AN INSTRU- MENT FOR TAKING AND REGISTERING DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN INSTRU-
MENT FOR TAKING AND REGISTERING DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Thomas P. How, of Broadway, New York.
Sealed the 20th April 1860, and dated the 1st November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1859.
I, WILLIAM SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
INSTRUMENT FOR TAKING AND REGISTERING DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS," being a com-
munication from abroad by Thomas P. How, of Broadway, New York, to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in a tube or cylinder, which is closed at one end
and open at the other, the open end having fitted into it a removeable bridge
or guide through which a graduated piston rod is capable of working. To
one end of the graduated rod is fixed a piston fitting the interior of the tube
or cylinder air and water tight; also on the said rod is fitted an indicator
adapted to slide thereon, with sufficient friction to keep it in its place. The
instrument is connected to the sounding line by means of a bale, cord, or wire.

page_text: The depth of the sounding is ascertained by the position of the indicator on
the graduated rod, along which it is caused to slide (being in contact with
the bridge or guide) by the passing of the piston towards the closed end of
the tube or cylinder as it is pressed upon by the water with gradually
increasing pressure during the descent of the instrument so as to condense the
air between the piston and the closed end of the tube or cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Spence, Her special license that I, the said William Spence, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Spence, 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 Invention for" "AN INSTRUMENT FOR TAKING
AND REGISTERING DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS," being a communication from abroad
by Thomas P. How, of Broadway, New York, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Spence, by an instrument in writing under
my band and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner 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 William Spence, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
:-
This Invention of "An Instrument for Taking and Registering Deep Sea

page_text: Soundings," consists in a tube or cylinder, which is closed at one end and
open at the other, the open end having fitted into it a removeable bridge or
guide through which a graduated piston rod is capable of working. To one
end of the graduated rod is fixed a piston fitting the interior of the tube or
cylinder air and water tight; also on the said rod is fitted an indicator adapted
to slide thereon with sufficient friction to keep it in its place. The instrument
is connected to the sounding line by means of a bale, cord, or wire. The
depth of the sounding is ascertained by the position of the indicator on the
graduated rod, along which is caused to slide (being in contact with the
bridge or guide) by the passing of the piston towards the closed end of the
tube or cylinder as it is pressed upon by the water with gradually increasing
pressure during the descent of the instrument so as to condense the air
between the piston and the closed end of the tube or cylinder.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe
oro particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of
more

page_text: me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I do hereby
.declare that what I claim as of the said Invention is the use of an instrument
in which deep sea soundings are indicated by the descent of a piston within a
tube or cylinder, in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my
band and seal, the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEO. BEDELL COULCHER,
50, Chancery Lane,
Law Stationer.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.S.)