Abstract: There is provided a self-restoring motion compensating mooring system for a floating unit. The mooring system includes a plurality of mooring anchors, a plurality of top fairleads attached near the top edges of the floating unit, a plurality of bottom fairleads attached near bottom edges of the floating unit, a stabilizer, a plurality of mooring cables passing through the respective top and bottom fairleads, connected between the plurality of mooring anchors and the stabilizer. Further, in respective equilibrium positions of the floating unit and the stabilizer, the center of gravity of the stabilizer is located directly below the center of gravity of the floating unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a platform for collecting marine energy sources, which comprises solar energy collecting devices, wind energy generating devices and tidal generating devices. The platform also comprises electric energy gathering devices for gathering and outputting electric energy output by the collecting devices or the generating devices. The devices are arranged on the platform on the sea surface. The platform comprises a support partially submerged under the sea surface, a table arranged on the support, and a mounting bracket arranged on the table and used for placing the solar energy collecting devices and the wind energy generating devices.

Abstract: An underwater-above water accommodation is adapted for human occupancy under water, above or on the surface of water and comprises an underwater accommodation (1) and above water accommodation (2) slidably mounted on preferably three, vertical legs (3, 4, 5). At least one vertical shaft (23) is fixed to the underwater accommodation (1), contains a lift (26) and stairs (28) inside and is slidably mounted in a sleeve (24) fixed to the above water accommodation (2). The underwater accommodation (1) has a pressure shell (12), in the lower part of which a first ballast tank (29) is located; the above water accommodation (2) has a structure (13), in the lower part of which a second ballast tank (30) is attached. At the sliding joint with the vertical legs (3, 4, 5) the underwater accommodation (1) has built-in sliding joint bushings (9, 10, 11) tightly linked to the pressure shell (12). At the sliding joint with vertical legs (3, 4, 5) the structure (13) is fixed to the sliding joint bushings (14, 15, 16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a diving system for several persons in which, without using any type of motors and being self-contained, the cylinder used is attached to a mobile float which is pulled along by the users by means of air-carrying hoses of an adjustable size, which are floating and flexible and fitted with rotary terminals, the components thereof including an automatic underwater alarm actuated by the compressed air from the actual cylinder and having a quick-release pin which releases the belt from the user without interrupting the flow of air.

Abstract: A diving apparatus includes a pump that is actuated by muscular force. Diving weights are fastened to a fresh-air tank by surface zip fasteners. A traction element lies between the pump and the diver's limbs and to which it is attached a quick-release device. A float is surrounded by a net, the float having a seat located below the surface of the water and each of the straps, which are used to fasten the fresh-air tank to the diver, has at least one quick fastener which can be opened by the diver.

Abstract: An aqua-terra planetary transport system and development system utilizing a pneumatic and electromagnetic underwater tube link transportation system to move passengers and cargo rapidly between a network of interconnected land based terra station and ocean based aqua stations. The aqua stations are all self-sufficient and derive power from natural resources and have means for agriculture and manufacturing.

Abstract: A diving bell having a first funnel-shaped member which has a cone-shaped portion with a cylindrical portion projecting from an apex-most portion of the cone-shaped portion. A lid for sealing and unsealing egress and passage of air and water through opposite ends of the cylindrical portion of the first funnel-shaped member. A second funnel-shaped member having a cone-shaped portion with a cylindrical portion projects from an apex-most portion of the cone-shaped portion. The second funnel-shaped member being held about the first funnel-shaped member with a space between the first and second funnel-shaped members for receiving sand or the like.

Abstract: A working machine for use in a working system in which a pair of working machines, which are capable of traveling both on land and on a riverbed or the like, are respectively used for excavating gravel or the like on the bottom of the water and for transporting the same. The working machine is basically constructed such that an upper structure including an operator's cabin is mounted on a lower structure having a self-traveling mechanism, such as endless tracks, in such a manner that the heightwise position of the upper structure can be varied. The working machine is applied to a dredging machine for a shallow water area having an excavating mechanism juxtaposed in the vicinity of its upper structure, and to a transporting machine for a shallow water area having a load-carrying platform juxtaposed in the vicinity of its upper structure.

Abstract: An underwater building comprises a floating base that is to be fixed to a bottom under water or the sea and a building body is constructed on the base. The base floats on the water surface before construction of the body of the building, and the building body formed thereon has a double-walled construction having an opening between an outside wall and an inside wall. Water is selectively poured into and drained from the opening, and by its weight the building body is controllably sunk into the water. Only a gateway tower portion made in the upper portion of the building body is eventually left projecting out of the water.

