Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Position of Foundered Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: .
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Position of
Foundered Vessels.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT GODLONTON ROEBUCK, of 31 to 40 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch,
in the County of Middlesex, upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to. be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to supply steam and other vessels with apparatus for
indicating their position, in case of their foundering.
In carrying out my invention, I secure to one of the upper decks, preferably near
the stern, a vessel or cable holder of a cylindrical or other suitable form, for
containing a coiled cable and a buoy or float. The vessel should be of such dimensions
as to accommodate the requisite number of fathoms of cable and also the float. The
cable may be made of wire or of any other suitable material and of small diameter,
so as to coil in a small compass, and the buoy should be of a distinctive pattern,
and painted so as to be a conspicuous object, when afloat, and having the name of
the vessel and the object of the buoy plainly painted thereon.
The lower end of the cable is secured to the deck or to the cable holder. The
cable is carefully coiled in this holder, so that it may readily uncoil on the foundering
of the vessel. The upper end of the coil is secured to the buoy or float, the latter
being placed upon the top of the coil; or being sustained by movable staves; or
the buoy may be formed as a roof or cover to the holder, and suitably painted to
throw off water.
The holder is provided with openings where it joins the deck, to let off and drain
away any water that may find its way inside, so as to preserve the cable from injury
by excess of moisture.
•
In case of the vessel foundering, the buoy floats, and uncoils the cable; and the
cable prevents the buoy from drifting to any great distance.

page_text: When the floating buoy happens to be found by the crew of a passing vessel, the
name and position of the foundered vessel is at once ascertained, and owners and
underwriters may be speedily informed, and enabled to take steps for the recovery
of the vessel, if possible; thus saving much valuable time, and removing all doubt
as to the fate of the vessel;
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Position of
Foundered Vessels.
I WILLIAM ROBERT GODLONTON ROEBUCK of 31 to 40 New Inn Yard Shoreditch
in the County of Middlesex Upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to supply steam and other vessels with apparatus for
indicating their position, in case of their foundering.
In carrying out my invention, I secure to one of the upper decks, preferably near
the stern a vessel or cable bolder of a cylindrical or other suitable form, for
containing a coiled cable and a buoy or float. The vessel should be of such dimensions
as to accommodate the requisite number of fathoms of cable and also the float.
The cable may (if prepared) pass through a hole in the deck and be coiled in a
suitable receptacle below for the storage of the same, the buoy being laid upon the
deck, or enclosed in a recess sunk in the deck, or surrounded with a raised ring to
keep the same in position ready for being floated.
The cable may be made of wire or of any other suitable material, and of small
diameter, so as to coil in a small compass. The buoy should be of a distinctive
pattern, and painted so as to be a conspicuous object, when afloat, and having the
name of the vessel and the object of the buoy plainly painted thereon.
The lower end of the cable is secured to the deck or to the cable holder. The cable
is carefully coiled in this holder, so that it may readily uncoil on the foundering of
the vessel The upper end of the coil is secured to the buoy or float, the latter being
placed upon the top of the coil, or being sustained by movable staves; or the buoy
may be formed as a roof or cover to the holder and suitably painted to throw
off water.

page_text: The holder is provided with openings where it joins the deck, to let off and drain
away any water that may find its way inside, so as to preserve the cable from injury
by excess of moisture.
In case of the vessel foundering, the buoy floats and uncoils the cable, and the
cable prevents the buoy from drifting to any great distance.
When the floating buoy happens to be found by the crew of a passing vessel the
name and position of the foundered vessel is at once ascertained, and owners and
underwriters may be speedily informed, and enabled to take steps for the recovery
of the vessel, if possible, thus saving much valuable time and removing all doubt as
to the fate of the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of indicating the position of foundered vessels by means of buoys
attached to cables, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application and use of cables coiled in cable holders, the cables being
provided with suitable buoys or floats substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of cable, cable holder, and buoy or float, together constituting
my invention of improvements in apparatus for indicating the position of foundered
vessels substantially as hereinbefore described.