as possible and are connected at their periphery to the outer part of the lightweight hull of the submersible by connections of very rounded shape;

the submersible further comprising means for accommodating an operator who is also required to maneuver a working tool, said accommodating means comprising a forward recess and a swivel seat upon which the operator sits astride with his legs hanging on either side of a vertical cylindrical hollow column, the axis of which is close to the axis of orientation of the seat, and an operator's breathing mask connected to the conventional oxygen and oxygen-and-helium mixture cylinders situated vertically or horizontally in a fixed location in the space between the main body of the thick hull and the outer body of the lightweight body of the submersible.

A submersible comprising a thick hull which consists, firstly of a main body formed from two hemispherical elements interconnected by a circular-base cylinder having a longitudinal axis, and secondly a system of four identical strong cylinders disposed so as to be capable of being used as trim or list correction tanks and as submersible compensation tanks, a lightweight body, which particularly contains driving ballasts, completely surrounding the main body of the thick hull and having an external shape which is rounded throughout and completely smooth, the only discontinuity in the outline being, firstly in the extreme forward part of the submersible and, secondly, on the longitudinal side walls, and finally on the top and bottom walls, in the form of a plurality of recesses which are open to the exterior as widely as possible and are connected at their periphery to the outer part of the lightweight hull of the submersible by connections of very rounded shape;

said submersible including two main propulsion and steering devices and two additional propulsion and steering devices, each of said propulsion and steering devices including means for changing the orientation thereof thereby enhancing the maneuverability of said submersible.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.