AN IMPROVEMENT IN DIVING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Paschall Morris Tasker, of the City of Philadelphia,
- State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America, Manufacturer, for an
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN DIVING APPARATUS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Stephen Paschall Morris Tasker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1880.
STEPHEN PASCHALL MORRIS TASKER, of the City of Philadelphia, State of
Pennsylvania, and United States of America, Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN DIVING APPARATUS."
Heretofore in diving apparatus shaped to the human body it has been difficult to
combine with the requisite flexibility of material a rigidity or stiffness sufficient
to resist at every portion of the armor the external pressure of the water without
reinforcing or aiding the material of which the apparatus is composed by pumping
within it a supply of atmosperic air, not only sufficient to ensure life to the diver, but
also sufficient to counteract, balance, and resist the external pressure of the water.
The object of my Invention is the construction of such an armor, suit, or
apparatus as shall overcome this difficulty, and be of itself of sufficient strength to
resist at its every portion the external pressure without reinforcement by an over-
supply of internal air, and shall, at the same time, be of sufficient flexibility to
permit the requisite movements of the diver.
It further has for its objects a better construction of the armor-lifting devices,
whereby the strains in lowering and lifting the apparatus out of the water are not,
as heretofore, confined to one portion of the armor, but are distributed more equally
over it, so as to act not only upon the head and trunk portions, but also upon the
legs, and thereby take from of the joints the strains heretofore imposed upon them
in the elevation and lowering of the apparatus. It further has for its object such.
an arrangement of the air inlet and exhaust tubes as concentrates them into one,
and prevents the complexity and entanglement incident to the old arrangements;
and further, such a construction of the suit as enables it to be easily put on and
taken off; and, finally, such an arrangement of the air tubes that by the application
of suitable floats they are kept continuously elevated and out of the way of the
diver.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of an
apparatus embodying my improvements, and consisting essentially of an interior
lining of rigid material and an exterior coating of flexible material; Figure 2, a
front elevation of the same, showing the method of attachinent of the lifting ropes
and the location of the various joints; Figure 3, a sectional elevational detail of the
upper portion of the helmet and the method of the attachment thereto of the lower
extremities of the exhaust and inlet air tubes.
Figure 4, an elevation of the tubes, showing the means whereby the lifting ropes
are applied, showing also the application of the floats; Figure 5, a perspective view
of the position of the armor in a given movement of the diver, as, for instance, in
his movement of walking upon the bottom of the sea, illustrating also the expansion
of the bellows joints.
Figure 6, an enlarged sectional detail, showing the form of a bellows-joint
expanded.
Figure 7, a similar view of the same, contracted or closed up.
Figure 8, a form of ring employed in the construction of a single-acting bellows
joint.
Figure 9, an enlarged sectional view of the body coupling.
Figure 10, a central sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my improve-
ments, showing the armor constructed of one layer or thickness of rigid water-proof
material instead of two layers of material.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring first to the construction of apparatus represented in the first nine
Figures in the Drawing, a represents the flexible water-proof covering of the
armor. This may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, water-proof
cloth, or other fabric, which, while both strong and elastic, is yet impervious to
water.
b is the interior metallic casing which constitutes the inner layer, lining,
foundation, or body of the suit.
The lining may be made of sheet metal of any fit kind, or of other material, the
essential characteristic of which must be rigidity or stiffness sufficient to retain the
contour of its various sections against such collapsing pressures as are found to
exist under water.
.
The union of the metal or other lining and the water-proof covering is con-
veniently effected by rows of wire stitching, as indicated at c, in the place of
which, however, may be substituted rivets, or equivalent fastening devices.
In the construction of the joints it is of course impossible that the metal of the
lining should be continued at least in an unbroken condition as in the unjointed
sections.
The object of extending the water-proof material of which the flexible joints are
composed over the entire surface of the limbs and body of the armor, is, as far as
possible, to save or do away with connecting couplings in the armor, as it is obvious
that the liability of leakage increases in proportion to the number of coupling joints
in the armor.
If it is desired the connections, couplings, and the flexible joints in the arm or may
be fastened and secured by means of flanges and rivets, or bolts, as shown on the
neck portions of the armor in the Drawings.
.
