IMPROVE- MENTS IN VENTILATING OR SUPPLYING AIR TO DIVING BELLS AND DIVERS, AND IN HOLDING COMMUNICATION THEREWITH FROM ABOVE
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VENTILATING OR SUPPLYING AIR TO DIVING BELLS AND DIVERS, AND
IN HOLDING COMMUNICATION THEREWITH FROM ABOVE."-A communication
from Francois Aquilas Laurent, of Paris.
Sealed the 27th October 1859, and dated the 30th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
April 1859.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING OR SUPPLYING AIR TO DIVING BELLS AND
DIVERS, AND IN HOLDING COMMUNICATION THEREWITH FROM ABOVE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the ventilation of apparatus used for submarine
exploration or operations, and to the means of communication between the
diver and the exterior. For this purpose I employ a ventilator placed in
position where the descent is to be made, on the shore or in a boat, raft, &c.
I establish two tubes of gutta percha or india-rubber of a length in proportion to
the depth to be explored or operated in. One of the extremities of each of these
tubes rest on the diving-apparatus, the one of which is open to the air and fur-
nished with a speaking trumpet or funnel, while the other is joined to the induc-

page_text: tion tube of the ventilator. The other extremity of each of these tubes joins the
reciever, and are firmly joined to one of the two junctions which communicate
with the interior of the reciever. Thus the interior is, on the one hand, in
communication with the exhausting tube of the ventilator, and the other with
the atmosphere. In connection with the latter in the interior of the reciever
is an india-rubber tube of just sufficient length to descend to the level of the
mouth of the diver, which is furnished. at its extremity with a small speaking
mouthpiece, to facilitate the conversation with the diver; the extremity that
is free to the atmosphere for speaking is furnished with a similar arrangement
as before described, but on a larger scale. The apparatus thus established,
and the diver being in the bell or reciever, dressed in a dress of gutta percha
or india-rubber, of a form determined according to the reciever used. It is
sufficient to put the apparatus in operation to work the ventilator, that is to
say, to produce the ventilation of the reciever; the foul air in the bell or
other apparatus is drawn off by the ventilator, and a fresh air arrives by the
second tube, the diver is thus constantly at his ease under the action of this
ventilation. On the reciever or bell, if such the reciever is, a reflecting lamp
may be placed, two copper tubes of small diameter spring from the upper
part right and left, and join the two junctions of the reciever, which recieve
the long gutta percha tubes. By this means the interior of the lamp recieves,
as well as the interior of the reciever, the influence of the action of the
ventilator, and therefore it burns.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto I,
the said William Clark Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-

page_text: after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING OR SUPPLYING AIR TO DIVING BELLS, AND IN
HOLDING COMMUNICATION THEREWITH FROM ABOVE," a communication from
François Aquilas Laurent, of Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to the ventilation of apparatus used for submarine
exploration or operations, and to the means of communication between t
diver and the exterior. For this purpose I em by a blowing apparatus,
placed in position where the descent is to be made on the shore or in the boat,
raft, &c. I establish two tubes of gutta percha or india-rubber of a length
in proportion to the depth to be explored or operated in. One of the extre-
mities of each of these tubes are in communication with the driving apparatus,
one of which is open to the air and furnished with a speaking trumpet or
funnel while the other is joined to the induction tube of the blowing machine.
The other extremity of each of these tubes is connected to the diving bell or
other receiver, being firmly united to one of the two junctions which com-
municate with the interior thereof. Thus the interior of the receiver is, on
the one hand, in communication with the exhausting tube of the blowing
machine, and, on the other band, with the atmosphere. In connection with
the latter communication in the interior of the receiver is an india-rubber
flexible tube, of just sufficient length to descend to the level of the mouth of
the diver, which is furnished at its extremity with a small mouthpiece to
facilitate the conversation with the diver. The extremity that is free to the
atmosphere for speaking is furnished with a similar arrangement of parts for
speaking or hearing, as before described, but on a larger scale. The appa-
ratus thus established, and the diver being in the bell or receiver, dressed in a
dress of gutta percha or india-rubber, of a form determined according to the
receiver used, it is sufficient to put the apparatus to work the blowing

page_text: machine in order to produce the ventilation of the receive or bell, the foul
air in the bell or other apparatus is drawn off by the blowing machine, while
the fresh air arrives by the second tube. The diver is thus constantly at his
ease under the action of this ventilation. On the receiver or bell, if such the
receiver is, a. reflecting lamp may be placed; two copper tubes of small
diameter spring from the upper part, right and left, and join the two junctions
of the receiver which receive the long gutta percha tubes. By this means the
interior of the lamp receives, as well as the interior of the receiver, the
influence of the action of the blowing machine, and therefore burns freely.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane.
W. CLARK.
(L.S.)