Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1887
Complete Left, 27th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Nov., 1887
We, ALFRED JOPLING COOPER of 37 Walbrook in the City of London Captain of
a vessel, and EUSTACE ERNEST WIGZELL also of 37 Walbrook in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in the registering above water by Electrical means, by any
convenient measure, of the depths to which a submerged pressure gauge or other
Sounding Instrument has descended, an electrical current being established between
the said submerged gauges or other Sounding Instruments and the said registering
mechanism above water.
We prefer to use a Bourdon's Pressure Tube enclosed in a water-tight vessel which
is thrown into the sea and which is attached by cord or wires to a winch. Woven or
twisted in or amongst the cord or wires are insulated wires connected to an instrument
and batteries above the water. Attached to the spindle of the submerged gauge are
multiplying toothed wheels, one of which carries a connector in order to make and
break the electrical current.
Through the case or vessel is fixed a second insulated connecting piece to which
is attached a conducting wire, fixed at its other end to the Instrument or Batteries
above water. We prefer to use a return wire attached to the case.
As the hydrostatic pressure of the water causes the tube to straighten out, it
moves a rack, and sets in motion a spindle or spindles which revolves the pivoted
connecting piece, which piece comes into contact with the second connecting piece
above mentioned, thus enabling an electrical circuit to be made and broken.
At one end of the submarine vessel is attached our Sand-gripper mentioned in
patent No. 8461. July 13th 1885, which brings up a sample of the sea bottom.
The Instrument above the water, which is attached to suitable batteries for
generating the electric current, and which is intended to be on board a ship, we
propose to construct with dial faces marked off into feet, fathoms, metres, or other
convenient measure of depths. An electro-magnet is placed in the instrument in
such a
manner that it attracts at short intervals an armature; this armature
moves a toothed wheel and holds it in position until the electric current is broken;
[Pil

page_text: a pawl or spring then prevents it returning. The spindle of this wheel works a spur-
wheel carrying a pointer or pointers over a dial or dials which registers the
number of times the circuit is made by the submarine mechanism.
This number of times of making the circuit is made to correspond with the
various measures of depth due to hydrostatic pressure.
We propose a second or more dials to record the higher numbers or depths.
Instantly the sealed vessel or instrument reaches the bottom or greatest depth
it is recorded above water by the hand or hands on the dial or dials, which then
stop.
Dated thin 14th J
1007
ALFRED J. COOPER.
E. E. WIGZELL.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Taking Soundings.
We ALFRED JOPLING COOPER of 37 Walbrook in the City of London, Captain of
a vessel, and EUSTACE ERNEST WIGZELL, also of 37 Walbrook in the City of London,
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 consists in the registering above water by electrical means, by any
convenient measure, of the depths to which a submerged pressure gauge, or other
Sounding Instrument, has descended, an electrical current being established between
the said submerged gauge, or other Sounding Instruments, and the said registering
mechanism above water.
We prefer to use a Bourdons pressure tube enclosed in a water tight vessel, which
is thrown into the sea, and which is attached by cord or wires to a winch.
Woven or twisted in or amongst the cord or wires, are insulated wires, connected
to an instrument and batteries above the water.
Attached to the spindle of the submerged gauge, are multiplying toothed wheels,
one of which carries a connector in order to make and break the electrical current.
Through the case or vessel is fixed a second insulated connecting piece, to which is
attached a conducting wire fixed at its other end to the instrument or batteries above
water. We prefer to use a return wire attached to the case. As the hydrostatic
pressure of the water causes the Bourdon tube to straighten out, it moves a rack, and
sets in motion a spindle or spindles, which revolves the pivoted connecting piece,
which piece comes into contact with the second connecting piece above mentioned,
thus enabling an electrical circuit to be made and broken.
At one end of the sub-marine vessel is attached our Sand grippers, mentioned in
letters patent granted to us July 13th 1885 and numbered 8461, and shown in
drawings figures 2 and 5 of the specification, which brings up a sample of the sea
bottom.
