IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND BIGNALLING THE DEPTH OF WATER, FOR USE IN SHIPS AND OTHERWISE, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roland Isaac Barnes and Hubert Samuel Heath, both
of Islington, in the county of Middlesex, Engineers for an Invention of
** IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND
BIGNALLING THE DEPTH OF WATER, FOR USE IN SHIPS AND OTHERWISE, PART
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
13
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roland Isaac Barnes and
Hubert Samuel Heath at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
18th June 1883.
ROLAND ISAAC BARNES, and HUBERT SAMUEL HEATH, both of Islington, in
the county of Middlesex, Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIGNALLING THE DEPTH OF WATER, FOR USE IN
SHIPS AND OTHERWISE, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
"
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically giving a
signal or an alarm by means of electricity when a ship approaches shoala, rocks or
earth at any fixed or predetermined depth of water and is more especially
applicable for use on ships to indicate and give an alarm when the ship is out
of her course in foggy weather or at night, the object being to give timely
warning when nearing the shore or rocks and thereby to prevent shipwreck. The
invention is also applicable for taking soundings and for other purposes where it
is required to ascertain the depth of water.
A suitable arrangement for carrying out our invention for use on ships is as
follows:We provide a contact make and break consisting of a hollow vessel
having levers or arms supported on pivots or otherwise, suitably weighted; the
levers or arms are fixed in such a way that the top ends make contact with the
interior of the hollow vessel upon the lower part of the levers or arms coming into
resistance with any solid body. We attach an insulator conducting wire to the
metallic part of the hollow vessel and a similar wire to the upper end of the levers,

page_text: the two insulated wires are then bound up together with any suitable insulation
to form a single cable-the reverse ends being connected one to an electric bell or
alarum and the other to a battery.
In making use of this apparatus the bell and battery are fixed in a convenient
place on a ship and a sufficient length of the cable attached to the hollow vessel.
The cable is attached to an indicator on the bridge or other suitable place easily
accessible to the captain or other officer in command; when in foggy weather or
at night or on approaching land the hollow vessel attached to the cable is lowered
into the water (by means of an apparatus such as that hereinafter described) to the
depth required for the purpose of safety, and upon the vessel coming into the
depth so predetermined the levers meet with the resistance of a solid body such
as sand, shoals or rocks and will make contact inside the hollow vessel and so
complete the circuit of the electric current and sound the alarum. Suitable
means are provided for keeping the hollow vessel perpendicular and to prevent
it spinning.
Instead of making the circuit by contact in an instrument in the water as
herein before described we sometimes attach a rope or chain to a grapple and on
the other end of the rope or chain is attached a flexible spring so arranged that
when the grapple meets with a resistance the spring on board is drawn into
contact and so makes the circuit and gives the alarm in the same manner as
herein before described.
For the purpose of lowering the apparatus to the required depth and for raising
the same the wire cable attached to the hollow vessel or grapple is operated by
a winch constructed in the following manner :-We provide a reel for winding the
cable on, with a ratchet wheel, handle and brake; the extreme end of the cable is
carried through a flange on the end of the reel and the two wires separated and
carried through a bearing of non-conducting material and an electrical connection
is made to two metal rings attached to the spindle which is also of non-conducting
material and the electrical circuit is completed by automatic springs or levers
bearing on each ring, one connected to the bell or alarum and the other to the
battery.
Fixed parallel with the reel is a roller over which the cable travels for the
purpose of turning the roller. This roller is fitted with a worm gearing into a
wheel carrying a spindle attached to an index movement with a dial marked off
in fathoms or otherwise; it will be evident that as the instrument is lowered with
the cable from the reel it turns the roller and puts the index. in motion and the
dial will indicate the length of cable run out.
We have described our invention as applicable for use in ships for giving an
alarm or signal when approaching the shore or otherwise but it will be obvious
that the apparatus may also be used for taking soundings also for taking and
indicating the depth of water in reservoirs or otherwise.
The herein before described winch connection may also be employed for other
purposes where it is required to pass an electric current through a revolving shaft
or real

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Roland Isaac Barnes and Hubert Samuel Heath in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 13th December 1883.
