Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1888
Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
I THOMAS MANWELL of 8 Great Winchester Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer 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 relates to the System of Life-saving appliances known as Holmes
life buoy rescue signals, in which a cylindrical can or canister closed at both ends, is
used, being filled with a chemical compound consisting of Phosphide of Calcium.
This material on coming into contact with water ignites, and produces a brilliant
flame giving a bright light. These canisters therefore are hermetically sealed after
being filled with the Chemical compound so as to be capable of being transported
from place to place, and carried on the ships without any fear of any deleterious
action or accidental ignition. The Invention comprises the use of a certain combina-
tion of mechanical elements for effecting the rapid discharge of a life buoy and
signal light attached thereto, so that in the event of a person falling overboard,
the life buoy and a signal light will be sent promptly out to his rescue, almost
instantaneously with his fall from the ship. This is effectually done by having the
apparatus fixed ready for immediate action on the top rail of the bulwark round at
suitable and convenient points of the ship, and especially at each side of the bridge of
the vessel, so that an officer or seaman on duty, can easily and quickly use the
apparatus which is always placed in position ready for instant action, so as to instantly
discharge the floating signal light and the life buoy with it.
In carrying out this Invention a box of wood or metal of suitable and convenient
shape, preferably of a nearly square section in plan; this box is formed with an
upwardly lifting lid, so as to permit a can or canister, containing the compound
for the light signal, to be placed endwise in the lengthway of the box. The box
is constructed with a hinged bottom opening outwards away to the open sea from
the ship's side, so that, when by the action of certain parts to be hereinafter more
minutely and particularly described in this specification, having reference to the
accompanying drawings, the box bottom falls open from its own weight coupled with
the weight of the superincumbent can or canister which instantly falls direct into the
sea by the further action of the life buoy attached to it by means of a cord, string
or chain, or other convenient means, its weight being sufficient to insure this action

page_text: alone. This action is caused after the can or canister has been punched and a
central hole made through each end of it quite through the soft metal prearranged
in the centre of the ends, into the compound, and the can or canister being thus
opened at each end, the sea water can enter at once at one end on its entering the
sea water, whilst the floating or upper end, not being submerged, will emit the desired
flame or light. The punching action is one of the chief points in this Invention and
comprises a novel combination of paris by means of which, the canister is surely
punched in a certain and positive manner, quite through the metal ends of the
canister so that no failure in the action above described can take place. At each side
of the box for holding the canister, there is formed a small round, square or other
shaped hole and through each of these holes, a punch with preferably a coned end
pointing inward to the canister ends, and through these holes are forced at the right
time the punches so as to pierce through the tin ends of the enclosed canister, so that
it is ready to act as a light signal the moment it touches the water. These coned
points are each at the inner end of a short bolt or pin, each having a portion
of its middle length turned with a screw thread, the outer end being round and
plain, having a Screw nut or a fixed head or enlargement at the extreme end.
This head or enlargement may be used as a stop when screwing into position the
punches. The screw part of the punches, are carried in a box with an internally
threaded screw, which is arranged to slide through a guide fitted at the side of the
box. This screw box is fitted at the forked end of a horizontal lever connected by a
link or links at its front end to the horizontal crank end formed on about the middle
of a vertical spindle at the back and middle of the width of the apparatus. The lever
is centred in bearings on a part of the framing at the centre of its length. A similar
lever likewise centred at the opposite side for actuating that punch, has its onter end
also connected to one end of similar links as the first lever just described the other
end of these links being connected with a pin, to the end of a crank formed
diametrically opposite to the crank actuating the first lever, that is the cranks are
opposite each other on the vertical spindle which may be called the crank and cam
spindle and form a cross piece. At the upper end of this vertical spindle there is
fitted a crank handle at preferably right angles to the small cross piece connected to
the links, by turning this handle in a half circle the punches will be alternately forced
into the canister as hereinbefore stated and immediately withdrawn, thus leaving the
canister free to fall. At the same moment of the withdrawal, a small cam of about
three quarters of a circle at the lower end of the vertical spindle is brought into
position so that the inner end of a small rod, which is connected to the bottom lid
or false bottom of the box, at the front falls when it comes against the cut away part
in the cam-like part plate at the end of the vertical spindle. The inner end of the
lever fitted to the false bottom rests on the flat plate during about half part of its
travel so as to hold the false bottom closed until the entry and withdrawal of the
punches is accomplished, instantly this is done, down falls the false bottom releasing
the signal light and the life buoy which is held to this lever by a piece of cord or
other suitable connection, and also to the canister containing the compound for the
signal light. The action thus shows that by one movement of the arm turning the
hand lever of the vertical shaft from right to left or the reverse way accordingly as
the links are fixed to the cross piece the punches enter the canister, punching holes in
it and the continued movement of the handle clears them from the canister and allows
the instant fall of canister and life buoy to the assistance of the drowning or swimming
person in sea.
IL
Having hereby declared the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I further proceed to describe, with the aid of the accompanying
explanatory drawings in which the same reference numerals or letters are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated, what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
,statement, that is to say :-
Fig. 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawing is a vertical elevation of the
apparatus, looking at the front of the machine. Fig. 2, is a sectional plan of the said

