Deck gun elevator

Abstract

A deck gun elevator includes a tubular base, with an inlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage extending along the longitudinal axis, and a tubular member in the transverse passage, which forms an annular space between the tubular base and the tubular member. The tubular member includes an outlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage, which is in communication with the transverse passage of the tubular base for directing the flow of water through the deck gun elevator. A piston is mounted on the tubular member and positioned in the annular space and defines a first chamber, which is formed between the tubular member and the tubular base, and a second chamber, which is formed between the tubular member and the tubular base. A control controls the flow of fluid into and out of the first and second chambers to control the position of the tubular member along the longitudinal axis of the tubular base.

1 . A deck gun elevator comprising: 
 a tubular base having an inlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage extending along said longitudinal axis;    a tubular member in said transverse passage, said tubular member forming an annular space between said tubular base and said tubular member, said tubular member having an outlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage in communication with said transverse passage of said tubular base for directing the flow of water through said deck gun elevator;    a piston mounted on said tubular member and positioned in said annular space and defining a first chamber formed between said tubular member and said tubular base and a second chamber formed between said tubular member and said tubular base; and    a control controlling the flow of fluid into and out of said first and second chambers to control the position of said tubular member along said longitudinal axis of said tubular base.    
   
   
       2 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 1 , wherein said control includes an actuator, said actuator having a cavity and a piston in said cavity, said piston defining first and second chambers, and said first chamber of said actuator being in selective fluid communication with said first chamber between said tubular member and said tubular base, and said second chamber of said actuator being in fluid communication with said second chamber between said tubular member and said tubular base.  
   
   
       3 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 2 , wherein said actuator comprises at least one directional valve controlling the flow of fluid from said first chamber of said actuator to said first chamber between said tubular member and said tubular base.  
   
   
       4 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 3 , wherein said directional valve comprises a solenoid valve.  
   
   
       5 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 3 , wherein said actuator comprises a valve for controlling the direction of flow of the fluid between said second chamber of said actuator and said second chamber between said tubular member and said tubular base.  
   
   
       6 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 5 , wherein said valve for controlling the direction of flow comprising a pilot check valve.  
   
   
       7 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 1 , wherein said first chamber between said tubular member and said tubular base is filled with a first fluid, and said second chamber formed between said tubular member and said tubular base is filled with a second fluid, at least said second fluid comprising an incompressible fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 7 , wherein said second fluid comprises hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       9 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 7 , wherein said first fluid comprises air.  
   
   
       10 . A deck gun elevator comprising: 
 an outer tubular member having an inlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage extending along said longitudinal axis;    an inner tubular member in said transverse passage, said inner tubular member forming an annular space between said outer tubular member and said inner tubular member, said inner tubular member having an outlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage in communication with said transverse passage of said outer tubular base for directing the flow of water through said deck gun elevator;    a piston mounted on said inner tubular member and positioned in said annular space and defining a lower chamber formed between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member and an upper chamber formed between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member; and    a control controlling the pressure in and flow of fluid into and out from said lower and upper chambers to control the position of said piston and, hence, the position of said inner tubular member along said longitudinal axis of said outer tubular member, and said upper chamber having an incompressible fluid therein wherein a pressure increase in said lower chamber will generally not move said piston upward until the fluid in said upper chamber is allowed to flow from said upper chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 10 , wherein said control includes an actuator, said actuator having a cavity and a piston in said cavity, said piston defining first and second chambers, and said first chamber of said actuator being in selective fluid communication with said lower chamber between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member, and said second chamber of said actuator being in fluid communication with said upper chamber between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member.  
   
   
       12 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 11 , wherein said actuator comprises at least one directional valve controlling the flow of fluid from said first chamber of said actuator to said lower chamber.  
   
   
       13 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein said directional valve comprises a solenoid valve.  
   
   
       14 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuator includes two directional valves.  
   
   
       15 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 14 , wherein said directional valves comprise solenoid valves.  
   
   
       16 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuator comprises a valve for controlling the direction of flow of the fluid between said second chamber of said actuator and said upper chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 16 , wherein said valve for controlling the direction of flow comprising a pilot check valve.  
   
   
       18 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 16 , wherein said lower chamber is filled with a compressible fluid.  
   
   
       19 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 18 , wherein said incompressible fluid comprises hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       20 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 19 , wherein said compressible fluid comprises air.  
   
   
       21 . A deck gun elevator comprising: 
 an outer tubular member having an inlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage extending along said longitudinal axis;    an inner tubular member in said transverse passage, said inner tubular member forming an annular space between said outer tubular member and said inner tubular member, said inner tubular member having an outlet, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse passage in communication with said transverse passage of said outer tubular base for directing the flow of water through said deck gun elevator;    a piston mounted on said inner tubular member and positioned in said annular space and defining a lower chamber formed between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member and an upper chamber formed between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member;    a control comprising an actuator, said actuator having a cavity and a piston in said cavity, said piston defining first and second chambers, and said first chamber of said actuator being in selective fluid communication with said lower chamber, and said second chamber of said actuator being in fluid communication with said upper chamber;    said first chamber being in selective communication with said lower chamber by a normally open first valve and a normally closed second valve;    said second chamber being in communication with said upper chamber by a check valve having a normal flow from said second chamber to said upper chamber, said normally closed second valve in communication with said check valve and reversing the flow of fluid through said check valve when said normally closed second valve is open;    a source of pressurized fluid in communication with said first chamber through said first valve; and    said control further including a switch for opening said normally closed second valve and closing said normally open first valve wherein said control controls the pressure in and flow of fluid into and out from said lower and upper chambers to thereby control the position of said piston and, hence, the position of said inner tubular member along said longitudinal axis of said outer tubular member.    
   
   
       22 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 21 , wherein said upper chamber has an incompressible fluid therein wherein a pressure increase in said lower chamber will generally not move said piston upward until said second valve is open wherein the fluid in said upper chamber is allowed to flow from said upper chamber to said second chamber through said check valve.  
   
   
       23 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said first valve and said second valve comprises a solenoid valve.  
   
   
       24 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 23 , wherein said first and second valves comprise solenoid valves.  
   
   
       25 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 21 , wherein said check valve comprises a pilot check valve.  
   
   
       26 . The deck gun elevator according to  claim 21 , wherein said lower chamber is filled with a compressible fluid.