Improvements in or relating to Floating Safes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Floating Safes and the like.
1, JOSIAH BURNHAM ANDERSON, residing at No. 3 Cottage Place, Malden, in
the County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, U.S.A., Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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 an improved marine safe float, especially designed for
the preservation of mail, precious metals and other valuables in case of accident
to the vessel in which they are conveyed. It is well known that many vessels
carrying mail and precious freight have been burned at sea or have foundered in
deep water, and in many cases the mail, money or other valuables which they
carried have been irretrievably lost. It is the object of this invention to provide
a safe of great strength which is fire and burglar proof, sufficiently buoyant to
float above water, and which has sufficient storage capacity for the largest amount
of mail and valuable matter, such as gold and silver, usually carried on vessels
for export and import. This improved safe is so constructed, upon scientific
principles, that it will float with about twenty-five per cent. of its bulk above the
water line with an average load.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the marine safe float.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line a-a of Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line b—b, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section on the line c-c, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line d-d, Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a section of the casing showing its construction in detail, and,
Fig. 7 is a section of the hatch-way covering on the line b—b, Fig. 1.
In the drawings, 1 indicates the wall of the safe which is a laminated structure
supported and stiffened by Z-bars 2. The wall in detail, as shown in Fig. 7,
consists of an outer layer 3 of steel or other metal, a layer 4 of asbestos to inake
the safe fire-proof, a layer 5 of cork to keep out dampness, a layer 6 of asphaltum
to preserve the cork and also to prevent dampness, and an inner shell or skin of
steel or other suitable metal 7. Layers of wire netting 8 separate the cork from
the asbestos and asphaltum and keep the several layers in their proper positions.
The safe is divided internally into a large mail compartment A, an entry
compartment B, a treasure compartment C, and a compartment D for storage
batteries or other apparatus which is carried permanently.
The entry compartment B is reached through a hatch-way by means of an
outer door 9 and an inner fire-proof door 10. This compartment is separated
from the mail compartment A by a bulkhead 11 having a grated door 12 which
can be securely locked. Attached to the bulkhead 11 is a ladder 13. Within the
fire-proof door 10 is a grating 14 running on rollers 15, the purpose of the grating
being to admit air and prevent intrusion while persons are working within.
The treasure compartment C is located in the bottom of the safe and separated
from the mail compartment by a strong metal floor 16. It is reached through a
door 17. The safe is internally braced by means of a central post 18 and struts or
braces 19.
On top of the safe is a bell 20, hung in a frame 21, the tongue of the bell being
usually locked by a lever 22, which is held by a cord 23 connected to the cap 24

page_text: on a tube 25. The tube contains a staff 26 connected to a float 27, the upper end
of the staff being provided with signal flags, (not shown). The lever 22 prevents
the bell from ringing when the safe is on a vessel, but when the safe is in the water
the water flows through the opening 28, raises the float 27, and the flag shaft 26
pushes off the cap 24. The signal flag is then unfurled and at the same time the
weighted lever 22 dropped and the bell is free to ring as the float is tossed on the
waves.
29 indicates a torch which is supplied with illuminating gas through a tube 30
from a reservoir 31. The gas is liberated by water which passes through a tube 32.
Carbide of calcium may be used in the reservoirs 31 for this purpose. The
reservoirs are preferably connected in series so that the water will run from one
to the other as they become exhausted.
The compartment D extends around the vessel beneath the floor 16 and in it is
placed storage batteries charged with electricity. These batteries are used for
signal lights 33. The circuit through the lights is normally broken and it is closed
automatically when the safe goes into the water by the rising of the flag staff 26,
the flag staff being connected to a suitable electric switch for this purpose. In
Fig. 5 the lights are shown enclosed in a space 36 in the shell. Above the
space 36 is a heavy glass 34 and below is a reflector 35. The space 36 is ventilated
by tubes 37, each provided with a ball valve 38 to prevent water from entering.
Drainage tubes 39 are provided to carry off any water which enters the ventilating
tubes. A fire shield 40 filled with asbestos is provided for protecting the contents
of the mail compartment in case the ship is destroyed by fire.
11 indiester a small ventilating hatch-way which can be opened while mail in
being stored and removed. Four strong eyes 42 are provide for lifting the safe
or towing it when in the water. 43 indicates struts which support the floor of the
mail compartment.
This marine safe is adapted to be carried in a suitable cradle or depression on
the deck of a ship. It should not be attached to the ship in any way in order that
it may float freely if the ship should founder. As soon as the float reaches the
water the signal flags are raised and displayed automatically, the electric lights
begin to burn, the bell is released and begins to toll, and the torch begins to burn.
Chemicals are provided in the magazine 31 of the torch which will take fire and
ignite the gas as soon as water is admitted through the pipe 32.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The marine safe float consisting of the ellipsoidal shell, having the mail
compartment, the treasure compartment, and the entry compartment provided
with a hatch-way, as described.
2. The marine safe float consisting of the ellipsoidal shell composed of the
outer armor plate 3, the inner plate 7, and the intermediate layers of asbestos,
cork, and asphaltum, as described.
3. The marine safe float having the compartment C with door 17, the com-
partment A with door 12, and the compartment B with doors 9, 10, as
described.
4. The marine safe float having the flag staff 26 with float 27, and the bell
arranged to be released when the flag staff riscs, as described.
5. The marine safe float having the compartment for storage batteries, the
electric lights, and the automatic torch, as described.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.