BOAT FOR SUB-AQUEOUS WARFARE."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Gilbert Surman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1878.
JOHN GILBERT SURMAN, 1, Amersham Road, New Cross, Kent.
BOAT FOR SUB-AQUEOUS WARFARE."
"AN IMPROVED
My Invention consists of a sub-aqueous boat propelled by pneumatic power. It is
of a cigar shape, and when empty it is to be about the same specific weight as
water. The height of the boat (in its widest part) is to be about seven feet, and
its length from twenty-eight to thirty feet. It is to be constructed so as to
accomodate six men, five of whom are to work pump to compress atmospheric air
into a chamber specially constructed for its reception. This chamber is a reservoir
of power and supplies the pistons with compressed air, and thus serves as a motive
power to the boat.
The air is procured by means of an india-rubber tube, the lower end being
attached to the pumps before-mentioned, and to the upper extremity is attached an
inflated bag which acts as a flotile, and thus keeps the end of the tube above water.
The air after it has served as a motive power to propel the boat enters the apart-
men in which the six men are situated, where it does further service as fresh air
for respiration. The rest of the manipulation is performed by one man who is sited
in the front of the boat. His offices are as follows:-He directs the coures of the
boat by means of a common rudder as in all other surface swimming boats; he is
enabled to perceive locality by means of what I have technically denominated "the
floating observing glass," which being constructed upon certain optic principles,
he is enabled though many feet under water to see as plainly as though he were on
the surface of it; he also regulates the rising and sinking of the boat, which he
effects by inflating an external bag when rising is required, and the exhaustion of
the air when sinking is required; it is his office to help and superinted the fixing
of the torpedo upon the object to be distroyed. The stoping and regulating the
speed of the boat is also under his control.
The rate I have calculated the boat is capable of travelling is from 20 to 25 miles
an hour, and in case of need it can rise to the surface in less than two minutes,

page_text: while an instalment of air for more than 20 minutes for the respiration of the six
men is contained within the boat should the pumps cease to work.
The chief feature is therefore a pneumatic motive power procured by pumps
worked by manual labour, and the use of the same air for the respiration of the
occupants within the "pneumatic sub-aqueous torpedo boat," which I believe has
not been attempted by any other inventor previous to myself.
The following diagrams will show more fully the nature of my Invention.
Plate I. represents a longitudinal section of the sub-aqueous boat; 1 is the
flotile for procuring atmospheric air; 2 are the pumps to compress the air into
chamber 7, which is to give motion to the boat; 40, 41, 41, are air-tight dores ;
4 to be opened when under water, 41, 41, when floating upon the surface; 5 is the
electric batteries for kindling the electric spark to expload the torpedo, after an
advisable distance has been reached; 6 is the "floating observing glass" by which
the officer in charge cam see the course the boat is to steered; 8 is the "fin
propeller" to give motion to the boat; 9 is a coil of wire to make a communication
with with the torpedo and the batteries, and 10 is the rudder.
Plate II. is a further explanation of the various parts of the sub-aqueous boat;
a is a latitudinal section of the boat taken in the center, and showing a front view
of the apartment wherein the five men are situated; B is an under view of the
engine to propel the boat; C is a front view of the "fin propeller" when approaching
the observer D, when it is receding from him; H is the flotile for procuring
atmospheric air, and i is the under view of the cap constructed to prevent the
admission of water, should it be necessary to bring the flotile below the surface;
J is the head of the floating observer, and K is a side view of it; L is the telescope
at the end of the floating observing glass, which is inside the apartment of the officer
in charge.