IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC AND RE- FRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, ANCHORS, AND ALL OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES WITH LIGHT AND OTHER CERTAIN APPARATUS USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES
Year: 1857

page_text: in the County of Middlesex, Coppersmith, John Askew, 27, Charles
Street, Hampstead Road, in the County of Middlesex, Coppersmith,
Henry Myers, 60, Upper Charlotte Street, County of Middlesex,
Surgoen, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC AND RE-
FRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS,
ANCHORS, AND ALL OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES WITH LIGHT AND OTHER CERTAIN
APPARATUS USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES."
Sealed the 23rd September 1857, and dated the 17th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Askew, John
Askew, and Henry Myers at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 17th March 1857.
We, CHARLES ASKEW, of 27, Charles Street, Hampstead Road, JoHNASKEW,
of 27, Charles Street, Hampstead Road, Coppersmiths, and HENRY MYERS, 60,
Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, Surgeon, all in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN HYDRAULIC AND REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING
SUNKEN VESSELS. ANCHORS, AND ALL OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES WITH LIGHT AND CTHER
CERTAIN APPARATUS USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention consists of a mode of arranging hydraulic lifts or pulls,
[Price Sd.]

page_text: which are placed together with air pumps on a vessel or vessels or other
floating bodies, and are fixed to such vessel or vessels at the head or stern, or
such other convenient part of such floating body or bodies found to be neces-
sary. Powerful screw clutches or clams are fixed and attached to the keel of
the sunken vessel, to which are connected suspension chains and hook fasten-
ings and like proper gearing, and which are so arranged as to be acted upon,
lifted, or pulled by the hydraulic piston lever rod or rods. A stage or raft, made
with common egg-end boilers or flanged tubes, are brought alongside of the
sunken vessel or submerged body, suspended with chains and other gear
fastenings for lightning the same; to this are also connected a signal bell and
whistle, a lightand safety cage, which are fitted with air, loose and other piping,
and stop-cocks, and are conveyed to the floating object above to enable at all
times a communication to be conveyed from the floating vessel or other body to
the workmen or divers, or the such like parties, to the floating body or bodies.
The air pumps supplying the egg-end tubes or boilers are constructed with
a refrigerator or refrigerators surrounding the same to keep the pumps cool
whilst in active operation, and supply also air to the diver's light and safety
cage, to enable the same to follow their occupation with safety and ease; by
such means the submerged body is acted upon, lifted and raised bodily, and
the apparatus being attached with shifting chains and such like gear enables
it to be worked together or separate, as the object may present itself, and are
therefore applicable to raising anchors and all other submerged bodies.
These are the nature of the mechanical agencies in the foreground alluded
to; but we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, or
to the materials or dimensions, as they may be considerably modified and
improved, as a practical application of our power will enable us to make in
our perfect Specification.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Charles Askew,
John Askew, and Henry Myers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Charles
ASKEW, of 27, Charles Street, Hampstead Road, JOHN ASKEW, of 27, Charles
Street, Hampstead Road, Coppersmiths, and HENRY MYERS, of 60, Upper
Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, Surgeon, all in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Charles Askew, John Askew, and Henry Myers, Her special licence that
we, the said Charles Askew, John Askew, and Henry Myers, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Askew,
John Askew, and Henry Myers, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC AND REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, ANCHORS, AND ALL OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES WITH LIGHT AND OTHER CERTAIN APPARATUS USED FOR THE SAME PUR-
POSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles Askew,
John Askew, and Henry Myers, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Askew, John Askew, and
Henry Myers, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
3
Our said Invention refers to a mode of arranging powerful "hydraulic
lifts or pulls," which are placed together with " "refrigerating air pumps
on a vessel or vessels or other floating or fixed bodies, and are fixed to such
vessel or vessels at the head, stern, or such other convenient part of such
floating bodies found to be necessary. Powerful screw chair clutches or
clams are passed under, affixed, and attached to and along the keel of the
sunken vessel, to which are connected the suspension lifting and bracing
chains and spring hook and ring fastenings, and which are so arranged and
connected as to be at immediate command, and acted upon, lifted, or pulled
by the powerful hydraulic piston lever rod or rods. A stage raft is sunk and
raised at will, and which is kept at command at a certain buoyancy, as the
subject inay present itself, by the means of several iron hydro-pneumatic
cylinders, like unto in shape the common egg. end steam boilers, with flauged

