Improved Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
JOHN ARTHUR ROEBUCK RUDGE Scientific Mechanist & Electrician of
No. 1 New Bond Street Place Bath do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the saving of life from drowning, by means of a
purposely made India Rubber or other Watertight substance, which can be
instantly inflated. It is attachable to garments or any article to be made buoyant
for the purpose of saving life. It is composed of Three separate Chambers A B C.
B & C being within A. The two inner Chambers contain the Chemicals for
producing Carbonic Acid Gas or any other quickly made gases. In the case of
Carbonic Acid gas the Chamber B contains Carbonate of Soda or other Chemical
& the Chamber C an Acidulated Solution. When you wish to inflate the outer
Chamber A you Press or Pull a Button or other contrivance as the case may be;
either being applicable. This opens a valve or Stop Cock & Forces the Acidulated
Solution from the Chamber C into B the gas escaping through small appatures at
one end of B making it sufficiently buoyant to support a person or Persons
according to the size of the Chamber A.
Also to the Apparatus to be worn is attached a small metal flask containing a
stimulant which may be taken at times in case of long exposure in cold water.
Dated this 29th day of August 1896.
JOHN ARTHUR ROEBUCK RUDGE.
Improved Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
JOHN ARTHUR ROEBUCK RUDGE, No. 1 New Bond Street Place Bath
Philosophical Instrument Maker 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:-
That it consists of two Chambers attached to an Inflatable Rubber or other
Airtight Material made as a dress or as an ordinary Belt, and that it may be
attached to Articles, Boats, Animals as well as Persons.
And that the Chambers may be contained within the Inflateable or Expanding
Chamber as a part of it, or they may be made a separate thing and attached to the
aforesaid Expanding Chamber by means of a Union and that the Chambers
contain Chemicals Preferably a Dilute Acid in one and Carbonate of Soda in the
other, which when brought together will quickly produce a gas (Carbonic Acid)
and Inflate the aforesaid Expanding Chamber.

page_text: And that the two Chambers may be placed side by side or Preferably one within
the other in which case they may be attached to any existing aforesaid
Expanding Chamber. When one Chamber is within the other, the inner one is
composed of Glass or some other breakable substance, which contains the liquid
(Dilute Acid) and Hermetically sealed. This is surrounded by the Powder
(Carbonate of Soda) or Powders, contained within The outer Chamber, composed
of Metal or some other Airtight Material. The Powder or Powders are prevented
from passing into the aforesaid Expanding Chamber by means of a thin Diaphram
which bursts when the moisture and pressure begin to act on it.
To inflate the aforesaid Expanding Chamber it would be necessary to apply
pressure to the inner Chamber by means of a Screw or releasing a spring, If a
screw be used there would be placed under the head of it an India-Rubber washer
so that when Screwed right down there would be no chance for the gas to escape
outwards, or water to leak inwards.
A Outer Chamber.
B Inner Chamber.
REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS.
C Space for Powders or Powders.
D Space for Liquids.
E Paper or some other thin Diaphram.
F Screw for breaking Inner Chamber.
India-Rubber Washer.
I Connection of Union.
J Cap to screw on for protection to the diaphram when they are packed up.
K Where inuer Chamber is sealed off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A self Inflating Apparatus for saving Life from drowning.