IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Jubber, of 15, Hornton Street, High Street,
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE."
Sealed the 4th December 1877, and dated the 7th June 1877..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Jubber at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1877.
HENRY JUBBER, of 15, Hornton Street, High Street, Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in raising sunken ships and other
Bubmerged bodies.
It is proposed by means of air bags attached to a mechanical framework of iron
to reduce to a system, economical, expeditious, and effectual, the raising of sunken
ships, floating them when stranded, and generally as a safeguard against very many
casualties and disasters at sea.
Each bag is, say, 12 feet long by 6 feet in diameter (containing 378 cubic feet of
air, capable of lifting 14 tons of solid iron in water), elliptic in form, made in four or
more equal parts, of the best waterproofed canvas enclosed in a three inch mesh net of
half inch rope.
Each bag has an aperature at the base from which descends an air tube, two feet
long, one inch in diameter inside, three inches outside; this air tube is connected at
right angles with a main air tube twice the diameter to which any number of bags
can be attached to a tube of proportionate length. The ends of the net are
secured to a stout iron ring. A steel hawser is made fast to the iron ring at the
bottom of the bag. Suppose there are a number of these bags, the rings of which
are connected to the mechanical framework of iron composed of a number of

page_text: triangles, cach one containing a moveable arm or lever; this framework when in
proper position rests on the ground close against and at right angles to the side of
the ship, its base being nearly on a level with the keel; it is held in this position
by wire hawsers, which are tightened by a revolving druin at the stern worked from
above. As the bags rise they depress the handle of the lever, forcing the lever
against and possibly under the ship, or at least as low down the hull as possible;
the more the bags rise the greater the pressure of the lever against the ship's side,
and the greater the grip all round. This triangular frame is repeated at equal
distances of 12 feet all round the vessel, being kept together by the wire hawsers,
thus adapting itself to the shape of the hull, equally grasping and supporting it,
forming an iron cradle with upright sides, the levers working inwardly, and as it
were, forming the bottom of the cradle.
The mechanical frame grasps or grips the ship uniformly as if in a vico, with a
force of several tons to each lever, while it keeps the vessel in an upright position,
requiring but little work to be done by divers, the idea being literally to hold the
ship as in a vice, then with sufficient buoyant power to raise her when so grasped,
obviating such hazardous attempts as getting chains under, etc., etc.
I will proceed to explain the mode of working for raising sunken ships-The
vessel to be raised as she lays at the bottom of the sea is estimated to weigh,
say, 1000 tons, equal we will say to a lifting power of 75 bags, but at least one
third more, say 25, should be added, making 100 bags (allowance for weight of
apparatus and compressibility of air). The position of the ship to be raised being
known, a steamer proceeds to the spot provided with the apparatus; this she casts
overboard, and by means of the air engine on deck inflates the bags just enough to
keep them on the water, and the framework in an upright position underneath; a
large circló many times greater than the length and breadth of the sunken ship is
then formed, three-fourths of the circle or oval being made, the naked hawsers, one
end of which has been passed through the self-acting loop of the other, and connected
with the drum; the circle being now complete and the hawser, or rather hawsers, for
there are two ends, being crossed and free of the air tube, the air is withdrawn:
from the bags, and the apparatus slowly sinks; then a boat well manned carries one
end of the hawser, retiring in a direct line from the steamer, gradually narrowing
the circle at the bottom, until it is felt, by the boat being brought to, that the
apparatus has encircled the ship, and the self-acting loop. has caught. Get the end
of the hawser on board, and proceed to pump air into the bags with a gradually
increasing force, the bags slowly gaining a perpendicular position, which while
tightening the hold of the framework round the vessel will also keep the bags at a
proper distance from its sides. Saving accidents, after pumping half an hour, the
great buoyancy of the bags overcoming the weight of the ship, it will slowly rise,
then commence towing by the hawser attached to the bow of the sunken ship to the
nearest place of safety, still pumping with a much diminished force; but as the bags
will be visible their state of inflation can be easily regulated with promptitude; the
actual process of raising the sunken ship need not take more than a few hours.
.
For floating a ship when stranded, approach the vessel at high tide, encircle her
with the apparatus, then wait till low tide, and securely fix the framework as low
down the hull as possible, wait again till high water, inflate the bags, and should
there be a rock six feet high or broad through the ship's bottom, it is calculated the
great buoyancy of the bags will lift the ship clean off; should they not do so at the
first attempt add more bags, in which case nothing need be allowed for their con-
pressibility, as the operation would take place in comparatively shallow water. A
ship out at sea meeting with a like casualty, and having the apparatus on board
could get herself off without any extraneous aid. 'Or much better still, if she were
properly fitted the length of her lower hold with a double row, each bag enclosed in
a tube, she could in a few minutes, say, 10, eject the whole of the tubes, and fill the
bags with air, the number of bags always exceeding in buoyancy her own weight;
while being thus kept buoyant in a perfectly secure manner she could be repaired,