Abstract: A structure for observing a marine environment comprising a housing affixed to a bottom of a body of water, such as an ocean floor, and extending toward and above the surface of the water. A reception area is disposed near the top of the housing and a walkway extends from the reception area to the bottom of the housing. The walkway defines a spiral adjacent to the inner wall of the housing, and a plurality of windows are disposed on the side of the housing between successive levels of the spiral. An aquarium disposed on the bottom of the housing, spaced radially inward from the housing and extending toward the top of the housing defines with the walkway, the side of the housing and the bottom of the housing a substantially enclosed passage extending for a substantial length along the bottom of the housing for simulating the underwater environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a watertight floodable barge repair box of generally L-shape, viewed from its end, having a leg and a foot. The leg has an open front and the foot has an open top so that the box may be placed against the side of the barge and the foot beneath its bottom. A flexible waterproof membrane strip has one edge secured to a flat bar anchoring plate welded to the repair box adjacent its leg and foot openings upset at an angle thereto. A backing of flat rubber conveyor belt is bolted between the waterproof membrane and flat anchoring plate. The waterproof membrane is of a width to overlap the connection between the barge hull and barge repair box when the repair box is in place against the barge in a flooded down condition in a body of water. Cable harness or other suitable lines or chains are used to maintain the barge in place against the repair box.

Abstract: A working chamber is placed in a lined pond containing a body of contaminated water and filled with clean water to safely isolate divers while they repair damaged areas of the liner. The chamber is an open ended housing having a side wall of water impervious material configured to surround the area of liner damage and a height greater than the depth of the body of water at the repair site. Buoyancy tanks float the housing in a stable upright position above the repair site and are filled with clean water to sink the housing to rest its bottom end on the liner at the bottom of the body of water. A deformable seal on the bottom end of the housing engages the liner surface surrounding the area of liner damage and is filled with water to forming a substantial water sealing relation therewith but with controlled leakage. Clean water is conducted into the chamber interior at a predetermined rate to displace contaminated water inside the chamber.

Abstract: A portable, floatable barge repair device is disclosed having a water tight box having front, back and side walls and a bottom, and a top opening. A superstructure extends generally upwardly from the back wall of the box, the superstructure having an upper back wall generally adjacent to the back wall of the box, the superstructure also having an upper open top and a side opening opposite the upper back wall. The periphery of the top opening and the side opening form a seal surface for engaging a portion of a barge to be repaired, and gasket means are disposed on the seal surface for providing a water tight seal between the barge and the box. Ballast means are disposed on the front wall of the box opposite the back wall, and ballast tanks surround the box for receiving water therein. Means for securing the repair device to a barge are also provided.

Abstract: In a tunnelling method, a completely submerged caisson is received in a recess in the floor of a body of water. The caisson includes a pressurized bell-type work chamber that is open at the bottom and closed at the top to trap breathable gas inside it. An access passage extends from the upper end of the caisson which, during the initial excavation stage, communicates with the work chamber below the water level in the chamber. Excavation workers swim down through the access passage to the work chamber and excavate the body floor underneath the work chamber while breathing the gas contained in it. The caisson as lowered progressively further down into the recess formed below the work chamber as excavation proceeds until the desired tunnelling depth is reached. Then the chamber is sealed from the water body and the chamber pressure reduced to atmospheric so that tunnelling in a generally horizontal direction to land beyond the water body can proceed at that pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates in improvement in or relating to a stand-by service structure for casual off-shore attendance. The service structure comprises an emergent articulated column pivotally connected with its submerged bottom end to a base member resting on the sea-bed. Said column is fitted with a base member module such as a base member with a workshop caisson comprising at least one opening giving access to the sea-bed and adapted to be closed in fluid-tight relationship. Furthermore, said workshop caisson is adapted to directly communicate at least temporarily with the outer atmosphere at the water surface.

Abstract: An off-shore underwater observatory comprising a lower, submerged observation gallery fitted with at least one observation window and having a ceiling with an opening through which the observation gallery is accessible, and a body of water on top of the gallery such that the combined weight of the structure and the water exceeds the buoyancy. An annular skirt may depend from the ceiling in extension of said opening to a level which is below the head level of a person standing in the gallery, the upper edge(s) of the window(s) not exceeding the lower edge of said skirt.

Abstract: A watertight vertically elongated rigid shell or hull of a size small enough to be transportable over highways has a detachable snorkle extending from its top and contains a power source which may be used to drive pumps within the device and/or to drive mechanical devices, such as rotating blades, winches, belts, drills or propellers, which are located externally of the hull. The hull of the device is divided into upper and lower compartments, of which the lower compartment can be completely or partially flooded with water which acts as a ballast helping to stabilize the device and controlling submersion thereof and its submerged position.