IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REPAIRS OF DOCK WALLS, SHIPS, AND OTHER BODIES, ALSO FOR BORING AND CARRYING ON OTHER OPERATIONS UNDER 1 D
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Thomas Parlour, of No. 40, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REPAIRS OF DOCK WALLS, SHIPS, AND OTHER
BODIES, ALSO FOR BORING AND CARRYING ON OTHER OPERATIONS UNDER
1
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Thomas Parlour at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1880.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of No. 40, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Engineer. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REPAIRS OF
DOCK WALLS, SHIPS, AND OTHER BODIES, ALSO FOR BORING AND CARRYING ON
OTHER OPERATIONS UNDER WATER, SUCH AS LIFTING SUBMERGED BODIES."
This Invention relates mainly to an extending frame of tube or other form, and
telescopic or not, terminated at its lower end with an enlarged portion, within
which men can work. If desired this enlarged end supports upon its side one or
more ball and socket or other jointed tubes or bulbs, on the outer ends of which
are projecting tubes which serve as connections to other tubes, whose outer ends
are provided with india rubber flexible caps. The ball and socket tube is provided
with a head piece, in which a glass or other sight hole is arranged to enable the work-
men to examine the structure to be operated upon when the apparatus is let down
or submerged to the desired depth. Above and below the ball and socket joint a
powerful lens is fitted that the surrounding may be lit up by an electric or other
lamp arranged inside.
The main extending frame or tube, which may be of any length, is suspended
from a barge or otherwise, and is provided with steps and stagings at any desired
part to enable the workmen to move about freely.
In some cases the lower part of the enlarged portion of the main tube is fitted
with doors to enable workmen to pass into the interior of a vessel when the
apparatus is fastened to the deck of one, preferably over the hatches, in which case
the interior of the main extending frame or tube is provided with another extending
Din G21

page_text: frame, carrying endless chains of buckets for emptying the vessel, dock, canal, or
coffer dam.
The lower part of the enlarged portion of the extension frame or the tube has a
side and end extension, into which a man or men may crawl to facilitate the attach-
ment of the apparatus to the deck of a vessel.
The jointed extensions of the main tube resemble somewhat the arm of a man,
with elbow and wrist joints to enable a man to work in a natural manner, his body
and head projecting into the first mentioned ball and socket tube which serves as a
helmet.
The ball and socket and jointed tubes may be arranged to encase the body of a
inan in order to permit him to be submerged and to work under water without
feeling the pressure of the water upon his body, as is the case of the flexible
diving suits now in uso. The diver thus equiped is lowered upon a staging sup-
ported by an extension frame, which will protect him from the effect of any under
current of water.
In some cases the ball and socket ends may be dispensed with, and then the
extension frames are grooved in their length and provided with guide rollers to
slide down the grooves and carry weighted chains which become released from the
frames as the frames are drawn along the sides of the vessel to leave the chains
under the vessel at given distances apart.
Each chain when released from the frames may be fastened to barges or pontoons
alongside, and by which the vessel can be lifted as desired. The lower ends of the
extension frames are provided with cutting edges to enable the frames to be passed
through the sand or mud bottom of the river or other place at which the vessel or
other body may have foundered.
If the deck of the vessel to be lifted is weak it may be strengthened by logs of
timber or iron girders, arranged fore and aft, and fitted with cross bars and with
hooks or clamps to grasp the sides of the vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Thomas Parlour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1881.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of No. 40, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Engineer. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REPAIRS OF
DOCK WALLS, SHIPS, AND OTHER BODIES, ALSO FOR BORING AND CARRYING ON
OTHER OPERATIONS UNDER WATER, SUCH AS LIFTING SUBMERGED BODIES."
This Invention relates mainly to an extending frame of tube or other form, and
telescopic or not, terminated at its lower end with an enlarged portion, within
which men can work if desired. This enlarged end supports upon its side one or
more ball and socket or other jointed tubes or bulbs, on the outer ends of which
are projecting tubes, which serves as connections to other tubes, whose outer ends
are provided with india rubber flexible caps. The ball and socket tube is provided
with a head piece, in which a glass or other sight hole is arranged to enable
workmen to examine the structure to be operated upon when the apparatus is let
down or submerged to the desired depth. Above and below the ball and socket
joint a powerful lens is fitted that the surrounding may be lit up by an electric or
other lamp arranged inside.
The main extending frame or tube, which may be of any length, is suspended
from a barge or otherwise, and is provided with steps and stagings at any desired
part to enable the workmen to move about freely.
In some cases the lower part of the enlarged portion of the main tube is fitted
with doors to enable workmen to pass into the interior of a vessel when the
apparatus is fastened to the deck of one, preferably over the hatches, in which case
the interior of the main extending frame or tube is provided with another extending
extending frame, carrying endless chains of buckets for emptying the vessel, dock,
canal, or coffer dam.
The lower part of the enlarged portion of the extension frame or the tube has a
side and end extension, into which a man or men may crawl to facilitate the
attachment of the apparatus to the deck of a vessel.
The jointed extensions of the main tube resemble somewhat the arm of a man.
with elbow and wrist joints to enable a man to work in a natural manner, his
body and head projecting into the first mentioned ball and socket tube, which serves
as a helmet.
The ball and socket and jointed tubes may be arranged to encase the body of a
man in order to permit him to be submerged and to work under water without
feeling the pressure of the water upon is body, as is the case of the flexible diving
suits now in use. The diver thus equiped is lowered upon a staging supported by
an extension frame which will protect him from the effect of any under current of
water. And in some cases the ball and socket ends may be dispensed with, and
then the extension frames are grooved in their length and provided with guide
rollers to slide down the grooves and carry weighted chains, which become released
from the frames as the frames are drawn along the sides of the vessel to leave the
chains under the vessel at given distances apart.
Each chain when released from the frames may be fastened to barges or pontoons
alongside, and by which the vessel can be lifted as desired. The lower ends of the
extension frames are provided with cutting edges to enable the frames to be passed
through the sand or mud bottom of the river or other place at which the vessel or
other body may have foundered.
If the deck of the vessel to be lifted is weak it may be strengthened by logs of
timber or iron girders, arranged fore and aft, and fitted with cross bars and with
hooks or clamps to grasp the sides of the vessel.

