SUBMERSIBLE SALVAGE UNIT AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

A submersible salvage unit is provided with a support frame which carries opposed pairs of downwardly depending arms for grasping a sunken vessel or other object. The arms can be actuated from grasping to inoperative positions by relative vertical movements of pontoons which are also carried by the support frame of the unit. The relative movements are effected by movement of either the pontoons or the support frame relative to the other. Buoyancy compensators are provided in the salvage unit to adjust buoyancies to match loads which are to be lifted, and the buoyancy compensators include means for rapidly releasing buoyancy gas from the pontoons, if necessary. Also, buoyancy compensators on opposite sides of the salvage unit may include stabilizers which relate the compensators to each other in their operations to maintain stable attitudes of the salvage unit when it is lifting a load. A method of operation provides for an alignment and sinking of the salvage unit over a sunken vessel, and engagement of the vessel is accomplished by adjusting buoyancies of the entire salvage unit.