Improved Means of Conveying Postal Matter, Bullion, Valuables, and the like at Sea.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improved Means of Conveying Postal Matter, Bullion, Valuables,
and the like at Sea.
I, WILLIAM WHEADON FUZZEY, of Havelet, in the Island of Guernsey, Auctioneer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improved means of conveying mail or postal matter,
bullion, valuables and the like at sea, such means being adapted for floating the same
and available for saving life in case of shipwreck, collision or fire.
On the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, represents the improved device in
isometrical perspective. Fig. 2, represents a longitudinal section on a vertical plane
passing through, a, b, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, represents a transverse section on a vertical
plane passing through, c, d, Fig. 1.
The improved device consists essentially of a closed water-tight chamber or casing, 1,
which is strongly built of timber or other suitable buoyant material, surrounded with
strengthening bands, 2, preferably of metal bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto,
and is adapted with an interior watertight lining of galvanized iron or other suitable
metal. The casing or chamber, 1, may be divided into any required number of com-
partments of any required shape for the reception of the mail or postal matter, bullion
or other valuables, by watertight partitions, 4, also preferably formed of galvanized
iron or other suitable metal. Additional buoyancy to any required extent is imparted
to the device by any required number of airtight compartments formed at the upper
part of the casing, 1, adjacent to its sides, or ends or both, such buoyant compartments
being divided off from the chamber, 1, or the other said compartments thereof by
partitions, 5, also preferably formed of galvanized iron or other suitable metal. Each
of the said compartiments into which the chamber is formed for the reception of the
mail or other matter is provided with an opening, 6, by means of which access can be
obtained to its interior for the purpose of placing and removing the bags of mail or
postal matter and receptacles of bullion and other valuables, and each of such openings
is provided with a lid, 7, for closing the opening through the metal lining, 3, and with
a lid, 8, for closing the opening through the outer wooden casing, 1, the closure being
rendered watertight by means of seatings, 9, of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material adapted to the parts of the casing and if required to the parts of the lining, 3,
:

page_text: surrounding such opening, 6, and against which seatings the lids, 8, 7 respectively
press when closed and fastened. The lids, 7, and, 8, are respectively hinged to the
lining, 3, and casing, 1, at one side and are at the opposite side, also respectively
provided with suitable locks or means of securing them when closed down so that the
contents of the respective compartments cannot be surreptitiously got at.
The device is also provided or fitted with a surrounding railing, 19, at its top, and
with life-lines, 10, at its top, sides and ends the same being secured thereto by rings,
staples or equivalent means, 11. The railing, 19, and life-lines, 10, serve as means
available on an emergency for persons in the water to cling to and for assisting
them in getting on to the device, the top of which is further fitted with an open topped
cylinder, 12, within which is coiled a line connected thereto and to a contained buoy, 13,
the purpose of utility of which is hereinafter referred to.
The under part or bottom of the device is adapted or fitted with a sufficient number
of short conical feet, 14, to properly support it, and the lower part of its ends and
sides is also provided or fitted with any suitable number of eyes, ringbolts or staples, 15,
the purpose of utility of which is also hereinafter referred to. The bottom part of tho
device may be made of a specially heavy construction to ensure the upright floating of
the device when launched, or it may have a portion divided off as at, 21, and such
portion may be filled with any suitable ballast, or the sides of such portion may be
perforated so as to allow of water entering thereinto for ballasting the device when
afloat.
The chamber as thus adapted is intended to be placed on the deck, 20, of the
carrying vessel in the least encumbered part thereof, the quarter-deck or stern being
preferred, and is secured thereto in such a manner as that it can be readily released
therefrom upon the emergency of shipwreck, collision or fire occurring, so that it may
be readily launched therefrom by hand or by any convenient appliance if opportunity
pormits, or may float upon the vessel foundering, those who are able to cling thereto
on being launched or floating off therewith being saved in addition to those who may
be saved by boats, the device also saving its contents from foundering or being
lost.
For the purpose of securing the device the deck of the ship is provided with shallow
sockets, 16, into which the said conical feet, 14, are inserted, and with eyes, ringbolts
or staples, 17, opposite those, 15, with which the sides and ends of the device are provided,
and the chamber is secured in position by lashing the opposite eyes, 15, 17, together
by rope, 18, which alone requires to be cut away by a hatchet or other available
implement in order to release the device from the ship. To facilitate the launching of
the device the portions of the bulwark of the ship opposite the device may advan-
tageously be so fitted as to be capable of being readily removed.
If there should not be sufficient time to allow of the device being released and it
should go down with the vessel, the said buoy, 13, would rise to the surface of the
water and indicate where the vessel had foundered so that divers might go down and cut
away the said lashings, 18, upon which being effected the device being buoyant would
immediately rise to the surface, and being watertight the mail and other contained
matter would be saved without loss or damage.
Some of the said compartments may be reserved for the storage of water and pro-
visions for the use of those who may be saved upon the device and for the storage of
oil bags for use in rough weather.
The device being constructed with independent containing and buoyant compart-
ments its buoyancy, would not be liable to be wholly destroyed unless all its com-
partments were stove in.
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 1
claim is :-
--
1. The herein before described improved means of conveying mail or postal matter,
bullion, valuables and the like at sea and of floating the same and saving life in case
of amerGAR

page_text: 2. In apparatus used for the purpose of the Invention, in combination, the buoyant
watertight, casing, 1, strengthened with surrounding bands, 2, and adapted with life
lines, 10, top railing, 19, cylinder, 12, and contained buoy, 13, and watertight
doors, 8, with an inner partitioned watertight lining, 3, partitioned off into a ballasting
compartment, 21, buoyant compartments, 5, and watertight compartments for
reception of mail or other matter and adapted with watertight doors, 7, substantially
as herein before described.
3. The method of securing such buoyant casing and lining thus respectively adapted,
to the deck of a vessel by forming the chamber with conical feet, 14, fitting into like
shaped recessed sockets, 16, projecting from the deck and lashing the casing to
the deck by cord, 18, passing through staples, 15, 17, respectively projecting from the
said casing and deck, substantially as hereinbefore described.
T 01
P T1 1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.