NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CONVEYING OIL TO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA, LAKES OR OTHER OPEN WATERS, FOR CALMING THE WAVES THEREOF, FOR THE PROTECTION OF SHIPPING, HARBOURS AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bowman of Huntly in the County of Aberdeen
"
for an Invention of NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR
CONVEYING OIL TO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA, LAKES OR OTHER OPEN
WATERS, FOR CALMING THE
WAVES THEREOF, FOR THE PROTECTION OF
SHIPPING, HARBOURS AND OTHER STRUCTURES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bowman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1883.
JAMES BOWMAN, of Huntly, in the county of Aberdeen,
"NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CONVEYING OIL TO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA,
LAKES, OR OTHER OPEN WATERS FOR CALMING THE WAVES THEREOF, FOR THE
PROTECTION OF SHIPPING, HARBOURS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES,"
This said Invention has reference to special constructions of portable floating
apparatus or vessels, for the more convenient and regular distribution of oil over
the surface of waters for the calming of their waves, than the means and appliances
heretofore used for the said purpose.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist in the use of various sized
portable floating nearly close vessels with double cases, that is, an inner case or
vessel to contain and be filled with the oil before use, and an outer vessel in which
the said oil vessel is secured in the lower part, leaving a narrow or annular space
between their cases, into which the oil could escape through regulating valves as
will hereinafter be explained, to pass out through a great number of small holes
formed for the purpose near the top of the annular space, or the outer floating case
or vessel, and so that if the outer water entered the vessel, the oil being lighter
than water, would always flow out of the upper holes. The outer floating case
would preferably be formed with a close fitting top with hinges and hasps, or
securing fixtures, for opening up and filling the oil vessel with, by a filling screw
or valve at top. And this lid would be made with a close air chamber in its
highest or upper part. The upper part of the inner or oil vessel is preferably also
formed with a closed-in air chamber or space, so that either of these close air

page_text: spaces would make the whole float as a buoy, with this side always upmost or
above the water, and the escaping small holes in the outer vessel always above the
upper part of the oil vessel for the proper action of the whole. The oil vessel is
formed with a valve in its lowest part, having an actuating screw spindle reaching
up through a short tube or opening in the top air chamber, to be actuated by a
handle or key when the cover of the outer vessel is raised, or it might be through
a tube or hole for this purpose formed through the cover or its close air vessel, and
to be opened and regulated just before going to use the vessel, which might be
kept always filled with oil ready for use. An opening either with or without a
closing or regulating lid or valve, would be formed in the upper part of the oil
vessel, for the gradual escape of the oil as this vessel gradually filled with water
through the lower regulating valve, from the space between it and the outer
vessel, so that the oil from the inner vessel, or that let into the narrow space
between the vessels would by the weight of the vessel and difference of specific
gravity of the water and oil, be pressed out and distributed through the small
holes in the outer vessel in a regular manner over the surface of the water and
waves.
These portable oil distributing vessels might be made of various shapes in cross
section, as round, oval, or polygonal, and preferably parallel for ease in making
them, but when made long to float longitudinally, they might be formed with
rounded, conoidal, or boat-like ends, for greater ease of being drawn through the
water, and they would have the escaping oil holes formed in rows around the
upper part of the two. sides below the air lid or top. But when these vessels are
to be made to float on end, then the confined air or floating chamber would be
formed at the one end, and it might be loaded to some extent at the lower end, to
give it a more steady floating action on end, and in this construction of vessel, the
escaping oil holes in the outer vessel would be formed round the circumference or
perimeter up near the top end or cover. The oil vessel might be either secured to,
or made portable as stated, with the outer vessel, and inserted into retaining
sockets and snugs for convenience of removal from the outer vessel. Each vessel
would have eyes for securing lines or small towing ropes to them, as they were
thrown overboard from the ship, or life-boats employed or used for towing them,
until the oil was all distributed. Or otherwise, each rope might be made of a
length to suit the depth of water, and be secured also to a small anchor thrown
over with the oil vessels, to anchor them at suitable distances apart. Or otherwise,
a great number of smaller vessels might be attached to each other by long lines
and thrown into the water at corresponding distances apart, and by this means
enable the oil vessels to be picked up, after the sea or storm had calmed, for
future use.
The apparatus could also be used for stilling the force of the waves at the critical
moment when boats are leaving a sinking ship; the apparatus would be dropped
over the ship's side and controlled by the men on deck.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Bowman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th October
1883.
:
JAMES BOWMAN, of Huntly, in the County of Aberdeen "NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CONVEYING OIL TO THE SURFACE OF THE SEA,
LAKES, OR OTHER OPEN WATERS FOR CALMING THE WAVES THEREOF FOR THE
PROTECTION OF SHIPPING, HARBOURS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES."
