IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR SOUNDING OR ASCERTAINING THE DEPTH OF LIQUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bassnett, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Nautical Instrument Maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR SOUNDING OR ASCERTAINING THE
DEPTH OF LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bassnett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1882.
THOMAS BASSNETT of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Nautical Instrument
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR SOUNDING OR
ASCERTAINING THE DEPTH OF LIQUIDS."
This invention relates to apparatus or instruments in which the pressure of a
head of water or liquid compresses air within an enclosed space and in which a
certain portion of the water entering the apparatus is retained to serve as a record
of compression.
The main objects are (a) to provide apparatus or instruments in which equal
increments of pressure shall be represented by equal or nearly equal divisions on
the scale used for ascertaining the depth of immersion and in which a long range
of measurement shall be obtained in a comparatively short apparatus or instrument,
and (b) to provide durable cheap and efficient sounding apparatus or instruments.
Under the first part of my invention I construct apparatus or instruments with
two chambers or compartments one of which tapers or increases in cross section
from one end to the cther; the second chamber or compartment being of any desired
shape but preferably tapered. The larger end of the tapering or as I call it the
measuring chamber or compartment is hermetically closed, the smaller end com-
municates with one end of the second or what I call the receiving chamber or
compartment. The other end of the receiving chamber or compartment is made
with an opening or openings through which water is free to flow. The measuring
chamber is provided with a stop cock or plug through which the liquid retained
after use is discharged when desired, and with a guage or sight glass through which
the quantity of water is observed and read off against a scale provided with or
fitted to the apparatus or instrument.

page_text: 7
In practice an apparatus or instrument under my invention is constructed
advantageously as follows:-A solid drawn brass tube is divided longitudinally and
obliquely into the receiving and measuring chambers or compartments above
mentioned. One end of the said tube is hermetically closed a small opening or
small openings being left between the two chambers or compartments. At the
other end of the tube the large end of the measuring chamber or compartment is
closed and an opening or openings is or are left into the receiving chamber or
compartment.
The oblique longitudinal division is obtained by cutting the tube inserting a
piece of sheet brass between the two divisions and afterwards securely soldering
or brazing the whole together.. A template is used and the line of section is
preferably curved. The ends of the tubes are closed by pieces soldered brazed or
screwed thereon. A guage glass is fixed to and communicates at each end with
the measuring compartment or a sight glass is used for that purpose.
In use the instrument is loaded or attached to a sinker in any usual manner and
is allowed to sink to the bottom of the liquid or to any desired depth. The liquid
enters the receiving chamber or compartment through the opening therein and
compresses the air into the measuring compartment. When all the air in the
receiving compartment is compressed into the measuring compartment which will
be at a pressure of two atmospheres, if the chambers are of equal capacity, the
liquid will flow into the said measuring chamber or compartment and will be
retained for measurement:
:
Under the second part I construct sounding apparatus of two tubes connected by
a flexible joint either indiarubber or mechanical One end of such combined tube
is hermetically closed and the other end is open.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Bassnett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th July
1882.
THOMAS BASSNETT of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Nautical Instrument
Maker. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR SOUNDING OR
ASCERTAINING THE DEPTHS OF LIQUIDS.
This invention relates to apparatus or instruments in which the pressure of a
head of water or liquid compresses air within an enclosed space and in which a
certain portion of the water entering the apparatus is retained to serve as a record
of compression.
The main objects are (a) to provide apparatus or instruments in which equal
increments of. pressure shall be represented by equal or nearly equal divisions on
the scale used for ascertaining the depth of immersion and in which a long range
of measurement shall be obtained in a comparatively short apparatus or instrument,
and (b) to provide, durable, cheap, and efficient sounding apparatus or instruments.

page_text: Fig 1 is a side elevation, Fig 2 a plan, and Fig 3 a longitudinal section of an
apparatus or instrument constructed in accordance with the first part. of my
invention for sounding or ascertaining the depth of liquids a is a solid drawn
brass tube divided longitudinally and obliquely by the sheet brass b into the
receiving chamber c and measuring chamber d. The tube is cut in the required
direction preferably in a curved line as shown by means of templates and the two
portions are brazed together with the strip or riband of sheet brass hetween them
as shown, the two compartments communicate with each other at the top by
means of the opening or way e. f top or cover brazed or if desired otherwise
hermetically secured in position. h carrying ring to which is secured the sounding
line, nipples through which openings lead into the measuring chamber d,
j gauge glass connected to the said nipples, k hinged cover for gauge glass. Zopenings
leading into the receiving chamber, m tap, cock, or valve for opening and closing
the measuring chamber. It will be obvious that the receiving chamber may be of
any desired size and capacity, that the apparatus may be square, oval, or of other
desired shape and that the chambers may be made of other material than brass and
connected in many ways. The construction I have shown and described answers
well in practice and is the one which I prefer.
When in use the instrument or apparatus is loaded or secured to a sinker of lead
or metal of any usual or suitable construction and attached to a line or wire and
allowed to sink to the bottom or any desired distance in the liquid the depth of
which is to be ascertained. The liquid enters the receiving chamber c through the
openings and compresses the air into the measuring compartment. When all the
air in the receiving compartment is compressed into the measuring compartment
(which will be at a pressure of two atmospheres if the chambers are as shown of

page_text: equal capacity) the liquid will flow into the said measuring chamber or compart-
ment through the opening e. When the instrument or apparatus is drawn up the
liquid will flow out of the receiving chamber through the openings and the liquid
forced over into the measuring chamber will remain as shown by the dotted line.
The depth to which the instrument has descended can then be read off on the scale
by noticing the height of the water in the gauge glass. In Fig 1 thirty-five
fathoms are indicated. After reading off, the tap cock or valve m is opened and
the liquid allowed to flow away. The said tap, cock, or valve is closed before again
using the apparatus. The scale is obtained by calculation, experiment, or both in
the first case; after which any desired number of instruments may be made to the
same scale, care being taken to verify their accuracy.
Fig 4 is a side elevation of sounding apparatus constructed under the second part
of my Invention. Here two tubes no are connected by the indiarubber tube p or
a hinged metallic joint such as are used in gas brackets may be employed. In use
the apparatus is placed as shown and connected to a sinker. The liquid enters the
open end of the tube n and flows into the clused ended tube o: when drawn up
the water flows out of n and remains in o the amount remaining being measured
or read off on a scale. In practice the tube n is of metal and o of glass; by
straightening the tubes the water will flow out of o. In case, of breakage any of
the parts are easily renewed.
Having now described and illustrated the nature of the said invention in such
manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I claim,
First. Sounding apparatus or instruments constructed with two compartments
or chambers one of which serves as a measuring chamber and is of diminishing
capacity from one end to the other substantially as herein set forth.
Second. A sounding apparatus or instrument constructed with tapering chambers,
openings, gauge glass, and tap or valve, substantially as herein set forth under the
first part.
Third. Sounding apparatus or instruments constructed of two chambers or tubes
connected by a flexible joint substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein set forth under the second part.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Bassnett have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.