Improvements in Means for Raising Sunken Vessels and other Submerged Bodies.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Raising Sunken Vessels and other
Submerged Bodies.
I, ROBERT PEARSON WYLIE of Leadenhall House in the City of London, but at
present residing at Glasgow in the County of Lanark North Britain Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in means for raising sunken vessels and other
submerged bodies.
According to my invention cylinders or receptacles containing compressed air or
gas are connected with expansible receivers or bags attached to the vessel or body to
be raised so that by turning the cock or key of the said cylinders or receptacles the
compressed air or gas passes into the receivers or bags and thereby expands them.
The cylinders or receptacles may be attached directly to the expanding receivers or
bags or they may be connected to the receivers or bags by wired or other strong
tubing to convey the compressed air or gas thereinto from above. If the cylinders
or receptacles be attached directly to the receivers or bags they may be sunk along
with the said receivers or bags the weight of the cylinders or receptacles assisting the
sinking of the receivers or bags. The receivers or bags may if desired be fitted with
safety valves so as to prevent overcharging. By the use of this invention but little
tubing is required thereby preventing kinking, there is a great economy of labour and
time and the raising of the vessel or body is thereby greatly expedited
Dated this 13th day of February 1890
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Raising Sunken Vessels and other
Submerged Bodies.
I, ROBERT PEARSON WYLIE of Leadenhall House in the City of London, but at
present residing in Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in means for raising sunken vessels and other
submerged bodies.
According to my invention cylinders or receptacles containing compressed air or
gas are connected with expansible receivers or bags attached to the vessel or body to
be raised so that by turning the cock or key of the said cylinders or receptacles the
compressed air or gas passes into the receivers or bags and thereby expands them.
The cylinders or receptacles may be attached directly to the expanding receivers or
bags or they may be connected to the receivers or bags by wired or other strong
tubing to convey the compressed air or gas thereinto from above. If the cylinders or
receptacles be attached directly to the receivers or bags they may be sunk along with
the said receivers or bags, the weight of the cylinders or receptacles assisting the
sinking of the receivers or bags. The receivers or bags are fitted with safety valves
so as to prevent overcharging. By the use of this invention little tubing is required
thus preventing the possibility of kinking, there is a great economy of labour and
time, and the raising of the vessel or other structure is thereby greatly facilitated.
But in order that the foregoing may be more readily understood and easily
.

page_text: carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Figure 1, is a view of a cylinder attached direct to an expansible receiver and
Figure 2 is a view of a cylinder attached by means of tubing to a receiver.
Referring to the said drawings I employ a cylinder or receptacle A, having a valve
or cock a, the said cylinder being filled with compressed air or gas, and connected
either direct as shewn in Figure 1, or by means of wired or other tubing B, as shewn
in Figure 2, to the expansible receivers or bags C, which may be made of waterproof
cloth or other suitable material, which are provided with suitable safety valves D,
so constructed that when the pressure of the gas or air becomes greater than the
strength of the material of the bag they automatically open and relieve the pressure
until it reaches the desired degree when they automatically close; the said bags C,
are also provided with suitable cocks E, having couplings e, for connecting them to
the said cylinders A, or tubing B.
In applying my said invention to the raising of sunken vessels I provide any
suitable number of receivers or bags C and cylinders A, the said bags C, when in
their collapsed state being lowered down and connected either to the inside or outside
of vessel, preferably by enclosing them in suitable canvas or rope netting casings
which are attached to the vessel, or if used outside they are attached to suitable rope
slings passed underneath the vessel's keel, so that on the compressed air or gas being
allowed to escape from the cylinders A, into the bags C, they become expanded and
so raise the vessel.
When the cylinders A, are connected to the bags C, direct as shewn in Figure 1,
they are lowered along with the bags into the water thus acting as a means for sinking
same. The sizes and number of said cylinders A, and bags C, are such as to suit the
special requirements of each individual case.
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
claim is :-
In raising sunken vessels or other submerged structures the employment of cylinders
or receptacles containing compressed air or gas, and which are connected direct, or
by means of tubing to expansible receivers or bags having safety valves attached,
substantially in the manner as and for the purposes as herein before described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of December 1890.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.