An Improved Automatically Inflated Life-saving Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893 ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatically Inflated Life-saving Apparatus.
We HENRY TAYLOR GRUNDY of Radcliffe, Mining Engineer, and JOSEPH
PRICE of No. 42, Victoria Street, Radcliffe in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of a belt collar or jacket capable of being inflated by gas
produced in a vessel or generator for this purpose, connected by a flexible tube with
the said belt collar or jacket such gas being generated from suitable chemicals
contained within a closed vessel, the production of such gas being brought about.
by contact of water with the chemicals, the water for this purpose being contained
within a suitable vessel capable of floating and which is connected with the
generator by means of a flexible tube.
The belt or jacket may be of rubber canvas or any other suitable material but is
in any case arranged to be completely collapsible so as to exclude atmospheric air
and to pack into small space. It is arranged to be secured to the body by straps
or other suitable fastenings so disposed as not to interfere with the free expansion
or inflation of the belt or jacket. We prefer to make the geuerator of small size
so that it can be conveniently carried in the pocket and in order to obtain rapid
and equal distribution of the water we divide it into an upper and lower chamber
by means of a division wall placed near the upper end of the generator and we
attach pipes to this wall projecting downwards into the lower portion of the
generator which contains the chemicals. The division wall between the two.
portions of the generator is preferably perforated to allow easy exit for the gases.
A strong and non-collapsible flexible tube connects the upper chamber of the
generator with the belt.
A small buoyant vessel preferably spherical is provided for the purpose of holding
a supply of water for the generator. It is preferably divided into two chambers
one of which contains the water and is connected by a long flexible non-collapsible.
tube with the upper part of the generator. The other part contains air only to
give buoyancy. When the belt is in position ready for use the said buoyant water
vessel is suspended by a suitable cord or clip in such a manner that the water
cannot flow into the generator. The portion of this vessel described as containing
water is provided with a hole and plug or other suitable device for the purpose of
charging it with water. In one form of our invention we dispense with the division
wall in this vessel and instructions are given in accordance with which the vessel is.
only partially filled with water.
We do not bind ourselves to use any particular chemicals, any of the known
chemicals for producing gas on contact with water such as carbonate of soda and
tartaric acid may be used.
The action is as follows:-The belt being secured to the body the generator
charged and placed in the pocket and the water vessel hanging loose the apparatus.
is ready for immersion. Upon immersion the buoyant vessel is at once elevated
relatively to the generator and the water flows from it into the generator, gas is
rapidly evolved and the belt or jacket immediately becomes inflated and is at once.
converted into a buoyant life-saving apparatus.
ו. ב
A 10th Jan of Sontember 1822
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatically Inflated Life-saving Apparatus.
We HENRY TAYLOR GRUNDY of Radcliffe, Mining Engineer, and JOSEPH
PRICE of No. 42 Victoria Street, Radcliffe in the County of Lancaster, 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:—
Our invention consists of a belt, collar, or jacket capable of being inflated by
gas produced in a vessel or generator for this purpose, connected by a flexible tube
or otherwise, with the said belt, collar or jacket such gas being generated from
suitable chemicals contained within a closed vessel, the production of such gas
being brought about by contact of water with the chemicals, the water for this
purpose being contained within a suitable vessel capable of floating and which is
connected with the generator by means of a flexible tube or otherwise suitably.
The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention and some modifications
thereof.
In Fig. 1 a. represents the belt or jacket or swimming collar capable of being
secured to the body by straps or other suitable fastenings and so disposed as not to
interfere with the free expansion or inflation of the belt. It may be of rubber,
canvas, or any other suitable impervious material and is arranged to be completely
collapsable in order that it may be packed into small space. b is the generator
which we prefer to make of small size so that it can be conveniently carried in the
pocket and in order to obtain rapid and equal distribution of the water we divide
it into an upper chamber and lower chamber 62 by means of a division wall b³
placed near the upper end of the generator and we attach pipes 64 to this wall
projecting downwards into the lower portion of the generator which contains the
chemicals. The division wall b³ is preferably perforated to allow easy exit for the
gases. A strong and non-collapsable flexible tube c. connects the upper chamber of
the generator with the belt a.
