Abstract: A suspension system for supporting and conveying equipment, such as a camera assembly, includes at least three flexible members, spaced-apart mounting drums for extendably and retractably supporting the flexible members and an equipment support member including an inner section to which the equipment is attached and an outer section connected to the flexible members. The inner and outer sections of the equipment support member are rotatable relative to each other about at least two separate axis of rotation. Preferably the mounting drums for the flexible members are operated by a computer-controlled drive to permit an operator to selectively extend and/or retract one or more of the flexible members to achieve the desired movement of the supported equipment.

Abstract: A diver's buoyancy compensator belt to be used with a diver's buoyancy compensator of the type that allows for increases and decreases of air to be provided thereto, depending upon the amount of buoyancy that is required. The buoyancy compensator belt has a first belt made of webbing for attachment to a buoyancy compensator and a backpack that in turn receives a tank connected thereto. The buoyancy compensator belt retains the buoyancy compensator around a diver's waist at distinct locations to allow for movement thereof which allows for the belt to expand and contract, due to the belt being made from an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material allows for a stretching and contraction of the belt, due to various pressure conditions and can be made of elastomeric foam having discrete cells therein. As the belt expands and contracts due to the discrete cells being pressurized at various depths, it compensates for the depth.

Abstract: The submarine working equipment illustrated which may be a diver's auxiliary equipment includes a hollow body that is specially reinforced against bending moments and pressure forces acting upon it by means of structure defining flow channels, for driving elements, that angularly penetrate it and by means of pressure chambers supported in the body which are adapted to multiple uses. The equipment is held and supplied with power by a connecting and supply cable. A main grab on the forward end of the body is adjustable to facilitate clamping on a wide range of diameters the clamping of the equipment on pipes, wracks, etc. so firmly that the equipment itself or working arms mounted thereon (tool arms, auxiliary grabs, platforms etc.) are capable of taking substantial working loads despite the small dimensions of the equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the installation and removal of a ring gasket from an underwater wellhead connection. The ring gasket is carried by a ring gasket installation tool from the surface to the underwater wellhead connection by a self-propelled underwater vehicle. Final placement of the ring gasket may be accomplished by selective manipulation of the ring gasket installation tool by the underwater vehicle or by a cable attached to the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for working on a submerged object comprising a work platform having jetting means carried thereby for excavating the floor beneath the body of water and around the object.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of cleaning sediment from the bottom of a large storage container of clean water comprising sanitizing a cleaning person and a suction pump to remove the majority of skin viruses, germs, bacteria and dirt from the surface of his skin and/or apparel and the suction pump; the cleaning person going underwater and slowly submerging; the cleaning person turning on the suction pump before reaching the bottom of the container; the cleaning person removing sediment from a spot on the bottom of the container before any part of his body disturbs the sediment; the cleaning person attaining footing in the clean spot; and the cleaning person removing the remainder of the sediment on the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for positioning, aligning and interfacing a towed pipe segment to a previously installed pipe segment utilizing mating alignment sleds, one sled being attached to the trailing end of one incoming pipe segment and the other sled being attached to the leading end of the previously laid pipe segment, by connecting and drawing the alignment sleds together into a mating position and thereby aligning and connecting the two pipe segments.

Abstract: The present battery-powered propulsion unit for a diver's tank has an electric motor driving a propellor and mounted in a housing which is attachable to the lower end of the tank. A belt worn on the diver's waist carries first and second groups of battery holders, each made up of separable halves which are releasably attached to the belt on opposite sides of its buckle. The buckle carries a control switch for the motor which is connected by flexible cables to the motor and to the first and second groups of battery holders.

Abstract: A mixed gas bell diving deep ocean simulator has particular utility in training of student commercial divers. Required training dives, both air and mixed gas, can be carried out in safety and at a substantial cost savings as compared with in-ocean training dives. The simulator comprises a hyperbaric cylinder serving as a work chamber and a diving bell suspended within the work chamber. The work chamber is flooded so that a portion of the diving bell is submerged. The bell and work chamber are compressed to simulate lowering of the bell to an ocean depth, and are decompressed to simulate raising the bell from that depth. An arrangement is provided for automatically tracking the pressure outside the bell (i.e., in the work chamber) with the pressure in the bell so that the simulated depth in the work chamber corresponds to that of the bell within a predetermined differential (e.g., three feet of sea water).

