Improvements in or connected with Means for Sounding the Depth of Water.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Means for Sounding the Depth of
Water.
I, EDWIN SUTTON CORNISH, of 7, Albert Road West, Albert Park, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;-
-
This invention has reference to means for sounding the depth of water in
channels, rivers, &c., from on board ship; and the kind of apparatus or appli-
ances to which it particularly relates is that in which a weight or body is lowered
from a ship's side, and while in motion, is drawn or trailed over or upon, the bottom
of the sea, river, &c., and, through suitable means, indicates or records upon the
ship the depth of water under her at every instant of time or, it enables the depth
of water to be ascertained. The chief object of this invention is to provide
improvements or means in connection with apparatus of this kind, by which an
improved downward or descending action of appliances of this kind, that is, a
power or ability to travel downwards through the water to great depths with
certainty is attained, and without the employment necessarily of any special or
moveable parts.
An example of apparatus or appliances to which the invention relates, is set
forth in a former Patent Specification of mine, No. 18236 of 1896, and which it is
desired to improve and simplify, and render the sounding of great depth by it,
more effectual and certain. For convenience, the invention will be described as
applied to appliances of this type, it being understood, however, at the same time,
that improvements hereunder may be used in connection with other kinds of
sounding apparatus designed to ascertain the depth of water under a ship while
in motion.
According to the present invention, the device which is to be sent down to
the bottom of the sea, channel, &c., as the case may be, is held from point for-
ward along the ships side, by a plurality of lines or ropes, say two, and they are
secured to the article or body at different points, the one in front of the other,
say one at the head and one at the base or tail. By this means, the device is
kept at such an inclination in the water that by the action of the water upon
it, in being towed through it by these lines, by the ship, a constant downward
propulsive effect is obtained, and the device does not go within reasonable depths
into that position or angle at which the downward propelling force ceases to
exceed the force of resistances to its descension.
In experimenting, I have observed, that, in towing an article through the
water, held by one tow-line and a brace or bridle, the tendency of the line is to
assume approximately a parabolic curve, with a result that the body of the
device tends to assume or approach the horizontal, and thereby, of course, destroy
or diminish its descending qualities, due to its propulsion through the water;
while, by the employment of the duplex or multiplex tow lines as described, a

page_text: species of a parallel motion is afforded, and the desired inclination of the device
is maintained, in spite of the curve taken by the tow lines or ropes.
The device or body which descends through the water can be made generally
similar to the body of the device set forth in my said prior specification; or, it
may be made in jany other suitable form. It is also controlled from the ship by
a cord or line, by which it can be lifted and paid out, and which also may serve
as a measuring line; or, it may be secured, and otherwise controlled, and measure-
ments taken, in the manner referred to in my said former specification.
Dated this 6th day of September 1897.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
pplicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in or connected with Means for Sounding the Depth of
Water.
I, EDWIN SUTTON CORNISH, of 7, Albert Road West, Albert Park, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention has reference to means for sounding the depth of water in
channels, rivera, etcetera, from on board ship; and the kind of apparatus or appli-
ances to which it particularly relates is that in which a weight or body is lowered
from a ship's side, and while in motion, is drawn or trailed over or upon the bottom
of the sea, river, &c., and, through suitable means, indicates or records upon the
ship the depth of water under her at every instant of time or, it enables the depth
of water to be ascertained. The chief object of this invention is to provide
improvements or means in connection with apparatus of this kind, by which an
improved downward or descending action of appliances of this kind, that is, a
power or ability to travel downwards through the water to great depths with
certainty is attained, and without employment necessarily of any special or move-
able parts.
An example of apparatus or appliances to which the invention relates, is set
forth in a former Patent Specification of mine, No. 18236 of 1896, and which it is
desired to improve and simplify, and render the sounding of great depth by it,
more effectual and certain. For convenience, the invention will be described as
applied to appliances of this type, it being understood, however, at the same time,
that improvements hereunder may be used in connection with other kinds of
sounding apparatus designed to ascertain the depth of water under a ship while
in motion.
