Improvements in Means for Preventing the Sinking of Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preventing the Sinking of Vessels.
I, SAMUEL FRIEDMAN residing at 109 Attorney Street, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Physician, 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:—
This invention relates to safety attachments for vessels, of various kinds and
classes, and the object thereof is to provide improved safety attachments which
are adapted to be connected with a vessel as hereinafter described, and which are
designed to operate as floats to prevent the sinking thereof.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawings forms a part, in which:-
Fig. 1, is a transverse section of a part of the hull of a vessel showing my
improved attachment connected therewith, the attachment being also partly shown
in section;
Fig. 2, a plan view thereof;
Fig. 3, a perspective side view of the construction as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4, a side view of a part of one of the attachments or floats which I employ ;
Fig. 5, a section on the line 5, 5, of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6, a section on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7, a sectional detail of the construction on the line 7, 7 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 8, a bottom plan view of a part of a cover which I employ for the
attachment or float; and,
Fig. 9, a section on the line 9, 9,. Fig. 8.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the
views, and in said drawing, I have shown at 5, a part of one side of the hull of a
vessel, which is provided with an upper deck 6, and a lower deck 7, and placed
within the hull and preferably supported by the lower deck are a number of
compressed air tanks 8, one of which is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and three
of which are partly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, but any desired number of
these tanks may be employed.
Each of the tanks 8, is provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed
coupling pipe 9, in which is placed at 10, a valve which is controlled by a rod 11,
which passes up through the upper deck 6, and the coupling pipe 9, and its con-
nections are best shown in Figs. 1, and 5, and said pipe is provided with an
enlarged tubular head 12, which fits within a corresponding opening formed in.
the side 5, of the vessel, and in which is pivoted two spring operated pawls 13,
with each of which is connected a cord or wire 14, which is passed through
corresponding openings in the tubular head 12, of the pipe 9, and which are
provided with rings or handles 15, by which they are operated, and the rods 11,
one of which is employed in connection with each of the pipes 9, are provided at
their upper ends with rings or handles 16, by which they may be operated.
Suitably supported above the deck 6, is a shaft 17, the ends of which are provided
ΓΥ

page_text: with arms 18, which are secured thereto, and each of which is provided with a
circular gear head 19, and below the gear head 19, are mounted corresponding
gear wheels 20, each of which is provided with a drum 21, shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 1, and mounted on the drums 21, are belts 22, which are connected with a
motor 23, by means of which the gear wheels 20, may be turned in either direction.
This construction however, may be modified in any desired manner, and one of
said gear heads 19, together with one of the gear wheels 21, and a corresponding
belt 22, will be sufficient to operate the shaft 17.
The arms 18, are each provided with an angular extension 28, and these
extensions are connected at their lower ends by rods 24, which are passed through
the side of a flexible bag or float 25, and which are counter-sunk or covered
therein, and connected with said rods at regular intervals are nozzles 26, each of
which is provided with a cross head 27, through which the rods 24, are passed,
and said cross head is also counter-sunk in, or buried in the side of the bag or
float 25. The inner end of the nozzle 26, is provided with a screw threaded
extension 28, which is closed by a tubular screw threaded plug 29, and the outer
end of said nozzle is provided with an angular groove 30, and mounted thereon,
adjacent to the side of the bag or float 25, is a washer 31, which is held in place
by a nut or burr 32.
The float, bag or receptacle 25, is composed of soft rubber, rubber and canvas
or any suitable material, which is adapted to be rolled or folded together and
which will hold air or gas under pressure, and this float, bag or receptacle may
be treated in such manner that water, acids or gases will not affect the same, and
the curve of the pipes 9, which connect with the air tank 8, and of the nozzles 26,
is the segment of a circle, the centre of which is the shaft 17.