Abstract: A subsea riser mainfold system is disclosed for handling marine well fluids from multiple subsea wells and transmitting the well fluids through a marine production riser. The system includes a marine floor base template having a support structure and a manifold chamber supported thereon. Pile guides are connected to the template for fixing the template to the marine floor. The sealed manifold chamber hull is mounted on the template between the pile guides, enclosing manifold means for operatively connecting the subsea wells to the production riser. An improved structural spanning support member extends over the manifold chamber hull for receiving and supporting the marine production riser. This spanning member has an upper riser-receiving platform portion and structural spider arms connected between the platform production and the pile guides through the spanning member.

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 ship or other vessel having a moonpool therein and an enclosed space above the moonpool is provided with a pontoon which floats on the surface of the sea within the moonpool. The effects of the enclosed space is that said sea surface is calm even when the ambient sea is subject to an adverse swell, and the effect of the pontoon is that it will remain substantially stationary and be independant of the vessels heaving motion, i.e. the pontoon is de-coupled from the vessel. Lifting gear mounted on the pontoon is used to lower and raise submersibles, sub-sea equipment, tethered bells or divers (tethered or free swimming). The pontoon may be used as a stable work area and for loading and unloading cargo; in the latter case, a housing forming the enclosed space above the moonpool has a double opening through which the cargo can pass, but only on opening at a time is opened so as to preserve the enclosed space above the moonpool.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and a device for conditioning of heated breathing air for divers.Breathing air supplied from compressed air containers through pressure reducing valves is very cold and dry. Heating of breathing air makes the air even drier and, due to the low specific heat of air it cannot supply the diver with a substantial amount of heat.According to the invention the air is heated to above the body temperature of the diver and humidified to close to saturation. Upon inhalation the air temperature is lowered whereby some of the vapor will condense and give off its heat of evaporation. The device according to the invention contains air passages wherein the air is heated, humidified by means of wicks or a tube provided with a nozzle arranged in a Venturi portion connected to a water tank, and an air temperature regulating device.

Abstract: A diving bell deployment structure includes a launch tube for a diving bell, the bell having a supporting bell hoist wire. A boom is positioned from the structure to a point vertically above the desired underwater deployment position, and carries a boom hoist wire which is capable of connecting to the bell through the base of the launch tube. Differential pay out of the boom hoist wire and bell hoist wire allows exit of the bell from the launch tube and lateral deployment of the boom and launch tube.

Abstract: The method consists in boring a shaft in the sea floor to form a drilling station of sufficient size to accommodate personnel and equipment, in lining the shaft walls with a casing which is cemented against the walls and surmounted by a water-tight self-contained subsea chamber, in extracting sea water from the shaft, in maintaining atmospheric pressure within the shaft and the subsea chamber, in lowering personnel and drilling equipment into the shaft and in carrying out drilling operations from the bottom of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the invention for suspending a submarine on a submerged structure and comprising a preshaped semi-rigid strap wound onto a drum disposed in a casing fixed to said submarine, whereby the strap when unwound adopts the shape of a generally circular loop so as to pass round one of the cross-members of the submerged structure and has at its free end means for cooperating with a locking device disposed on the path adopted by the strap with respect to the casing, whereby the locking device comprises safety means for bringing about the release thereof in the case of a defect to the locking system.

Abstract: Diving bell launch tube has a vertical passageway having a surrounding surge chamber adjacent to the water surface. The surge chamber communicates with the passageway through perforations and the holes of the perforated section are tuned with respect to the surge chamber volumes to achieve damping of water oscillation in the tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to naval construction and oceanology. It relates to a one-man submersible characterized, firstly, by external shapes designed to prevent any accidental fouling with any fixed obstacles; secondly, propulsion and steering units which give it excellent maneuverability and the possibilities of quick neutralization of any reaction experienced by the submersible; thirdly, by the fact that the operator has available a system comprising, at the extreme forward part of the submersible a swivelling and extensible tool-holder system with a coaxial and protected swivel seat; finally, a tall horizontal crane with one or two swivelling and extensible jibs, and four hydraulic columns with a special baseplate, these all being features which enable any work to be carried out with increased rapidity, accuracy and safety.The above submersible has numerous advantageous applications in various areas of ocean exploration and working.

