Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Determining the Depth of Water in Ships' Holds and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Determining the
Depth of Water in Ships' Holds and the like.
I, MICHAEL HUTCHISON, of Huelva Cottage, Caledonia Road, Saltcoats,
Ayrshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new and improved construction
of an appliance for the purpose of sounding, and ascertaining accurately the depth
of water in ships' ballast tanks, bilge wells, and the like, requiring to be sounded.
Under one arrangement of my new appliance for sounding purposes, I use a
vertical tube, of any required length, of brass or other material, the bottom end of
which may be open.
A number of perforations or openings are formed near the
lower end of this tube to admit water, and at the top end there are formed sufficient
openings to allow of escape of air, and thus permit of a free admission of water.
A rod of iron or other material, with an eye at top (to receive a cord or line for
lowering into sounding pipe) will be inserted into tube, and may be marked and
graded, so as to show at once and accurately the depth of water which is in any
part of ships' tanks, holds, and the like.
Under another arrangement of my said appliance, I use a tube, as in the former
case, having openings at top and bottom to admit water, and escape of air, and
which may or may not have a rod inserted. This tube will or may be formed in
two or more parts longitudinally or lengthwise, and secured at either top or bottom
ends or both, so as to be perfectly closed during operation of sounding, and which
on being opened will show marked on internal prepared surface of tube or on rod
(if prefered to be inserted) the depth of water in any part being sounded.
Similarly, under another arrangement, I use a tube as before described, and
having one or more openings longitudinally or lengthwise, preferably an opening
almost the whole length of the tube, with cross strips left for strengthening these
openings, and the tube may have a screen or external covering. Preferably
however inside this tube will be inserted another tube, which will also have a
similar longitudinal opening or openings. This internal tube will revolve inside of
the outer tube, so as to bring solid part of the one against the open part of the
other, and thus form when closed, one solid tube externally. In this case also, a
rod of iron or other material, and of any required section may be inserted marked
and graded, as before mentioned, so that, after sounding any part of ships' holds
the outer tube, or other screen or covering will be turned or moved, showing
opening in internal tube. The mark of depth of water will then be clearly
indicated, either on the internal prepared surface of internal tube, or on graded
rod inserted in same.
The line or cord for lowering sounding instrument to bottom of sounding pipe,
will be attached to eye at top end of tube, and will pass through a stopper of
wood or other material, which will fit into end of sounding pipe on deck, so as
to prevent water from entering sounding pipe, during operation; by this arrange-
ment soundings of ships' holds and the like, can be taken at any time, and in any
weather, even when water is washing over ship's deck.
Dated the 5th January 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Determining the
Depth of Water in Ships' Holds and the like.
I, MICHAEL HUTCHISON of Huelva Cottage Caledonia Road, Saltcoats,
Ayrshire, Engineer, 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 has reference to and comprises a new and improved construction
of an appliance for the purpose of sounding and ascertaining accurately the depth
of water in ships' ballast tanks, bilge wells, and the like, requiring to be sounded.
Under one arrangement of my new appliance for sounding purposes, I use a
tube of any required length, of brass, or other material, having openings or any
number of perforations at lower end to admit of water entering tube, the top end
will have sufficient openings to allow escape of air, and thus allowing water to rise
inside of tube, to its proper level as at outside. This tube will, or may be formed
in two or more parts longitudinally or lengthwise, and secured at either top, or
bottom ends, or throughout full length, so as to be perfectly closed during operation
of sounding; a rod of iron, or other material, and of any required section, may be
inserted, marked and graded, if prefered, this tube, on being opened, after sounding
any part of ships' holds &c., will show, marked on internal prepared surface of tube,
or on rod, if prefered to be inserted--the depth of water in any part being
sounded.
Under another arrangement of my said appliance, I use a tube, as before
described, and having: one or more openings longitudinally, or lengthwise, preferably
an opening almost the whole length of the tube, with cross strips left for
strengthening these openings, and the tube may have a screen or external covering.
Preferably, however, inside this tube, will be inserted another tube, which will
also have a similar longitudinal opening or openings. This internal tube will
revolve inside of the outer tube, so as to bring solid part of the one against the
open part of the other, and thus form, when closed, one solid tube externally. In
this case also, a rod of iron or other material, as before described, may be inserted,
so that, after sounding any part of ships' holds, the outer tube, or other screen or
covering, will be turned or moved, showing opening in internal tube; the mark of
depth of water, will then be clearly indicated, either on the internal prepared surface
of internal tube, or on graded rod inserted in same.
An eye will be formed or placed at top end of tube, to which will be attached
a cord for lowering sounding instrument down to bottom of sounding pipe; the cord
will, or may be made to pass through a stopper, of wood or other material, which
will fit into end of sounding pipe on deck, so as to prevent water from entering
sounding pipe, during operation; by this arrangement, soundings of ships' holds,
and the like, can be taken at any time, and in any weather, even when water is
washing over the deck.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of carrying the same into
practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended an explanatory
sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are used to indicate corre-
sponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1. 2. and 3 are full size views of my improved sounding instrument, but
which may be made of any required diameter, or length.
Figure 1. shows tube with screen or covering turned, bringing the solid part of
the one, against the open part of the other, thus forming one solid tube externally,
and in order for taking soundings.
The screen marked k. k. k. is kept in place by, and works freely between the
rings marked d. and e. which are secured to top and bottom ends of internal tube c.
At the end of said tube, as shown at c. are any number of perforations to admit of

page_text: water passing into same; at d there are sufficient air holes, to allow for escape of
air, while water is entering at bottom; the top part marked a. has a hole to receive
cord for lowering into sounding pipe, and is secured to top end of tube.
Figure 2. shows tube, with screen or covering turned bringing the open part of
the one against open part of the other, and exposing to view the internal surface of
internal tube, the mark of depth of water in ships' tanks, bilges, and the like, is
clearly seen at i. after taking soundings.
Figure 3. shows a side view of tube, with screen or covering turned, and showing
internal openings as in Figure 2.
Figure 4. shows an enlarged sectional view of sounding instrument, with screen
or covering turned as in Figure 1. and showing the solid part of the one against
the open part of the other.
Figure 5. is also an enlarged sectional view, having screen or covering turned as
in Figure 2. and showing the open part of the one against the open part of the
other, exposing to view the internal surface of internal tube, with water mark
shown as at i. Fig. 2.
Figures 6 and 7 are midship sections of a ship, at upper deck, and at bottom,
showing ballast tanks, g. g. shows sounding pipe, or tube, h. h. is the sounding
instrument, which on Figure 6. is shown in sounding pipe just below
upper deck,
and on Figure 7. is shown at bottom of ballast tank well, or ship's bottom.
A cord P. P
is attached to sounding instrument at a. for lowering and lifting same,
a stopper of wood, or other material marked f. fits into end of sounding pipe on
deck, and through which the cord passes, thus preventing any water, from entering
sounding pipe during operation of sounding.
The internal surface of internal tube will be coated with paint or enamel on
which the water will show a distinct mark.
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 construction of a sounding instrument for use on board steam ships, or
vessels, and herein described :-consisting of a tube, having an opening, or openings
lengthwise, and the same covered by a screen or other moveable covering, or
preferably one tube inside the other, with longitudinal openings, so as when
they are turned, the solid part of the one tube will be against the open part of
the other tube, forming, when closed, one solid tube externally, substantially as,
and for the advantages herein described.
Dated this 29th day of September 1892.
MICHAEL HUTCHISON.