Patent US3646771A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3646771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater communication between a vessel and a structure and vessel-positioning means
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-02-11
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-02-11
Abstract
Abstract An underwater communicating connection between a marine vessel, such as a submarine, and a structure, such as a dock or underwater caisson or another marine vessel, for the passage of personnel, is formed by juxtaposing the vessel and structure to isolate a water-containing space between watertight doors on the vessel and structure, removing water from the space, and admitting air at subaqueous pressure, whereby the vessel is forced against the structure by hydrostatic pressure; the doors are then opened. A flexible sealing member outside of the connection on the vessel or structure may engage a sealing surface on the other for additional sealing. The dock may include a tower extending to the water surface. The vessel can be positioned by anchors resting on a platform or engaged to a frame fixed to the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Kirk Greene
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:06
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B19/00; B63B19/08; B63G; B63G8/00; B63B2211/00; B63B2211/06; B63G8/40; B63G2008/403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure, said doors being spaced apart and, when closed, isolating said chamber, the parts of said chamber on both structures being in communication with the ambient water when said structures are separated, and b. means on one of said structures for removing water from said chamber to reduce thereby the pressure therein and for providing therein air at said subaqueous pressure, whereby said structures are urged together by hydrostatic pressure and said doors can be both opened at the same time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure, said doors being spaced apart and, when closed, isolating said chamber, the parts of said chamber on both structures being in communication with the ambient water when said structures are separated, and b. means on one of said structures for removing water from said chamber to reduce thereby the pressure therein and for providing therein air at said subaqueous pressure, whereby said structures are urged together by hydrostatic pressure and said doors can be both opened at the same time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said vessel is a submerged submarine and said other structure is fixed to the ground beneath the water and includes means extending from said ground to the water surface and providing a continuous passage from the interior of said chamber to the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
means for discharging from said tubular body against pressure, water that is trapped in front of the segment as it moves toward the abutment, for absorbing the momentum of the submarine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
means for discharging from said tubular body against pressure, water that is trapped in front of the segment as it moves toward the abutment, for absorbing the momentum of the submarine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein both of said doors are mounted for movement into the reception chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said means defining the reception chamber includes a. an open reception chamber on one structure providing a peripherally closed, vertically directed abutment in the direction of the open end of the chamber, one door being in the wall of said chamber remote from the opening thereof, and b. a frame on the other structure providing a peripherally closed, vertically directed abutment conforming to and opposed to the first-mentioned abutment, said frame providing a passage to said other structure within the latter abutment and containing the other door.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connection according to claim 4 wherein said frame and other door are located at the bottom of a submarine and the said other door is approximately flush with the said bottom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein the connection is formed at an end of a submarine which constitutes the said marine vessel, the means on the submarine for defining cooperatively the reception chamber being rigid with the hull of the submarine and presenting a horizontal directed first abutment, and the means on the other structure providing a horizontally directed second abutment adapted for sealing engagement with the first abutment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said marine vEssel is a submarine immersed in water and the connection is formed in an end of the submarine, which includes a. a stationary chamber on the ground beneath the water, and b. a swivel head rotatable about a vertical axis and communicating with said stationary chamber, said swivel head having a horizontal section providing an abutment directed outwardly from said axis, c. an end part of said submarine being in abutment with said abutment on the swivel head, whereby the submarine can swing about said axis together with the swivel head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
In combination with the connection according to claim 7, annular means on the ground surrounding said stationary chamber and concentric with said vertical axis, for supporting an anchor from the submarine as the submarine rotates about said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said marine vessel is a submarine submerged in water and the connection is formed in an end of the submarine, and wherein the means for cooperatively defining the reception chamber includes a. on one structure a projection ending in an enlarged ball the end surface of which has the shape of a sphere, said ball having extending therethrough a passage communicating through said projection with the interior of the respective structure, and b. on the other structure a tubular body of internal diameter to receive said ball and shaped to provide, at its inner end, an abutment the surface of which is in conformity to the ball for tilting movement between the ball and the latter structure, said abutment having a passage extending therethrough for registry with the passage through the ball, c. the element of said ball-and-tubular body combination which is on the submarine being at one end of the submarine and rigid relatively to the hull thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said marine vessel is a submarine submerged in water and the connection is formed in an end of the submarine, and wherein the means for cooperatively defining the reception chamber includes a. on one structure a segment of a sphere formed with a passage extending therethrough which communicates with the interior of the respective structure, and b. on the other structure