page_text: hook chain fastenings, and which raft has an alarm bell, and is used for
carrying and conveying down such hydro-pneumatic cylinders to be used in
attaching and surrounding the sunken vessel, and as an adjunction to the
hydraulic lifts, tools, chains, and other gear fastenings for encircling the
wreck and for lightening and lifting the same; the pneumatic safety cage
carrying a light for protecting, lowering, and raising the divers, and for
depositing precious and other valuable goods, or otherwise, and for also
raising and lightening the wreck or sunken vessel. A phonic elastic tube
is fitted with whistle to enable the divers at all times to communicate by
word of mouth to the floating vessel or other body above; by such appli-
ances the wreck, sunken vessel, or other submerged body or bodies are
acted upon, lifted, and raised bodily.
And for better and more fully understanding our said improvements, we
will now proceed to detail the particulars thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, in which the same letters apply to like parts
throughout.
66
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a view looking down upon a deck of a vessel, with the, two
hydraulic lifts or pulls" and the refrigerators placed alongside for keeping
the air pumps cool while in action. A, A, are two hydraulic cylinders, which
are arranged with flanges, and fixed to a strong foundation or bed plates, which
are placed firmly and securely bolted down, and through the decks fore and
aft at right angles to the bottom of the vessels, so that lurching of the vessels
on either side are obviated, and a direct pull or lift gained upon the sunken
vessel or other submerged body; B, B, are the service pipes, attached to same
from the hydraulic pumps C,C, andare fitted with valves, so as to give a direct
or reverse action, dispensing with the use of heavy counterbalances or rack
movements to bring the piston of the hydraulic pull into position, and return-
ing the water into the pump's cisterns; E, E, are powerful crab drum wind-
lasses, with stop clutches working over the chain beds, to take and coil up the
suspension lifting chains F, F, the arrangement of which chains are more
clearly shewn in Figure 2, and also in Sheet Three; D, D, are strong lever
bolts, working through and into sockets in bed plates for holding and securing
the suspension lift chains at their hitches or pulls, while the loose chain is
being taken and coiled up by the drums E, E, between the head of the pistons
of cylinders A, A, and lever bolts D, D; I, I, are strong hollow or grooved
faced pullies running, attached to, and working at the head of the foundation
or bed plates of the hydraulic pulls, for passing and clearing the lift

