Page 114 - Inventions - A Visual Encyclopedia (DK - Smithsonian)

Going underwater

Diving propeller for
up-and-down movement
The early pioneers of the submarine were inspired by stories
of what lay in the ocean depths. According to legend, the
Wooden ancient Greek king Alexander the Great dived into the sea
body
inside a large glass jar. In the 1500s, air-filled chambers called

“diving bells” became popular with underwater explorers. As
GET MOVING in water, the modern-day submarine began to take shape.
people experimented with designing craft that could submerge

THE FIRST AIRLOCK
TURNING “TURTLE” In 1894, the American engineer Simon
The American inventor David Bushnell’s Lake pioneered the airlock with his
Turtle is said to be the first functional, underwater craft, the Argonaut Junior.
modern submarine. It was a one-man The airlock system is a two-door
wooden barrel with a propeller, steering chamber. When a diver leaves the
gear, and viewing windows. Built craft, the chamber is filled with water
in 1773, the Turtle was used in the so the outer door can be opened. When
American Revolution to secretly put the diver returns, the outer door is
explosive charges on British ships, closed, the water drained,
but its mission never succeeded. and inner door opened.

The vessel is bullet-shaped so
water can flow around it easily.

Model of the
submersible Alvin

TAKING A DIVE
Built in 1964, the American research vessel
Alvin is a submersible. Unlike a submarine,
a submersible needs a support crew on the
surface for power and air supply. The Alvin
can run for up to 9 hours, carrying two
scientists and a pilot to depths of up to 14,764 ft
(4,500 m). After half a century and more than
4,000 dives, this craft is still operational.
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