Abstract: An umbilical conveyor system for a diving bell, including an umbilical conveyor, a pressure wheel, and hydraulic motors for the conveyor. The conveyor is designed to feed umbilical life support lines from a diving bell into or out of a storage location over a controlled radius of curvature, thereby preventing binding, kinking, or stretching of the umbilical. The hydraulic motors maintain the rate of feed of the umbilical equal to the rate at which the diving bell is raised or lowered, while the pressure wheel insures that the conveyor system will firmly grip the umbilical.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus is described for acoustically inspecting a submerged object at considerable depths such as the lower structural portion of an off-shore drilling rig to determine if the structure has internal defect which cannot be optically detected. The apparatus is intended to operate in depths of up to 500 meters. The apparatus includes an underwater craft for transporting both humans and equipment to the submerged object. The apparatus includes a hand held acoustical and optical probe that is movable by a diver over the surface of the submerged object. The probe includes an array of acoustical transducers that are sequentially activated to acoustically scan the interior of the object. The acoustical transducers are mounted in a flexible support material to accommodate the array to the contour of the surface. The probe additionally includes a real-time display of the acoustical information to assist the diver in effectively inspecting the object.

Abstract: An emergency life-supporting capsule is disclosed for transferring saturation divers from a main decompression chamber on board a main support vessel. The capsule is attached to the main decompression chamber in anticipation of an emergency. The capsule is located opposite a diving bell on the decompression chamber. The capsule includes self-contained breathing systems for supporting occupants divers. In case of an emergency such as abandonment of the main support vessel or the main decompression chamber, the divers are transferred to the capsule which is sealed and separated from the main decompression chamber, lowered overboard, and allowed to float independently until a rescue vessel arrives. The capsule is then retrieved by the rescue vessel and reconnected to a main decompression chamber.

Abstract: For inspecting and maintaining a submerged installation comprising an emergent part such as a platform, such as an artificial island or a submerged reservoir, said emergent part is equipped with a track along which a trolley associated with a diving bell can be circulated.The track is preferably installed under the platform, above the portions of the infrastructure to be inspected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled shark-proof cage which is provided with at least one access opening and a propeller mounting frame having pivot means coupling it to the cage so that the propeller mounting frame is pivotal about two axes at right angles to each other, and the propeller mounting frame carries on it an air motor and a propeller. The frame is provided with buoyancy means so that it can be made to be of approximately the same gravity as sea-water, and the air motor is driven by compressed air so that the cage can be propelled through the water, thereby enabling abalone divers to collect abalone without fear of predators and, beacause of less exertion, for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A heavy submersible object is deployed from or retrieved to a floating vessel in rough water. The connection or release point is sufficiently far below the water surface that surface waves have little if any effect on the object. Deployment and retrieval are made to an arm which depends from the vessel and which has a variable stiffness connection, ranging from free-swinging to rigid, to the vessel. Deployment and retrieval are made with the arm free-swinging from the vessel so the arm has no motion due to pitch or roll of the vessel. In retrieval, the connection is progressively stiffened to rigid after the object has been connected to the arm, and the arm is then raised with the retrieved object.

Abstract: A slightly negatively buoyant personnel-accommodating chamber is suspended from a pair of buoyant-link flexible drive loops engaging the under surface of an ice cover over the body of water in which the chamber is submerged. Propulsion of the chamber can be effectuated through the medium of a power driven sprocket wheel arrangement that propels the chamber along the buoyant drive loops which in turn are caused to "roll" along the under surface of the ice.

Abstract: A manned submarine includes first and second side-by-side chambers extending in a fore-to-aft direction. The first chamber is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure and includes sleeping and eating compartments for ship-based personnel, and a galley. The second chamber is maintained at greater than atmospheric pressure and includes sleeping and eating compartments for diver personnel. Passages interconnect the chambers, enabling ship-based personnel from the first chamber to service diver personnel in the second chamber. The submarine carries guides which can be mated with corresponding guides on a piece of underwater equipment to stabilize the submarine against lateral movement and allow the equipment to be attached to the submarine for transport. The submarine carries weights which are placed on the water bed and connected to the submarine by initially slackened lines.

Abstract: In a method of welding together two submerged pipe ends, the pipe ends are spaced apart and introduced through orifices into a receptacle by which they can be isolated from the surrounding medium. The spaced pipe ends are connected by a connection sleeve and after isolation are welded to the connection sleeve.

Abstract: 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 for 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 frusto-conical superstructure on the diving bell. A plurality of locking fingers are operatively arranged on the upper frusto-conical member for automatically locking the superstructure to the frame in a stabilized position over the water.