The Instrument above the water, which is attached to suitable batteries for
generating the electric current, and which is intended to be on board a ship, placed in
the chartroom or other suitable situation, we propose to construct with dial faces
marked off into feet, fathoms, metres, or other suitable or convenient measures of
depths. An electro-magnet is placed in the instrument, in such a manner that it
attracts at short intervals an armature; this armature moves a toothed wheel and
holds it in position until the electric current is broken, a pawl or spring then prevents
it returning. The spindle of this wheel works a spur-wheel carrying a pointer or
pointers, over a dial or dials, which registers the number of times the circuit is made
by the submarine mechanism. This number of times of making the circuit is inade
to correspond with the various measures of depth due to hydrostatic pressure. We
propose a second or more dials to record the higher numbers or depths.

page_text: Instantly the sealed vessel or instrument reaches the bottom or greatest depth, it is
recorded above water by the hand or hands on the dial or dials, which then stop.
In drawing fig. 1. El is the toothed wheel carrying the connector for making and
breaking the electrical current, F1 being the insulated connecting piece attached to
the conducting wire G¹. As the Bourdon tube H' straightens out by the hydrostatic
pressure it moves the rack I¹ and sets in motion the spindle K', this revolves the
pivoted connecting piece E', which comes into contact with the connecting piece F¹
and makes and breaks the electrical circuit as it lifts over the teeth, the teeth being
made of ivory with a small piece of brass let in.
We can also make this electrical Sounding Instrument in the following manner.
Inside the case or water-tight vessel, as shown in drawing fig. 2. we place a Bourdon
tube A. one end being open to the sea to admit the hydrostatic pressure in the same
manner as before; this tube is connected to a rack similar to that used in an ordinary
Bourdon's pressure gauge for moving the spindle. On the outer end of this rack we
cut teeth or grooves, the number of these teeth or grooves corresponding to the depth
required, or to the marking on the dial of the recording instrument. On each side
of this rack we place an ivory strip, or strips of other suitable non-conducting
material as shown in fig. 2. letter B. these strips having the same radius as the rack;
against these strips we place a spring C. as shown in fig. 2., this spring is made
adjustable and is insulated from the case, as is also the rack, and the connecting piece
from the end of the tube. On the spindle there is a loose wheel or disc D. which is
insulated, the current of electricity being taken to the case by means of a spring E.
as shown in fig. 2. On the rack there is a pin projecting, shown A' fig. 13, which
works on the edge of the wheel or disc, so that on the return motion of the rack
this pin breaks the current & carries the wheel or disc round, the pin coming against
an ivory or other non-conducting piece B¹ but as the tube straightens out by the
hydrostatic pressure, it moves a pin on the other side of the small slot, against
metal, C, which forms a connection, or instead of this, we attach to the disc a spring,
on the forward movement of the rack this spring F. makes an electrical connection
with the case, and on its return movement leaves this spring coming against the pin
on the disc D against an insulated piece D₁ thus breaking the connection. As the
tube opens out it moves the rack, and the spring mentioned above C, which is working
on the top of the rack, and the two ivory or other non-conducting strips, makes and
breaks the electrical connection as it touches the teeth cut in the rack which is between
the said strips.
If required when the Sand grippers, L', before mentioned are open, an electrical
connection may also be formed inside as shown in drawing fig. 1. letter G., when these
grippers reach the bottom they instantly close up, and at the time of so doing they
break the electrical connection G, thereby giving a double means of preventing the
recording instrument above water registering on the return journey of the submerged
instrument, or of its being affected by any shocks or blows which may take place,
thus making it quite safe.
To enable this to be done when the grippers L' strike the bottom the bar M¹ pushes
up into N¹ and the trigger piece 0¹ falls into the recess P₁ and allows the plug Q¹ to
be pushed down by the spring R' breaking the connection between G. and S¹.
When the grippers are set open and the triggers T¹ are placed in position to keep
them open the trigger O¹ is lifted up and prevented from going into the slot Pi
bringing the connection G. and S₁ together, thus making a constant electrical
connection until the Sounder has reached the bottom and the grippers have gone off.
