MODIFICATIONS MADE DURING 

 THE 1960-61 RECONSTRUCTION 



This section summarizes the major additions and 

 modifications made to TRIESTE during the 1960-1961 

 reconstruction. A brief explanation of the reason for each 

 particular change is included. The over-all basis for the 

 reconstruction was, of course, the lessons and experience 

 of the preceding three years of operation. 



It should also be noted that, in addition to the TRIESTE 

 reconstruction, a considerable amount of work was done 

 on the supporting facilities both ashore and afloat. The 

 second shop building was completed, and both shop buildings 

 were finished on the inside. Both project boats received 

 complete overhauls and some modification. While not all 

 of this work was directly accomplished by project personnel, 

 it was planned and supervised by them. 



FUEL DISTRIBUTION 



In the past, TRIESTE was fueled through individual 

 hoses to each of the ten tanks in the float. This system 

 was inefficient in that most of the time spent in fueling was 

 actually used for shifting connections, making preparations 

 for fueling, and controlling the fuel flow to the individual 

 tanks. The defueling process was time-consuming because 

 of the considerable loss of suction resulting from the 

 numerous fittings that were employed. 



It was decided to install a centralized manifold fuel 

 system on board TRIESTE in spite of the slight weight 

 penalty and consequent reduction in over-all payload. The 

 centralized manifold system allows quick connection and 

 disconnection and high rates of fuel flow. The rate of flow 

 through the 4- inch main supply line to the manifold is about 

 1000 gallons per minute. The lines to each of the tanks 

 have two stop valves, one at the tank and one at the manifold. 

 Thus, one man can control the entire fueling operation from 

 the manifold. The time required to fuel the bathyscaph has 

 been reduced from over 4 hours to a little less than 1 hour. 

 Also, this system is designed to be compatible with the 

 proposed mother ship system in that the bathyscaph can be 

 fueled and defueled rapidly from a single point. Small 



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