page_text: the bags drawn in, and proceed on her way; the bags fit at any moment for further
service.
In collisions or dangerous leaks the apparatus could be easily used from deck when
not otherwise fitted.
It is claimed for this system that if ships were properly fitted with these bags in
a double row extending the length of the lower hold, so as to be ejected as low down
both sides of the ship at the same moment (always exceeding in buoyancy the
weight of the ship when loaded), a great number of the disasters at sea that are
so constantly being repeated would not happen, the saving of property consequently
proportionate, insurances could be effected at lower rates, passengers, crews, and
owners might feel a little more secure, and the saving of life could hardly fail to be
considerable.
+
In case of fire the bags could be immediately ejected from the ship's sides, the hull
sufficiently filled with water to extinguish the fire, the water pumped out, and the
bags replaced; the fire could not harm them, as they would be several feet under
water, and the ship saved from probably the worst of all disasters.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Honry Jubber in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th December
1877.
HENRY JUBBER, of 15, Hornton Street, High Street, Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE."
It is proposed by means of bags filled with air or gas attached to a mechanical
framework of iron to reduce to a system effectual, expeditious, and economical, the
raising of sunken ships, floating them when stranded, and generally as a safeguard
against very many casualties and disasters at sea.
Each bag is, say, 12 feet long by 6 feet in diameter (capable of lifting a certain
weight in water), elliptic in form, made in four or more equal parts of the best
waterproofed canvas enclosed in a three inch mesh net of half inch rope.
Each bag has an aperture at the base, from which descends an air tube two feet
long, one inch in diameter inside, three inches outside, fitted with a valve, as in case
of a bag being punctured the others or the main air tube would not be affected;
this air tube is connected at right angles with a main air tube, a hollow steel hawser,
twice the diameter to which any number of bags can be attached to a tube of pro-
portionate length. The ends of the net are secured to a stout iron ring, which in
its turn is made fast to the hollow steel hawser. Suppose there are a number of
these baga connected to the mechanical framework of iron composed of a series of
triangles, each one containing two moveable arms or lovers; this framework when
in proper position rests on the ground close against and at right angles to the side
of the ship, its base being nearly on a level with the keel; it is held in this position
by wire hawsers which are tightened by a revolving drum at the stern worked from
above or by levers, the handles of which are automatically drawn together by an
iron caisson. As the inflation of the bags progresses they depress the handles of the

page_text: levers, forcing the levers against and possibly under the ship, or at least very low
down the hull; the more the bags rise the greater the pressure of the levers against
the ship's sides, and consequently the tighter the grip. This triangular frame is
repeated at equal distances of 12 feet all round the vessel, being kept together by
the wire hawsers, the apparatus adapting itself to the shape of the hull, equally
grasping and supporting it, forming an iron cradle with upright sides, the levers
working inwardly, and as it were, forming the bottom of the cradle.
-
The mechanical frame grasps or grips the ship uniformly as if in a vice, with a
force of several tons to each lever, while it keeps the vessel in an upright position,
requiring but little work to be done by divers, the idea being literally to hold the ship
as in à vice, then with sufficient buoyant power to raise her when so grasped,
obviating such hazardous experiments as attempting to get chains under, etc., etc.
I will now explain the mode of proceeding for the recovery of a sunken ship:-
The vessel to be raised as she lays at the bottom of the sea is estimated to weigh,
say, 1000 tons, equal we will suppose to a lifting power of 150 bags, but at least 50
more should be added, making 200 bags (inclusive of an allowanco for weight of
apparatus, compressibility of air or gases, and accidents). The position of the ship
to be raised being known, a steamer proceeds to the spot provided with the apparatus;
this she casts overboard, and by means of a special engine on deck inflates the bags
just enough to keep them on the water, and the framework in an upright position
underneath; a large circle many times greater than the length and breadth of the
sunken ship is then formed, the greater part of the circle being made by two single
hawsers. The bags being now well suspended over the sunken vessel the air is
allowed to escape, and the apparatus slowly sinks, but not quite to the bottom,
where there are two divers in readiness to guide it, only as they naturally would
not be physically capable of guiding it they give directions to those in the steamer
to do so.
By means of the orders transmitted from below with great facility, those above
can guide the apparatus accordingly until it touches the ship equally all round.
Being thus adjusted, with the bases of the triangles well to the ground, but not on
it, the divers proceed to the stern and make the ends of the hawsers fast to the drum
or levers placed horizontally to the stern post. These levers when put in motion
by the rising of the caisson tighten the hawsers round the hull; the air is now quite
withdrawn from the bags and the framework drops to the ground in its proper
position. The bags are now inflated with either air or gas, according to the depth,
with a gradually increasing force. The bags slowly gaining a perpendicular position,
which while tightening the hold of the framework round the vessel will also keep
the bags at a proper distance from its sides. It is calculated that the lovers will be
pressed against the ship with such force that they will bury their points in its sides
without materially injuring it. Saving accidents, after pumping for an hour the
great buoyancy of the bags overcoming the weight of the ship (or rather the weight
of the water in the ship) it will slowly rise, then commence towing by the hawser.
attached to the bow of the sunken vessel to the nearest place of safety, still pumping
with a much diminished force, but as the bags will be visible their state of inflation
can be easily regulated. With promptitude the actual process of raising the sunken
ship need not take more than a few hours.
'The divers will not be required to go on to the deck of the ship or near any of its
ropes or spars, nor make any use of its gear compared with the laborious and
dangerous tasks now undertaken and performed by them, viz., unloading a ship
and exploring its hold in deep water, and when it has been so lightened in nine
cases out of ten it cannot be raised; this work would call forth but little labour,
and not one half of the ordinary risks they usually run. The simple duty they
would be here asked to perform must appear to them comparatively easy, and in
order that it should be so in more senses than one, I would very materially improve
their diving dresses, facilitate their means of communication with each other and
with those above, and give them other important aids, facilitating their operations,
and consequently those of the undertaking, while mitigating their danger.

