The winch weighs 13 pounds in water, has a line capacity of 40 feet of 

 3/8 inch diameter nylon rope and has an average line speed of 20 fpm 

 with 6.5 gpm through the power handle. The maximum recommended load for 

 this winch is 500 pounds . 



The power handle weighs 17 pounds in water. It was built utilizing 

 a commercial hydraulic motor and a handle from another tool. The power 

 handle motor can develop a torque of 460 inch-pound at 6.5 gpm and 1500 

 psi. The configuration of the power handle prevents any torque from 

 being transmitted to the diver. 



The objective of the test program was to demonstrate that divers 

 could attach the winch system and move loads on the ocean floor. The 

 test was conducted on the ocean floor at Anacapa Island. It consisted 

 of bolting the winch to test stand, coupling the power handle to the 

 winch, and moving 200 pounds (5.5 feet) of 2 inch chain across the 

 bottom. The chain was first dragged about 30 feet across the ocean 

 bottom to the pontoon. The variable buoyancy lift device in Figure 26 

 was then used to return the chain to its previous location. Subsequently, 

 the chain and lift device were pulled to the pontoon while neutrally 

 buoyant and then while positively buoyant. The underwater visibility 

 was adequate for the divers to use hand signals between the winch oper- 

 ator and the rigger. The entire test went very smoothly and the "dis- 

 posable" winch system appears to be a useful diver tool for salvage 

 operations . 



The winch and power handle were adequate for the test program. How- 

 ever, the design was compromised by the standard commercial components 

 which were used. For Navy use it is preferable to have a winch with 

 (1) a 1/2 to 1 ton pull capacity instead of 500 pounds, (2) a power 

 handle weighing about ten pounds instead of 17 pounds, (3) a winch with 

 three legs designed for easy attachment to flat or curved surfaces, (4) 

 a non-stretching rope which will lay on the winch drum without line 

 tension, and (5) a better mechanical connection between the power handle 

 and winch, perhaps like the one in Figure 27. 



Hacksaw 



The hydraulic hacksaw in Figure 28 is commercially available. It 

 is sold to cut railroad track for track repair and construction. The 

 manufacturer claims that it can be used in a cutting machine or used as 

 a hand tool. The hacksaw requires a hydraulic flow of 4 gpm and weighs 

 20 pounds in water. 



The purpose in testing this tool was to determine if divers could 

 use it to cut steel plate underwater. This saw was very difficult to 

 operate on the surface and only a single attempt was made to operate it 

 underwater. 



The divers operated the saw in the guide track attached to a 1/2 

 inch thick steel plate (see Figure 28) and also hand held the tool 

 against the plate without the track. It was not possible to cut with 

 the saw in the track because the blade could not be forced into the 



29 



