AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LAYING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC CABLES OR WIRES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Empson Edward Middleton, of Duke Street, Saint
James's Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LAYING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC CABLES OR
WIRES."
Sealed the 16th February 1866, and dated the 20th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Empson Edward Middleton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th October 1865.
I, EMPSON EDWARD MIDDLETON, of Duke Street, Saint James's Square, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LAYING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC CABLES OR
WIRES," to be as follows:-
My improved method of laying submarine telegraphic cables consists in
buoying or supporting them at regular distances by the following means at a
stated or convenient distance below the surface. Having laid the shore end,
which should be made so thick and heavy as to rest secure at the bottom of
the sea out of the way of ships' anchors and such other dangers, the cable is
thereto attached, and should be constructed as light as possible consistent
with sufficient strength to maintain its own weight when lying in a curve
between the floats or buoys whereby it is supported. The float nearest the
shore should be attached to the cable as soon as sufficient has been paid out
to allow of the cable resting firmly on the ground, and should be constructed
41

page_text: in segments united by copper bolts or fastenings, so as to yield to the curve
of the cable or the swell of the sea. This buoy should be anchored to the
bed of the ocean, but the following buoys or floats should be so constructed
that their specific gravity will enable them to support the cable, say, at the
distance of 100 feet from the surface, and may or may not be anchored to the
bottom, as shall be found expedient. These floats I would construct of very
great length compared with their width, whereby they would support the
cable or telegraphic wire at a more easy curve, the length being apportioned
to the distance between each buoy. To ascertain that the cable or wire bas
been sunk to the proper distance, or in order to discover the position of the
cable at any future period, a small buoy may be attached to the float by a
slight cable or chain, so as to appear on the surface of the ocean, when the
cable may be under-run and repaired; such buoys should not, however, be
too numerous, as danger might arise from vessels or steamers' paddles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Empson Edward Middleton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMPSON
EDWARD MIDDLETON, of Duke Street, Saint James's Square, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Empson Edward Middleton, Her special licence that I, the said Empson
Edward Middleton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Empson Edward Middleton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF LAYING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC CABLES OR
WIRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Empson Edward
Middleton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Empson Edward Middleton, 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 :-
My improved method of laying submarine telegraphic cables or wires
consists in buoying or supporting them at regular distances by the following
means at a stated or convenient distance below the surface. Having laid
the shore end, which should be made so thick and heavy as to rest secure at
the bottom of the sea out of the way of ships' anchors and such other dangers,
the cable is thereto attached, and should be constructed as light as possible
consistent with sufficient strength to maintain its own weight when laying in a
curve between the floats or buoys whereby it is supported. The float nearest
the shore end should be attached to the cable as soon as sufficient has been
paid out to allow of the cable resting firmly on the ground at the bottom.
This buoy should be anchored to the bed of the ocean, but the following buoys
or floats should be so constructed that their specific gravity will enable them
to support the cable, say, at the distance of one hundred feet from the surface,
and may or may not be anchored to the bottom as shall be found expedient.
These floats I would construct of very great length compared with their
width, whereby they would support the cable or telegraphic wire at a more easy.
curve, the length being apportioned to the distance between each buoy. To
ascertain that the cable or wire has been sunk to the proper distance, or in
order to discover the position of the cable at any future period, a small buoy
may be attached to the float by a slight cable or chain so as to appear on the
surface of the ocean, when the cable may be under-run and repaired; suca
buoys should not, however, be too numerous, as danger might arise from
vessels or steamers' paddles.
Having thus far described the nature and object of my said Invention, I
shall proceed to explain more particularly how I propose to carry out the
same, there being many details in proportions and arrangements which can
only be determined when the weight, size, length, and breaking strain of the
cable to be laid are known, as also the direction and force of the oceau
currents, the depth of the ocean, the situation for the shore end, and other
particulars. I suppose the shore ends of the cable to be suitably con-
structed and laid at the bottom of the sea, and of sufficient length to extend
beyond the reach of ordinary danger from ships' anchors; the cable is then

page_text: spliced to the shore end, the extremity of which must be secured by anchors
so as to prevent its being swayed by the action of currents on the part of the
cable which is buoyed. The paying out of the cable is then proceeded with,
and at a distance from this point equal to about half that which it is intended
to maintain between consecutive buoys the first buoy is attached. The buoys
are attached so that the cable when laid may be supported by them, and the
cable is fastened to each buoy by suitable holdfasts, the cable being con-
structed at the points of fastening so that it may be firmly held without injury
to the conducting wires or insulator.
The general features in the construction of the buoys, and the mode of
fastening the cable, will be understood by reference to the Drawing accom-
panying this Specification.
Underneath the buoy and firmly connected thereto I place a flat surface of
board or other suitable material in such a position that the surface is at right
angles to the direction in which the cable is to be laid. The object of such a
surface is during the laying of the cable to check by its resisting power the
tendency of the suspended cable to draw the buoys from their places and
diminish the strain upon the cable at the ship in paying out; this flat
surface may not in many cases be required, and is therefore only to be con-
sidered as an accessory, and not as an essential portion of any buoy. The
dimensions and floating power of the buoys must be made with reference
to such conditions as the nature of the cable and the length intended to be
allowed between consecutive buoys, the specific gravity of the sea on the line
proposed to be taken, and at the depth at which the cable is to be supported,
and in the case of some of the buoys the apparatus for anchoring such buoys
to the bottom of the sea. The floating power of every buoy should be in
excess of the weight it has to bear, for such excess will correct itself. To
show more clearly my meaning, I will suppose the first three buoys laid down
at or about the same distance from the surface of the sea, the first and third
buoys being anchored to the bottom, and it is evident that one-half of the
cable between these buoys will be supported by buoy No. 2, which I suppose
not to be anchored; but if the floating power of this buoy be greater than
the weight it has to bear it will commence to rise, and on doing so will
immediately receive an increase of weight, which will cause it to cease rising.
It is hardly necessary to add that Nos. 1 and 3 cannot rise, being anchored;
the excess can also be corrected if thought necessary by the attachment of
suitable weights. The above will, I think, show plainly that there is no
'absolute necessity for anchoring every buoy, but it is impossible to determine
which shall or shall not be anchored until the bottom of the sea on the line

