IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE RISE OR FALL OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS IN SHIPS' HOLDS, TIDAL HARBOURS, OR OTHER VESSELS OR PLACES
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Kingsbury at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th February
1854.
I, EDWARD KINGSBURY, of Knightsbridge, in the County of Middlesex, Gen-
tleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE RISE OR FALL OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS IN
SHIPS' HOLDS, TIDAL HARBOURS, OR OTHER VESSELS OR PLACES," to be as follows:-
I propose to fix in a ship's hold, in the place most proper and convenient
for such purpose, an apparatus, which by the action of its parts below decks
shall indicate to those on deck the quantity of water that may be at any time
in the hold. The ship when clear of water will cause the operation of this
apparatus to cease. An outline description of the parts of mechanism will be
sufficient to elucidate the "modus operandi." At the bottom of the hold
(most likely where the pumps terminate) I place an upright perforated cylinder,
made of any suitable metal or material, and of any convenient size or depth.
From the upper end or surface of this cylinder a close tube is led in an exactly
perpendicular position up to (and through) the upper deck, and then (partially
open) for such height above deck as may be most convenient for inspecting the
index. In the interior of the perforated cylinder is placed an air-tight cylinder

page_text: of smaller dimensions; from the upper end or surface of this air-tight cylinder,
and affixed thereto, a wire or rod passes upwards into and through the tube
aforesaid, the whole of its length, with the exception of the open part of the
said tube above deck; here, when there is no water in the hold, the rod stops
and is out of sight, but as the water comes into the ship's hold its action upon
the air-tight cylinder (it being freely admitted through the perforated cylinder)
causes it to rise; the rod being forced up and kept perpendicular by the tube
rises also, and its point passes up above the deck, and is seen through the
open part of the tube (which may be glazed, if desirable); the height of the
rods point above the deck shews the quantity of water in the hold, and if an
index of feet and inches be marked on the outside of the tube, the exact
number of both will be shewn.
By this self-acting apparatus all labor of using the plumb stick or rod is
avoided (and these loose plumb rods are often out of place, or lost when most
wanted), all or any of the crew can at any time see the state of the ship as to
water in hold, and many fearful wrecks will, it is hoped, be by this simple
means avoided. I propose also to use the apparatus, somewhat modified in its
parts, to indicate the risc and fall of tides at tidal harbours, where it may be
used as a day and night signal; in the day, by shewing any signal (agreed upon)
for quantity of water; at night, by passing opaque over brilliant surfaces. It
will be also useful in reservoirs, breweries, distilliries, and other places where
large quantities of liquids are filled and drawn off.