page_text: My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a part sectional view an apparatus of bell shape within which a
man or men can work, the entry to the bell being by the ladder A. The sides of
the bell is provided with ball and socket cylinders B, B, with articulated con-
nections C, C, these having elastic and flexible end pieces D, D, through which a
workman can push his hands for operating by a haminer or other tool upon any-
thing that may be within his reach, his head being within the cap E, which is
provided with a glass or lens by which and by the aid of the light from the
lantern F he may see the article or outside body on which it may be necessary for
him to operate upon.
The bottom of the bell is closed, and has a series of spikes or holdfasts G, G,
which can be caused to enter the ground and so steady the bell at the required
position. The bell can be supported or be raised or lowered by the chains H, H,
by tackle from above. The upper part of the bell is of tube shape, and its upper
end is kept above the water to permit of proper ventilation. The tubes may be
connected at their junction by flexible water proof cloth to ensure the seams being
kept watertight at whatever angle the tubes or the bell may be drawn to. The
bell may have side extensions I, one only of which is shown, within which a
workman can crawl to secure the apparatus to, say, to the deck of a vessel.
By means of this bell when suspended various manipulations can be carried ou
under water at shallow depth, such as the repairs of dock walls, piers, jetties, or
for securing or releasing portions of wrecks or other purposes; also for fastening
plates over, say, the hatchway of a wreck, and for the insertion of a tube by which
a vessel can be emptied of the water she may contain, the plate or plates being
provided with valves which can afterwards be removed by workmen lowered to
the spot within a box or casing, the front of which is provided with a waterproof
sheeting and with appliances which can be caused to engage with other appliances
projecting from the plate, in order that the box or casing can be securely fastened
in close contact therewith.
This is shown at Figures 2 and 3 with a suction tube L in a wreck M lying on
its side, and with the box or easing N attached to the plate J, or to a frame which
has been previously affixed to the ship by the men in the bell previously described.
This box or casing N is provided with a tube P or tubes, arranged as described for
Figure 1, to give freedom for men to enter and leave, and also for fitting an endless
chain of buckets Q to facilitate the removal of sand or other debris with which the
Ivessel may be charged.
The tubes L may be arranged for disconnection in lengths, and also the bucket
chains if desired.
In Figure 3 I have shown one boat R for working the suction pumps S, and
another boat T for the buckets, but both operations may be carried on from the
same boat.
The box or casing N is shown as attached or to slide against piles, the lower
ends of which are shod that they enter the ground for steadying purposes, but they
may be suspended from a vessel and be lashed in position for the reception of the
box or casing as shown at Figure 4, the lower ends of the piles in this view being
provided with jointed claw ends, which can be hauled up to grip a heavy weight
already and purposely sunk at any desired spot, the box or casing of which may
be furnished with powerful lights to illuminate the surroundings.
A circulation of air may be kept up in the bell, or in the box or casing, by
pumps, if desired, and if the box or casing on the bell or other shaped apparatus
be arranged to be raised or lowered it can be done by screws and sockets so as to
fix it any desired position.
Figure 5 shows a wreck on its side with a plate fastened over the hatchway, the
plate having a flexible bag sheet affixed through a hole in which the end of a tube U
can be pushed, and with other tubes attached, that the top end of the upper one
is above the water line, in order that after the water has been pumped out of the
vessel by the suction tube an endless chain of buckets may be lowered and arranged
1

page_text: to work in the tube to remove the sand or other debris previously to men entering
the vessel for the removal of the cargoe, if desired.
It will be understood that by the bell, shown at Figure 1, the men could make a
hole at any part of a wreck and attach a plate over it for any of the purposes above
mentioned. In Figure 6 I show the tube arranged vertically through a fixed plate,
provided with the flexible bag sheet.
The ball and socket jointed apparatus for the head and arms of a workman can
be extended to suit the legs and other part of his body. By this construction of
apparatus a workman can be encased in a flexible jointed suit of metal, giving
freedom for movements of his limbs without fear of the suit being affected by the
pressure of water on the outside, and this without reference to the depth at which
le may be submerged. This construction dispenses with the excess of pressure of
air within the casing other than that necessary for the man's breathing.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I clain,―
First. The ball and socket and articulated appliances as part of a submergable
apparatus, as described, and substantially as shown in Figure 1 of the annexed
Drawings.
Secondly. The metallic ball and socket articulated suit or casing, within which
a man can exist and operate under water, said suit or casing being so constructed
without being affected by external pressure of water or requiring an internal
pressure of air, as described.
Thirdly. The means and appliances by which operations can be offected upon
wrecks and other submerged bodies, as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3
of the annexed Drawings, especially the employment of the casing for facilitating
the operations before referred to in the inside of a vessel.
Fourthly. I claim the apparatus shown at Figures 5 an 6, as and for the purpose
or purposes described.
Fifthly. I claim the apparatus arranged and acting as and for the purpose or
purposes described with reference to Figure 4 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet Street,
London.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR. (L.S.)