A metal plate 33, is also counter-sunk in the side of the bag or float 25, and
extends from one of the rods 24, to the other as clearly shown in Figs. 4, and 6,
and is intended to give strength and stiffness thereto, or to that side thereof, with
which the rods 24, and the nozzles 26, are connected, and the washers 31, on the
nozzles 26, are preferably composed of rubber, rubber and canvas or any other
suitable material, and said washers are adapted to be forced into the corresponding
heads 12, of the pipes 9, and it will be observed that the number of the nozzles 20,
correspond with the number of the air tanks, and the pipes 9, and when said
nozzles are forced into said coupling head, the spring operated pawls 13, engage
with the angular groove 30, in the end of the nozzle, and securely hold them in
place, and the nozzles cannot be withdrawn from said coupling heads without
operating said pawls by means of the cords 14.
The bag, float or receptacle 25, r the frame by which it is supported is adapted
to be raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in full lines in
Fig. 3, by means of the belt 22, and the gearing which is operated thereby, and
this is the normal position of said parts and said bag or receptacle may be folded
up into a compact form when in said position, and when it is desired to use the
same to prevent the vessel from sinking, the bag or receptacle is lowered into the
position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, and 2, and in this operation, the nozzles 26,
are driven into the coupling heads 12, of the pipe 9, and are locked in this position
by the pawls 13, and the air is admitted into the bag or receptacle by means of
the valve rods 11.
The air within the tanks 8, is under a high degree of pressure, or any suitable
gas or a combination of gases may be employed instead of air and the bag or
receptacle 25, may be of any desired size and capacity and may be composed, as
herein before stated of any desired material, and it will be apparent that any
desired number of these bags or receptacles may be connected with a vessel or the
cpposite sides thereof, and these bags or receptacles should be supported so that
when dropped into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, and 2, the upper
portion thereof will be even with or slightly above the upper deck of the vessel.
My invention is not limited-to the means herein described for connecting the

page_text: nozzles 26, with the sides of the bag, float or receptacle 21, and any desired means
may be employed for this purpose; and it will be apparent that other means may
be provided for operating the arms 18, or the frame by which the bag or Hoat 25,
is supported, all that is necessary in this connection being to provide means for
raising said bag, float or receptacle into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,
and for lowering it into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, and 2, when
desired.
It will also be understood that when the bag, float or receptacle any desired
number of which may be employed is in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1,
and 2, that the connection with the air tank or vessel 8, is automatically made,
and that the air, gas or other material rushes into said float or receptacle as soon
as this connection is made and the valve opened, and the latter is fully inflated.
1 also provide a device for closing the openings in the sides of the vessel through
which the coupling heads 12, of the pipes 9 project, and this device consists of a
plate 35, which is provided near its opposite ends with inwardly directed extensions
or arms 36, which move in slots 37, formed in the side of the vessel, and which
are covered at their inner sides by plates or strips 38, as shown in Fig. 7, and the
extensions or arms 36, of the plate 85, are provided at their inner ends with a lug
or angular arm 38", which moves in a corresponding groove formed in the inner
surface of the side of the vessel, and which is covered by the strip or plate 38.
The plate 35, is also provided with upwardly directed bars 39, at each end
thereof, the upper ends of which are connected with vertically movable plates 40,
which are mounted corresponding cavities or recesses 41, formed in the sides of
the vessel, and beneath which are placed spiral springs 42, this construction being
best shown in Figure 1, and the side of the vessel is also provided with notches or
reces es-43, which are adapted to receive the arms 18, which support the float, bag
or receptacle 25. and which are closed by the plates 40, when in their highest
position.
The springs 42, hold the plate 35, in the raised position, so as to cover the
openings in the coupling heads 12, of the pipes 9, and when the arms 18, are
depressed so as to lower the bag float or receptacle 35, into the position shown in
full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, said plates 40, are depressed as is also the plate 35,
into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the connection between the
Hoat, bag or receptacle 25, and the coupling heads 12, of the pipes 9, is made.