In order then to secure the necessary resisting stiffness, and at the same time
the requisite flexibility, I have devised a joint consisting essentially of a series of
flat rings d, each of substantially the form shown in Figure 8, and of suitable
size. The form of the ring is that of a flat disc with a center not concentrically
but eccentrically punched therefrom, so that the ring has an edge which is thin and
an edge or side, so to speak, which is thick; e, for instance, representing a thin and
f a thick side.
The side e is placed at the inner junction of the joint where the latter is
constructed to open in one direction, or, to be single acting, as shown in Figure 6,
while the thick side fis put upon the outer junction of the joint, as shown in the

page_text: same Figure. The water-proof covering being extended more fully over the
outside of the joint, as shown at Figure 6, forms a bellows joint which closes in
upon itself in the form shown in Figure 7, the bellows material folding in between
the rings and lying closely compacted between the latter when the joint is closed.
The rings are held in place by wire, rivets, or the like.
Where a joint has motion in one direction only, as, for instance, an elbow joint,
as shown in Figure 6, the rings and joint are constructed as just stated; where
however the motion of the joint must be compound so as to open upon two sides
or upon all sides, the joint is made correspondingly, that is to say, has two bellows
joint or a bellows joint all around and the rings correspondingly shaped. It will be
be understood that when one of these joints is closed by straightening out the
jointed sections, the rings lie within the bellows-shaped material flat upon each
other, thereby effectually resisting external pressure, and forming a portion even
more strong than the unjointed portions of the sections, and a portion upon which
the unjointed sections or its either side abut so to speak; when, on the contrary,
the joints are bent, the bellows material is prevented from collapsing out of shape
by the rings, the flexible material however being made of strength sufficient to
resist the external pressure.
It is obvious that there are incident to my joint, among other advantages, that
the interior diameter of the armor not contracted at the joints, the bellows
material and rings projecting outwardly; that the joints are both laterally stiff,
compact, and light, a few rings cut from light sheet metal ensuring, from their form
and arrangement, both strong resistance to exterior pressures and large extension to
the flaps; and that the flap portions are protected when closed by the rings, and
held with certainty in their folds, while the connection of section with section is
steady and strong whether the joint be open or shut.
The apparatus therefore, considered as a whole, is a casing at all parts, joints,
and unjointed surfaces capable of resisting external pressures.
The trunk portion
of the apparatus is provided with a coupling which starts from one shoulder,
extends obliquely around the body, front and back, and terminates below the arm,
which is opposite to the shoulder mentioned, whereby the apparatus is easily put
on and taken off; the coupling referred to being made operative by any well known
means, such as bolts, clutches, snap catches, or equivalent fastenings. The water proof
material at this coupling is entirely parted, but is connected by a loose flange
through a fast flange, in the manner represented in section at g in Figure 1 in the
following manner, that is, each of the contiguous portions of the armor which are
to be united by a coupling is bent out to form a flange of the proper shape, the
rubber coating is also turned out but is lapped around about the flange. To make
make the coupling tight I apply upon the exterior surfaces of the flanges, which are
rubber coated, separate metal flanges i, so that the bolts or other fastenings & embrace
eight thicknesses, and make a perfectly impervious joint. I do not however confine
myself to eight thicknesses, or the exact construction recited, as I contemplate the
use of a less number of flanges or of other analogous methods.
The helmet of the apparatus, which is also adapted to be removed, is connected
by a similar coupling j, composed however of fewer thicknesses by reason of the
different construction of the helmet which is that generally employed. The air tubes
iu my inproved apparatus consist of an inner tube & for supplying air, and an outer
tube for carrying off the exhaled air; these tubes can, if desired, be continued
within the helmet and terminated at any suitable point. The tubes in question are
made to resist a high degree of external pressure, and to have a tensile strength
sufficient for raising and lowering the apparatus.
Around the external tube, which is connected to the helmet by clamps m, as
shown in Figures 2 and 3, or by other analogous devices, is braided or otherwise
secured a rope. n which branches off into four strands above the helmet, sub-
stantially as shown in Figure 4, and is carried down at the sides of the helmet, both
in front and back of the trunk, and upon both the outside and inside of the legs,

page_text: *
being passed through loops o connected to the armor, and made fast to the front
and back of the trunk and feet at p.
