Submarine conning tower hatch

[addjunkie]

I would heat the hatch from the outside round the lip of the hatch if possible with an oxytorch then big valve spanner on the outer wheel and give it a really good whack. Might need to get someone to stand on the vv spanner to prevent it flying off when hit.

suspect it will work. But dont use a cast ali stilson if you have no valve spanner / wheel key. A wheel key with out impact might be enough.

Id not be using naked flame inside there for the paint too.

 

[awemawson]

Can you not get a hydraulic jack between the lug and the lid? I'm thinking of the sort used for spreading car body work and come with various screw on claws and adaptors.

 

[maz0]

It doesnt look like you can get the heat directly onto the lugs, so you will be heating the hatch face which is attached to a 92 meter heat sink. I reckon your best bet is bobs, get someone pounding it with a BFH above while someone below moves the handle. Vibration will be better than heat here.

 

[8ob]

The way I see this is the whole mechanism pulls the lid down tight on the rubber seal, the only way to release the mechanism from sticktion at this point is to shock the lid or to apply force down on the lid from the outside which will compress the rubber and relax the mechanism. The mechanism itself is probably not siezed, it just needs the rubber relax a little.

Bob

 

[WorkshopChris]

The way I see this is the whole mechanism pulls the lid down tight on the rubber seal, the only way to release the mechanism from sticktion at this point is to shock the lid or to apply force down on the lid from the outside which will compress the rubber and relax the mechanism. The mechanism itself is probably not siezed, it just needs the rubber relax a little.

Bob

The sort of thing that would happen if the hatch was shut down nice and tight on a hot summers day, when the rubber is nice and soft. Now its 5deg C outside the rubber is set hard with no give, clamping the ring preventing it from turning.

 

[Wightsparks]

Cool job!

Looking at the open pic I would remove the hinge.

EDIT Duh, that would not work! - But yea weight on the top to compress the seal and a bit of release in the central bearing. Also you can get a Freeze release spray that works like heat but the opposite way round

 

[Hitch]

Could you not install a couple of dehumidifiers for periods when condensation is an issue?

 

[Eric the chicken]

Brush diesel or penetrating fluid such as PlusGas into the point where the rotating inner ring meets the hatch. leave it to soak for a few days repeating the application regularly. Then put the longest scaffold tube that you can turn in the space you got on the hatch handle. Then gently
ease to and fro.

 

[jerrytug]

I have seen that sub many times..if you stand on deck and look along the river, you will see a crane barge and an old tug, Sheen, which I crewed on years ago!

What are you doing with the sub? I know it was a museum attraction near the Barrier but got shut down by H'n'S
(too risky for the claustrophobic or something)

We always dreamed of putting some motors back in her, and cruising past the houses of Parliament giving them hand signals

Good luck with your project whatever it is (and the hatch..)

 

[bricol]

Can't see there being any give in that seal arrangement - the hatch will dog down tight solid on the seat to prevent movement and leaks.

I'd suggest from the pictures that you have considerable leverage on the dogs with that gear arrangement, so I'd be thinking the ring is seized in its runway too.

Cut the dog, or their latches off, open the hatch, remove it and free it if it needs it, greasing it so slow it happening again. Weld new dogs or latches back on.

 

[Nomad]

Looking at the opened hatch, there are 3 dogs opposite the hinge.
Can you undo the hinge on the stuck hatch then lift the hinge side to slide the hatch out without needing to open the dogs? At least it should let you rattle the hatch side-to-side.
If it won't lift out, the movement might be enough to loosen the stuck dogs, then you can refit the hinge and try again.
Interesting problem to have, keep us updated

 

[Robbie260]

suspect it will work. But dont use a cast ali stilson if you have no valve spanner / wheel key. A wheel key with out impact might be enough.

Id not be using naked flame inside there for the paint too.

Would agree with that.

The reason i would say heat it from the outside is if you heat it from the inside you are just goimg to expand the locking ring into its catch points. Heat it fromt the outside and you should expand the hatch tunnel and catch points away from the colder locking ring freeing it. Also fumes etc should be easier to manage from the top side of the hatch.

 

[HopefullySoon]

You don't get projects like this every day , , beats a rusty sill on a mass produced car .

Can't wait to see the solution .

Malc

 

[mike os]

how ever you tackle it we need loads of pics

 

[voipio]

Freezer spray in a confined space, without ventilation at the bottom, is a no no. The freezer spray vapour is heavier than air, will sink to the bottom and could be an explosion hazard and, if ignited, or comes into contact with flame, will release hydrogen fluoride.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Can you not get a hydraulic jack between the lug and the lid? I'm thinking of the sort used for spreading car body work and come with various screw on claws and adaptors.View attachment 161409

id be tempted to try and load the locking dog with the ram and then try barring the handle round at the same time, itll probably start to give

 

[Windy Miller]

Is it possible to get to the other side of the hatch, or is that the only way up into the fin?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Is it possible to get to the other side of the hatch, or is that the only way up into the fin?

you should be able to access the bridge fin from the outer hull via a door, or possibly rungs on the bridge fin itself on an old boat, outer hatch my not have a wheel but instead a socket to insert a wheel into

 

[Rig Pig]

If you're sending employees/volunteers up there then you are going to have to be careful as it looks like a confined space or at very least restricted access. the legal aspects of this need to be considered as you dont want to finish up liable for anything! At work I have jump through hoops to carry out anything in a confined space. @Parm what do you think?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

If you're sending employees/volunteers up there then you are going to have to be careful as it looks like a confined space or at very least restricted access. the legal aspects of this need to be considered as you dont want to finish up liable for anything! At work I have jump through hoops to carry out anything in a confined space. @Parm what do you think?

during build each compartment has a large safety air monitor on the floor, and each person must also carry a small personal air monitor too, EVERYTHING on a sub is a confined space! doing any sort of hotwork onboard a soviet boat with paint that probably consists of every carcinogenic known to man, i would have at least a PAM and no lone working