Abstract: A lipped mouth structure with lips engaging the side of a ship such as an oil tanker around an area of puncture or rupture with a flexible diaper container fastened to the lips and extended outward therefrom. The lip structure has transverse cross brace bars retained in molded pockets of the lip structure with the lips in the form of inflatable rings of rubber (synthetic rubber or rubber like plastic) having a soft pliable surface engaging the side of a ship. Vertically oriented straps with "D" rings at their opposite ends are provided for tying the straps and the lip structure in place on the side of a damaged ship with cables attached to the "D" rings. The flexible diaper container is supported by floats spaced strategically along the length thereof to support the diaper container in its extension along the surface of the water while flexing with wave action of the sea.

Abstract: A construction material adapted for a wide variety of uses is shown, as, for example, in repairing cracks, holes and dents in the hulls and bodies of boats and land vehicles, leaks in gas and liquid conduits such as exhaust pipes and water pipes, and leaks in gas and liquid tanks and other containers; repairing fractured poles, booms, spars, antennas, and the like, and strengthening similar structures that are not fractured; patching roofs, gutters, and drainpipes; sealing leaking containers of pressurized fluids, such as air-conditioning systems, swimming pools, and hydraulic hoses; and electrically insulating all manner of articles. The product comprises a flexible web impregnated with a pliable mastic in a sealed package which maintains its contents in stable soft and pliable condition until opened, after which the web is applied to the use intended and the mastic begins to harden in place upon exposure to water, or to only the moisture in the air.

Abstract: An adhesive resin application system which requires no external heating apparatus, and which is operative in the absence of a reactive atmosphere, is disclosed. The system provides its own heat by employing an adhesive material containing reactants which react exothermally when electrically ignited. After ignition of the reactants, sufficient heat energy is liberated by the exothermic reaction either to plasticize a thermoplastic resin or to cure a thermosetting resin and therby bond together two closely spaced objects.This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 489,006, filed Apr. 27, 1983, which is a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 929,120, filed July 28, 1978, both now abandoned.

Abstract: A hole, particularly an accidental perforation, is closed by manoeuvering a bladder (g) into the hole employing a hollow rod (f) on which the bladder is mounted at one end. An operator operating from the other end of the rod actuates a device such as a triggered valve to cause the components of a settable foamed plastics material to pass (via tubes b and rod f) from their sources (in a) to fill the bladder (g) so that it closes the hole. The settable foamed plastics material is preferably polyurethane foam. The bladder may be of natural or synthetic rubber and may be protected against tearing by a textile envelope. The sources of foamed plastics material may be either in a portable kit (a) or rupturable containers within the bladder (g) or rod (f).

Abstract: A portable device for closing a breach in a boat hull from the inside or the outside which includes an inflatable shallow dome sortable in a cylindrical form and automatically inflatable by the use of a self-contained cartridge to cause expansion into a non-buoyant shallow dome which can seal against a hull breach and enable a damaged boat to reach port.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a substantially liquid free working environment on a submerged surface, such as the hull of a ship. The apparatus includes a liquid tight enclosure, a sealing edge located on the liquid tight enclosure for forming a liquid proof seal between the enclosure and a submerged surface, a device for altering the shape of the apparatus so that the sealing edge can form a seal with submerged surfaces of different shape, and a device for enabling manipulation of objects within the enclosure by a person located outside of the enclosure, which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a pair of gloves that extend into the enclosure. Such an apparatus can be used by securely placing it against a submerged surface, such as the hull of a ship, altering the shape of the apparatus until its sealing edge conforms with the submerged surface so as to make a liquid tight seal with it, and then filling the enclosure full of gas, such as air, until substantially all of the water has been removed from it.

Abstract: A system for plugging holes in vessels which comprises the combination of a storage and delivery system for a foam-forming material, and a hole-plugging assembly. The hole-plugging assembly includes a flexible nonelastic bag member which is inserted in a folded position into the hole to be plugged and properly positioned with an associated locating means. Thereafter, a unitary foamable material is injected into the bag member to expand it and seal the hole. The locating means further assists in maintaining the inflated bag member in proper orientation and sealing engagement while the foam is curing.