This rope is intended to take the strain from the tube in hoisting and lowering
the apparatus, and, at the same time, to hold the flexible joints of the apparatus
together, and not permit the weight of the apparatus itself, that is, of the lower
portions thereof, to depend upon the joints intermediate between the attachment
of the lifting device to the helmet and the boots.
In order that the weight of the ropes and tubes may not interfere with the
diver, I apply floats q at convenient places upon the rope, which may be made
of material which will itself float, or may be hollow bags filled with air or light
gases.
The floats are secured as is most convenient by clamps r or the like, so that they
may be taken off and applied at will.
In the first nine Figures of the Drawings I have shown, and have herein before
described, an armor consisting essentially of two layers of material, one rigid and
not necessarily water-proof and the other flexible and water-proof, the whole
provided with flexible joints. I do not, however, confine myself to this construction
as it is obvious that instead of employing two layers of material, one material may
be used, which material must possess the two above requisites, viz. :—
First. Rigidity and strength sufficient to resist such external pressure under
water as the armor may be subjected to, and
Second. Imperviousness to water.
Figure 10 of the Drawings represents an armor composed of a single material,
both rigid and water-proof, and provided with flexible joints.
In an armor of the character represented in Figure 10, the joints may be of the
character hereinbefore described, or they may be formed in and of the material
of which the unjointed sections of the armor is composed, so long as they be
flexible; for example, the body, limbs, and head of the armor may be of vulcanized
rubber and the joints of flexible rubber.
The object of my Invention, in conclusion, is to overcome the defects heretofore
existing in common forms of diving apparatus, and in which the armor is obliged
to carry or be supplied with an internal pressure of air proportionate to the
external pressure of water, by the excessive pressure of which air upon his body
the diver is injuriously effected, the blood being as is well known forced from the
surface of his body to its interior, so as to cause congestion and even death.
Its further object is to prevent effectually the pressure of the water in deep
.. diving from interfering with the movements of the diver, as his requirement is that
the inside pressure of air be merely such as will sustain healthful breathing, while
it is essential, as before stated, that further external pressures either of air or water
should be excluded from him.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim,-
1. A diving apparatus, consisting essentially of a suit or armor conformed to the
shape of the human body, and composed of a material possessing the two fold
characteristics of rigidity and imperviousness to water, and provided with flexible
water-proof joints, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.
2. A diving apparatus, consisting essentially of a suit or armor conformed to the
shape of the human body, and consisting of an internal lining of rigid material and
an external coating of water-proof material, the whole provided with flexible water
proof joints.
3. In combination with a diving armor of the class above recited, bellows joints,
consisting of flat rings of metal or other rigid material, and flap portions of flexible
material, in combination with rigid sections, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
4. In combination with bellows joints of flexible material flat rings, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
5. As a coupling for the diving armor hereinbefore described, composite flanges

page_text: embodying both fast and loose flanges of coating and lining material, united by
bolts or the like, in the manner herein before set forth.
6. In a diving apparatus of the character herein before set forth, a coupling
extending from one shoulder to beneath the opposite arm, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
7. In a diving apparatus, as a means for supplying and exhausting air and
preventing entanglement, two concentric pipes connected with the helmet, one
adapted to supply and the other to exhaust air.
8. In combination with air tubes connected with the helmet, ropes or the like
secured about the air tubes, and likewise secured to the armor at various points, as
and for the purpose set forth.
9. In combination with the air tubes and lifting devices of the armor, adjustable
floats, as and for the purpose set forth.
10. A diving apparatus so jointed or otherwise constructed as to enable the diver
to walk upon the bottom of the sea, and yet capable of resisting external pressures,
whereby the diver is enabled to work with a healthful pressure of air only.
11. A diving suit or armor conformed to the shape of the human body, and
consisting essentially of unjointed sections connected together by flexible joints
corresponding to the joints of the body, the unjointed sections being formed of
rigid material, the joints of flat rings, and both sections and joints being covered
and united together by flexible waterproof material, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
12. A diving suit or armor conformed to the shape of the human body, and
composed of unjointed sections of hardened rubber or other vulcanizable material,
and of connecting bellows joints or vulcanizable material not vulcanized but pliable,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Paschall Morris Tasker, have
hereunto set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of November 1880
STEPHEN PASCHALL MORRIS TASKER. (L.S:)