Abstract Means for quickly connecting two vessels and the like together in which one vessel is provided with a top hatch aperture generally of cylindrical configuration, and in which another vessel is provided with a complementary extending tubular member which is inserted into the top hatch aperture. The other vessel is provided with outwardly extending flange means that contact the opposing surface of the top hatch aperture so that the two vessels mate in a position to be locked together. The top hatch aperture is provided with a plurality of arcuate shear slab members disposed in arcuate recesses on the inner periphery of the top hatch aperture. Radially extending piston means having their inner ends secured to the shear slab members are operatively connected to the shear slab members to retract them into their respective recesses and to actuate them radially inwardly toward the extending cylindrical portion of the second mentioned vessel, and into complementary peripheral recesses therein so as to lock the two vessels together. The top hatch aperture is further provided with liquid sealing means including resilient gasket means which bear against the shoulder of the other vessel and with fluid pressure supply means in communication with a recess in which said gasket means is disposed so as the force the gasket means into contact with the other vessel to provide a fluid tight and liquid tight seal there between.
A cylindrical diving member and cylindrical deck decompression submarine vessel, said diving member and vessel having annular horizontal flat abutting shoulders adjacent their outer circumferences, a continuous recess disposed in the surface of said decompression vessel, a deformable ring gasket means in said recess, fluid pressure means in communication with said gasket means to cause said gasket means to deform and form a fluid tight seal between said abutting shoulders, a plurality of elongated circumferentially spaced recesses in the inner periphery of said decompression vessel, horizontal elongated arcuate shear members disposed in said vessel recesses, corresponding elongated arcuate recesses disposed in the outer circumference of said diving member below its shoulder adapted to receive said shear members to lock said member together with said decompression vessel, horizontal piston rods secured to the outer circumference of said shear members, pistons secured to said rods and disposed in horizontal cylinders extending outwardly of said decompression vessel and secured thereto, and fluid pressure means in communication with said cylinders to move said shear members into said diving member recesses at one time and to retract them into said decompression vessel recesses at another time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A cylindrical diving member and cylindrical deck decompression submarine vessel, said diving member and vessel having annular horizontal flat abutting shoulders adjacent their outer circumferences, a continuous recess disposed in the surface of said decompression vessel, a deformable ring gasket means in said recess, fluid pressure means in communication with said gasket means to cause said gasket means to deform and form a fluid tight seal between said abutting shoulders, a plurality of elongated circumferentially spaced recesses in the inner periphery of said decompression vessel, horizontal elongated arcuate shear members disposed in said vessel recesses, corresponding elongated arcuate recesses disposed in the outer circumference of said diving member below its shoulder adapted to receive said shear members to lock said member together with said decompression vessel, horizontal piston rods secured to the outer circumference of said shear members, pistons secured to said rods and disposed in horizontal cylinders extending outwardly of said decompression vessel and secured thereto, and fluid pressure means in communication with said cylinders to move said shear members into said diving member recesses at one time and to retract them into said decompression vessel recesses at another time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein there are at least six shear members.