A NEW OR IMPROVED OCEAN STATION FOR SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
OCEAN STATION FOR SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHS." A communication from abroad
by Robert Foster Bradley, of Moffettsville, in the County of Anderson, and
State of South Carolina, United States of America.
Sealed the 11th August 1876, and dated the 16th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED OCEAN STATION FOR SUBMARINE
TELEGRAPHS."
This Invention relates to an improved system of telegraph stations in mid-ocean,
by which messages can be sent from any point of the ocean along the line of the
cable to the terminal points, and vice versa, so that communication with vessels and
passengers during the voyage may be abolished.
The Invention consists of a hollow sectional column with a base plate attached
by ball-and-socket joint, which column is lowered into the water and anchored
rigidly to the ground. The branch cable is coupled to the main cable and carried
along the column to the surface of the water, to be there placed in connection with
the instruments on board of the vessels.
The vertical cable supporting column is made of a number of sections, according
to the depth of the ocean at the point where the station is to be established. The
sections are connected by rubber packed, flanged, and bolted joints, the lower section
being seated by means of a ball-and-socket joint in a base plato of sufficient size,
which adjusts itself readily to the inclination of the bottom, while retaining the
vertical position of the column. The column is anchored at four or more points by
means of stay chains or cables and stay plates to the bottom of the ocean, the
upper end of the chains being attached to a collar or ring at the top of the column,
the lower ends to collars of the stays. The stays are rigidly secured to the bottom
by means of long iron stakes, which are guided by means of rubber rings in the
contral tubular parts of the stay plates, and driven into the ground by a charge of
powder in the head of the stakes, the powder being ignited by an electric spark of
7D......

page_text: a wire connecting the stake with a battery at the surface of the water. The
ignition of the charge or cartridge detaches the wire from the stake, which is then
hauled in for being applied to drive in the next stake.
The branch or station cable is attached to main cable by a coupling of suitable
construction, and carried up along the column to point above the surface of the
water, to be there placed in contact with instruments of the vessels, or with a fixed
stationary vessel for taking and delivering the messages. The branch rope causes
no strain on the main cable, as it is supported independently of the same, and
serves moreover to increase the working power of the main cable, as the surcharge
of electricity may be equalized by finding an outlet into the branch cable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED OCEAN STATION FOR SUBMARINE
TELEGRAPHS." A communication from abroad by Robert Foster Bradley, of
Moffettsville, in the County of Anderson, and State of South Carolina, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved system of telegraph stations in mid-ocean,
by which messages can be sent from any point of the ocean along the line of the
cable to the terminal points, and vice versa, so that communication with vessels and
passengers during the voyage may be established.
The Invention consists of a hollow sectional column with a base plate attached by
ball-and-socket joint, which column is lowered into the water and anchored rigidly
to the ground. The branch cable is coupled to the main cable and carried along the
column to the surface of the water, to be there placed in connection with the instru-
ments on board of the vessels.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Figure 2
a plan view of the improved station for ocean telegraphing.
Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the vertical cable supporting column, which is made of a number of
sections B, according to the depth of the occan at the point where the station is to
be established. The sections are connected by rubber packed, flanged, and bolted
joints, the lower section being seated by means of a ball-and-socket joint in a base
plate C of sufficient size, which adjusts itself readily to the inclination of the
bottom while retaining the vertical position of the colum. The column is anchored
at four or more points by means of stay chains or cables D and stay plates E to the
bottom of the ocean, the upper end of the chains being attached to a collar or ring
at the top of the column, the lower ends to collars of the stays. The stays E are
rigidly secured to the bottom by means of long iron stakes F, which are guided by
means of rubber rings in the central tubular parts of the stay plates, and driven
into the ground by a charge of powder in the head of the stakes, the powder being
ignited by an electric spark of a wire connecting the stake with a battery at the
surface of the water. The ignition of the charge or cartridge detaches the wire
from the stakes, which is then hauled in for being applied to drive in the next
stake.
The branch or station cable G is attached to main cable by a coupling G¹ of
suitable construction, and carried up along the column A to a point above the
surface of the water, to be there placed in contact with instruments of the vessels,
or with a fixed stationary vessel for taking and delivering the messages. The
branch rope causes no strain on the main cable, as it is supported independently of
the same, and serves moreover to increase the working power of the main cable,

page_text: as the surcharge of electricity may be equalized by finding an outlet into the branch
cable.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, in ocean telegraphy a station for
placing intermediate points in communication with the land termini, constructed of
a hollow sectional column, which is supported on a universally jointed base plate,
and anchored by stay chains or cables to bottom stay plates secured by stakes for
carrying the branch cable from the main cable to the surface, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.