Device controlling submarine coaming platforms and escape hatches

IPC classes for russian patent Device controlling submarine coaming platforms and escape hatches (RU 2334645):

B63G8/40 - Rescue equipment for personnel (life-saving in water, not specially adapted for submarine personnel B63C)

B63B3/54 - Hatch openings

Another patents in same IPC classes:

Rescue ship / 2333864

Invention relates to rescue ships. The rescue ship is designed for wrecking of sunken submarines and equipped with air feed appliances, divers' and other standard tools. The ship represents a submarine furnished with a set of tie-down cables, including a cable loop, and cables ensuring its reliable holding at a distance of about 10 meters above the sunken submarine. It has, also, two bottom hatches, one of them being communicated, via an air-lock, with several pressure chambers with exits into the submarine. The second hatch, furnished also with the air-lock communicating with one pressure chamber, can be provided with tightly mounted adapter unit, fastened from both inside and outside, to be tightly mounted on appropriate hatch of the sunken submarine and likely fastened from both inside and outside it.

Submarine airlock chamber locking system / 2330784

Submarine airlock chamber locking system incorporates an outboard water filling pipeline and a top cover automatically opening on equalising pressure inside the chamber with outboard pressure. A throttle water is furnished on the outboard water filling pipeline, provided with an adjustable membrane drive-linked to the pressure controller which, in its turn, communicates, via a pipeline, with the airlock chamber pressure pickup.

Device for ventilation of compartments of wrecked submarine laying on floor / 2330783

Device for ventilation of wrecked submarine compartments from the rescue ship, incorporates a compressed air feed hose and a contaminated air venting hose, both being jointed by threadless joints to the wrecked submarine compartment vent valves. The said vent hoses are jointed, at the ship, to a receiver with an water-gas ejector attached to the said receiver and creating rarefaction therein, driven by the operating fire-pump.

Diving stage / 2330781

Diving stage comprises a base with reinforcing bars, seats with heating elements and a protective movable casing. The bench seat incorporates individual heating element switches. The base carries the breathing gas mix cylinder with the reducer with the manifold arranged at its outlet and furnished with hoses passed through protective casings to every seat. The end of the said hoses are furnished with mating parts of quick-release connectors to isolating breathing apparatuses.

Floating-up escape chamber / 2280586

Proposed escape chamber may be used as decompression chamber. This chamber has pressure hull with upper and lower access hatches made in form of truncated cone for securing it on submarine hull. Escape chamber has seats for persons being rescued and life support facilities. Secured on the outside are fairing, buoyancy unit, fasteners, pushers and ballast. Escape chamber hull has horizontal hermetic bulkheads rated for high decompression chamber, thus forming adjacent hermetic chambers which may be brought into communication with hatches through air-lock trunk. Upper and center chambers are provided with decompression facilities. Lower access hatch is communicated with lower chamber where decompression control and monitoring station is located. Upper access hatch is communicated with upper chamber and is provided with coaming plate on pressure hull.

Submersible rescue vehicle / 2276647

Proposed submersible rescue vehicle has hull with suction chamber mounted on it, motion control system, auxiliary maneuvering and dynamic positioning system, external lighting system optically connected with optical TV external observation system and TV information display. Suction chamber is provided with lighting fixtures and light markers mounted on bearing ring. TV cameras of observation system are mounted on ship's hull around suction chamber, thus making it possible to perform observation of bearing ring and forming multi-aspect stereoscopic pairs. TV information display is automated and is connected via motion control system with auxiliary maneuvering and dynamic positioning system.

Method of rescuing crew of emergency submarine lying on ground / 2274583

Method of rescuing crew from section-shelter of emergency submarine lying on ground along flexible pipeline being under pressure is based upon displacement of rescued crew inside pipeline by means of winch into section-shelter of rescuing submarine follower by subsequent decompression of rescued crew if necessary. Flexible pipeline is mounted between comings-areas of emergency and rescue submarines by sing robot-manipulator. After extraction of water from pipeline the pressure is created inside pipeline which pressure is equal to that one in section-shelter of emergency submarine. Crew is displaced one member after another without locking through well of rescue hatch of section-shelter of emergency submarine till the whole crew is withdrawn out of the section-shelter.