I also prefer to provide a cover which is designed to be applied to the bag, float
or receptacle when in the raised position, and when folded together, and in Fig. 3,
I have shown this cover so applied, and in Figs. 8, and 9, 1 have shown details
of the construction. This cover may consist of canvas or any suitable material,
and the separate sides or edges thereof, are shown at 45, and 46, in said figures, and
this cover is connected to or wrapped around the float, bag or receptacle 25, when
or sides thereof,
rolled together; and in practice, I connect with the separaid edges
plates 47, and 48, and the plate 47, is provided with a keeper 49, which is open at
one side, and the plate 48, with a locking lever 50, which is provided with a
cross head 51, with the ends of which are connected ropes or cords 52, and 53, and
the plate 47, is provided with a rope or cord 54, which is secured thereto, in any
desired manner, and the locking lever 50, is provided with a head 55, which is
adapted to enter the side of the keeper 49.
Three of these devices are also employed in Fig. 3, and in practice, the cover
is placed upon the folded bag or receptacle 25, so that the plates 48, and 47, wil!
be on the under side thereof, and the end of the cord 54, is provided with a ring 56,
through which the cords 53, are passed, and the cords 52, are secured to these rings
and the cords 53, after being passed through said rings are secured to the mast 57,
and hang loosely, or with any other support, and in the act of lowering the float,
bag or receptacle 25, the cords 53, are pulled and this operation dis-connects the
locking levers 50, from the keepers 49, and the said bag or receptacle 25, will drop
out of said cover as will be readily understood.

page_text: The object of this cover is to protect the float, bag or receptacle 25, when not
in use, and also to prevent it from unfolding, but it forms no essential part of
my invention, and may or may not be employed, and any suitable cover may be
substituted therefor, which will serve for the same purpose.
As hereinbefore stated, any desired number of these devices may be employed,
and in practice, they are arranged along both sides of the vessel for the full length
thereof, and the size of the vessel will determine the number and size of said devices
to be employed.
A suitable signal bell or similar device may also be employed, and operated by
the movable parts of the apparatus so as to indicate when the float bag or receptacle
has been lowered.
My improvement is simple in construction and operation, and it will be apparent
that changes in, and modifications of the construction herein described, may bo
made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its
advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A vessel provided with a hollow flexible air bag or receptacle which is
supported by angular arms pivotally connected with the vessel and which are
adapted to be raised so as to support the air bag or receptacle above the side of
the vessel or to be lowered so as to hold said air bag or receptacle adjacent to the
side of the vessel, said vessel being also provided with compressed air tank which
is supported therein, and which is provided with a pipe on which is formed a
coupling head which extends into an opening formed in the side of the vessel,
and said air bag or receptacle being provided with a coupling device or nozzle
which engages with said coupling head when the air bag or receptacle is lowered
adjacent to the side of the vessel, substantially as shown and described.
2. A vessel provided with a plurality of compressed air tanks which are
supported therein, and each of which is provided with a pipe on which is formed a
tubular coupling head which enters a corresponding opening in the side of the
vessel, said vessel being also provided with a hollow flexible air bag or receptacle,
which is supported by angular arms which are pivotally connected with the
vessel, said air bag or receptacle being adapted to be raised above the side of
the vessel, and to be lowered adjacent to the side thereof, and being also provided
with a plurality of coupling nozzles which are adapted to engage with said
coupling heads, substantially as shown and described.
3. A vessel provided with a plurality of compressed air tanks which are supported
therein, and each of which is provided with a pipe on which is formed a tubular
coupling head which enters a corresponding opening in the side of the vessel, said
vessel being also provided with a hollow flexible air bag or receptacle, which is
supported by angular arms which are pivotally connected with the vessel, said
air bag or receptacle being adapted to be raised above the side of the vessel, and
to be lowered adjacent to the side thereof, and being also provided with a plurality
of coupling nozzles which are adapted to engage with said coupling heads and
means for raising and lowering said air bag or receptacle, substantially as shown
and described.
4. A vessel provided with a plurality of compressed air tanks which are
supported therein, and each of which is provided with a pipe on which is formed a
tubular coupling head which enters a corresponding opening in the side of the
vessel, said vessel being also provided with a hollow flexible air bag or receptacle,
which is supported by angular arms which are pivotally connected with the vessel,
said air bag or receptacle being adapted to be raised above the side of the vessel,
and to be lowered adjacent to the side thereof, and being also provided with a
plurality of coupling nozzles which are adapted to engage with said coupling
heads, and means for raising and lowering said air bag or receptacle, and devices

page_text: for locking said coupling nozzles within said coupling head, substantially as shown
and described.
