IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER- TAINING TO APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS' WELLS, AND OTHER PLACES ON SITUATIONS." PROVISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Jones and John Jones, both of Rhyl, in the
County of Flint, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER-
TAINING TO APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS'
WELLS, AND OTHER PLACES ON SITUATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Jones and John
Jones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November
1880.
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ROBERT JONES and JOHN JONES, both of Rhyl, in the County of Flint.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE
DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS' WELLS, AND OTHER PLACES OR SITUATIONS."
In taking the depth of water in a ship's well at present it is customary to poke
rods down, and notice how far they are wetted. This is very rough, and if the
well in a sugar ship is filled with froth, as it often is, it is impossible. It cannot
be done without a light, and much time is often lost by the rods getting wet with
spray or the waves before they are lowered, the dashing about of the water in the
well also giving erroneous results.
;
This Invention consists essentially of a tube containing a float and mechanism
by which the float can be stopped at the point to which it is raised by the water
on lowering the tube down into the water. There are many ways of doing this
the one we prefer being a series of pegs or pins pivotted in a strip to one side of
the tube, the float lying in the bottom of the tube when not in use. As the tube
is lowered the float bends aside the pegs, which fall back as it passes them, and
prevent its return. The feet and inches are shown carved or embossed on the
tube.
The strip carrying the pivotted pegs is hinged at the top, but free to escape from
the slot of the tube except when the cap is on at the bottom. This cap, like a
telescope cap, is simply put on and turned round till held by a projecting catch or
other equivalent mechanism. The three or four inches at the bottom have no pegs,
so that the float can lie there when the cap is closed, ready to rise the moment it
gets buoyed up by the water.
In working the apparatus the tube is lowered into the water, the float rises,
keeping level with the surface of the water. When the tube reaches the bottom it
is drawn up, and on the darkest night the captain can feel, without a light, by the
position of the float and the pegs it has turned aside, what is the depth of the
water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Jones and John Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th May 1881.
ROBERT JONES and JOHN JONES, both of Rhyl, in the County of Flint.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE
DEPTH OF WATER IN SHIPS' WELLS, AND OTHER PLACES OR SITUATIONS."
In taking the depth of water in a ship's well at present it is customary to attach
a piece of iron rod to a line and lower same down the well, and notice how far the
same is wetted. This mode is found to work very well in fine weather; but in
rough weather, when sounding is most essential, it is very difficult to get at the
exact depth of water in the well, owing sometimes to the splashing in the well and
the froth arising therein, especially in sugar laden vessels; also a great difficulty is
experienced to keep the rod dry when the vessel is labouring heavily and shipping
water on deck, and spray blowing over, and under the most favourable circum-
stances the result of the sounding cannot be ascertained without light.
This Invention consists essentially of a tube containing a float, and mechanisin
by which the float can be stopped at the point to which it is raised by the water
on the tube being lowered down into the well, and is best described by aid of
the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of our sounding
apparatus; Fig. 2, sectional elevation; Fig. 3, sectional plan on line x, x; Fig. 4
shows the bayonet joint by which the cap is secured to the end of the tube. A is
tho tube; B, cap covering end of same; C, float; D, slots in tube A, through
which the water enters to fill the tube; E, graduated scale of feet and inches or
other system of measurement; F, strip carrying rack on inside of tube, which
prevents the float C falling to bottom of tube; G, hinge of F; H, pawl which
works in rack F.
When in operation the apparatus is lowered into the well of the ship or other
place in which it is desired to ascertain the depth of water. The water fills the
tube A through the slots D, and causes the float C to rise, keeping level with the
surface of the water. When the tube reaches the bottom of the well it is drawn
up, and the position of the float C indicates on the scale E the depth of water.
This can be ascertained on the darkest night by feeling the position of the lugs
projecting from the sides of the float, without the necessity for a light, which will
be of particular service in the navy, especially in time of war, when the ships have
to proceed up rivers or near forts at night, as then the soundings should be taken
about every half hour, and no light can be used on account of the danger of detec-
tion. The float is prevented from returning to the bottom of the tube A by the
rack into which the pawl H engages. The pawl is pivoted on the top of the
float, and slightly weighted at the end h. The strip carrying the rack F is hinged
at G, and held in its position when in use by the cap B, secured by bayonet joint,
as shown in Fig. 4. To prepare the apparatus for a fresh sounding the cap B is
removed, and the strip or rack F opened to allow the pawl to pass the rack, the
float replaced at the bottom of the tube, and the cap re-adjusted. Lugs con
the float C slide in the slots D, and prevent the float froin turning in the tube.
In place of a rack and pawl, their mechanical equivalent, a series of pawls all
down the tube, and a single notch on the float for them successively to catch in, can
be employed. This plan has one advantage, namely, that the shanks of the series of
pawls can be made to project outside the tube, and thus the height be shown at a
glance.
In practice however we prefer the simple rack and pawl, as less liable to get
entangled with floating matters, and as cheaper.

page_text: Having now described our Invention, and the best mode known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we believe to be new and
desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The manufacture of sounding tubes or rods for ascertaining the depth of
liquid in ships' wells and other places, in which said tubes or rods are provided
with floats sliding therein or thereon, and prevented from falling by a rack and
pawl or other equivalent mechanisın when the tube is being withdrawn from the
water, so that by the position of the float the depth of the water sounded can be
ascertained.
Second. The arrangement of sounding tube composed of two parts, one part
provided with means for arresting progress of the float in one direction only, and
one part having a hinge or its equivalent, so that it can be drawn apart from the
other part when the cap is displaced, so as to enable the float to fall to the bottom
of the tube for a second application.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Jones and John Jones, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ROBERT JONES. (L.S.)
JOHN JONES.
(L.S.)