page_text: chains off and over the head and stern of the vessel or other floating body
or bodies.
Figure 2 are end views of the floating vessels, and a sunken vessel, with
the hydro-pneumatic cylinders K, K, K, K, attached to same by means of
chains and hook fastenings. L is a strong iron screw chair, constructed with
a powerful screw (a) for securely fastening the chair to the keel of the vessel,
and which has rings b, b, for fitting, securing, and fastening the suspensions
chains F, F; 9, 9, are strong iron swivel ring hooks for grappling the keel of
the sunken vessel in cases where the chairs cannot be readily fixed, and to
enable them in the first instance, if required, to be attached; H, H, is a tell-
tale or counterbalance fathom-marked band, fixed facing each other at the
ends of the vessels, and one end of which is fixed to the sunken body to be
raised, to notify the distance and level position of the sunken vessel while
raising.
Figure 3 is a view of a raft surrounded with a number of hydro-pneumatic
cylinders. K, N, are the strong timbers bolted together with rings attached
to same; C, C, are strong iron bracings or girders, placed across and across,
tying it firmly together and forming the raft, which is used for keeping the
hydro-pneumatic cylinders together when not in use, for lowering the same,
and for raising and lowering anything required below, and for lightening and
raising the vessel or wreck.
Figure 4 is an exterior view of the hydro-pneumatic cylinders or air tubes,
supplied with air from the refrigerating air pumps G, G, arranged on deck, as
in Figure 1, and the interior, as shewn in Figure 6, in Sheet Two. T, T, T,
are swivel spring hooks, for quick and easy connecting, and preventing the
chains from falling from same; d, d, are connecting rings at the end of
cylinders for keeping them together; m, m, m, are rings that are affixed and
attached to the strong iron encircling bands, which bands are rivetted round
and through the cylinder to the interior bracings f, as shewn in Figure 6.
Figure 5, Sheet Two, is an enlarged side view of the hydraulic lift or pull,
shewing the mode of attaching and working the pumps C, C, and from
arrangement J, as in Figure 1, for working the same.
Figure 6 is an enlarged interior view of the hydro-pneumatic wrought-iron
cylinders or tubes. P, P, are two vulcanized indian-rubber screw and balance
valves, for admitting and discharging the air to and from the cylinders to be
lowered into the water; the pent air in cylinder, whilst filling with water, is
forced out through the vent balance valve P by the pressure of the water
entering the screw valves R, R, which valves are fastened down, and the
cylinders are equipoised to the greatest nicety, so that the divers are "able

page_text: without difficulty to put them into position, lay up alongside and inside, if
practicable of the sunken vessel or wreck, and when affixed securely, the
valves R, R, are reopened, the remaining water in the cylinder discharged by
air pressure; they are then again fastened down, and the air forced into the
cylinder takes the place of the water, and renders the cylinders of great
buoyancy; the air communication is then cut off by valves P, P, and the tubes
are disconnected. ff.ff, are strong interior bracings in addition to the
encircling bands, straining up the cylinders to prevent renting or collapsing.
Figure 7 are exterior, interior, and side views of the refrigerating air pumps.
G, G, G, are the air pumps, which are affixed to air bed plate or chamber,
and are enclosed and surrounded by a cistern or tank; V is a number of feet
of pipe or tubing coiled round the pumps and enclosed in cistern or tank,
which tank or cistern is kept full of cold water or ice, for the purpose of
keeping the air pumps cool and free from heating while in action, and which
air also in passing from the chamber is refrigerated through the coil of air
pipe or tube; U is the supply tank, from which a continuous supply of cold
water is passing into the refrigerating pump cistern, and which is always kept
at a uniform height and temperature by means of an overflow tap.
Figure 8 is a safety pneumatic diving cage, constructed of wrought-iron
tubes or bars and heavy spike weight rests, and carrying on its head or top
a dome conical centre air cylinder or chamber. A is the air cylinder or vessel
and is arranged in either one or two compartments, so, if necessary, it both
furnishes air to the diver, and also enables him to remove his helmet if
oppressed with fatigue, and for lightening the sunken vessel; B, B, B, B, are
valves or air cocks for enabling the divers to supply themselves with air in
case of accident or otherwise; C, C, C, C, are guide break rollers, attached
and affixed on each side of the cage, to keep it level while lowering, and
stopping it at any point required in its descent; D, D, are the levers on each
side, acting on and keeping the guide roller tight to the guide suspension
ropes E, E, which have affixed to their ends two heavy weights H, H, to
keep them vertical and sinking; F, F, are two sliding doors, admitting ingress
and egress of the divers at will; G, G, are seats for the use of the divers to
rest themselves.
Figure 9 are views of a phonic tube signal whistle and bell. A is the tube;
B is a nipple tap, to be opened to blow any existing water out between Band
C, which latter is to be opened after tap Bis closed; 1) is a tap on the top of
the tube, which is kept shut when the signal whistle E is first used, but which
is afterwards opened for verbal communication from the diver to the deck, or
vice versâ; F, F, are slide valves affixed to the diver's helmet; G is a bell or

