Salvage work vehicle

Claim 2

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle to be used in combination with a salvage pontoon or other object comprising in combination: cabin means for enclosing operating personnel therein; buoyancy chamber means attached to the upper portion of said cabin means for providing neutral buoyancy therefore; propulsion means attached to said cabin means and relatively movable with respect thereto for moving said salvage work vehicle; battery compartment means attached to the lower portion of said cabin means and extending downwardly therefrom for containing electrical power supplies therewithin; thruster means mounted in said battery compartment means and fixedly directed with respect thereto for moving said salvage work vehicle in directions at right angles to said propulsion; and coupling means attached to said cabin means and extending outwardly therefrom so as to extend beyond said buoyancy chamber means for attaching an object thereto.

Claim 3

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 1 in which said cabin means is of a spherical shape.

Claim 4

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 1 in which said propulsion means comprise a plurality of electric motor driven propellers for producing propulsion forces, said motor driven propellers being rotatable about an axis, so as to direct their propulsive forces in a desired direction.

Claim 5

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 1 in which said coupling means includes a hollow cylindrical body portion.

Claim 6

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 4 in which said coupling means further includes a gasket means attached to the outermost end of said hollow cylindrical body portion and extending circumferentially thereabout, for effecting a watertight seal between said body portion and said object attached thereto.

Claim 7

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising an expansion chamber means enclosed within a wall of said hollow cylindrical body portion and in fluid communication therewith, so as to provide vacuum retention therein in the event of leakage.

Claim 8

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 6 further comprising pressure alteration means effectively connected to the interior of said hollow cylindrical body portion for the selective reduction of pressure therewithin.

Claim 9

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to claim 7 in which said pressure alteration means includes a reversible electric pump.

Claim 10

A deep submergence salvage work vehicle according to cLaim 8 wherein said pump is located within said battery compartment and communicates with the interior of said hollow cylindrical body portion by a fluid conduit connected therebetween.

Claim 11

A deep submergence work vehicle for use in transporting a large object attached thereto to a predetermined location within an underwater environment comprising in combination: cabin means for housing crew and controls and for providing protection therefor; buoyancy chamber means attached to said cabin means for providing a predetermined buoyancy therefor; propulsion means attached to said cabin means and relatively movable with respect thereto for moving said deep submergence work vehicle in a predetermined manner within said underwater environment; battery compartment means attached to said cabin means for containing electrical power supplies therewithin; thruster means effectively connected to said cabin means and directed with respect thereto for moving said deep submergence work vehicle in directions at right angles to said propulsion means; cylindrical wall means attached to said cabin means in such manner as to have one of the ends thereof closed thereby and extending outwardly therefrom for effecting a hydraulic chamber therewithin; gasket means attached to said cylindrical wall means at the other end thereof and extending circumferentially thereabout for effecting a watertight seal between said cylindrical wall means and the aforesaid object when pressed thereagainst in such manner as to close said hydraulic chamber; releasable pump means effectively connected between the hydraulic chamber effected by said cylindrical wall means and said underwater environment for effecting a transfer of water therebetween; and expansion chamber means disposed in communication with said hydraulic chamber for effecting pressure regulation therewithin.

Claim 12

A deep submergence work vehicle for use in transporting a large object attached thereto to a predetermined location within an underwater environment comprising in combination: cabin means for housing crew and controls and for providing protection therefor; buoyancy chamber means attached to said cabin means for providing a predetermined buoyancy therefor; propulsion means attached to said cabin means and relatively movable with respect thereto for moving said deep submergence work vehicle in a predetermined manner within said underwater environment; battery compartment means attached to said cabin means for containing electrical power supplies therewithin; thruster means effectively connected to said cabin means and directed with respect thereto for moving said deep submergence work vehicle in directions at right angles to said propulsion means; cylindrical wall means attached to said cabin means in such manner as to have one of the ends thereof closed thereby and extending outwardly therefrom for effecting a hydraulic chamber therewithin; gasket means attached to said cylindrical wall means at the other end thereof and extending circumferentially thereabout for effecting a watertight seal between said cylindrical wall means and the aforesaid object when pressed thereagainst in such manner as to close said hydraulic chamber; releasable pump means effectively connected between the hydraulic chamber effected by said cylindrical wall means and said underwater environment for effecting a transfer of water therebetween; and expansion chamber means disposed in communication with said hydraulic chamber for effecting pressure regulation therewithin.