Improved Means of and Apparatus for Effecting Communication between Vessels or between a Vessel and the Shore.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1892-Accented, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of and Apparatus for Effecting Communication
between Vessels or between a Vessel and the Shore.
I ROBERT CAPPS COLBY of 27 Western Terrace, West Borough, Maidstone
in the County of Kent Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and ready means for effecting
communication between vessels, or between a vessel and the shore, and it is designed
principally for saving life, though it is applicable for despatching from vessels
letters and the like in certain circumstances.
The apparatus consists essentially of a very buoyant device such as an inflated
flexible, or an air exhausted metallic ball, or other suitable shaped device provided
either internally, or by a frame or otherwise in suitable manner externally, with a
freely rotating reel or bobbin having wound thereupon a long line of suitable kind,
in such manner that when required (say in the case of a stranded ship or wreck)
the free end of the said line can be made fast on board and the apparatus being
then cast into the sea will be carried by the wind waves or current to shore, or
it may be towards the life boat or other vessel standing by, when the life or
breeches line will be made fast by the rescuers to the reel line and hauled on board
by the mariners, and so the required communication will be effected.
In its details the whole apparatus is made as strong as possible to resist the
enormous forces to which it will be subject. To the reel, ball- or suitable anti-
friction-bearings as well as suitable brake and stop actions may be applied, and
where the reel is external to the float it may be wholly or in part covered with
suitable material and a flexible or other suitable line guide may be fixed to prevent
fouling of the line.
When the reel is internal to the buoyant device rubber cones fitting close but
not unduly gripping the reel line, or other equivalent air- and water-excluders must
be applied to the line guide, or exit aperture.
I may also combine with my said apparatus a sail or a flag or other visible sign;
or a bell, gong, or other sounding device; and also an electric or other appropriate
non-extinguishable light properly guarded, so as to indicate the locality of the
apparatus when used at night.
When letters or the like are to be carried the buoyant device itself may be
adapted to carry same, or a watertight chamber may be conveniently attached."
The apparatus may be of any desired size, and its weight and displacement are
adapted to ensure the most efficient action upon it of the propelling influences to
which it will be subject.
Dated this 15th day of December 1891.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of and Apparatus for Effecting Communication
between Vessels or between a Vessel and the Shore.
I ROBERT CAPPS COLBY of 27 Western Terrace, West Borough, Maidstone
in the County of Kent Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and ready means for effecting
communication between vessels, or between a vessel and the shore, and it is designed
principally for saving life, though it is applicable for despatching from vessels
letters, and the like in certain circumstances.
The apparatus consists essentially of a very buoyant device such as an inflated
flexible, or an air exhausted metallic ball, or other suitable shaped device provided
either internally, or by a frame or otherwise in suitable manner externally, with a
freely rotating reel or bobbin having wound thereupon a long line of suitable kind,
in such manner that when required (say in the case of a stranded ship or wreck)
the free end of the said line can be made fast on board and the apparatus being
then cast into the sea will be carried by the wind, waves or current to the shore,
or it may be towards the life boat or other vessel, standing by, when the life- or
breeches-line will be made fast by the rescuers to the reel line and hauled on board
by the mariners, and so the required communication will be effected.
I will describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus and
Figure 2 a cross section showing details of another form adapted to carry
letters.
Figure 3 illustrates the mode of use of my invention.
I have shown at B Figure 1 a rubber ball covered and protected by leather. or
other suitable flexible material and at B Figure 2 a metallic air exhausted
chamber. Either form is adapted to carry letters or the like as hereinafter
explained. R is the reel having wound upon it line L and carried upon a spindle
mounted in the frame F which latter is attached to the buoyant device B at b.
The frame F is strongly braced and the device B may be prevented from rotation
or movement by a stop such as 6' on the frame.
The spindle may have ball or other antifriction bearings and back rotation
is prevented by a device such as the spring pressed pawl p on frame F engaging
ratchet wheel P on spindle f as illustrated, or otherwise. G Figure 2 is a flexible
line guide to prevent fouling of the line and when it is used the frame may
be covered in at Figure 2 with canvas or suitable material.
I may also
combine with the above described apparatus a flag, gong, or bell as illustrated for
example at A Figure 2 to indicate its position, or I may use a sail or equivalent
such as a kite as illustrated at K Figure 3 to assist and accelerate.its travel.
If letters or the like are to be carried, when the buoyant device B is designed
for inflation they are inserted beforehand, but in the case of a metallic air
exhausted device such as is illustrated in Figure 2, I provide it with a removable
but watertight cover as illustrated. at 6. The missives are indicated at a and
exhaustion is performed after securing the cover 62; or a watertight chamber may
be conveniently attached.
In its details the whole apparatus is made as strong as possible to resist the
enormous forces to which it will be subject: it may be of any desired size and its
weight and displacement are adapted to ensure the most efficient action upon it
by the propelling influences.
In Figure 3 I have illustrated diagramatically the use of my invention, a ship
being represented as wrecked on a lee shore.

page_text: The apparatus has been launched and is drifting to the shore, the free end of
the recl line L being fixed to the maintop of the vessel and paying off the
reel as the apparatus drifts or is propelled. I have shown a bird-shaped kite K
fixed by a light line to the apparatus and which may be advantageously coated
with luminous paint, a guide line may also be fixed to the kite and manipulated
from the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
:-
1. The hereinbefore described means for effecting communication between
vessels, or between a vessel and the shore consisting in the use of a buoyant
apparatus such as is described carrying a reel and line and with or without a sail
or equivalent substantially as set forth.
2. The apparatus for effecting communication between vessels or a vessel and
the shore consisting in the combination with a buoyant device such as described
in reference to B of a rotary reel with a line wound thereon and attached thereto
in such manner that as the said buoyant device drifts the line will be payed
out and back action and fouling prevented, the whole being constructed and
arranged substantially as and for the purposes hereinabove set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1892.