Abstract: A coating for hulls of ships to be applied underwater to areas of the hull not accessible when ship is in dry dock. The means for applying the coating may take several forms: (1) a multilayered tape system having impregnated in or carrying an antifoulant and having an adhesive tape operable underwater on one side; (2) a sponge like layer having an antifoulant paint or coating liquid which can be squeezed onto the hull; (3) the use of a water soluble sponge having mixed therein microspheres of resin and pigment and microspheres of activator material such that when the microspheres or crushed, the pigmented resin, which may contain an antifoulant, and the activator are mixed and cured to form a coating on the hull while the sponge material will dissolve away when exposed over its surface to seawater.

Abstract: A container has an air tank therein occupying some of the space in the container. A projecting part extends from the container and has an open end coupled to the air tank via an air duct. A hole-filling member is mounted at the open end of the projecting part. A pump in the container selectively pumps sea water into the container and out of the container for maneuvering the container beneath the hull of a damaged sea vessel to position the hole-filling member of the projecting part in a hole in the bottom of the hull. Compressed air is supplied to the air tank to control the buoyance of the container and for expanding the hole-filling member in the hole in the hull to plug the hole.

Abstract: A method of making an adhesive bond, particularly suitable for underwater repairs consists of impregnating compliant foam material having an open cell structure with a thermosetting resinous adhesive, applying the foam to a substrate to be bonded or a puncture therein and applying pressure to the foam to immobilize the adhesive within the foam.

Abstract: A cofferdam for closing off underwater openings in ships' hulls and the like includes a box-like structure having a flat wall of a size and configuration for covering a ship's openings, with peripheral walls for extending around the flat wall and around the opening for sealingly engaging the ship's hull and defining a chamber around the opening. Conduits are provided for communication with a pump for pumping fluid or water from the chamber of the cofferdam and for venting the dam either to atmosphere or the water for filling the cavity. Fastenings include J-bolts in one configuration for securing the cofferdam to grill work and the like inside a opening to a sea chest, and a hogging type rigging in another embodiment for securing where grill work and the like is not available. The cofferdam is constructed of wood for providing buoyancy in water and includes reinforcing bars extending across the face of the dam which are in the form of closed box beams for providing additional buoyancy.

Abstract: An inflatable fluid-filled bladder for covering damaged areas of ship and barge hulls is disclosed. The bladder is lined on one side with a foam material which engages and seals the damaged area of the hull, and is covered on the opposite side with a wire net which positions and holds the bladder against the hull by means of suitable cables and winches. An edge frame to which the wire net is secured is provided around the bladder and an upstanding bracket is secured to the frame. Tension cables connected to the apex of the upstanding bracket exert pressure through the bracket legs to the edge frame to improve the seal between the edge of the patch and the surface of the hull.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to method and apparatus for controlling or manipulating a body of crude, refined, or used petroleum as, for example: in the herding and recovery of an oil spill in a body of water; in temporarily stopping a leak in an oil tanker caused by a cracked hull; in recovering oil inadvertantly spilled on a beach front; in plugging an oil casing pipe to control an oil fire at sea on a drilling platform; in effecting preliminary refinement of oil at the oil rig site; in transporting oil from the Arctic or Antarctic region without resorting to complicated and costly apparatus; and in many other applications. The method basically comprises exposing a body of crude, refined, or used petroleum mass either to a transient atmosphere or environment of a freezing, sub-freezing, or cryogenics temperature, or contacting the petroleum with a substance or mechanism exhibiting freezing, sub-freezing, or cryogenics temperatures.

Abstract: A jet drive boat propulsion unit cover for purposes of covering the fluid intake of a jet powered boat. The cover accommodates itself to the intake opening including the grillwork thereof, in a manner whereby it covers and seals the intake from foreign objects which might contaminate and adversely affect the wear and operation of the jet power unit, such as the impeller, bearing surface, and other wear areas. The cover is secured by means of an overcenter latching linkage having a member that moves eccentrically around an axis to cause a hook to engage the grating or grillwork of the opening so that it can be easily latched and unlatched. The foregoing provides a generally sealed relationship around the edges of the opening to prevent the migration of foreign matter into the jet drive unit.