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
144 words
A connection according to claim 1 wherein said marine vessel is a submarine submerged in water and the connection is formed in an end of the submarine, which includes a. on one end of the submarine, a projection ending in a segment of a sphere the surface of which remote from the submarine is convex, said segment having extending therethrough a passage communicating with the interior of the submarine, b. on the other structure, a tubular body of internal diameter to receive said segment and shaped to provide, at its inner end, an abutment shaped to seat said segment and having a passage extending through the abutment for registry with the said passage through the segment, and c. at least one set of O-rings between said tubular body and said segment for sealing the said other structure against entry of water about said segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
In combination with the connection according to claim 1, wherein said vessel is a submarine and said other structure is fixed to the ground beneath the water and the submarine and the other structure have opposed abutments which, when brought together in alignment, close said reception chamber, means iNdependent of the connection for positioning the submarine relatively to said other structure so as to bring said abutments into approximate alignment and juxtaposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A connection according to claim 12 wherein the means for positioning the submarine includes a. a pair of engageable fasteners fixed relatively to the ground beneath the water on opposite sides of the abutment on said other structure, and b. a pair of anchor means connected to the submarine by anchor wires at axially spaced locations thereon, each anchor wire being wound about a winch drum which is controllable from within the submarine, said anchor means being engageable with said fasteners.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A connection according to claim 13 wherein a. each fastener includes a pair of generally horizontal side members that are positioned above said ground and diverge from an apex, the apices of said fasteners being oriented in mutually opposite directions, and b. said anchor means include laterally extended, upwardly directed surfaces adapted to slide along the under sides of said fastener side members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
In combination with the connection according to claim 1, means for admitting fluid under at least ambient water pressure into said reception chamber for releasing the structures after the doors are closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a structure for positioning a vessel immersed in water with a point on the vessel approximately over a point fixed on the ground beneath the water, the combination of a. a pair of engageable fasteners fixed relatively to said ground on opposite sides of said point, and b. a pair of anchor means on the vessel at longitudinally spaced locations on the vessel, the interval between said fasteners being different from that between said locations, each anchor means being provided with a winding winch on and controllable from the vessel and an anchor wire passing about said winch and connected to the anchor means, said anchor means being engageable to the fastener, c. whereby said wires are inclined to the horizontal when extending from the vessel to the respective fasteners when the vessel is positioned over said point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a structure for positioning a vessel immersed in water with a point on the vessel approximately over a point fixed on the ground beneath the water, the combination of a. a pair of engageable fasteners fixed relatively to said ground on opposite sides of said point, and b. a pair of anchor means on the vessel at longitudinally spaced locations on the vessel, the interval between said fasteners being different from that between said locations, each anchor means being provided with a winding winch on and controllable from the vessel and an anchor wire passing about said winch and connected to the anchor means, said anchor means being engageable to the fastener, c. whereby said wires are inclined to the horizontal when extending from the vessel to the respective fasteners when the vessel is positioned over said point.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure defined in claim 16 wherein a. each fastener includes a pair of generally horizontal side members that are positioned above said ground and diverge from an apex, the apices of said fasteners being oriented in opposite directions, and b. said anchor means include laterally extended, upwardly directed surfaces adapted to slide along the under sides of said side members, and a stem adapted to slide along said side members into an apex.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure defined in claim 16 wherein a. the vessel has at least a pair of anchor means at each longitudinal end thereof, b. each fastener has at least two pairs of side members that are spaced above the said ground and are generally horizontal and provide at least a pair of apices, in the nature of the letter ''''W,'''' and c. the lateral interval between the apices of the same fastener is different from the lateral interval between the points of emergence of the anchor wires at the same end of the vessel, whereby the vessel can be positioned laterally.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an underwater dock for submarines for the transfer of personnel to an from said submarine, a dock structure fixed to the ground beneath the water, said dock structure including an enclosed space at substantially atmospheric pressure for personnel and a reception chamber with a mouth which is beneath and normally in communication with the water and is shaped to engage a part of the submarine to effect a watertight seal therewith, said part of the submarine including a passage leading to the interior thereof, an outlet for the chamber leading to said space, a watertight door normally closing the outlet an spaced from the mouth, and means for reducing the pressure within the reception chamber between the mouth and the door to below the pressure of the ambient water for securing said submarine to the chaMber by hydrostatic pressure and supplying air to the chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure to permit said door to be opened.