page_text: line proposed has been well sounded, and the existence or non-existence of
currents ascertained. Each buoy can be sunk to the required depth by
weights, which can be detached when the buoy has been sunk to the required
position. After the first buoy has been attached the paying out continues,
and the other buoys are attached to the cable and sunk to their respective
positions in the manner already described. Should the existence of currents
or other reasons render it necessary any buoy may be anchored, or the
currents may be avoided by regulating the depth to which the cable is sunk.
On reaching the extremity of the other shore end the cable is spliced to it,
and that extremity is then secured in its place at the bottom of the sea in the
manner already mentioned of the first shore end.
For the future recovery of
the cable, I would mark the position of some anchored buoys, and especially.
such as are anchored in deep water, by small buoys floating on the surface;
such small buoys should be made of material which will in no way injure the
bottoms of vessels striking them, and must not be too numerous. The cable
and all the supporting apparatus should be protected by a suitable composition
to preserve them from the action of sea water and from the injuries and
incrustations to which they will be exposed in the sea.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show different views.
of a float or buoy constructed according to a plan which I consider is likely
to fulfil the object of my Invention; Fig. 4 is introduced for the purpose of
showing the general arrangement of a cable suspended between two countries
across the ocean according to my Invention.
The line c, c, c, denote the
surface of the ocean, and the curve lines a, a, a, &c., the cable suspended
The scale is too small to show each
are anchored are shown. Fig. 1 is a
between each anchored buoy b, b, &c.
individual buoy, so that those only that
plan of one of my buoys or floats, Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end, and,
Fig. 3 is a section on the line A¹, B'. The float or buoy consists of a frame
of wood, which should be coated with some preservative compound or coppered,
in order to protect it from decomposition or incrustations when immersed in
the sea.
I propose having two large balks of timber marked A, B, the top.
one being considerably deeper or thicker than the lower one, as shown; the
object of this is to bring the cable below the centre of gravity, so as to prevent
the buoy or float from turning over if tossed by the waves or other causes.
The above-mentioned balks of timber, namely, A, B, have a groove along
their length in which the cable L rests, and they are secured together by the
bolts marked E, E, &c., which pass through both and secure them together.
to the cross beams C, C, &c.; these cross beams serve to support the
frame D, D, which is bolted to them, as shown, by the bolts O, 0, &c. Now,

page_text: along the space marked M, M, &c., I have cork or other light material placed
in proper cases coated and preserved in a proper manner; these cases are
secured by the metal bands G, G, &c., which are bent over and secured by
the screws N, N; the whole forms a firm and secure raft, or float, or buoy on
which the cable is supported as described, its buoyancy being increased by
the cases of cork marked M, M, &c.
I do not make any reference to the mode of mooring these buoys or floats,
as any attachment if made sufficiently strong will answer the purpose; the
couplings should, however, be made to the balks of timber A, B, as hèrein-
before referred to, and it would be preferable to join the mooring cable to the
float by means of two shorter cables attached to the buoy at or near its ends
as aforesaid. To counteract the strain on the cable in the act of being paid
out, and also to retain each buoy in the place where it is deposited, the large
flat surface H, which may be made of iron, copper, or wood, or wood coated with
sheet copper, or of any other suitable material, is attached to the under side of
the buoy at right angles to the line of the cable by means of copper bolts or
fastenings P, P, &c. The area of such surface must be in proportion to the
weight of the cable in water and the distance between the buoys; other con-
siderations also will influence the dimensions of the area of this surface, as the
direction of currents, &c.
For cables to be laid according to this plan I would recommend one about
the same specific gravity as the sea in which it is to be submerged, consistent
with sufficient strength to resist the force of currents between the anchored
floats and to insure perfect insulation; such a cable would render my system
comparatively easy, as it would require a fewer number of buoys. The
above plan of submerging deep sea cables is preferable to existing systems on
account of economy in that, even supposing the expense of the floats and
mooring apparatus is not fully compensated for by the comparative shortness
of the cable, still the cable can be always got at and repaired, which is in
itself an enormous saving of expense; also on account of the absence of danger
from earth currents, hot springs, volcanic action at the bottom of the sea, and
total loss of the cable from breaking.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
claim as my Invention every mode of supporting telegraphic cables or wires
in the sea, nor do I claim any part or parts of the apparatus or method above
described, except as in combination with the other part or parts thereof, in
the manner above described, and except as herein-after mentioned; but I
claim the exclusive right to support telegraphic cables and wires below the

page_text: surface of the sea by buoys so constructed and applied as to allow of being
sunk to and to keep the cable suspended at or about any required depth
below the surface of the sea and on any required line.
I also claim the exclusive use of the buoy berein-before described in
connection with the support of telegraphic wires or cables in the sea.
In witness whereof, I, the said Empson Edward Middleton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
0 Witness,
EMPSON EDWARD MIDDLETON. (L.s.)
CHARLES S. BAKER,
General Patent Co., Limited,
71, Fleet Street,
Agents.