AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS, VESSELS, AND OTHER COMMODITIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percival William Davis, of No. 54, Frith Street, Soho, in the
County of Middlesex, Gold and Silver Whip and Stick Mounter, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN
SHIPS, VESSELS, AND OTHER COMMODITIES."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 30th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percival William Davis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1876.
PERCIVAL WILLIAM DAVIS, of No. 54, Frith Street, Soho, in the County of Middle-
sex, Gold and Silver Whip and Stick Mounter. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS, VESSELS, AND OTHER COMMODITIES."
Two or more vessels constructed of iron or other material of elongated, egg, or
similar shape which fill and lower themselves with water by means of a valve
placed at the bottom of each vessel, and having connection through an air tubing
of flexible material with a water tube of flexible material at the top of each vessel.
The said vessels are then connected with the sunken ships, vessels, and other
commodities by means of chains or iron bands passed thereunder, and the water by
ordinary known means or methods, and drawn therefrom by means of pumps on the
surface, and the sunken ships, vessels, or other commodities thereby raised.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Percival William Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
December 1876.
PERCIVAL WILLIAM DAVIS, of No. 54, Frith Street, Soho, in the County of Middle-
sex, Gold and Silver Whip and Stick Mounter. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS, VESSELS, AND OTHER COMMODITIES."
My said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
apparatus for raising sunken ships, vessels, and other commodities, and in the
method of employing the same for such purposes.
The apparatus consists of a reservoir constructed of wrought iron or of any other
suitable material or materials of a circular or other suitable section, and of an elongated
or similar form, and pointed at each end, the same being hollow and capable of
[Price 6d.]

page_text: being filled with water or atmospheric air in the manner and by the means herein-
after mentioned. The sides of the reservoir may be of a continued curve from
one end to the other, having the greatest width or capacity at the centre or waist,
but by preference the sides are formed so as to be parallel to each other, except
for a short distance from either end, where they will gradually converge towards
the respective pointed ends of the reservoir. The advantage gained by constructing
the reservoir with sides, which are to a considerable extent parallel to each other,
is that the reservoir is more readily brought into close contact with the ship,
vessel, or other body which is to be raised. The reservoir has by preference a
partition in the centre, and also a partition near each end, making entire air chambers
capable of sustaining a proportion of the weight of the reservoir. At the centre
or waist of the reservoir are placed the appliances and apparatus for filling the
same with water or air, or both, and of discharging the same as may be desired.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a reservoir constructed of a continued curve shape.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a reservoir constructed with parallel sides
and conical ends.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is the reservoir; b, the partition which divides the latter into
two chambers; c, c, are pipes which pass through the top of the reservoir and
descend nearly to the bottom thereof, being terminated by a perforated pipe or
tubing at right angles to them. These pipes or tubing are connected with the
ship or other vessel from which the apparatus is worked by means of flexible or
other pipes. d is an air pipe or tubing opening into both chambers, and is also
connected with the vessel by flexible or other pipe. e are cords or wire ropes
passing from the ship or other vessel through the pipe or tubing d, and are for
the purpose of opening or closing the water valve or valves f, which latter, when
open, admits water into the two chambers of the reservoir. g are sockets for the
admission of vertical rods or poles, the other extremities of which protrude above
the surface of the water, and thus enable those above to ascertain the position of
the reservoir to guide the same and to keep it in a horizontal position. h are
fixed rings to which the guide ropes, wire, or chains are connected. i are hooks
to which are attached the bands, wire rope, or chains, which are placed under,
around, or next to the sunken vessel or other body.
In Fig. 3 a is the reservoir; b, the partition; c, the air pipes or tubes; d, the
cords for opening the water valve or valves e; f are two pipes or tubes which
descend from the top of the reservoir, where they are furnished with flap or other
valves f¹, to the bottom thereof, at which point they are respectively connected
with pipes or tubes g running longitudinally along the bottom of the reservoir,
such pipes being furnished with ball or floating valves h. i are hooks, and k the
sockets for the vertical rods or indicators l.
When reservoirs constructed as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 are employed for the
purpose of raising a sunken ship, vessel, or other body, wire rope, chains, or bands
of metal, by preference the latter, are placed under or around the vessel. Two or
more reservoirs constructed as herein-before mentioned are then brought into
position near the sunken ship, vessel, or other body, the water valves are opened
and sufficient water admitted into the chambers of the reservoir to cause the
latter to sink; when the valves are closed and the reservoir is guided to its place
at the side of the sunken ship, vessel, or other body, where it is attached to the
before-mentioned bands, wire ropes, or chains by means of the hooks i, which latter
have apertures therein, through which pass guide lines connected with eyes in the
bands or chains for the reception of the hooks, which latter are thus rendered self-
hooking. The hooks are provided with spring catches, so that when once hooked
they cannot become unhooked without being specially released. The reservoirs
having been thus securely attached the water contained in the same is pumped up
though the pipes or tubes c, c, and as the quantity of water contained in the

page_text: chamber becomes less the reservoirs are supplied with air through the pipe or
tube d, and gradually become more buoyant, until at last they rise to the surface
of the water, carrying with them the sunken ship, vessel, or other body. Instead
of pumping the water out through the pipes or tubes c, c, as before described, the air
pipe d may be closed and the water valve or valves f opened, air is then forced
down into the reservoirs through c, c, such air as it enters the reservoir rises to
the upper part and forces out through f at the top, or through e at the bottoin,
water equal to its own bulk, this is continued until the reservoirs have become
sufficiently buoyant to lift the sunken body and to rise with the same to the
surface of the water.
When the construction of reservoir shewn in Figure 3 is employed, it is sunk
and attached to the bands, wire ropes, or chains in the manner herein-before
described. Air is then forced into the reservoirs through the pipe or pipes, or
tubing c. The water contained in the reservoirs being forced by these means through
the valve or valves h, along the pipes or tubes g, and out at the valves f¹, or for
these valves can be substituted screw-down valves passing through stuffing boxes
from the top of the reservoir to the valves at the bottom; the said valves are
connected with the pipes g and the ball or floating valves h, thereby dispensing
with the cords d, and entirely insulating the chambers a, a, of the reservoir. It
will of course be understood that the number and capacity of the reservoirs
employed must be proportioned to the weight of the body to be raised.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that I do
not claim the several and distinct parts of the apparatus herein-before described
separately and apart from each other as being of my Invention, but what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention; secured to me
by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, are the improved method
of and apparatus for raising sunken ships, vessels, and other commodities, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percival William Davis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
TE
VAL WILL
ILLIAM DAVIS. (L.S.)