IMPROVED SOUNDING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Schwartz at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1881.
JOHN SCHWARTZ, of Highbury New Park, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVED SOUNDING APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is to provide means for ascertaining the depth of
water more speedily than has been possible hitherto, the said Invention being
especially applicable for use on board ship during foggy or misty weather, and in
unknown waters.
The principle on which my Invention is based consists in providing vessels with
one or more "feelers " extending downwards below the keel for some 20 or 60 feet,
according to the size of the vessel, the said feelers being fitted with means for
instantaneously sounding an aların on board ship on the "feeler" touching
ground.
This alarm may be conveyed through or by means of the "feeler" by the use of
compressed air or its equivalent acting upon a gong, steam whistle, or equivalent
device, but I preferably employ electricity as the means for sounding the alarm.
"
In its simplest form the "feelers " may consist of two galvanized iron rods or
stays of suitable length placed one on either side and towards the bows of the
vessel, and meeting together some 50 feet or thereabouts below the keel of the
vessel. Each part of the
"
feeler contains an insulated wire connected with a
suitable battery placed in the engine room, captain's cabin, or other convenient
spot, and the extremities of the two parts of the "feeler" where they unite are
fitted with a simple means for establishing contact between the two wires so soon
as the "feeler" touches bottom. Means are also provided for hauling up the
feeler," and for adjusting its depth when necessary. The
" feeler
may also be
extended from the stern or other suitable part of the vessel.
Another way of carrying my Invention into effect consists in the use of a broad
chain ladder preferably constructed of steel bars (or it may be a rope or chain), the
said ladder, rope, or chain being unwound from au octagonal drum or its equivalent
to any desired depth.
"
"
The end of the steel ladder, rope, or chain is weighted to give steadiness and
verticality to the chain, and means are provided, as already described, for

page_text: electrically sounding a bell on board ship on the leaden weight touching the
ground. One or more stays may be provided to prevent the deflection of the rope
or chain. The contact maker which I preferably employ consists of an inverted
brass cup divided into two halves properly insulated the one from the other. Within
the said cup a brass ball is suspended by properly insulated claws or their equivalent.
In its normal position the said ball will hang clear of the cup, but on the ball
striking the bottom of the sea, it will touch the rim, establish contact, and operate
a gong or its equivalent within the vessel.
This Invention may be adapted for use in a manner similar to the ordinary
sounding apparatus, two insulated wires within the line and a suitable contact
maker being provided as already described, so that as soon as the lead touches
bottom a signal will be conveyed to the vessel, and thus the depth of water will
be known with greater accuracy and speed than hitherto.
In some cases, to compensate for the way on the ship, I propose to expel the
sounding apparatus from a tube by compressed air, rocket apparatus, or equivalent
means, so that it will enter the sea slightly ahead of the vessel, and touch bottom
when the vessel is immediately over the spot, thus ensuring the depth of water in
a vertical line being known.