page_text: outer case with a smaller bell enclosed; H is a crank attached to outer
bell or case, and connected to the lever hammer rod; K is the line for
striking the required signal under water.
Figure 10 is shewing an interior and exterior views of a lamp for burning
a light, either of gas, oil, or candle, or other inflamable body, under
water, and in subterraneous passages, and to be used by the divers and
workmen in ships' holds and other submerged and subterraneous parts,
enabling them to follow their occupation. A is an interior view of the
arrangement for burning a common candle; B is a lamp enclosed in a glass
or other case and secured by lock where foul air exists; C is an exterior
view of A, shewing the hook for attaching to the diver's belt; D is the
tube to supply the lamp with air from the helmet of the diver.
Figure 11, Sheet Three, shews the whole apparatus and appliances in
operation, and which will be easily understood, and being in accordance with
our said Invention, that the sunken vessel or wreck is acted upon, so as not to
alter its vertical position, and raised bodily between two vessels or such other
floating bodies.
Having thus described our said Invention, we would observe that we do
not limit ourselves to the precise details and the placement of affixing our said
apparatus, or to the dimensions or number of the same, as they may be con-
siderably modified; but we do declare that what we claim as our Invention,
and as constituting our "Improvements in Hydraulic and Refrigerating
Apparatus for the Purpose of Raising Sunken Vessels, Anchors, and all other
Submerged Bodies with Light and other certain Apparatus used for the
same Purposes," are as follows:-
Firstly. We claim the application and arranging the hydraulic lifts or pulls
in a horizontal or vertical position at the head, stern, or other part of the vessel
or floating body, and its power for raising sunken vessels, anchors, and
ponderous submerged bodies, as shewn and described in Figure 1.
Secondly. The powerful iron screw chairs with rings, as shewn and
described in Figure 2.
Thirdly. The raft constructed with iron hydro-pneumatic cylinders or
tubes with wood and iron girders, and which raft is used for the purpose of
raising the remains of a wreck or lightening a sunken vessel, and lowering
materials to effect the same.
Fourthly. The refrigerator surrounding the air pump, and for keeping
them cool while in action, and for supplying any amount of air to the hydro-
pneumatic cylinders.
Fifthly. The lamp for burning gas, oil, common candle, or other inflamable

page_text: body under water and subterraneous passages for the use of the divers or
workmen, which lamp is attached by means of a screw valve air tube to the
helmet or dress of the diver, as shewn in Figure 10, the air chamber of the
diving cage or pumps above.
Sixthly. The arrangement of the phonic communicator tube, from diver to
deck, or vice versâ, and surrounding the hell, as shewn in Figure 9, to give
notice to the diver or divers that something is being lowered to him or them.
Seventhly. The safety diving cage, for the purpose of raising and lowering
the divers, a refuge for the divers, protecting them during their immersion
from voracious fish and accidents; for pearl fishing, supplying the divers
with air, for depositing in safety any submerged property to be raised with
care; for lightening the sunken vessel; for submarine surveying and dis-
covering the position of sunken vessels, lost anchors or otherwise; for
laying down and recovering telegraph cables; for the construction of break-
waters and barbours, and all submarine operations.
Eighthly and lastly. We wish it to be understood that we do not claim
cylinders, boilers, air tubes, or cassoons for raising sunken vessels; but what
we claim, in using the hydro-pneumatic cylinders for, are the raft and the
peculiar arrangement of the screw and other valves and pipes, as shewn in
Figures 4 and 6, and the peculiar arrangement of the whole for raising
sunken vessels and all other submerged bodies.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Askew, John Askew, and
Henry Myers, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
day of September, in the year of our Lord Oue thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
DAN F. LAMBERT, Civil Engineer,
CHARLES ASKEW.
(L.S.)
JOHN ASKEW.
(L.S.)
HENRY MYERS.
(L.S.)
60, Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square.