APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING EXTERNAL SURFACE WORK ON UNDERSIDE OF SHIP HULL

摘要

For abrasively blast-cleaning the bottom (28) of a ship hull (24) while the ship (14) is supported on blocks (16, 18) on the floor (12) of a drydock (10), an upwardly facing closed cycle abrasive wheel (58) having a durable but compliant seal (66) projecting forwards around its frontal perimeter, is mounted for transversal movement along the moderately articulatable rails (76) of a mobile carrier (56). A control panel (126) is provided for effecting traversal, for controlling spraying of abrasive, for controlling X-Y movement of the carrier (56) along the drydock floor (12) and for extending and retracting rail end support jacks (86) of the carrier (56) frame for locally conforming the vertical positioning of rail ends to the bottom (28) of the ship (14).