DIVING BELL HANDLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A handling system for lowering and lifting a diving bell between the ocean surface and the deck of a vessel or a marine platform includes a horizontally extendible and retractable frame which mounts sheaves used or directing the hoist cable and umbilical cable into communication with the bell. The frame comprises a pair of elongate beams driven by means of a pair of hydraulic motors having pinions which engage racks built integral with the beams. The frame includes a member having a downwardly opening frusto-conical inner surface which is adapted to mate with a similar frustoconical superstructure on the diving bell. A plurality of locking fingers are operatively arranged on the upper frustoconical member for automatically locking the superstructure to the frame in a stabilized position over the water.