According to the present invention, the device which is to be sent down to
the bottom of the sea, channel, &c., as the case may be, is held from a point for-
ward along the ships side, by a plurality of lines or ropes, say two, and they are
secured to the article or body at different points, the one in front of the other,
say one at the head and one at the base or tail. By this means, the device is
kept at such an inclination in the water that by the action of the water upon
it, in being towed through it by these lines, by the ship, a constant downward
propulsive effect is obtained, and the device does not go-within reasonable depths
into that position or angle at which the downward propelling force ceases to
exceed the force of resistances to its descension.

page_text: In experimenting, I have observed, that, in towing an article through the
water, held by one tow line and a brace or bridle, the tendency of the line is to
assume approximately a parabolic curve, with a result that the body of the
device tends to assume or approach the horizontal, and thereby, of course, destroy
or diminish its descending qualities, due to its propulsion through the water;
while, by the employment of the duplex or multiplex tow lines as described, a
species of a parallel motion is afforded, and the desired inclination of the device
is maintained, in spite of the curve taken by the tow lines or ropes.
The device or body which descends through the water can be made generally
similar to the body of the device set forth in my said prior specification; or, it
may be made in any other suitable form. It is also controlled from the ship by
a cord or line, by which it can be lifted and paid out, and which also may serve
as a measuring line; or, it may be secured, and otherwise controlled, and measure-
ments taken, in the manner referred to in my said former specification.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation illustrative of the invention, applied
to a ship, and in action; Figure 2 shews in plan a construction of a part for
connecting the appliance to, at the fore part of the ship, and a means for operating
it; and Figure 3 shews in end elevation a device or body connected with the cords,
for effecting the vertical propulsive effect.
Referring to the drawings, three towing cords are used, a single forward or lower
cord a, and two other separate cords b. To give the different areas for the variable
resistance to the passage through the water, these cords a and b may be assumed to
be the same size. The propelling devices are designated c, and their shape may
be somewhat circular, in the form of discs, as shown in Figure 3; but other forms,
as rectangular devices, in different shapes, may be employed. The lowermost
device c is connected with the ship through a line d; and this line passes over a
pulley at e, and is taken to an instrument f, on which it may be wound or taken in,
and paid out, and which will be adapted in any of the well known ways, through
an indicator, to shew the distance the end disc c has descended, and the depth of
water under the ship, at each and every instant. The line d itself may be also
marked to indicate the length paid out, in the manner of an ordinary head line
used for sounding.
Normally, when the line is out ready for use, but before it is actually put in
nction, it is laid out alongside of the ship, in the position shewn in Figure 1, it
being connected or held at the point h at the fore-part of the ship, with the lower
line a slacked away, so that the devices c take a position in which the movement
over the water keeps them on the top of the water. When it is desired to put the
apparatus in action, and sound, the lower line a is hauled in, which reverses the
position of the discs c, bringing their toes forward; whereupon, this forward
inclination, coupled with the forward movement of the ship, propels them down-
wards, and as they descend, and the resistance offered by the ropes in their
passage through the water increases, the back ropes 6 become bowed between the
several propelling devices c; and thus the backs of the devices are pulled up, and
their inclinations kept at such an angle as produces an effective downward pro-
pelling action. By this, practically any reasonable depth can be reached by the
sounding apparatus, no matter what the velocity of the ship may be; and the lower-
most device c will be kept on. the bottom all the time.
b
The lowermost device c, in some cases, may be provided with a weight c¹, or
metallic toe, which would come upon and drag along the surface of the bottom.
A means for supporting the tow lines a and b, and of operating the lower line a,
is shewn in Figure 2; and it consists of an outrigger i, hinged at 2 to the ship's
side the upper ropes 6 being spaced apart and fixed in the head of the outrigger,
and the other one, a, being passed through the centre, and over a pulley in the
head; from which part it passes over a pulley k held in the frame k¹ on the ship's side,
where it is attached to a hand screw ³, by turning which, in one or other direction,
the rope a will be pulled in or paid out in operating the apparatus, as described.

