The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

THE SUBMARINE SYPHON.

On Saturday an experiment was made in the Thames
in front of the new Houses of Parliament, with a
novel and ingecious divi g apparatus bearing tnis
designation, the invention of M. Danduran, a French
civil engineer, now on a visit to this country, and
already known in Paris for several useful contriv-
ances. The trial of this instrument, made under the di-
rection of M. Danduran himself, was witnessed byseveral
scientific
gentlemen and others well able to form a cor-
rect opinion of its merits, including Mr. Charlier, the
secretary of the Royal Humane Society ; Mr. Page, the
principal engineer at the new bridge, Westminster ; and
Mr. Graham, the resident engineer there, the two latter
of whom have had great experience in the operations of
diving-bells while the foundations of the intended struc•
tare were being laid. A complete and efficient apparatus
for conducting submarine operations with ease, at con-
siderable depths below the surface, has long been a desi-
deratum. The ordinary diving-bell, diving•helmet, and
other similar contrivance?, though answering the purpose
for which they were designed with more or less efficiency,
have never, it is said, overcome a difficulty incident to
them all, arising from the increased pressure of the air
within the apparatus as it descends lower in the water,
which renders it unsafe for a human being to descend
much more than about 40 feet, for, with the pressure
increasing at a rapid rate as the instrument sinks, the
diver, without some means of counteracting it, would
soon reach a limit at which respiration would be impos-
sible. This great difficulty has been overcome by the con-
trivance of M. Danduran, which is as simple as it is
effective. His apparatus consists of a copper bell, in
shape not unlike an ordinary umbrella partially col-
lapsed, fitted with glass plates, and sufficiently large to
cover the diver to the waist. Beneath this is slung a
saddle of lead, weighing nearly 1501 b., which serves the
double purpose of a convenient seat for the diver and
of sinking the bell in a vertical direction. A strong
gotta percha tube, about an inch and a half in diameter,
is passed through the bell, entering at one Bide and
coming out at the corresponding one on the other, on a
line with the mouth of the diver when he is seated
inside. Both ends of this tube are kept above water,
whatever depth the diver may descend, and to that por-
tion of it which comes in contact with his lips a flex-
ible mouthpiece is attached, perforated like an ordinary
respirator, by which he is not only enabled to br,atti
with freedom, but to hold verbal communication with
the persons in charge of the apparatus at the surface,
who are thus put in a position to direct his submarine
operations with comparative ease. When, under the
existing practice, a diver dons his helmet and his cam-
. brous diving dress of stout leather, with its leaden cuirass
and his immense sabots with soles of lead an inch thick,
legremtlyiealmost borne down by the enormous weight he
carries, which, though absolutely necessary to sink him,
impedes the freedom of his operations under
constantly
Besides, he is only kept alive by an air pump
opweroartkioinng,
he might
the surface; and through any
with
accidentits
to this, or want of attention in those charged
commu-
nicating with those on dmecikg
hauled above water htnodriethbeyefowriethlaheimc,ouexhlcebpet
by tugging a rope ; He has, too, no means of
directions they must p
and they want to give him fresh
diver, on the othee.haludptso.t
com-
municate them and thennl'hun the surfacesttroidehisimmerse him again. M. Dan-
duran'sleaden saddle, habited only in 1 jauntily a
a light waterproof dress,
with his arms and legs
sits on the lead Which
at perfect libeity, for,
unlike the man in the helineatyse
sinks him instead of sustaining e•
etrhceo u
tabure withon
deckth
ioriinthis shoulde,s .and
feet, and he can always hold v:rhite
people on deck. To one extremity of
a fanning apparatus is attached, resembling a
small
coffee-mill in size and appearance, and when this
in motion a current of air as the ordinary pressure,i.set
matter what depth he may be, is conveyed pastno
p the
mouth of the diver, which he can breathe with carn•
fort. The chief uses of the apparatus is to examine
ships' sides and bottoms while at sea, to discover and
stop leaks, to recover lost property, to fish coral,
sponges, and mother of pearl, to guide the laying of
electric cables, and especially toinspect them and dis-
cover the point of separation when the electric com-
munication is broken, to which purpose it seems admir-
ably adapted.aThe French Minister of Marine appointed
the invention, and their report was of so favourable a
severl commissions to examine into the capabilities of
nature that orders were given. to M. Danduran to supp,y
some of the French seaports' with the apparatus. 13r-
ing- the experiments on Saturday Mr. Page and Mr.
Graham, the engineers at Westminster-bridge, expressed
a Strong opinion of its vast superiority over the comm on
diving helmet, of which, it may be added, it is little
more than a third the cost. H. Danduran is now elides,.