rack and pinion or hydraulic ram and locking pins 1

[Sam7000]

Hey all,

I am in need of a system to lift a ~300ton object off the sea floor. I have had suggestions of using a rack and pinion system driven by an electronic/hydraulic rotary drive unit, or using a multiple stage hydraulic ram with locking pins.

What are the pros and cons of the two options?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[jlnsol]

My suggestion is using a strand jack lifting system like Mamoet used to lift the Koersk submarine. See:

http://www.mammoetsalvage.com/Default.aspx?tabid=707

 

[Jboggs]

Seriously? You want to lift 300 tons underwater and you come to a forum for advice? ("Well boss, some guys on a forum I never met told me it should work.")

How deep? Lift how far? For what purpose? How often? Portable? Remote control or direct? I could go on and on with questions. You haven't begun to give enough information to get any kind of reliable advice. Not that I would base my design on the opinions of some guys in a forum.

I see that you are Civil/Environmental. So its understandable if you don't have the mechanical design skills or judgment this job requires. You need a highly experienced mechanical design engineer (preferably experienced in underwater operations) on your staff working directly with you on this.

 

[Cockroach]

Why not float it to surface using air bags and then have a crane on a ship lift it into a holding bay?

Seems a little more practical than bringing it up to surface mechanically speaking.

Regards,
Cockroach

 

[PNachtwey]

How deep?

Peter Nachtwey
Delta Computer Systems

http://www.deltamotion.com

 

[Sam7000]

I think you might be right Jboggs. Probably one of those times I need to accept I can't do everything myself.