Device for coupling submersible rescue vehicle with underwater object and method of coupling by means of this device / 2250858

Proposed device includes embarkation and suction chamber consisting of engageable upper, intermediate and lower spherical belts. Upper belt is secured on fixed base (body of submersible vehicle); intermediate and lower belts have non-parallel bases and are turnable relative to chamber axis. Turn mechanism mounted on the outside of these belts is made in form of epicyclic transmission. At positioning the submersible vehicle above damaged submarine, lower belt of chamber is turned and its bearing (coupling) flange is set at angle equal to angle of inclination of submarine coaming platform and lower belt is brought into engagement with intermediate belt; then, they are turned for obtaining parallelism of bearing flange and coaming platform, after which intermediate belt is brought into engagement with upper belt and chamber is connected to coaming platform, thus forming transfer zone which is later dewatered.

Device for controlling pressurization of shield and flat form of supporting ring of coaming area of submarine / 2245270

Device has round cover with flanges at ends. Average diameter of lower flange is equal to average diameter of support ring of coaming area. To upper flange by detachable connection a cover is connected. Lower flange has width approximately equal to width of compacting ring of rescue apparatus suction cup chamber, and its lower plane is treated with precision, necessary for controlling deflections of surface of support ring of coaming area from plane.

Device for controlling pressurization of shield and flat form of supporting ring of coaming area of submarine / 2245270

Device controlling submarine coaming platforms and escape hatches / 2334645

Device consists of a detachable flange-ring with two seal washers fitted on the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber on the coaming platform to seat on its flange-ring thereon, and a test pressure is created between seal washers. The action of forces pressing the submarine to the said coaming platform is simulated by a variable dead weight.

Device for coupling submersible rescue vehicle with underwater object and method of coupling by means of this device / 2250858

Method of rescuing crew of emergency submarine lying on ground / 2274583

Submersible rescue vehicle / 2276647

Floating-up escape chamber / 2280586

Diving stage / 2330781

Device for ventilation of compartments of wrecked submarine laying on floor / 2330783

Submarine airlock chamber locking system / 2330784

Rescue ship / 2333864

Device controlling submarine coaming platforms and escape hatches / 2334645

Rescue underwater vehicle / 2334650

Rescue underwater vehicle (RUV) incorporates a hermetic control compartment and a rescue compartment with life-support and decompression means arranged in a solid chamber, a vacuum chamber, an electrical equipment, a propeller-steering assembly with the control system and a stabilisation system. At the center of RUV gravity, an additional smaller hermetic compartment is arranged representing a diver's chamber coupled with the standard air pressurisation system and communicating with the vacuum chamber via a hermetically sealed hatch in the chamber bottom part. Note that the diver's chamber is arranged between the control compartment and the rescue compartment to communicate with them via hermetically-sealed hatches arranged in its bulkheads. The proposed RUV design allows the rescue of the submarine crew by both traditional "dry" and "wet" methods, given an impossibility of landing of RUV on the submarine soaming platform.

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: device consists of a detachable flange-ring with two seal washers fitted on the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber on the coaming platform to seat on its flange-ring thereon, and a test pressure is created between seal washers. The action of forces pressing the submarine to the said coaming platform is simulated by a variable dead weight.

EFFECT: simpler and safer testing process.

2 dwg

The invention relates to marine equipment, namely, devices that verify (test) the coaming sites and rescue hatches submarines (submarine) on their readiness to provide a sealed coupling with the camera sucker (transitional mine) rescue underwater vehicle (SPA) or rescue bells (SC). The check is performed as in the construction and operation of dps before going to sea. Possible cause of failure of attempts docking SPA to coaming-the space APK "Kursk" - variation of flatness of the coaming ring-ground square and protruding parts around it. To check the possibility of future docking SPA to coaming-the site of the submarine in the event of an accident were made using real SPA, IC or layout of their camera suction by setting it to check coaming-pad square as adopted similar layout camera suction SPA, executed in the form of a hemisphere (or cylinder), the bottom of which has a connecting flange with an annular elastic sealing gasket. Cm. capacity for testing coaming sites of PL (Fig. BLITZ 301111 130 BC, CDB me "Rubin").

As a prototype made docking device SPA, including camera suction device with rugged, support ring with elastic sealing ring) gasket and valves (including piping, valves, manometer, the ASAS) fill (drainage) camera suction SPA and partitions PL water. Cm. the description of the patent RU 2157776 C2 Docking device for underwater vehicle". Registered in the State. register of inventions of the Russian Federation 20.10.2000, SPA with trip device of the carrier vessel or crane is installed on the coaming-pad, standing in surface position, plasma, If necessary, the hatch opens camera suction (or VL), the operator enters into the chamber of the suction and sets the clamp securing the SPA on the scanned coaming-site square After leaving the operator's hatch is closed, the chamber of the suction SPA and a square enclosure filled with water. The pressure in the suction chamber rises to a preset value and is held necessary to check the time.