5. A vessel provided with a hollow flexible bag or receptacle which is supported
by a frame or arm pivotally connected with the vessel, and which is adapted to
be raised above the side of the vessel, and to be lowered adjacent thereto, said
vessel being also provided with a tank or receptacle which is supported therein,
and which is provided with a pipe, on which is formed a coupling head which
extends into an opening formed in the side of the vessel, and said bag or receptacle
being provided with a coupling device which is adapted to engage with said head,
and means for operating said parts, substantially as shown and described.
6. A vessel provided with a hollow flexible bag or receptacle which is provided
with supports which are pivotally connected with the vessel, and which are adapted
to raise said bag or receptacle above the side of the vessel, or to lower the same
adjacent to said side, said vessel being also provided with tanks or receptacles,
each of which is provided with a pipe which is provided with a coupling head,
which enters a corresponding opening formed in the side of the vessel, and said
bag or receptacle being provided with coupling nozzles which are adapted to enter
said coupling heads when the bag or receptacle is lowered adjacent to the side of
the vessel, substantially as shown and described.
7. A vessel provided with a hollow flexible bag or receptacle which is provided
with supports which are pivotally connected with the vessel, and which are adapted
to raise said bag or receptacle above the side of the vessel or to lower the same
adjacent to said side, said vessel being also provided with tanks or receptacles,
each of which is provided with a pipe which is provided with a coupling head,
which enters a corresponding opening formed in the side of the vessel, and said
bag or receptacle being provided with coupling nozzles which are adapted to enter
said coupling heads when the bag or receptacle is lowered adjacent to the side of
the vessel, and means for closing the openings in said coupling heads when not
and which is adapted to be operated so as to open the same when the bag
or receptacle is lowered, substantially as shown and described.
in use,
8. A vessel provided with a hollow flexible bag or receptacle, which is provided
with supports which are pivotally connected with the vessel, and which are adapted
to raise said bag or receptacle above the side of the vessel, or to lower the same
adjacent to said side, said vessel being also provided with tanks or receptacles
each of which is provided with a pipe which is provided with a coupling head,
which enters a corresponding opening formed in the side of the vessel, and said
bag or receptacle being provided with coupling nozzles which are adapted to enter
said coupling heads when the bag or receptacle is lowered adjacent to the side of
the vessel, and means for closing the openings in said coupling heads when not in
use, and which is adapted to be operated so as to open the same when the bag or
receptacle is lowered, and said bag or receptacle being provided with a cover which
is connected therewith when in the raised position, and which is adapted to be
automatically dis-connected therefrom, substantially as shown and described.
9. An attachment for vessels consisting of a flexible bag or receptacle which is
provided with supposts which are pivotally connected with the vessel, and by
means of which said bag or receptacle is adapted to be raised above the side of
the vessel, and to be lowered adjacent to said side, and a tank within said vessel
which is filled with air or gas under pressure and means for connecting said tank
and said bag or receptacle when the latter is lowered adjacent to the side of the
vessel, substantially as shown and described.
10. An attachment for vessels consisting of a flexible bag, float or receptacle
which is adapted to be suspended from or connected with the sides of the vessel
and to be inflated, substantially as shown and described.
11. An attachment for vessel's consisting of a flexible bag or receptacle which is
supported adjacent to the side thereof, and which is adapted to be folded up and to
be unfolded and inflated, substantially as shown and described.
12. An attachment for vessels consisting of a flexible float, bag or receptacle

page_text: which is suspended adjacent to the side of the vessel and adapted to be lowered
below the top thereof, and to be connected therewith and inflated, substantially
as shown and described.
13. An attachment for vessels consisting of a flexible float, bag or receptacle
which is connected with the vessel, an air or gas tank upon said vessel, means for
connecting the said tank with the float, bag or receptacle, and means for inflating
the float, bag or receptacle from said tank, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 12th day of April 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.