A FREE DIVING BOAT
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Casimir Deschamps and Charles Vileoq, of Paris, in
the Empire of France, and of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London, for the
Invention of "A FREE DIVING BOAT."
Sealed the 12th January 1856, and dated the 20th July 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Casimir Deschamps and
Charles Vilcoq at the Ollice of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 20th July 1855.
We, CASIMIR DESCHAMPS and CHARLES VILCOQ, of Paris, 22, Rue Richer,
and of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A FREE DIVING BOAT," to be as follows, viz. :-
This Invention relates to a diving boat of an entirely novel form, and
which may be freely directed backwards and forwards at the surface or at the
bottom of the water by the operator, shut up in the same, by means of a screw
or helix and a rudder, and which also allows the operator to remain and work
under the water for several hours by means of reservoirs containing com-
pressed air. This diving boat consists of a boat of suitable shape, being oval in
cross section, built firm of any strong material, and also water-tight, so as
never to leak to any considerable extent. This boat has sharp ends, and
at the front end we fix an india-rubber buffer for deadening the shock,
and at the back a screw propeller, the shaft of which passes through suitable

page_text: packing. This screw is turned by the operator inside the boat by means of
suitable spur chain and bevil gear. Behind the screw propeller there is also a
rudder, which the operator can move by means of a rack worked by a string
or rope attached to a pedal or swivelling bar worked by the feet of the
operator, the rack working into a pinion which drives the rudder shaft by
suitable gearing. There is also a lantern at the top or other part of the boat
for lighting the ground, by means of an electric lantern, which is worked by a
battery in the boat. Outside the boat we also fix suitable hose or other
chambers of india-rubber, which can be filled by a pair of bellows from the
main or working chamber of the boat, by which means the air polluted by
breathing is got rid of, and the buoyancy given to the boat is regulated. For
this purpose we use a respiratory apparatus with valves for breathing the pure
air contained in the chamber of the boat, and for driving the vitiated air into
the bellows abovesaid. This air may also be let out by another cock without
passing into the buoyant hose or bags. The proper supply of air for breathing
and also for giving the greater part of its buoyancy to the boat is obtained by
laying up a store of compressed air in proper chambers at the back and front
of the boat. The boat also contains a pressure guage for regulating the
quantity of the breathing air, and a ship's compass for directing the boat's
On the boat's side we make several openings, or fasten water-tight
sleeves of india-rubber or other elastic material, so as to allow working upon
the sea's bottom, and the upper portion of the lantern above mentioned being
covered with glass, the operator or operators can see the ground they work
We also use in connexion with this boat a ballasting apparatus,
upon.
consisting of suitable weights hung from click and ratchet rollers, so that when
it is desired to lighten the boat, said rollers are let go, by lifting the click out
of the ratchet wheel, and the weight or weights sinking to the sea's bottom,
no longer weigh upon the boat. There are also at the front and back part of
the boat outside galleries with nets, for protecting the hose and also for holding
and carrying the working tools for submarine operations.
-SPECIFICATION in pursuance-of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed-
by the said Casimir Deschamps and Charles Vilcoq in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CASIMIR
DESCHAMPS and CHARLES VILCOQ, of Paris, in the Empire of France, 22, Rue
Richer, and of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Casimir Deschamps & Charles Vilcoq, Her special licence that we, the
said Casimir Deschamps & Charles Vilcoq, our executors, alministrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Casimir Deschamps & Charles Vilcoq.
executors, administrators, and assigns. should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "A FRE DIVING BEAT," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Casimir Deschamps and Charles Vilcoq.
by an instrument in writing under our hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Casimir Deschamps & Charles Vilcoq,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:--
This Invention relates to a diving boat of an entirely new form, and which
may be freely directed backwards and forwards at the surface or at the bottom
of the water by the operator, shut up in the same, by means of a screw or
helix II and a rudder I, Fig. 1, both set in motion by means of gear wheels
arranged inside, so as to be worked by the band of the operator. The latter
is also allowed to breathe freely and to remain and work under the water for
several hours by means of compressed air contained in reservoirs T, Fig. 2.
This compressed air is diffused at will by means of the manometer W in the
boat, from which the assistant sucks it by means of the breathing apparatus,
shown at Fig. 5, and then drives it out through a pipe. Besides the operator
can see the ground on which he works through the glass partition of the.
lantern; he is also allowed to grasp external objects by means of the sleeves E
Fig. 1.
He may have the boat rise up and keep floating a little beneath
the surface of the water, and there regulate its buoyancy by means of two
gutta percha hose or chambers, which are filled with compressed air when the
boat is desired to rise, the air being let out when the boat is desired to sink.
The two said hose are placed at the back and front part of the boat into