page_text: To float a ship when stranded, approach the vessel at high tide, encircle her with
the apparatus, then wait till low tide and securely fix the framework as low down
the hull as possible, wait again till high water, inflate the bags, and should there be
a rock six feet high or broad through the ship's bottom, it is calculated the great
buoyancy of the bags will lift the ship clean off; should they not do so at the first
attempt add more bags, in which case nothing need be allowed for their com-
pressibility, as the operation would take place in comparatively shallow water. A
ship out at sea meeting with a like casualty, and having the apparatus in a modified
form on board, could get herself off without any extraneous aid. Or much better
still if she were properly fitted the length of her lower hold with a double row, each
bag enclosed in a tube, she could in a few minutes, say 10, eject the whole of the
tubes and fill the bags with air, the number of bags always exceeding in buoyancy
her own weight. They would take up but very little room when not in use; and
when in uso a very simple means of attachment would suffice to keep them in a
proper position, while being at the surface their great lifting power would be fully
developed. While being thus (in a perfectly secure manner) kept buoyant, she could
be repaired, the bags drawn in, and proceed on her way, the bags fit at any moment
for further service.
It is claimed for this system that if ships were properly fitted with these bags,
always exceeding in buoyancy the weight of the ship when loaded, in a double row
extending the length of the lower hold, so as to be ejected as low down both sides
of the hull at the same moment, a great number of the disasters at sea, that so
constantly take place; would not happen; or if they did occur the consequences would
be materially lessened.
In case of fire the bags could be immediately ejected from the ship's sides, the
hull sufficiently filled with water to extinguish the flames, the water pumped
out and the bags replaced, the fire could not harm them, as they would be
several feet under water, and the ship saved from probably the worst of all
disasters.
The great compressibility of air in water is well known, but the weight of water
has only an appreciable effect after a certain depth has been reached.
If the ship to be raised is sunk at a depth where it would be inadvisable to use
air, I purpose inflating the bags by means of gases, heated or not; if heated, it
would be necessary to retain the heat in the bags and tubes, for which purpose
they would be properly lined with felt or other suitable heat-retaining material
The number of bags required depends upon the weight and size of the ship, and
the depth at which she is sunk; the framework and hawsers can be made up to
almost any strength, and the bags can be placed in single, double, or treble rows,
and again a tier above. The depth of water presents a much greater difficulty to
be surmounted than the weight of the ship. That which it would take 50 bags
to lift in fifty feet of water would take at least 200 to raise at a depth of one
hundred feet.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of a vessel which has applied to it raising apparatus
arranged according to my Invention; Figure shows to a larger scale a transverse
section of the same.
A, A, are triangular frames firmly secured to the ship's side by hawsers. They
are placed at distances apart of about twelve feet all along each side of the ship.
A side view of one of the frames A with the parts more immediately in connection
with it is shewn to a still larger scale at Figure 3. A1, A2, are eyes which receive
the hawsers by which the frames are fastened to the ship; B and C are two strong
levers jointed to the frame A at D; E is a slight hawser made fast to the lower end
of the lever C. The slight hawser E passes over a pulley B' at the upper end of

page_text: the lever B, and thence descends and passing beneath a pulley A" at the extremity
of the base of the frame A it is attached to the bar F, to which the air bags G are
made fast in any convenient manner.
As represented in the Drawing each bar F extends from one frame A to the next,
and receives at each of its ends one of the hawsers E, and on each bar there are two
cross arms, and in this way provision is made for attaching six bags to each of the
bars.
The floating power of the bags tends as will be seen to draw together the ends
in contact with the ship of the levers B and C, and so the ship becomes firmly
nipped and held; H is a rack receiving a pawl to secure the levers B and C, and
prevent them separating after they have obtained a hold.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim my improvements in
raising sunken ships and other submerged bodies, and in apparatus to be used for
this purpose, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Jubber, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY JUBBER. (L.S.)