On the divisor class group of double solids

For a double solid V→ℙ_3> branched over a surface B⊂ℙ₃(ℂ) with only ordinary nodes as singularities, we give a set of generators of the divisor class group in terms of contact surfaces of B with only superisolated singularities in the nodes of B. As an application we give a condition when H ^* (˜V , ℤ) has no 2-torsion. All possible cases are listed if B is a quartic. Furthermore we give a new lower bound for the dimension of the code of B. Received: 16 November 1998