Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life at Sea.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life at Sea.
I, AUGUST KÖPCKE, of Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the subject of this invention is designed for saving
life at sea, and consists of a hollow inflated ring of such a size that it is capable of
holding a great number of persons, say from thirty to fifty above water.
My improved apparatus comprises a ring made of water and air-tight material,
and which is inflated by blowing air or gas into the same.
The air or gas is
introduced through two tubular extensions arranged on the inner periphery of the
ring and provided with return valves. The ring which may have an interior width
of about 2 metres, whilst its transverse section has a diameter of about 0.75 metres,
has at its outer and inner periphery, handles which the shipwrecked persons can
take hold of. To some of these handles are attached short ropes in order that
these persons may be able to tie themselves to the ring.
Furthermore the ring is bound with ropes which the persons can readily seize.
The inner opening of the ring is filled up by an extended net which in case of
need serves for the reception of children, women and valuable articles. On the inner
periphery is provided a mouth-piece formed of the water-tight material. This
mouth-piece is kept closed by two clamping plates held together by screws and
enables the air to be discharged after the removal of the clamping plates.
When this has been effected the apparatus can be folded up so as to occupy a
small space. The inflation of the ring can be effected very quickly by liquid
carbonic acid.
Dated this 144h day of Antaliau 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life at Sea.
I, AUGUST KÖPCKE of Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The apparatus which forms the subject of this invention is designed for saving
life at sea, and consists of a hollow inflated ring of such a size that it is capable of
holding a great number of persons, say from thirty to fifty, above water.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of my apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof and
Figures 3 and 4 are details of the same.
The improved apparatus comprises a ring made of water and air tight material,
and which is inflated by flowing air or gas into the same.
The air or gas is
introduced through two tubular extensions a a arranged on the inner periphery of
the ring and provided with return valves. The ring, which may have an interior
width of about 2 metres, whilst its transverse section has a diameter of about
0.75 metres, has at its outer and inner periphery handles which the shipwrecked

page_text: persons can take hold of. To some of these handles are attached short ropes c in
order that these persons may be able to tie themselves to the ring.
Furthermore the ring is bound with ropes & which the rescued persons can readily
scize.
The inner opening of the ring is filled up by an extended net
which in case
nc
of need serves for the reception of children, women, and valuable articles. (.
inner periphery is provided a mouth-piece g formed of the water-tight marial.
This mouth-piece is kept closed by two clamping plates h, Figures 3 and 4, held
together by screws, and enables the air to be discharged after the removal of the
clamping plates.
When this has been effected the apparatus can be folded up so as to occupy a
small space. The inflation of the ring can be effected very quickly by liquid
carbonic acid.
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
The herein described apparatus for saving life at sea consisting of a large inflated
ring of water and air tight material, which is provided with air inlets and outlets
adapted to be closed, and with ropes, at its inner and outer peripheries and also with
handles for holding on to, the inner opening of the apparatus being filled up with
an extended net f
Dated this 21st day of April 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.