US3987742A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swivel air lock for airtight connection between submergibles
Assignee: Direction Générale de l'Armement
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Filing: 1975-02-04
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Granted: 1976-10-26
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Expires: 1995-02-04
Abstract
Abstract An air lock in accordance with the invention is composed of two portions -- stationary hemispherical bell 6 fastened on a submarine rescue device 5 and a swivel skirt 7 in the form of a portion of a swivel joint, nested in the bell with a slight amount of play, bearing a peripheral sealing joint 28 which is applied against the hull 2 of a submarine around an opening 3. Two sealing joints 19 and 15 are placed between the bell and the skirt and the intermediate space 20 is filled with oil maintained at a constant pressure which is slightly different from the hydrostatic pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald M. Boisrayon
- 👤 Gilbert M. Martin
- 👤 Jean C. Mollard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:24
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
Connecting air lock provided on a submergible device to permit the latter to connect itself in airtight fashion around an opening of an immersed enclosure, comprising a truncated hemispherical bell adapted to be positioned around an opening of a submergible device; a skirt having the shape of a portion of a spherical swivel joint nested in the said bell in airtight fashion with a small amount of play for articulation around a center common to said bell and said skirt, said skirt having a peripheral joint on the end face of its end outside said bell, and at the outer periphery of its end nested in said bell, a groove in which a sealing joint is placed between said skirt and said bell, said bell having at the inner periphery of its free end a groove containing a sealing joint, the space contained between the skirt, the bell and the two sealing joints being filled with a lubricating liquid adapted to be maintained at a pressure which is slightly different from the hydrostatic pressure, means to adjust the constant difference between the two pressures in such a manner as to cancel out the apparent weight of the swivel skirt and thus cause its hydrostatic lift in the said hemispherical bell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
Connecting air lock provided on a submergible device to permit the latter to connect itself in airtight fashion around an opening of an immersed enclosure, comprising a truncated hemispherical bell adapted to be positioned around an opening of a submergible device; a skirt having the shape of a portion of a spherical swivel joint nested in the said bell in airtight fashion with a small amount of play for articulation around a center common to said bell and said skirt, said skirt having a peripheral joint on the end face of its end outside said bell, and at the outer periphery of its end nested in said bell, a groove in which a sealing joint is placed between said skirt and said bell, said bell having at the inner periphery of its free end a groove containing a sealing joint, the space contained between the skirt, the bell and the two sealing joints being filled with a lubricating liquid adapted to be maintained at a pressure which is slightly different from the hydrostatic pressure, means to adjust the constant difference between the two pressures in such a manner as to cancel out the apparent weight of the swivel skirt and thus cause its hydrostatic lift in the said hemispherical bell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Connecting air lock according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said skirt comprises a reinforcing flange welded to the outer periphery of said end nested in said bell, which flange bears on its outer face a lining of anti-friction metal machined to the inside diameter of the said bell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Connecting air lock according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the free end of said bell bears a flange located in a diametral plane and on which there is bolted a mating flange whose inner face is spherical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Connecting air lock according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the inner face of the said mating flange is lined with an anti-friction metal machined to the outside diameter of said skirt and bears the said groove which contains the sealing joint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A connecting air lock according to claim 1, further comprising articulated jacks connecting said bell to said skirt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A connecting air lock according to claim 1 in which a divergent frustoconical crown is welded around the free end of said skirt, said crown comprising around its free end a flange in whose terminal face a groove containing a toroidal sealing joint is recessed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A connecting air lock according to claim 6, further comprising a ring of an elastic material supported by shock absorbers fastened to the inside of said joint-shaped skirt near the free end in such a manner that said ring is located slightly to the outside of the skirt before the docking.
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) | 1979-10-26 | 1980-04-26 | 1980-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-26 | 1984-04-26 | 1984-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-26 | 1988-04-26 | 1988-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |