Method and apparatus of raising objects from the sea bed
AssigneeControlled Lifting International Limited
InventorJames E. Stangroom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible envelope, of fabric, plastic sheet or similar material, is made buoyant by being filled with water of lower salinity than the surrounding medium, and used to lift loads underwater. The lift can be generated in situ by pumping water into the envelope after it has been attached to the load through a hose form the surface, and reduced by either releasing the water from within the envelope or pumping it back to the surface again. By combining these two operations, the lift can be exactly controlled. Several envelopes can be used to lift a single load, and the load itself can be made up of small objects placed in a suitable container by other means. The envelopes may be towed into position, or may be provided with their own means of propulsion.
Claims24
A method of controlling the buoyancy of an object submerged in saline water comprising the use of, at least one flexible envelope, attached or attachable to the object, characterized by submerging said envelope in said saline water and filling said envelope with water of lower salinity than said saline water surrounding said envelope, and thereby rendering said envelope buoyant and capable of lifting the object, lowering the object or hovering the object at a prescribed depth.
Apparatus for controlling the buoyancy of an object submerged in saline water comprising at least one flexible envelope submersible in said saline water and attachable to an underwater object and provided at what, in use, is an upper end thereof, with an inlet aperture for introducing into said envelope water of lower salinity than said saline water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.