Improvements in Sounding Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sounding Apparatus.
We, ALBRECHT RESCH and GEORG GRAND, merchants, both residents of Landsberg
on the Warthe, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of an automatic sounding lead by which it is possible to
make soundings very accurately and with greater facility than up to the present.
The principal feature of our invention consists in coupling a float to the sounding
lead, which is uncoupled and rises to the surface as soon as the lead strikes the bottom
of the sea.
In order to make our invention more clear, we refer to the accompanying drawings,
in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a view of the sounding lead during its descent.
Fig. 2 is a view of the same after the lead has struck the bottom and the float has
risen to the surface of the water.
Figs. 3 & 4 show a modification of the apparatus.
A is the float which is held to the sounding lead a a by the two springs ff and r
is a tube sliding on the lead a and attached to the same by the pin t fixed in the lead
and moving in slits of tube r. The weight g is attached to the lower end of the
tube which is also provided with holes. m is the sounding line.
The working of the apparatus is obvious; as soon as the lead g strikes ground, the
weight of the upper part of the sounding lead presses the springs ff¹ downwards
into the tuber whereby the same are pressed together and the float A is released and
rises along the line to the surface of the water.
Figs. 3 & 4 show a modification of the same principle.
a is the sounding lead to each side of which is pivoted a bent lever ¹¹, which
have on their upper ends two catches f¹ which catch on the upper corner of the
conical float A. On the other ends of the bent levers are suspended rods ³ ³ which
are connected under the float by a cross rod 9. As soon now as the cross bar g
touches the bottom, the two catches ff will be pressed inwards and release the
float A which immediately rises to the surface of the water.
In both cases, after the sounding lead has been taken out of the water, it is only
necessary to press the float over the springs or catches ff' to bring the apparatus in
order, when it may again be lowered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
In sounding leads :
1. The combination of leads a and g vertically moveable in regard to each other
and so arranged, that when the latter is arrested at the bottom, the former by its
further movement releases the float A which rises to the surface, in the manner
described.
2. The combination of lead a, float A, bent levers 7
and having their one ends connected together by rods
pivoted on each side of lead
and bar 9 and having on
their upper ends the catches ff, for the purpose substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1889.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.