On the possibility and reliability of the docking SPA to coaming-the space LP (in the event of an accident) is judged by the presence (or absence) of leakage between the ring coaming-ground dps and camera suction SPA and stability of retaining a given value of the pressure in the chamber of the suction. Unfortunately the results of these tests are not completely objective because:

- test pressure acts on the seal support ring camera suction SPA from the inside, not outside, as it would be in real conditions under water;

- pressing force support ring camera suction SPA to the coaming ring-ground square on the air (under the weight of the device) revenue is about surpasses real efforts being pressed under the action of the screws of the apparatus for docking under water, that can not afford to even identify significant defects ring coaming-site;

- this method of test is not completely safe for the operator entering into the chamber of the suction SPA for installation (removal) mounting in the preparation of the test and after their completion.

Object of the present invention is to provide such a device for checking the coaming sites and rescue hatches, which will allow you to:

- objectively evaluate the quality (i.e. flatness, the presence of dents, protrusions, etc.) docking ring check coaming-site;

to simulate during tests and to quantify the effect of external hydrostatic pressure and emphasis of vertical screws SPA on the seal support ring his camera suction;

run it with the minimum possible size characteristics, cost, use, safe for work.

The essence of the proposed device is that it is made in the form of a flange-ring, made by high grade of accuracy commensurate with the docking ring camera suction SPA and coaming ring-ground square and is in the plane of the ring two elastic sealing gasket. One of them internal, shape, size and elasticity corresponds to the standard sealing strips is the DKE support ring camera suction SPA (SC), and the second outer, large diameter and more flexible (pliable)than the inner.

Between the sealing gasket in the flange-ring openings are provided with fittings (piping, valves, gauges and pump) for water supply and pressure in the annular cavity formed by these strips and the supporting planes of the flange ring of the device and the coaming ring-ground dps after their dock.

The pressing flange-ring-to-ring check coaming-site PL, i.e. the simulation of suction (dock) by clamps (or other securing devices), which are determined during the training trials. Thus, area (cavity)that creates a high pressure, has a minimum volume, only the cavity under the flange ring between his pads. The degree of tightness of this coupling determines the surface quality of the ring checked coaming-ground dps, primarily its flatness. The imitation of the action of a given force of suction (pressure) at the appropriate depth in the tests could also be implemented by installing a measuring ballast placed on the flange ring, after it has been installed on the scanned coaming-pad square using, if necessary, of the counterweight.

If you need to check out hermeti the ability partitions rescue hatch PL high blood pressure (or vacuum) above the flange-ring is installed and fits tightly commensurate with it the cover-cap, forming a closed volume above the enclosure square

Positive technical results that will be obtained using the proposed device are:

- more reliable, objective and descriptive test results;

- safe technology testing coaming sites PL;

- smaller (in comparison with SPA) weight and dimensions of the device.

all the elements of the device are available for observation, especially when the quality of the ring coaming-site coal-seam

The main structural elements of the device shown in figure 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows the device installed and mounted on the coaming ring-platform PL, posted on the ballast, the simulator and the scheme of installation of the ballast-counterweight (shown dotted). The device includes a flange-ring 1 with the outer sealing gasket 2, the inner lining 3, 4 hole, connected to valve 5 (includes pipe, valve, pressure gauge and pump 6 to fill the cavity And water and the hole 7, the valve 8 (includes tubing, pressure gauge and valve for venting the cavity A. the flange ring 1, if necessary, to improve the stability of its forms) can be welded shell 9 with the flange 10. The dashed line shows the ballast-simulator 11.

Figure 1 also shows: plot durable submarine hull 12, the enclosure 13 with acatalog Luke 14 with the cover 15, docking ring 16 coaming-ground square and the adjacent part of the lung of the housing 17, and the device 18 (clamps, turnbuckles, etc.,) for fastening the device on the coaming-site coal-seam If necessary to the ring 9 with the rope 19, straps 20 and canifis blocks 21 may be suspended ballast counterweight 22.

Figure 2 shows the device connected with the coaming ring-ground square and installed the cover 23 with the flange 24, pipe 25 (with valve and pressure gauge) for ventilation of the partitions 13, and the pipe 26 with valve and pump) to fill with water and create pressure in the enclosure 13. The cover-cap 23 is attached to the flange 10 by clamps 27.

