Improvements in Floatation Chambers for Life-boats, Belts, and other Life-saving Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Floatation Chambers for Life-boats, Belts, and
other Life-saving Apparatus.
I, CHARLES EDWARD EVANS, of 26 Exchange Buildings, Bute Docks, Cardiff,
in the County of Glamorgan, Coal Exporter, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved material for making
cellular chambers for the purpose of giving increased floatation to all kinds of life-
saving apparatus including life-boats and other boats and vessels.
The air chamber, as generally used in life-boats and life-belts, are open to
various objections.
In the metallic chambers employed in life-boats, the copper or other metal,
through galvanic action or other corrosive agency, frequently gets corroded
through, and therefore the floatation becomes impaired, besides, the chamber is
heavy and expensive.
In cork life-belts, the cork gets deteriorated and sodden in time, rendering their
floatation also of little value, to say nothing of their great weight even at their
very best.
India-rubber air cushions, when applied for life saving apparatus, quickly become
deteriorated and the air contained therein escapes.
I propose therefore to use the material known as xylonite or celluloid, a material
consisting essentially of collodion, cotton and camphor, and such like materials.
Now for the purpose of life-boats, the form of the chambers employed will, as far
as practicable, take the form of those in existence, but in addition thereto, I prefer
to make the chambers, to a certain extent, in the form of a series of honey-combed
cells, so that in case one gets punctured, the others remain intact. The shape and
size of the cells, would be varied to suit the circumstances of the case.
In another form, I propose to employ a number of celluloid hollow balls, cases
or chambers of any convenient form. These fit closely together and are encased in
an outer casing of any suitable material.
With regard to my improved life-belt, I intend employing a series of chambers
encased in canvas, in the usual form, or the celluloid chamber can be made in the
form of a tubular ring surrounding the body. The interior of the ring may be
divided up into compartments if necessary.
This invention can be adapted to any form of life belt now in use.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Floatation Chambers for Life-boats, Belts, and
other Life-saving Apparatus.
I, CHARLES EDWARD EVANS of No. 26 Exchange Buildings, Bute Docks,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Coal Exporter, 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved material for the
D
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page_text: manufacture of hollow chambers for the purpose of imparting increased floatation
or buoyancy to all kinds of life-saving apparatus, including life-buoys of every
description, life belts, life jackets and Hoatation chambers of every description, on
boats, yachts or vessels. The invention is also applicable to all kinds of safety
rafts and is adapted to take the place not only of copper and other metallic
chambers, but of cork also.
In the case of the metallic chambers hitherto employed under the circumstances
contemplated by my invention, the copper or other metal employed frequently gets
corroded through, the floatation or buoyancy being thereby correspondingly
As to
impaired. Moreover, any metal is itself heavy and expensive, as a rule.
cork, it gets sodden in time or otherwise deteriorated. Indiarubber has been
used as a material for air-cushions of life-saving apparatus but it quickly
deteriorates.
My invention consists in using xylonite or celluloid as a material for the manu-
facture of the hollow chambers before mentioned.
In the case of boats, the chambers will, as far as may be practicable, take the
form of those already in use, but they may be made in the form of a series of
compartments or tubes honeycombed, or otherwise subdivided to any extent as the
special circumstances of any particular case may require. Or I may employ a
number of hollow balls, cases or chambers of any convenient form, fitting closely
together and encased in any suitable material.
In applying the present invention to life-buoys, the latter are made in the usual
form, i.e., in that of a tubular ring or hollow annulus adapted to surround the body,
and with or without partitions. The usual canvas cover can be adopted, if desired.
The material which I employ is not restricted, in respect of life-buoys, to the form
last described but may advantageously be used in the production of a life buoy
shaped like a dumb-bell.
Buoys or air chambers may, in all cases, be divided up by internal partitions of
the same material as themselves or may be made with internal frames of wood or
other suitable material.
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 practical application of xylonite or celluloid to the production of the
hollow chambers herein before enumerated.
2. A hollow chamber of the type adapted to discharge the functions of those
hereinbefore enumerated made of xylonite or celluloid.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1894
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.