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US 4,373,278 AGranted
Single line deep-sea bucket and release
OwnerEdward E. Myrickinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single line deep-sea bucket and release is provided for mining operations and emergency fouling situations at extreme depths. A clamshell mechanism is provided with a bucket support frame and a hoisting frame with coupling means maintaining a fixed connection on descent. The clamshell, descending in the normally open position, is closed on ascent by an operating cable actuated to close by a measured withdrawal of the two frames and coupling means to which the actuating cable is fastened. Emergency shell release opening is caused by gravity force of a descending messenger on the single hoisting cable to trip a release of the coupling means and thereby the attached withdrawn operating cable to descend and open the shell.
Claims12
A single line deep-sea bucket and release comprising in combination:
- a hoisting frame connected by a single hoisting cable to the operating water surface area;
- a bucket support frame measurably displaceable downwardly from said hoisting frame a selected operable distance;
- nesting means on said bucket support frame and hoisting frame to selectively receive and seat said hoisting frame and bucket support frame in nesting engagement;
- said bucket support frame having a bail with an upward grippable projection thereon and dependent linkage supporting a clamshell with cable operating means thereon activating the opening and closing of said shell responsive to the measured withdrawal of said hoisting frame from the bucket support frame;
- tether lines depending from said hoisting frame and connecting said hoisting frame and bucket support frame and guide means on the support frame limiting and guiding the relative displacement of the hoisting frame therefrom;
- coupling means disposed between said grippable bail projection and the hoisting frame displaceably securing the end of said cable operating means of said clamshell to hoist and operate the same;
- locking means on said hoisting frame releasably securing said coupling means, with auxiliary guide means therebetween guiding and preventing torsion descent of said coupling means, and allowing a selective release and descent of said cable operating means and an emergency opening of said clamshell;
- and emergency release means on said hoisting frame integral therewith and coacting with a messenger received along said single hoisting cable to release said locking means for said coupling and activate an emergency opening of the clamshell in the depths of said body of water.
5 more elements
A single line deep-sea bucket and release comprising, in combination:
- a bucket support frame having affixed depending therefrom a clamshell;
- a hoisting frame having a vertically extending upper end and a downwardly depending lower end, with a single hoisting cable connecting the upper end of said frame to the operating surface of the sea;
- coupling means disposed between said bucket support frame and hoisting frame, operably secured to maintain a fixed connection between said frames on descent with the clamshell in a normally open mode;
- release means on said coupling means operable to selectively release, depending therefrom, said bucket support frame;
- an operating cable on said clamshell for opening and closing the same extending through said coupling means and secured thereby to the hoisting frame;
- retractable cable guide means located on said support frame and secured to the depending lower end of said hoisting frame, said guide means, in cooperation with said operating cable, operable to allow a measured withdrawal of the hoisting frame upwardly from the support frame, activating the operating cable secured to the hoisting frame, within said measured withdrawal limits of the guide cable means, to close said clamshell and hoist the same to the surface;
- releasable locking means and adjacently disposed windlass guide cables on said hoisting frame secured to said coupling means, operable to be activated to release from said locking means said coupling means and the attached operating cable, such as to cause said coupling means and connected terminal end of the operating cable to descend on the windlass guide cables from the hoisting frame within the measured withdrawal distance between said frame and the bucket support frame for emergency opening of the clamshell;
- a release for the hoisting frame locking means comprising a normally upwardly biased vertically reciprocal weight-responsive platform, in line with the hoisting cable, actuated by striking in downward force to move and disengage said locking means;
- and a descending messenger weight selectively operable to descend said hoisting cable from the surface such as to strike the release platform of said hoisting frame locking means to activate the same for release of said coupling means therefrom to open said clamshell.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.