The principal technology check the status of the docking ring coaming sites (i.e., deflection mirrors of the ring from the plane, potholes, protruding parts) using the proposed device includes the following steps :

The flange ring 1 is mounted on the ring 16 coaming-ground square and pressed thereto by clamps 18 so that the strips 2 and 3 are not beyond the plane (mirror) rings 16 and formed an isolated test ring cavity A. In the cavity And through the opening 4 and the armature 5 moves water. Through the hole 7 and the valve 8 from the cavity And remove the air. If necessary, the direction of the filling in the cavity and the ventilation can be changed to reverse. The water pressure in the cavity And increases to a predetermined value. Since the outer strip 2 is more elastic than the gasket 3, the sealed pressing her to the ring 16 is provided before, i.e. with less than strip 3, the pressure. The pressure acts on the gasket 3 (which here performs the functions of the staff of the gasket support ring SPA) from the external side (as in real dock). According to the degree of tightness of the cavity from the side of the strip 3 at different pressure can be judged on the quality of the surface (mirror) of the ring 16 and its suitability for real dock to him rescue PA (if necessary) at any given depth. Tests should be carried out in the range of excess pressure in the cavity And from 1 to 4÷5 kgf/cm².

The quality of the coaming ring-platform, i.e. the reliability of future docking SPA to coaming-site PL, can be performed using the ballast-simulator 11. This involves calculating the expected pressing force of the flange ring 1 to ring 16 coaming-ground square on the square plane of the cavity And at a specified depth. Adequate weight ballast 11 is placed over the flange 10. If you want to check the reliability of the docking device with coaming area sq with a force less than the weight of the device, i.e. with the efforts related to the amount of emphasis Vert is unique screws SPA (up to 100-300 kg), can be used ballast and balance. For example, in the form of straps 20, which are attached to the flange-ring and rope 19, passing through canitas-blocks 21 on the device with the load 22 variable weight on the other end. The cavity And is filled with water, the pressure therein rises to a preset value and held for a specified time. There is no leakage through the gasket 3 allows us to predict reliable docking SPA to the coaming-site square at a given depth.

Check the tightness of the partitions 13, fittings and rescue Luke 14 with the cover 15 is made after the installation of the flange ring 1 ring 16 and fastening clamps 18, in the following order. The flange 10 is installed the cover-cap 23 and the flange 24 and secured by clamps 27. Through the pipe 26 and the enclosure 13 is filled with water. The air is expelled through the valve 25. The enclosure 13 is created, the specified pressure and held for a certain time. The descent of water is carried out by the regular system of drainage, partitions coaming-site coal-seam For the detection of protrusions on the light housing square in the zone adjacent to the coaming ring-ground flange-ring 1 has a diameter of the outer edge of the larger outer diameter of the ring and as it "hangs" over this part of the light enclosure.

Technical appraisal and economic benefits of the proposed device:

- test conditions with testout real working conditions of the gasket 3 support ring camera suction SPA when it is docked to the ring 16 coaming-site PL, that will allow to increase the objectivity of the test results;

- allows you to check the quality of the ring 16 when the coupling thereto SPA at various depths of immersion of dps, and the tightness of the partitions 13 with valves and covers rescue hatch.

- relatively small dimensions and weight of the device simplifies the technology of its production and use;

- the small size of the test cavity And will significantly reduce the time and improve their security;

- the use of different ballast weight (including ballast-counter), allows you to test the functionality of the device when you connect the SPA to coaming-site square under the action of clamping effort from tens of kilograms to several tons, i.e. mimic almost any real conditions dock;

in addition, the proposed device allows verification of the seals before installing them on camera suction SPA, as well as to develop new models of pads.

As at 2002, the inspection device coaming sites and rescue hatches PL developed at the level of the technical proposal.

Device for checking the coaming sites and rescue hatches submarines, including the flange ring with two elastic sealing gaskets, inner and outer, and the outer is laying more in diameter and more flexible, than the inside, while the flange-ring between the sealing gasket openings are provided with valves, including piping, valves, gauges and pump to create the test pressure in the annular cavity formed between the sealing strips after installation and compressing the flange ring to the plane of the docking ring check coaming-site of the submarine, and the outer diameter of the flange rings outside diameter of the expansion ring coaming-site of the submarine, while from the top to the flange-ring hermetically attached removable cover-cap equipped with a fill valve, ventilation and creating pressure in the enclosure rescue Lucas and the space under the cover.