97% Improvements in Cable Connection for Lightships.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
97%
Improvements in Cable Connection for Lightships. ‹
1, HENRY ALFRED CHARLES SAUNDERS, of The Eastern Telegraph Company
Limited, of 50 Old. Broad Street, in the City of London, Electrician, (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Robert Greey, of Malta, Commander of The
Eastern Telegraph Company's cable ship "Amber," and William Henry Cottrell,
of Syra, in the Greek Islands, Electrician,) do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In order to establish telegraphic or telephonic communication with light ships
I employ arrangements illustrated by the drawings annexed.
The moorings of the lightships are shackled on to the two lugs Land L¹ of a swivel
such as is shown by Figure 1, and the ship chains on to the swivel shackle S and S¹.
The submarine cable from shore (such as is known as type A is suitable) is made
fast to one of the mooring chains, and the end, fitted with a brass collar is inserted
through the eye E into the aperture F as far as the shoulders at D, and made
a tight fit. Above and below E the cable has two collars to secure it, also two
stopper chains from the lugs L and L'.
The cable from the lightship (type D is suitable) is made fast to one of the ship
chains and then inserted through the bell-mouth A into the aperture B, as far as
the shoulders at C.
The type A cable in the boss of the swivel is fixed, but the type D cable revolves
with the lightship when influenced by the tides.
The core of each type extends beyond the sheathing into an india rubber tube g
(see Figure 2) which is fitted in the aperture between C and D. The core of the
type A cable is covered with indiarubber taping and cemented on to the inside of
the tube g with indiarubber solution and made perfectly water-tight. The core of
the type D cable also extends beyond the sheathing into the tube g and is free to
move therein.
On the top of the lower core very fine sand i is placed forming a bed for the
mercury in which both the copper conductors are immersed.
The conductor of the upper core pierces three or four rings of indiarubber
insertion, and the space above them and the top of the tube g is filled with
vaseline at m.
On the cable under the bell-mouth, a hood is fitted to keep out any spray or rain
from the aperture B.
Thus it will be seen that communication can be safely maintained between the
lightship and shore, without fear of the cable being kinked or wrenched asunder
by the tidal movements of the vessel.
Dated this 4th day of August 1892.
H. A. C. SAUNDERS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cable Connection for Lightships.
I, HENRY ALFRED CHARLES SAUNDERS, of The Eastern Telegraph Company
Limited, of 50 Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Electrican, (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Robert Greey, of Malta, Commander of The
Eastern Telegraph Company's cable ship "Amber," and William Henry Cottrell,
of Syra, in the Greek Islands, Electrician,) do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularl
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In order to establish telegraphic or telephonic communication with lightship
I employs arrangements illustrated by the drawings left with my Provisiona
Specification.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a swivel coupling. This figure i
drawn to about one fourth of the actual size.
Figure. 2 is a section and shows the arrangements for electrically connecting two
telegraph, cables which meet in the coupling.
The moorings of the lightships are shackled on to the two lugs L and L of
swivel such as is shown by Figure 1, and the ship chains on to the swivel shackle S
and S. Thus the swivel hangs suspended from the bows of the light ship and
when the light ship swings with the tide one part of the swivel is free to turn on
the other.
The submarine cable from shore (such as is known as type A is suitable) is made
fast to one of the mooring chains, and the end, fitted with a brass collar is inserted
through the eye E into the aperture F as far as the shoulders at D, and made a
tight fit.
The collar has a screw thread cut upon it and receives two screw
nuts one above and the other below the eye E, the cable is thus secured, also two
stopper chains pass from the lugs L and L¹ to the cable.
The cable from the lightship (type D is suitable) is made fast to one of the ship
chains and then inserted through the bell mouth A into the aperture B, as far as
the shoulders at C.
The type A cable in the boss of the swivel is fixed, but the type D cable revolves
with the lightship when influenced by the tides.
The core of each type extends beyond the sheathing into an india rubber tube
(see Figure 2) which is fitted in the aperture in the swivel coupling between C
and D. The core of the type A cable is covered with india rubber taping hand
cemented on to the inside of the tube g with india rubber solution and made
perfectly water-tight. The core of the type D cable also extends beyond the
sheathing into the tube g and is free to move therein.
On the top of the lower core very fine sand i is placed forming a bed for the
mercury in which both the copper conductors are immersed.
The conductor of the upper core pierces three or four rings of india rubber
insertion, and the space above them and the top of the tube 9 is filled with
vaseline at m.
On the cable under the bell-mouth A a hood not shown in the drawing is fitted
to keep out any spray or rain from the aperture B.
Thus it will be seen that communication can be safely maintained between the
lightship and shore, without fear of the cable being kinked or wrenched asunder by
the tidal movements of the vessel.
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 :-
1. A swivel coupling, substantially as described, suitable for a lightship's mooring,
and adapted to receive into it the ends of two electrically connected cables in such
manner that the one may rotate relatively to the other without interfering with the
electrical continuity.
2. A cable connection for a lightship, substantially as described.