page_text: outside galleries with nets G, Fig. 1, for protecting the hose, and also for
holding and carrying the working tools. By means of this boat, investigations
and discoveries may be made at the bottom of the sea. The same may be used
also for raising or destroying foundered vessels, for searching fire ships and
like incendiary engines, for reconnoitring &. without any danger of being
discovered. There is also a water-tight chamber, which contains electric
batteries for the purpose of feeding a lamp, that projects light to a very great
distance, yet not to be seen above the water.
Fig. 1 representing the external part of the boat. A, complete diving boat,
all copper, being about six feet seven inches long by three feet nine inches
high, and two feet six inches wide; B, copper part of the lantern; C, glass
part of the lantern; the glass being supported by a frame carefully luted.
D, lower part of the lantern, made of round form, and capable of holding a
lamp E, india-rubber sleeves lined with leather; F, hinged part of the
lantern, opening for the passage of the operator, and provided with its
fastenings; G, galleries with nets for holding the working tools and rigging on
the front part and back part of the boat; H, screw; I, rudder; J, screw
shaft; K. india-rubber buffer, placed at the front part in order to deaden
shocks; L, casing for small bevil wheels serving to work the rudder; M,
cylindrical bobbins, provided with ropes, a ratchet gearing, and a pulley for
raising the lead ballast; N, lead ballast; O, rings fixed at the front part and
back part of the boat for fastening and raising it; P, electric lamp, provided
with a reflector for preventing the light from being seen from above; Q, screw
frame; R, hose placed at the front part and at the back part of the boat for
bringing it up and down.
Fig. 2. representing the internal arrangements. A, turning scat; B, gall
chain pulleys for working the screw; C, small gall chain pulley working on
the driving shaft; D, escapement wheel gearing into the pinion of the screw;
E, pinion of the screw; F, screw shaft; G, driving shaft; H, journal boxes;
1, gall chain; J, frame bars of the front part of the boat for keeping its sides
asunder, and increase the force of the air chamber; K, frame bars, for keeping
the sides of the boat asunder, and supporting the screw shaft; L, pedal or
swivelling bar for moving the rudder; M, rope for moving the rudder; N, small
pulleys for leading the rope and-facilitating- the-motion; O, rack gearing for
moving the rudder; P, driving shaft with its gear wheels and bearings, setting
in motion the gearing of the rudder; Q, shaft and its wheels for connecting
the whole gearing; R, bearings for the gearing being secured on; S, bellows
for admitting and letting out the vitiated air, also serving for blowing the
hose; T, recipient for containing the compressed air; U, cock for filling the

page_text: air chambers; V, small cocks for distributing the air; X, small cocks for
driving the air into the hose; Y, chamber for containing the electric battery;
Z, shutting of the entrance; W, manometer, marine watch, and ship's compass.
Fig. 3, section of the back part of the boat; Fig. 4, section of the front
part of the same; Fig. 5, side front section of the respiratory apparatus;
Fig. 6, front external section; Fig. 7, front internal section.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, we wish it to be clearly under-
stood that what we claim as novel, and being secured to us by the herein-
before in parts recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the form of the diving boat, specially as has been described.
Second, the mode of working the said boat by means of gear wheels
arranged inside, so as to be worked by the operator's hand.
Third, the hose by which the boat is made to go up and down, or is kept
floating beneath the surface of the water.
Fourth, the arrangement of the sleeves, enabling the operator to work and
grasp external objects on all the faces of the boat.
Fifth, the various arrangements and means above described, by which the
operator is enabled to breathe freely and without any danger.
Sixth, the bellows or blowing apparatus for driving out the vitiated air or
the gas evolved from the battery, and serving also for filling and emptying
the hose without using any vital air.
Seventh, the application of an electric battery for the purpose of lighting
the inside and the outside of the boat, specially as has been described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Casimir Deschamps and Charles Vilcoq,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.