Improved Buoyant Material for Use in Constructing Life-belts, Buoys, Clothing, Boats, Ships, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
An Improved Buoyant Material for Use in Constructing Life-belts,
Buoys, Clothing, Boats, Ships, and the like.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, W., in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Ernest Marie Robert, of Lorient, in the
Republic of France, Inventor,) to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved buoyant material for use in constructing
life-belts, buoys, clothing, boats, ships and the like.
PRINCIPLE UPON WHICH RESTS MY SYSTEM.
In all works on physics the phenomenon of capillary attraction is demonstrated
as follows:-
Que takes two corks and one places them on water. Apart from the known
particulars of the principle of Archimedes one remarks that:
1st. The two bodies attract each other.
2nd. That the capillary attraction is explained by an ascensional swelling.
Consequently the two bodies enter into the water.
Let us take the same two corks, let us coat them carefully with lamp-black, not
calcined, and let us replace them on the water.
1st. The two bodies repel each other.
2nd. The capillary attraction is exercised in a contrary sense; this time the
swelling is concave. Our corks no longer penetrate into the water, but rest on it.
Submerge them forcibly, they come out of the water as dry as before they were
plunged into it.
All light woods, reduced to powder, or into small pieces, become in a very short
time more dense than the water itself. I have therefore sought to render this
powder impermeable by relying upon the above principle. I have reduced my
cork into small pieces of the size of a large pin-head for 3 litres of this material
I have put in one litre of black; I have rigorously rubbed and blackened my cork,
and I have obtained a body compact, but flexible and absolutely repellent
(refractory) to water. Imniersed under water for an unlimited time, it remains
absolutely dry and preserves its density, therefore its buoyancy.
In
The density of the human body is on the average the same as that of water.
order that a man may always have, in spite of his will, the head, the neck, and the
top of the shoulders out of water, it is sufficient to displace a volume of water
qual to the weight of that portion which one wishes to keep above the water.
We know the average weight of the human brain, of the bone, of the ueck, etc.,
say about from 5 to 6 kilos.
It will therefore suffice to displace from 5 to 6 litres in the upper part of the
body, above the navel, which is a point very near the centre of gravity.
The applications of my process are very simple and easy to understand, and very
numerous. It is thus that one can manufacture very light belts, waist-coats, short-
jackets, sailors oil-coats, life buoys, mattresses for saving life etc.,
Is it not very easy to distribute on the chest, beneath the arm-pits, on the loins etc.

page_text: 6 to 7 litres of a material that I have prepared? And how much would weigh
7 litres for example?
The density of cork in board is 0.240 k.
The density of cork in small pieces 0.075 k. to 0.080 k.
That of lamp-black not calcined is about of 0.150 k.
One litre of blackened cork will therefore weigh 0-120 k. about, and 7 litres will
weigh 0.840 k., let us say 0-900 k.
Therefore a man will float with less than one kilo., and it is not difficult to
introduce 7 litres of the material in question between the material and the lining
of a short-jacket, of a waist-coat and the like.
I have moreover myself constructed several of these apparati, and the
experiments made prove that my application is good, practical, and may render
great services to seamen.
Dated this 29th day of January 1896.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
An Improved Buoyant Material for Use in Constructing Life-belts,
Buoys, Clothing, Boats, Ships, and the like.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington London (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Ernest Marie Robert of Lorient (Morbihan) in
the Republic of France, Professor,) do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The rescue appliances and devices for protection from drowning, such as buoys,
swimming belts, floating mattresses, inflated clothing and the like, which at present
exist, are all constructed on certain well-known principles and are all alike subject
to certain inconveniences and drawbacks. They may be classified generally under
two beads.
(a) Belts composed of light pieces of wood.
(6) Belts and other contrivances containing air or gas with air-tight casing.
The first-named are generally adopted by sea-faring men and certainly do sustain
the body in the water. The objection to them is that they are inconvenient to
wear, and unbending. Hence it is impossible for a sailor, while wearing one, to
perform bis duties on board ship, and a person cannot sleep with one on, or move
about with any comfort while wearing one.
Moreover, in case of immersion, a person, although protected from sinking by
such an apparatus, cannot progress in any desired direction, except with great
exertion, owing to the resistance being proportional to the volume of water
displaced.
The inflated system, on the other hand is very uncertain and unreliable.
The function of all gas or air-inflated apparatuses is so easily interrupted by
blow, or concussion, or by a nail causing a puncture, that one can never safely trust
to them. Some devices therefore are too bulky and cumbersome, while others,
although very convenient, are too unreliable.
These considerations have led me to endeavour to introduce an improved life-
saving apparatus having the advantages, without the disadvantages of the different
kinds above referred to.
Capillary attraction may be demonstrated by taking two corks and floating them
on water.
Besides the details connected with the principle of Archimedes, it will be

page_text: noticed that the two bodies attract each other and capillary attraction is evidenced
by a rising ring of moisture. This proves that the two bodies are immersed to
some extent. Now, if we take the same two corks and give them a coating of
unburnt lamp black, then if we replace them on the water the following effects will
be noticed
(a) The two bodies will repel each other.
(6) Capillary attraction will take the opposite form. This time the ring of
moisture will be concave. The corks no longer penetrate below the surface of the
water; they rest upon it and if we immerse them by pressure, they will rise again
as dry as before.
Any light wood, reduced to powder or small bits, will become in a very short
time more deuse than water itself. I have aimed at making such powder water-
proof following the principle above related. I have reduced my cork to small
pieces, not larger than a rather large-sized pin's head. To 3 litres of this chopped
cork I add a litre of lamp-black. By vigorous rubbing and mixing my cork
becomes black and I obtain a compact but pliable substance, absolutely water-proof.
It may be held any length of time under water without becoming wet. It
therefore preserves its density and buoyancy.
The average density of the human body is the same as that of water. In order
that a person may, without effort, keep his head neck and the top of his shoulders
out of water, all that is required is to displace a volume of water equal to the
weight of that portion of the body which is to be sustained above water. Taking
the head, neck and shoulders, this weight may be estimated at about from 5 to
6 kilogrammes. Consequently a displacement of from 5 to 6 litres about the
upper part of the body, that is to say above the navel, which is very nearly the
centre of gravity, will secure the desired result.
The applications of my process are very simple, very easily understood and very
numerous.
By its help, extremely light belts vests, waist-coats, life-buoys, and such like
appliances and devices may be constructed with a view to absolute safety in the
water while most of them may be worr. out of the water without any inconvenience.
6 or 7 litres of the substance in question can easily be disposed about the persou,
some of it on the chest some about the loins and other parts of the body.
The density of cork boards is about 0-240 kilogramme whereas in small pieces it
is from 0075 to 0-080 kilogramnic. That of unburnt lamp-black is about
0-150 kilogramme. A litre of blackened cork will weigh therefore about
0-120 kilogramme and 7 litres 0.840 kilogramme or let us put it at 0-900 kilo-
gramme.
It will thus be seen that a person will float with less than a kilogramme of the
substance in question, and there would be no difficulty in disposing of 7 litres of
it between the material and the lining of a coat, a waistcoat, or other garment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A process applicable to all life-saving apparatuses and devices, including belts,
life-buoys and the like, distinguished by the mixing and rubbing of grated or cut
light wood for instance cork with unburnt lamp-black, as above described and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 29th day of October 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.