IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING LIFE AT SEA PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilkins, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Gentleman,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING LIFE
AT SEA PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wilkins at the Office
IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1882.
WILLIAM WILKINS, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING LIFE AT SEA, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The object of these improvements is to afford special protection to the head
against the power of the waves and foam, when in a rough sea, as well as to
increase the buoyancy and efficiency of ordinary life-preservers, with which it may
be used, or alone.
For this purpose I construct a helmet or hood to envelope the head; it may
extend as low as the shoulders or even lower. It is to be made of mackintosh, or
other suitable air-tight and watertight material, and consists of the inner skin and
the outer skin which are joined together at the edges so that a space is left between
them, this space is to be filled with atmospheric air or gas. There are valves or
cocks and mouth-pieces by which it may be inflated for use, and for letting out the
air, when it may be folded up empty to put in the pocket..
In the front or face I place one or more pieces of glass, mica, horn, quartz, or
other transparent material so that the wearer can see out freely.
I also provide a valve or door opposite the mouth which may be opened or closed
at the option of the wearer, to enable him to speak to other persons, and breathe
more freely when the sea is smooth enough to allow it to be open without
inconvenience.
I also provide a mouth piece, or tube, one end of which may be kept in the
mouth, the other end in the open air. At this end I place a valve or floatable ball
of air, cork, or other light material, which is always open in the air, but which is
closed by its buoyant properties, if in water, but reopens spontaneously as the
wave retires.

page_text: I sometimes insert one or more ventilating tubes, preferably of a syphonic form,
for carrying off the expired breath; this is also provided with a cork ball or other
valve to prevent water from being dashed in by a wave. I also sometimes use a
similar tube and valve for the inlet of air for breathing; but these two last
mentioned tubes are not necessary if the said mouthpiece is used.
At the lower part of my helmet life-preserver, I affix straps or cords, by which
it may be fastened to any life preserving belt now in use, so as to combine the
buoyant power of the two, with the protective power of the helmet; but when
other life-preservers are not used, the said straps or ties may pass under the armis,
or be tied to any leather or other band round the waist, so as to keep the helmet
in its proper position.
The foregoing description completes my improved helmet life-preserver, in its
simplest form, but in order to guard against accidents I sometimes make it in
compartments so that an escape of air in one part may take place without impairing
the efficiency of the other compartments.
As a further precaution against accident by escape of air, I sometimes enclose a
certain quantity of pith, cork, or balls of air, so that even if all the air escaped, the
buoyancy of the cork &c would be sufficient to keep afloat by.
I sometimes fill the helmet with cork or other buoyant material.
I further sometimes recommend one or more life-preservers within each other, so
that any injury to the outer ones only, would leave the others equally efficient.
I finally recommend the use of the following supplemental improvements to this
helmet, and any other life préserver, namely, the combining the superior buoyancy
of air, with the safety of cork, or other solid material. This composite system is
also applicable to life-boats, life-buoys, rafts, pontoons &c. With these helmets
persons may live in the sea many days.
The helmet may be colored scarlet to be seen by day, and a part of it may be
painted white with luminous paint to be visible by night.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd August 1882.
WILLIAM WILKINS, of Tunbridge Wells, in the County of Kent, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING LIFE AT SEA, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The object of these improvements is to afford special protection to the head
against the power of the waves and foam when in a rough sea, and to increase the
efficiency of ordinary life preservers, with which it may be connected; or it may be
used alone.
For this purpose I construct a helmet (or hood) to envelope the head; it may
extend as low as the shoulders (or even lower). It may be made of mackintosh or
other suitable air-tight and waterproof materials. It consists of an inner skin and
an outer skin connected together so that the space between them may be filled with
air, or gas.
It may preferably be made in two or more compartments; each such compart
ment is fitted with a tube and mouth piece for inflating it by, so that an escape
from one compartment would not affect the efficiency of the others.
As a further precaution against accidents, I sometimes enclose a certain
quantity of cork, preferably cork, saw-dust, pith, or other light materials,
so that if the air escapes from any accident the buoyancy of the cork would still
be efficient.
This system of combining cork with atmospheric air in waterproof materials may
also be applied to life-belts, life-buoys, rafts, pontoons, &c., to advantage.
Small helmets may be made of any textile fabric, and enclose a layer of cork
saw-dust only.
The annexed drawings shew the manner in which I construct my helmet life
preserving apparatus.
Fig. represents a side section. A A A A is the outer skin of the helmet.
BB B B is the inner skin. The space between these two skins is to be filled with
air. This encloses the whole head, except a space in front of the face, where a stiff
fat plate CC of wood, horn, vulcanite, or metal is inserted in the upper part
(opposite the eyes). One or more pieces of glass, (D) mica, or other transparent
substance is inserted, (or in some cases without glass) to see through. Another
open space E is left opposite the nose and mouth so that breathing can be easily
maintained. F is a valve to shut over this opening as shewn by the dotted lines G,
turning on its hinge at H, it is made of cork and will readily close by an ascending
wave and remain closed until the wave retires when it will by its own weight
reopen for breathing,
The thickness of air between the inner and outer skin may be about one, two,
or three inches, but any other thickness may be made if required; the two skins
are to be united by several ties stays commonly called "reeds" by manufacturers
of "air goods." In some cases. they may be connected by tubes or strings like a
mattress.
Fig. 2 is a front view. CC is the face plate, D the glass or opening to see out
of. E the opening for breathing through, F the valve to close over it as shewn by
the dotted line G. K K are two loops or straps. L L are two straps or tapes
fixed to the back of the helmet, to tie under each arm to the loops in front.
MM two tubes with mouth pieces, one being for each hemisphere or compartment
into which the helmet is divided as represented by the dotted line N N. O is an
eyelet hole for a cord P or strap by which it may be fastened to any belt or
life-preserver round the waist.

page_text: The combination of cork and air-tight compartments may be applied to ordinary
life-boats, rafts, pontoons &c to advantage as the efficiency of air is much greater
than cork, and the durability of cork adds to the safety in case of injury to the
air holding material.
Ordinary life-preserving belts should be made in two or more compartments
with a separate inflation tube for each compartment.
The feature of novelty which I claim is the construction of an atmospheric
helmet substantially as described and set forth in the annexed drawings.
I also claim the dividing of ordinary life belts into two or more compartments.
Also the combination of atmospheric compartments partially filled with cork for
use in life boats, pontoons &c.
In witness whereof I the said William Wilkins have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Tenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.