To enable this instrument to be lowered, and to connect same with the recording
instrument and winch above water, we connect to it an insulated wire, as shown in
fig. 12. made of such material as may be best for carrying an electrical current, this
wire we insulate with Dermatine, as being the best material for standing changes of
temperature, and outside this we weave, or twist, Cotton or Tape, or other suitable
material, and this we cover again with galvanized Steel wire, or other suitable wire,
to bear whatever strain there may be. It is understood however that we do not bind
ourselves to exactly this method.

page_text: The centre or conducting wire, insulated, is brought out at the bottom end of the
wire nearest to the Sounding instrument and made into a spring or spiral shape, and
run down the side of the instrument as shown in fig. 1. The return current passes
through the case, and along the outer steel or other wire covering to the winch, as
shown in drawing fig. 3. The electrical current passes through the insulated wire
inside the cord or rope, which is passed through the side of the drum of the winch
fig. 3. and connected to metal discs, which insulate it, and revolve round with the
drum fig. 11; in between these metal discs, we place four or more plates, split in the
centres, forming a spring, and the current is thereby continued through these, and a
separate insulated wire taken to the recording instrument, which it is proposed should
be placed in the chart-room.
We also use the following methods as shown in drawings fig. 5 and fig. 7
viz. :—
In the arrangement shown in fig. 7. we attach to the Bourdon Tube a link H.,
which is attached or pivoted to a bar or lever I.; on the side of this bar or lever
there are teeth cut, the spaces between the teeth being filled up with a non-conductor,
thus forming makes and breaks of the electrical current. The end of this bar or
lever is pivoted, and insulated from the case, the tube being connected at a given
distance from this pivot J.
Against this bar or lever, L., there is a connector, K., which is insulated from the
case; the end of this is made in a bow form, with platinum wire stretched across,
which rubs against the bar or lever I., and as the latter is drawn over by the tube, the
insulated connector, K, travels down the face of the bar or lever, I., that is connected
to the tube, and makes and breaks the electrical current. To make the insulated
connector follow the bar or lever down, there is a spiral spring, L., attached to the
lever or bar, and also to the insulated connector, thus relieving the Bourdon tube from
all extra work, and balancing the parts.
On the bracket which carries the pivot of the bar there is a piece, M. pivoted, when
there is no pressure in the tube, a pin which is attached to the bar or lever, brings
this piece over, breaking the connection from the spring N. which runs up the back
of the bar or lever, and which is attached to the pivoted piece.
When this bar or lever is moved a distance representing about 30 feet by the
hydrostatic pressure in the tube, it makes a connection on to this spring, taking the
electrical current from the case.
Fig. 5. shows the same method of making and breaking the connection, but instead
of being worked by a Bourdon tube, it is moved by a Diaphragm O. and the pressure
passes through the holes as shown underneath the diaphragm plate, which may be
corrugated or otherwise.
We give in fig. 14. an enlarged view of the method used in the arrangement shown
in fig. 5 and fig. 7 for preventing the submerged instrument or sounder making and
breaking the electrical current on its return or upward motion through the water, or
as the
pressure decreases. In this drawing M is a Vor A piece which is pivoted and
takes the electrical current from the case. The bar I is insulated from the case. A
spring, N., is connected to the V or A piece M. so that when the bar I begins to
move back, the spring N. leaves the back of the bar I., and so breaks the electrical
connection; and when the bar I is back in its normal position the non-conducting
material U¹ presses against the point on the V or A piece M.
The recording instrument we make in the following manner :-
We place a toothed wheel P. in the centre of a case, as shown in fig. 4, with a
hand attached to the spindle; over this we place an escapement motion, which is
moved one way by a magnet Q, and the reverse way by a spring R., as shown in
drawing fig. 4.
The current is made and broken through an auxiliary magnet or magnets S., which
are made very sensitive, and as the current is made and broken by the submerged
instrument above described, the oscillating motion of the escapement moves the toothed
wheel P, to which the recording hand is connected, tooth by tooth, thus corresponding
with the movement of the rack, bar, or quadrant, in the submerged instrument, as

page_text: described already, which registers the pressure of water, and thus records the depth
to which the sounder or submerged instrument has descended, the electrical connections
being made in the manner before described, and the dial of the recording instrument
over which the hand travels, being suitably marked in feet, fathoms, metres, or
whatever measures may be desired as shown in fig. 8.
Placed near this instrument there is a push button T for bringing the dial hand
back to zero after the depth has been read off as shown in fig. 9. This button is
connected by wires to the batteries and to the recording instrument, and every time a
connection is made by pressing down this button it takes the hand round one tooth or
tick, this operation being repeated the requisite number of times. We also put a
switch U. to break the electrical current whilst the instrument or apparatus is not
being used.
In place of using the escapement motion, as mentioned in the foregoing, we can
use, a toothed wheel if preferred, having a sliding block V. V. with two points or V
made to fit the teeth of the wheel as shown in fig. 6. At the end of this 'block or
movable piece there is a magnet W. which draws the said piece towards it, a spring X.
being fixed to draw it from the magnet as the electrical current is broken. As this
block or movable piece works to and fro, it revolves the toothed wheel round tooth by
tooth, carrying the hand which registers the depth, or number of makes and breaks
of the electrical current that take place in the submerged or sounding instrument.
The remaining details for this instrument are as already described.
We also shown on fig. 6. the means of registering when the Sounding apparatus
has reached the bottom, and the grippers have gone off. This is done by means of a
plate Y. with a lever Z. attached to the bottom of it and a magnet at the end, when
the grippers have reached the bottom and close, they make an electrical connection,
which draws the lever to the magnet, and slides up the plate Y. denoting that the
instrument has reached the bottom.
We show in drawing fig. 10 the position of Batteries and the run of the insulated
wires which pass from the submerged instrument to the Winch and from the Winch
to the recording instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The improved instrument substantially as described.
2. The use of a Bourdon Tube to obtain the pressure as and for the purpose
described.
3. The use of a Bourdon Tube for making and breaking an electrical current
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The use of a Diaphragm under pressure for making and breaking electrical
connections substantially as described.
5. The means and method of breaking and making an electrical current by a toothed
or grooved rack with ivory or other non-conducting substances placed on its side or
sides substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The means and method of breaking the electrical current when the Sand Grippers
close substantially as described.
7. The means and method of breaking the electrical current when the tube returns
to its norinal position, thereby only making a connection on the outward journey and
not on the return journey of the submerged instrument substantially as described.
8. The Bar or Rod toothed on its side or face with insulating material between each
tooth, connected to and worked by a Bourdon tube, or a Diaphragm plate, substantially
as and for the
purpose described.
9. A Rod or Connector piece running down a toothed bar or lever, connected to
and worked by a Bourdon Tube or Diaphragm plate, for carrying and breaking an
electrical current, as and for the purpose described.
10. A Connector piece or Rod with its end made in a bow or V form with a
platinum wire stretched across for making electrical connections as described.

page_text: 11. The method or manner of placing a spiral spring on two movable rods or bars
for keeping them together substantially as described.
12. The method of breaking the connection on the return movement of the toothed
bar or lever substantially as described.
13. The form and make of Sand Grippers for bringing up specimens of the bottom
substantially as described.
14. The use of Dermatine to insulate wire or wires substantially as and for the
purpose described.
15. The use of Galvanized Steel wire as an outer case for taking the strain
substantially as & for the purpose described.
16. The means and method of making the electrical connection with the winch
substantially as described.
17. The motion used in the instrument above water for registering the depth in
connection with a submerged instrument, together with the connections thereto,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
18. The to and fro motion of a block or piece, in connection with a magnet and
spring, to make a hand go round tick by tick, taking the place of an escapement
motion, substantially as described.
19. The intermediate or auxiliary magnet or magnets for making or breaking the
current between the recorder magnets and the submerged instrument, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
20. The method of signaling when the grippers have gone off substantially as
described.
The thi. 07th dow of Santambon 1007