page_text: apparatus, showing part of the box removed and also showing the arrangement of
the mechanical parts of punches, levers, links and central vertical spindle, whilst
Fig. 3 shows a vertical side elevation of the whole apparatus. The box, 1, for
containing the cylindrical canister 2 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in end elevation
and in sectional plan, whilst. Figure 3 shows the side elevation. This box is fixed to
a flat vertical upright or frame, 3, having at its upper end a narrow flat ledge, A.
for partly carrying the vertical spindle and two hooks, 5, of suitable metal secured
to the under side of this wooden or metal ledge, A. These hooks, 5, are for the
purpose of hanging the whole apparatus from and upon the bulwark rail and the
topmost rail at each side of the bridge, so as to give ready access to the handle
of the spindle, 4, and also for the purpose of readily and quickly replacing a fresh signal
canister, 2, and another life buoy ready for a repeat, call for another signal light and
life buoy. It will be seen that the upper lid of the box 1, may be speedily unfastened
and closed and refastened again on receiving a fresh charge and the action quickly
repeated, and by closing the box lid the canister is protected from the corroding action
of salt water or any damage, or another apparatus may be used already fitted at any
other part of the ship fore or aft as may be best. The punches 6 are fitted as
shown in the drawings 1, at each side of the box 1, with their coned ends just
projecting through the box sides, but with their coned ends just in contact with
the soft metal parts at the canister ends, so that on moving the handle 7, at the
upper end of the shaft or spindle, 4, the punching action immediately takes place.
The punches 6, are preferably in the form shown in the drawings, having a screw
thread along a part near the middle of their length, a nut or enlargement at the
outer end and coned or pointed ends at the inner end. The screwed parts of these
pins or bolts are carried in an internally screwed box, 8, having a hole screwed
internally through it for the insertion of the punch, 6. This internally screwed
box, 8. is fitted so as to be capable of allowing a forked lever to adjust itself to
its radius and adapt itself to the positions of the turning movements of the crank
handle, 7, and are connected to the forked end of a lever 9, at each side, which
lever, 9, is carried or centred on a pin fixed on the upper broader part of the
frame, 3. The other end of this lever 9, is connected so as to turn on the outer
end of a connecting link or links, 10, the inner end of this link (or links) is
connected so as to turn on a pin to a cross piece, 11, joined on the inner side of
the spindle, , about the middle of its length at right angles to, the vertical shaft, 4.
A corresponding link similarly arranged with a link, 10, (or links) which is or are
connected to the cross piece, 11, in the opposite direction to the small cross piece 11,
and the other lever, 9, and links, 10, at the other side of the apparatus. A handle, 7,
is fitted in any known or convenient way to the top of the shaft or spindle, 4, in
a direction preferably at right angles to the position of the cross piece, 11, shown
in figure, 2. It is obvious by this arrangement, on turning the handle by the
hand of an operator, the hand will describe a semicircle bringing the links, 10, and
cross piece, 11, in a straight line during their travel, and also in a reversed
position at the end of the movement, thus punching and releasing the canister, and
at the same time releasing a closing lever, 12, at the bottom of the false bottom, 14,
in the box, 1. This lever, 12, is carried through a slot, B cut in the frame 3
near the top in a slightly curved shape to the back of the apparatus where its
end rests upon a cam, 13 or flat plate fixed at the end of the vertical spindle, 4,
which cam 13, is formed of a larger circle than the diameter of the shaft, 4, 50
as to project around the spindle end, except that a small portion is cut out like
a rectangular slot, or forming a quadrant, or a quarter or other part of the circle,
so that the lever, 12, falls through at this opening, and is carried by the movement
of the false botton 14, quite clear of the falling canister, and at the same time
releasing the life buoy 15, hanging from it freely by a short cord, rope or chain
or any suitable connection, connected to the life buoy, 15. The life buoy, 15, is
shown of an ordinary size and held in position at the front of the frame or support, 3,
so as to be free upon the cord or connection slipping off the lever, 12, pulling the
canister down with it into the sea. A suitable sized guard piece, 16, is fitted near

page_text: the bottom of the frame, 3, so as to hold the life buoy, 15, in proper position
which still leaves the life buoy, 15, free to fall.
Having now minutely and particularly described my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, with reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the foregoing
statement, I declare that what I claim is:-
or
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of the parts forming my new
improved life saving apparatus, whereby by one movement and an automatic action,
a light signal (2) and a life buoy (15) can be instantaneously dropped into the sea,
with the accidental or intentional falling of a person overboard all substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying specification and drawings..
Secondly. The construction, arrangement and combination of the parts for punching
and withdrawing the punches and releasing the life buoy and signal light, auto-
matically, in a sure and certain manner, all substantially as herein before described
and shown in the accompanying specification and sheet of drawings.
Thirdly. The general arrangement of a new or improved apparatus for effecting the
carrying of a life buoy, and a Hoating signal so that by the same action which punches
the canister and admits of its immediate discharge into the seas from an advantageous
part of the ship, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
shown in the accompanying Specification and sheet of drawings.
Dated this 4th day of Anonst. 1888