ROLAND ISAAC BARNES and HUBERT SAMUEL HEATH both of Islington in
the county of Middlesex Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIGNALLING THE DEPTH OF WATER FOR USE IN
SHIPS AND OTHERWISE, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
23
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically giving a
signal or an alarm by means of electricity when a ship approaches shoals, rocks or
earth at any fixed or predetermined depth of water and is more especially
applicable for use on ships to indicate and give an alarm should the ship through any
cause get into shallow water in foggy weather or at night, the object being to give
timely warning when nearing the shore or rocks and thereby to prevent shipwreck.
The invention is also applicable for taking soundings and for other purposes where
it is required to ascertain the depth of water or for measuring distances.
A suitable arrangement for carrying out our invention for use on ships is as
follows: We provide a contact maker and breaker consisting of a hollow vessel
having levers or arms supported on pivots or otherwise, suitably weighted; the
levers or arms are fixed in such a way that the top ends make contact with the
interior of the hollow vessel upon the lower part of the levers or arms coming into
resistance with any solid body. We attach an insulated conducting wire to the
metallic part of the hollow vessel and a similar wire is in connection with the
levers, the two insulated wires are then bound up together with any suitable
insulation to form a single cable the reverse ends being connected one to an electric
bell or alarum and the other to a battery.
For the purpose of lowering the apparatus to the required depth and for raising
the same the wire cable attached to the hollow vessel is operated by a winch
constructed in the following manner :-
We provide a reel for winding the cable on, with a ratchet wheel, handle and
brake; the extreme end of the cable is carried through the reel into the spindle
thereof and the two wires separated and carried through non-conducting material
and an electrical connection is made to two metal rings attached to the spindle and
the electrical circuit is completed by automatic springs levers wheels or other
contacts bearing on each ring, one connected to the bell or alarum and the other to
the battery.
Fixed parallel with the reel is a roller over which the cable travels for the
purpose of turning the roller and thereby measuring the cable. This roller is fitted
with a worm gearing into a wheel carrying a spindle attached to an index
movement with a dial or dials marked off in fathoms or otherwise.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
represents a longitudinal section and figure 2, a horizontal section of part of a ship
shewing our improved method and apparatus for indicating and signalling the
depth of water applied thereto; figure 3, is a vertical section of the hollow vessel
forming the contact maker and breaker and figure 4, is a horizontal section of the
same on line A. B of figure 3; figure 5, is a vertical transverse section of the
winch; figures 6, and 7 are a vertical section and plan respectively of another form
of contact maker and breaker; figure 8, is a vertical transverse section of part of a
ship shewing an arrangement of apparatus in which a grapple is used instead of
the contact makers and breakers shown in figures 3, 4, 6 and 7; figure 9, is an
elevation of the grapple; figures 1, 2 and 8, are drawn to a scale of about half an
inch to a foot; figure 5, about one inch to a foot and figures 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9, about

page_text: two inches to a foot. Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or
corresponding parts.
We will first describe our invention by reference to figures 1, to 5, a, is the
hollow vessel forming the contact maker and breaker; b, 61, are the levers or arms
with which it is provided and c, o, are the pivots of the levers or arms b, b³, such
pivots bearing in an insulated support d, in the centre of the hollow vessel a ;
c, e, are projections in the interior of the hollow vessel a, with which the top
ends b¹, of the levers or arms make contact as hereinafter described when the lower
ends b, come into resistance with any solid body; f, is a spring for keeping the
levers or arms in their normal position; g, is the conducting wire attached as
shewn to the metallic part of the hollow vessel a, and h, is the conducting wire
in connection with the levers or arms b, 61, through the support d, the two wires g,
and A, being bound up together to form a single cable i; the other ends of the
wires g, and h, are in electrical connection with the electric bell or alarum j, and a
battery k, respectively as hereinafter described. 4, is the winch for lowering the
hollow vessel a, to the required depth and for raising the same by operating the
cable i, attached to the same; m, is the reel on which the cable i, is wound; n, is
the ratchet wheel; o, the ratchet; p, the winch handle; q, the brake and r, the
brake wheel of the winch; the extreme end of the cable i, is carried through the
reel m, as shewn in figure 5, into the spindle 8, thereof and the two wires g, and h,
are separated and passed through the non-conducting material t, to the two metal
rings u, and v, attached to the spindle s; w, and c, are the springs which by means
of friction rollers y, and s, bear on the rings u, and v, respectively, the spring w,
being connected to the bell or alarum j, and the spring a, to the battery k, by
means of the wires a', and a²; a wire a², connects the battery k, with the bell or
alarum j, and the electrical circuit is thus completed; c', is the roller on the
winch, over which the cable travels for the purpose of turning the roller; d, is
the worm fitted on the roller c¹, and gearing into the worm wheel e', the face of
which is a dial marked off in fathoms or otherwise and provided with an index or
pointer; g¹, is the spindle of the worm wheel e', such spindle being attached to
an index movement with a dial h, marked or divided similarly to the wheel e¹, and
placed on the bridge or other suitable place accessible to the captain or other officer
in command; the bell ;, and battery k, are placed in any convenient place on
the ship.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
In foggy weather or at night or on approaching land the hollow vessel a, attached
to the cable i, is lowered into the water by means of the winch 1, (or by other
suitable apparatus) to the depth required for the purpose of safety; the cable i,
coming from the reel m, will turn the roller c', which by means of the worm d³,
and worm wheel e¹, will indicate by the dials e¹, and h¹, the length of cable run
out; upon the vessel coming into water having a predetermined depth as herein-
before described the levers or arms b, b¹, meeting with the resistance of a solid
body such as sand, shoals or rocks will make contact inside the hollow vessel a,
and so complete the circuit of the electric current and sound the bell or alarum j.