"
My said Invention has reference to improved constructions of portable floating
vessels or apparatus to be used in distributing oil over the surface of the sea
for the purpose of protecting ships and other structures from the action of the
waves.
The accompanying drawings illustrate two modifications of my improved oil
distributing vessels or apparatus, figures 1, 2 and 3 being respectively a vertical
section, a plan and a perspective view of one form of vessel, and figures 4 and 5
longitudinal and transverse vertical sections, and figure 6 a perspective view of
another form.
The improved apparatus consists of an outer open vessel or casing A' which is
adapted to float in the water, and an inner oil vessel or reservoir B of small size
enclosed by, or fixed within, the open vessil, and open space C to which the water
has free access being left between the vessels. The inner vessel or reservoir B is
provided with an opening at the top, through which it is filled with oil, and this
opening is fitted with a valve or door b.
At the bottom of the oil reservoir an opening is formed and is fitted with a
regulating valve 6', which is operated by a screwed spindle 6ª extending up through
the vessel and provided with a turning key or handle 6ª outside. When the
improved apparatus is to be used both the valves b, 62, are opened, and the double
cased vessel is thrown into the sea, in which it floats. The outer vessel A is at
once filled with water, and the oil which is displaced by water entering the lower
opening b¹ escapes slowly by the valves b, rises in the water within the space C
and passes out to the surface of the surrounding water through a number of small
holes a formed in the outer casing A at or near the top.
The outer casing A is fitted with a hollow cover or air chamber A¹ which acts
as a float to buoy up the apparatus, and which may be hinged and secured by
hasps a¹ or similar devices to the casing. A vertical opening A' is formed through
the centre of this cover to admit the hand in opening the valves and for con-
venience in filling the oil reservoir; and a transverse opening A³ is formed in the
cover, through which the water may enter to fill the space Č when the apparatus
is thrown into the sea.
The upper part of the oil vessel or reservoir B may also be formed with a closed
air chamber to give greater buoyancy to the apparatus the air chamber in each
case being formed as near the top as possible, so that the position assumed by the
apparatus when in use may always be such that the small holes a in the outer
case A are above the oil reservoir B, and allow the oil to pass out freely.
The portable oil distributing vessels described may be made of various shapes.
When made long to float longitudinally, they may be formed with rounded,
conoidal, or boat like ends, as affording less resistance to the passage of the vessels
when drawn through the water, and the oil holes a may be formed in rows around
the upper part of the two sides of the casing and below the air chamber or
cover A¹. When the vessels are to be made to float on end, the confined air
chamber is formed at the upper end, and it may be loaded to some extent at the

page_text: lower end to insure greater steadiness in the water. In this construction of vessel,
the outlet oil holes in the outer casing are formed round the circumference near
the upper end or cover.
The oil vessel B may be secured to the outer casing, or it may be made portable,
and be fitted into retaining sockets D within the outer casing A. Strong buckled
plates d are fitted between the outer casing, and the oil reservoir to retain the
latter in its place with the free water space C around it. In the example shown
in figures 4, 5 and 6, the oil reservoir is hung on trunnions d³, and is steadied by
socket pieces d.
Each vessel may have eyes e to which lines or small towing ropes of may be
secured when they are thrown overboard from the ship, or when life-boats are
employed for towing them.
A number of the improved oil distributing vessels may be attached at intervals
apart to long lines by means of which they may be readily picked up after
exhaustion of the oil.
The improved apparatus may be conveniently employed to protect boats in the
act of being launched or disengaged from the ship's side, by throwing overboard a
number of the oil distributing vessels, and controlling their movements in the
water by ropes or lines attached to the vessels, and secured on board the ship.
The improved apparatus may also be used in conjunction with life buoys or
other portable life saving vessels, or with rocket appliances such as Manby's
apparatus by combining or attaching the improved oil distributing vessels to such
apparatus.
I am aware that it has been proposed to employ fixed buoys or beacons
containing a supply of oil which may be distributed over the surface of the waves
to protect harbours, and for similar purposes. Such buoys or beacons are intended
to remain stationary, being secured to the sea bottom by chains, or other fastenings,
and having outlet valves which are controlled from the shore by cords: and they
bear no analogy to my Invention, according to which only portable oil distributing
vessels of improved form are used, and are thrown into or drawn through the water
in the same way as oil bags and barrels have long been used for the protection of
ships at sea in stormy weather.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First. The improved portable oil distributing vessels or apparatus herein
described and illustrated for the purpose set forth.
Second. A portable automatic oil distributing apparatus consisting of an inner
oil vessel or reservoir, and an outer floating case pierced with holes, substantially
as described, and for the purpose set forth.
Third. A series of portable and automatically acting oil distributing vessels or
floats connected together by a line or lines, and adapted to form a protecting
barrier against the action of the waves, substantially as herein described.
In Witness Whereof, I the said James Bowman, have hereunto set my hand,
and seal this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.