AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING LEAKAGE IN SHIPS' HOLDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cousin, of Antwerp, Kingdom of Belgium, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING
LEAKAGE IN SHIPS' HOLDS."
Sealed the 5th December 1876, and dated the 7th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cousin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1876.
CHARLES COUSIN, of Antwerp, Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer..
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING LEAKAGE IN SHIPS' HOLDS."
" AN
My Invention consists in a novel apparatus which, placed in the hold of a vessel
will instantly and automatically indicate if any water enters therein.
The apparatus in question is composed, in the first place, of a bucket or vase of
any material and form desired, hermetically closed at the top and having a small
hole made in it at the bottom. At the upper extremity of this bucket or vase I
insert a pipe or tube of any convenient material, and which I make straight or
bent, according to circumstances. This tube is put in communication with three
several boxes which are disposed in different parts of the vessel, and contain
severally a loaded fire-arm, an alarum bell, and a dial or indicator. I propose
placing these boxes thus,--the first in the captain's cabin, the second before the
helm, and the third in the most convenient part of the vessel where it will be most
likely to be seen by any of the crew or passengers. On the face of this dial are
painted the words "safe and "danger," and when not acting the latter word
(danger) is covered by a little plate pivotting on the centre of the dial.
"
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The water penetrating in the hold
rises until it reaches the hole in the tub or vase (which can be, say, at 4 or 6 inches
from the bottom) where it naturally enters, and in so doing compresses the air
therein contained, and which acting on a suitably disposed mechanism causes the
fire-arm to be discharged, the alarum to strike, and the pivotting plate on the dial
face to turn suddenly in such a manner as to hide the word "safe" and disclose
the one "danger." By these means the attention of the captain and others aboard
ship is called to the fact of a leakage having occurred almost instantaneously
with its appearance.
In one form of apparatus a bucket, or cistern is placed in the part of the vessel
where any leak is required to be indicated, so that when the water rises on the

page_text: outside of the cistern to a certain level the water enters the cistern by an aperture
.in it, and is led by a pipe into a cu por other vessel suspended by a rod or suitable
means, and comniunicating by chains or wires and cranks to any part of the ship,
so that when the cup becomes filled it acts by its weight or it may be made to
liberate a catch held by springs, so that the different signals are not set in action
in the required parts of the ship.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Cousin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th December
1876.
CHARLES COUSIN, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer.
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING LEAKAGE IN SHIPS' HOLDS."
" AN
My Invention consists in a novel apparatus which, placed in the hold of a vessel,
will instantly and automatically indicate if any water enters therein.
The apparatus in question is composed, in the first place, of a bucket or other
vase of any material and form desired, hermetically closed at the top and having a
small hole made in it at the bottom. At the upper extremity of this bucket or
vase I insert a pipe or tube of any convenient material, and which I make straight
or bent, according to circuinstances. This tube is put in communication with three
several boxes which are disposed in different parts of the vessel, and contain
severally a loaded fire-arın, an alarum bell, and a dial or indicator. I propose
placing these boxes thus, the first in the captain's cabin, the second before the
helm, and the third in the most convenient part of the vessel, where it will be most
likely to be seen by any of the crew or passengers. On the face of this dial are
painted the words "safe" and "danger," and when not acting the latter word
(danger) is covered by a little plate pivotting on the centre of the dial.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The water penetrating in the hold
rises until it reaches the hole in the tub or vase (which can be from 4 to 6 inches
from the bottom) where it naturally enters, and in so doing, acting on a suitably
disposed mechanism, causes the fire-arm to be discharged, the alarum to strike,
and the pivoting plate on the dial face to turn suddenly in such a manner as to
hide the word "safe" and disclose the one "danger." By these means the attention
of the captain and others on board is called to the fact of a leakage having occured
almost instantaneously with its appearance.
In one form of apparatus a bucket or cistern is placed in the part of the vessel
where any leak is required to be indicated, so that when the water rises on the
outside of the cistern to the certain level the water enters the cistern by an aperture
in it, and is led by a pipe into a cup or other vessel suspended by a rod or suitable
means, and communicating by chains or wires and cranks to any part of the ship,
so that when the cup becomes filled it acts by its weight, or it may be made to
liberate a catch held by springs, so that the different signals are set in action in the
required parts of the ship.
In the Drawings hereto attached and forming part of this Specification, the
apparatus is described as follows:-A, bucket; a, cup; b, opening for the water;
c, small chain or wire communicating with the several apparatus; d, tube in which
passes the chain; B, box containing a pistol; e, trigger attached to chain; f, pistol :
C, alarum signal; g, a spring barrel; h, tooth wheel attached to same; i, ratchet
pawl; j, hammer of alarum; k, alarum bell; Z, hook on barrel hooking into chain m
m, chain attached to hook l; D, indicator; o, plate covering half the diameter of
dial, and kept in position by the pin or bolt n.
Action. On the water entering at bit falls in and fills the cup a, which
descending through its weight pulls down with it the chain c, which is attached
first to the trigger e of the pistol ƒ and secondly to the pawl i, the consequence of

page_text: which is that the pistol is discharged and at the same time the spring barrel being.
liberated is set in motion, and in its rotation unhooks the chain m hooked on to the
pin and sets the hammer in vibration. At the same time through the slackening
of the chain m the pin n, to which it is attached, and which was being maintained
against the edge of the plate o, is set free, and the plate o falling by its own weight
covers up the word "safe," discovering at the same time the word "danger."
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, the manner of using the water rising in the hold of a vessel so as to
announce its presence through various signals, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cousin, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.