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an underwater dock for submarines for the transfer of personnel to an from said submarine, a dock structure fixed to the ground beneath the water, said dock structure including an enclosed space at substantially atmospheric pressure for personnel and a reception chamber with a mouth which is beneath and normally in communication with the water and is shaped to engage a part of the submarine to effect a watertight seal therewith, said part of the submarine including a passage leading to the interior thereof, an outlet for the chamber leading to said space, a watertight door normally closing the outlet an spaced from the mouth, and means for reducing the pressure within the reception chamber between the mouth and the door to below the pressure of the ambient water for securing said submarine to the chaMber by hydrostatic pressure and supplying air to the chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure to permit said door to be opened.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
In combination with the dock according to claim 19, means for introducing a fluid under at least ambient water pressure into said chamber for dispelling said hydrostatic pressure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of: a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure, said doors being spaced apart and, when closed, isolating said chamber, and b. a flexible annular sealing member fixed at its radially inner edge in sealed relation to one of said structures and extending unsupportedly outwardly to its radially outer edge, said flexible sealing member lying in sealing relation on a sealing surface of the other of said structures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of: a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure, said doors being spaced apart and, when closed, isolating said chamber, and b. a flexible annular sealing member fixed at its radially inner edge in sealed relation to one of said structures and extending unsupportedly outwardly to its radially outer edge, said flexible sealing member lying in sealing relation on a sealing surface of the other of said structures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of: a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure and each of said means having an abutment element shaped to mate with the other, and b. a male centering frame on one structure and a female centering frame on the other structure, said frames being convergent in a common direction, for moving the vessel into position to place said abutments into alignment as the vessel moves toward the other structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an underwater communicating connection between two enclosed structures containing air at subaqueous pressure, said structures being relatively movable apart from the connection and at least one being a water-immersed marine vessel, the combination of: a. means on each of said structures shaped to define cooperatively a reception chamber between the structures which is isolated from the ambient water, each structure having a watertight door which leads to the interior of the respective structure and each of said means having an abutment element shaped to mate with the other, and b. a male centering frame on one structure and a female centering frame on the other structure, said frames being convergent in a common direction, for moving the vessel into position to place said abutments into alignment as the vessel moves toward the other structure.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of mooring a submerged submarine the interior of which contains air substantially at atmospheric pressure and having a structure shaped to abut in watertight relation and the mouth of an underwater reception chamber which is normally in communication with the ambient water and has a space for personnel containing air at substantially atmospheric pressure, said space being in communication with the reception chamber through a watertight door, there being also a watertight door on the submarine at the said structure thereof, which comprises the steps of: a. positioning said submarine to bring the said structure thereon into juxtaposition to the mouth of said chamber while both of said doors are closed and isolating the chamber from the ambient water, b. removing water from said chamber and reducing the pressure therein, thereby causing the submarine structure to be urged against the mouth of the chamber by hydrostatic pressure, and c. opening both of said doors while the pressure within the chamber is substantially atmospheric to permit the passage of personnel between the interior of the submarine and said space of the dock through the resulting continuously open passage.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of mooring a submerged submarine the interior of which contains air substantially at atmospheric pressure and having a structure shaped to abut in watertight relation and the mouth of an underwater reception chamber which is normally in communication with the ambient water and has a space for personnel containing air at substantially atmospheric pressure, said space being in communication with the reception chamber through a watertight door, there being also a watertight door on the submarine at the said structure thereof, which comprises the steps of: a. positioning said submarine to bring the said structure thereon into juxtaposition to the mouth of said chamber while both of said doors are closed and isolating the chamber from the ambient water, b. removing water from said chamber and reducing the pressure therein, thereby causing the submarine structure to be urged against the mouth of the chamber by hydrostatic pressure, and c. opening both of said doors while the pressure within the chamber is substantially atmospheric to permit the passage of personnel between the interior of the submarine and said space of the dock through the resulting continuously open passage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 23 wherein said water is removed from the chamber by flow into a container maintained at a pressure lower than that of the ambient water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |