IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas George Tolson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the
11th October 1870..
I, THOMAS GEORGE TOLSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Railway Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements in apparatus herein-after
described, by the use of which in case of shipwreck or other disaster to a
ship at sea the lives of passengers and valuable property may be saved.
My improvements consist in constructing and combining the parts of
the safety apparatus as follows:-The apparatus consists. essentially of a
water-tight vessel, the lower part of which is hemispherical and the upper
part conical or nearly conical, the figure of the whole being that of an
inverted baloon or pear. The said vessel is made of copper or other
material combining lightness with strength. The lower or hemispherical
part is provided with a close fitting casing or covering of cork or other
buoyant material, the said casing terminating at top in a flange or broad

page_text: belt of cork or other buoyant material. In the interior of the said hemi-
spherical part is a floor having upon it a number of seats. Underneath
the floor is a space for ballast or mechandise, and the seats for passengers
also serve as water tanks and lockers for provisions. Leather belts are
attached to the seats for the purpose of securing the passengers. In the
upper or conical part of the vessel is a series of narrow panes of thick
glass for the purpose of admitting light, and about midway up the said
conical part. is a door capable of being opened, closed, and fastened in the
inside. This door is for the introduction of passengers" food and other
aricles. The conical upper part of the vessel terminates in an open pipe
or neck of small diameter. At the base of the neck is a grating having
on its top a cap which can be raised or lowered. By raising the said cap
a flag staff may be passed through the top of the vessel.
Air is admitted to and made to circulate through the vessel by means
of pipes entering the said vessel near its top, and descending along the
inner sides of the vessel to its lower part, the said pipes opening below
the seats of the passengers. The upper external ends of the air pipes are
turned down some distance on the outside of the conical part of the
vessel. The door is also furnished with a grating for the admission of
air, the said grating forming the side of a flat box inserted in the door.
Air enters the said box by means of a hole in its front, any water passing
in with the air escaping by a series of short pipes near the lower edge of
the box. A similar arrangement may be employed at the outer end
of each air tube for the purpose of securing a supply of air from which
water or spray has been separated.
The apparatus is also provided with pumps whereby any water gaining
access to the apparatus may be removed.
In using the apparatus the persons and property and provisions are
introduced by the door which is fastened from the inside. On the
sinking of the ship the apparatus floats, and from its construction will
right itself in whatever position it may be thrown by the action of the
waves or other causes. Or the apparatus containing its charge may be
lowered from the side of the ship into the water.