C
The enlargement c² is provided on tube e for a purpose which will be hereafter
explained.
A small buoyant vessel d preferably spherical is provided for the purpose of
holding a supply of water for the generator. It is preferably divided into two
chambers the upper one of which contains the water as illustrated and is connected
by a long flexible non-collapsable tube e with the upper part of the generator b.
The other part contains air only to give buoyancy. When the belt is in position
ready for use the said buoyant water vessel is suspended by a suitable cord or clip f
in such a manner that the water cannot flow into the generator. The portion of
this vessel described as containing water is provided with a hole and plug d' or
other suitable device for the purpose of charging it with water. In one form of
our invention we dispense with the division wall in this vessel and instructions are
given in accordance with which the vessel is only partially filled with water.
When
Fig. 2. shows another form of water vessel. The lower portion d² containing the
air to give buoyancy to the vessel is capable of sliding upon the upper or water
portion d³ so as to reduce the space occupied by this vessel when not in use.
extended for use as shewn it is retained in position by the pointed plungers d
which actuated by the spring d enter the recesses provided in d as shewn. Instead
of being supported by the cord f this vessel may be provided with the hook or
clip de by means of which it is hung upon the side of the generator b so as to
immediately detach itself therefrom upon immersion.
In the modification of our invention shown in Fig. 3. the generator b. is itself
provided with a water vessel in its upper portion and a spring g and plunger h. are
provided by means of which the glass diaphragm i is broken upon immersion of the
apparatus. The bell-crank k pivotted at k¹ and attached at k² to the plunger h.

page_text: holds the said plunger in position previous to immersion by means of the adhesive.
substance. We may use any suitable substance for this purpose which is capable.
of ready solution in water but which is not affected by heat or damp. It will be.
readily understood that upon immersion the substance is melted, the plunger
released, the glass broken, and the water entering the generator liberates the gas.
for inflation of the belt.
Fig. 4 shews a form of our apparatus which is not automatic. The generator b.
is formed as in Fig. 3. but the release of the water is effected by pressure upon or
turning the key or tap m.
In all cases the generator is preferably suspended below the belt or placed in a
pocket at a lower level.
The enlargement el is provided to intercept any water which might be forced
along the tube c by the rapid escape of gas.
We do not bind ourselves to use any particular chemicals, any of the known
chemicals for producing gas on contact with water such as carbonate of soda and
tartaric acid may be used.
The action is as follows:-The belt being secured to the body, the generator
charged and placed in the pocket and the water vessel hanging loose the apparatus.
is ready for immersion. Upon immersion the buoyant vessel is at once elevated
relatively to the generator and reversed owing to the tube leading to the generator
being attached at the top. The water then flows from it into the generator, gas
is rapidly evolved and the belt or jacket immediately becomes inflated and is at
once converted into a buoyant life-saving apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a gas generator vessel in which gas is liberated by contact
with water and a life or swimming belt inflated by the said gas, substantially as and
for the purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of a buoyant water vessel and a gas generator for inflation.
of life saving apparatus such water vessel delivering its water to the generator
only upon reversal consequent upon immersion substantially as and for the purposes.
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The automatic buoyant water vessel containing water in its upper compartment.
and air in its lower compartment and connected with a generator by a pipe attached
at the top so as to secure reversal upon immersion of the whole substantially as and
for the purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In automatically inflated life-saving apparatus the generator combined with a
water reserve vessel and having means whereby the water gains access to the
chemicals in the generator owing to the connection being established automatically
upon immersion by means of the melting of an adhesive solution substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. In automatically inflated life-saving apparatus the enlargement in the pipe
leading from the generator to the vessel to be inflated substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of June 1893.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.