page_text: When the apparatus is in operation, and it is desired to raise it to the surface of
the water, this can be done by paying out the rope a by the screw, which reverses
the inclination of the propelling devices c; or it may be hauled up by the rope d.
In lieu of a radially acting apparatus, wherein the radial movement takes place
about the point h, the apparatus may be arranged so that the lowermost propelling
device will move vertically downwards, as indicated in dotted lines, and marked
in Figure 1; in which case, of course, all the tow lines, and the whole apparatus
would be paid out from the point h, as the apparatus descended, and the lifting
or lead line d was paid out.
In lieu of using the lower tow rope. a, as a means of adjusting the angle of the
propelling devices c, this may be done by letting out and working the upper ropes b.
It will be seen that, according to this invention, the sounding device may be,
practically, always directly along the side of the ship, while the ship is sailing
ahead; and when turning, if the device and lines get under the ship, it is of no
moment, as they will soon, of themselves, come right along side, when the ship
takes its course, and they cannot get foul of the propeller or other part of the
ship. Therefore, under all circumstances, the apparatus is not liable to become
foul with any part of the ship, and is under any case, self righting, after it has been
in any abnormal position, due to any special movement of the ship.
A further effect is, that the sounding apparatus can be worked and soundings
taken or indicated, and continuously while the ship is going at full speed; and
therefore, it being unnecessary to slow the ship, either when the apparatus is being
lowered into the water, or at any other time, and the apparatus being directly
under the ship, and the sounding continuously taken and indicated or visible, the
ship can go at full speed without danger at any time, until or unless the indicator
shews, by the depth of water under her, it would be dangerous to do so.
By these
advantages, particularly in foggy weather, the ship is enabled to obviate the loss
of time which at present invariably takes place in foggy weather, in having to
reduce her speed in making a coast, or going up channel, or coming into port.
The effect of the employment of a tow rope or ropes connecting the backs of the
device or devices, of larger area than the front tow rope is, that these upper or
outer ropes are taken up or shortened by their becoming bowed, owing to their
greater resistance to the passage through the water: whilst the other rope keeps
comparatively tight and straight. Thus in the case where several of the pro-
pelling devices are used in the apparatus, the upper or outer cord or cords
connecting them together will, when they have descended a substantial distance
and assumed a certain angle, present a number of bowed connections, as shewn, in
the drawings, which are the cause of the retention of the devices at such an angle
as will take the apparatus or sounding appliance down to great depths, and
irrespective of the speed at which the ship may be travelling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
or
1. Ships' sounding apparatus comprising an inclined propelling device towed by
the ship, and adapted to be propelled downwards by being towed through the water,
and upper and lower tow ropes connected to the ship, the said upper tow
rope
ropes having greater resistance to passage through the water than the lower, where-
by the upper ropes are shortened, and the inclination of the propelling device
controlled, in descending through the water; substantially as set forth.
2. A ships sounding apparatus comprising propelling devices c, tow ropes a
and b, connected with the ship at their forward end, and with the devices at parts
aft of said connection, at their lower and upper parts, respectively; substantially
as set forth.
3. In a ship's sounding devices, a plurality of sounding propelling devices c,
upper and lower tow ropes a and b, connected to said devices at their lower and
upper parts, respectively, and the upper rope or ropes being of greater area than

page_text: the lower, and a controlling line d, connecting the lower end of the apparatus
with the ship; substantially as set forth.
4. In a sounding apparatus for use on board ship, the combination of upper and
lower tow lines a and b, and propelling discs c, to which said ropes are connected
at the lower and upper parts, respectively, and one of said ropes being adjustable
in relation to the other, to vary the inclination of the devices; for the purposes
specified.
5. Sounding apparatus for use on board ship, having parts arranged and adapted
to operate as set forth particularly with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of June 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.