Suitable means are provided such as a cutwater i¹, and a projection of fin j¹, for
keeping the hollow vessel a, perpendicular and to prevent it spinning.
The hollow vessel a, shewn in figures 6, and 7, and which we sometimes employ
is constructed substantially the same as that shewn in figures 3, and 4 except that
in place of a number of arms we employ a single arm or striker b, b¹, suspended
from the top of the interior of the vessel and kept normally in its perpendicular
position by a suitable spring f, which also serves to seal the interior of the
apparatus from the water; the operation is substantially the same as that of the
apparatus shewn in figures 3, and 4, and therefore needs no further description.
In the arrangement shewn in figures 8, and 9, instead of making the circuit by
contact in an instrument in the water as hereinbefore described we employ a
grapple a, figure 9, provided with pivotted arms b, b, and attached to a chain or
rope i, the other end of the chain or rope being attached to a spring k³, as shewn

page_text: so that when the grapple a, meets with a resistance the contact piece e, on the
spring k, is drawn into contact with the piece b¹, and so makes the circuit and
gives the alarm in the same manner as that herein before described when referring
to figures 1 to 5.
We have described our invention as applicable for use in ships for giving an
alarm or signal when approaching the shore or otherwise but it will be obvious
that the apparatus may also be used for taking soundings and other measurements,
also for taking and indicating the depth of water in reservoirs or otherwise for
measuring distances the necessary modifications to adapt the improvements to the
various measuring purposes to which the invention is applicable not requiring
description.
The hereinbefore described winch connection may also be employed for other
purposes where it is required to pass an electric current through a revolving
shaft or real.
It is obvious that the form of spring f, shewn in figure 6, may be employed in
the contact makers and breakers shewn in figures 3, 4 and 9, when considered
desirable to seal the interior of the apparatus from the water.
Having thus described our invention and suitable means for carrying the same
into effect we wish it to be understood that what we claim is:―
Firstly. The method herein described of indicating and signalling the depth of
water by the employment of an apparatus which on meeting with the resistance
of a solid body closes an electric circuit and sounds an alarum substantially as
herein before described.
Secondly. The combination of parts forming the improved apparatuses for use
in ships and otherwise for indicating and signalling the depth of water the
said apparatuses being arranged and operating substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein before described and represented in the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly. In an apparatus for indicating and signalling the depth of water the
contact maker and breaker constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in figures 3, and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The modified construction of contact maker and breaker hereinbefore
described and represented in figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement of grapple constructed and operating substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and represented in figure 9, of the
accompanying drawings.
Sixthly. The improved winch hereinbefore described for use in apparatus for
indicating and signalling the depth of water and for other purposes where it is
required to pass an electric current through a revolving shaft or wheel the said
winch being constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in figures 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventhly. In combination with a revolving shaft through which it is required
to pass an electric current insulated metal rings such as those shewn at u, and v,
figure 5 provided with automatic springs or equivalent means for connecting the
rings with the conducting wires as hereinbefore described and represented in
figures 1 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Roland Isaac Barnes for and on behalf of myself
and the said Hubert Samuel Heath have bereto set my hand and seal this eleventh
day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
three
ROLAND ISAAC BARNES. (LS)