Improvements in Sounding Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sounding Apparatus.
1, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvoy, of 69 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
'follows:-
:-
In order to obtain accurately a continuous record of the depth of water traversed
by a vessel in passing from one spot to another I cause a submerged heavy bell
which rests on the bottom to be towed along by the vessel. The bell has secured
across its mouth a flexible diaphragm preferably of stout vulcanized india rubber
which may if desired he supported on the inside by a stout spring. From the
interior of the bell a flexible tube also passes up to the vessel and has its upper end
opening into a similar bell which has a flexible diaphragm secured across its mouth.
To the centre of the diaphragm of this bell I connect a pen or pencil which is made
to rest on a slowly travelling paper or surface.
The lower bell as it is towed along will follow the irregularities of the bottom.
As the depth of water above the bell increases or decreases the diaphragm of the
submerged bell will be pressed inwards to a greater or less extent the air in the
tube will thereby be to some extent compressed and the diaphragm of the upper
bell will consequently be pressed outwards. In this way the pen or pencil will be
moved to and fro. This movement is made to take place crosswise of the line of
movement of the travelling paper or surface-a line will therefore be marked on the
travelling paper or surface which will shew accurately the various depressions and
elevations on the surface of the bottom óver which the bell is dragged. A cylinder
and cup leather piston might be used in place of bell and diaphragm but not so
conveniently.
The diaphragm of the upper bell may be of much lighter material than the
diaphragm of the lower one so that it may be deflected by but light pressures of
air. The connecting tube between the two bells may be of very small bore and can
therefore easily be made capable of withstanding the pressures to which it would be
subjected.
When it is not required to keep a permanent record of the depth of water the
diaphragm of the upper bell may be made to give movement to a pointer or other
indicator as in a pressure gauge.
Instead of the bells and tube being filled with air they might if desired be filled
with other fluid or liquid either lighter or heavier than water-the indicator being in
such cases arranged accordingly.
Th: oon1 1
A nouat 1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sounding Apparatus.
I, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvor, of 69 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
According to this invention I construct sounding apparatus of a flexible
.incompressible tube connected at one end to a chamber closed on one side by a

page_text: flexible diaphragm whilst the other end is secured to a heavy weight by which it
can be lowered into the water.
When the weighted end of the tube is lowered into water the air in the tube
being acted on by the pressure of water at its lower end becomes compressed and
the diaphragm at its upper end is consequently pressed outwards. From the centre of
the flexible diaphragm motion is given to an indicator hand or to a marking
instrument acting against a travelling strip of paper if a permanent record has to
be kept.
If the sounding apparatus be used on board a vessel the depth of the water
traversed can be seen or recorded as the vessel is under way the weighted end of
the tube then following the irregularities of the bottom or the tube may be lowered
into the water from time to time like an ordinary sounding line. The apparatus
can also be used with advantage for recording the rise and fall of the tides.
In the drawings annexed I have shewn examples of sounding apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 1 is a face view. Figure 2 a cross section and Figure 3 a side view of
one form of the indicator of the apparatus.
A is a flexible diaphragm held securely around its edges to a metallic plate B.
'B' is a short tube extending from the back of the plate-C is the end of a flexible
tube secured thereto. Preferably I use a flexible gas tight metallic tube such as is
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to H. H. Lake No. 9478 in the
year 1885.
D is the spindle of an indicator hand D'-D' is a pinion on this spindle
gearing into a toothed rack E which is secured to the centre of the diaphragm A-
Fis a light spring which presses the centre of the diaphragm towards the plate B.
Figure 4 is an elevation mostly in section of a weight secured to the other end of the
flexible tube C-it has a passage formed longitudinally through it-the upper end
of the passage communicates with the interior of the tube-the lower end is closed
by a flexible diaphragm G-or in place of the lower end of the passage being
closed by a flexible diaphragm it may be left open as shewn at Figure 5-a number of
branch openings being provided to ensure that water shall always be free to enter.
Figures 6 and 7 are underside views of the weights shewn at Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of another form of indicator for the sounding
In this
apparatus adapted to give a permanent record of the soundings taken.
construction the centre of the diaphragm has a rod H extending upwards from it.
The upper end of the rod has a pin H projecting from it and entering a slot formed
through an indicator arm K which turns on a fulcrum at K¹. The other end of the
arm carries a pencil or marking instrument to mark on a strip of ruled paper which
is held around a slowly revolving cylinder L driven by clockwork in any ordinary
way. The curved surface M which forms part of the frame by which the
cylinder L is carried may be graduated so that the depth of water may readily be
seen as well as recorded. If desired the frame can be mounted on the stand of the
apparatus in such a way that it can be raised or lowered and fixed at any desired
elevation so that when the arm K is pointing to the lowest line on the paper any
desired depth of water may be thereby indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
1. Sounding apparatus composed of a metallic or other flexible incompressible
tube weighted at one end and connected at the other to a chamber closed on one
side by a flexible diaphragm from which motion is given to an indicator hand or to
a pencil or marking instrument acting against a slowly travelling strip of paper.
2. Sounding apparatus constructed substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings annexed.