AN IMPROVED DEEP WATER DIVING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE HENRY LEANE, of 21 Queen Annes Gate n the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
DEEP WATER DIVING APPARATUS to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an improved apparatus by means of which one, or
more persons may descend to much greater depths than is possible with existing
appliances, and from within which inspections of wreckage, or search can be made
and a great variety of subaqueous operations carried on.
The cage, or chamber, is constructed of metal or other suitable substance for
resisting external pressure; and is provided with a water tight door, and a number
of windows, the latter being placed in its upper part at a convenient height. By
means of an annular chamber in the roof, artificial light can be supplied air being
admitted or not as may be needful. The interior of the cage is supplied with air
by tubes, reaching to the surface, and embracing these tubes which are made of
flexible material are the chains, hawsers, cables; or ropes, by means of which the
cage, or chamber is raised or lowered. The bottom of the cage, or chamber, is made
hollow, and within this space, which may for convenience be located immediately
under the floor, is arranged a wheel, or pumping device, operated from within the
cage, or from above, in any convenient manner.
Ports are so arranged in the exterior wall of the wheel space, as that water, or
other medium may be forced by the aid of the wheel, or pumps in any desired
direction, the ports being operated from within the chamber. By opening a port
in any direction and operating the pumps, or wheel, the chamber can be turned, or
driven in any desired direction by the issuing water, or other medium, and assistance
given to the operators of the hauling up gear. Placed round the chamber at any
convenient height in its skin are a series of ball, or universal joints, these are
perforated by a plunger, and the joints are carefully packed; so that although the
plunger can be turned in any direction no water can enter the cage.
The plungers can be fitted on the outside of cage with hooks, rabbles, or any
other device suitable for passing chaius under a submerged vessel; or gun, or for
attaching them thereto. These plungers on the inside of the cage cau be connected
to a crab, or an engine operated by the superincumbent or other water pressure, or
air, or by manual labour, or other means. It will thus be seen that a variety of
operations can be carried on by the divers irrespective of depth..

page_text: In some cases a diver may be compelled to work on a stage outside the chamber:
In this event provision is made in the construction to admit him to a second
chamber to which water may be admitted, or from which it may be expelled.
Air from within the main chamber is supplied to him, his armour being stiffened
by metal plates, or springs, so that he is enabled to withstand the external pressure
of the water.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Deep Water Diving Apparatus.
GEORGE HENRY LEANE 21 Queen Annes Gate in the city of Westminster, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED DEEP WATER DIVING
APPARATUS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of an improved apparatus by means of which one, or
more persons may descend to much greater depths than is possible with existing
appliances, and from within which inspections of wreckage, or search, can be made
and a great variety of subaqueous operations carried on; reference to the accom-
panying drawing will explain the manner in which the same is carried out.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan.
Fig. 8 an elevation of the exterior:
Fig. 4 a plan of roof.
Fig. 5 Sectional elevation shewing second chamber.
The cage, or chamber A. Figs. 1, 2, 3 is constructed of metal, or other suitable
substance for resisting the external pressure of water and is provided with a water-
tight door B, Fig. 3, and a number of windows C, C, C, C. By means of an
angular chamber D in the roof artificial light of any kind can be supplied, air
being admitted, or not, as may be required. The interior of the cage or chamber A,
is supplied with air by tubes E E, arranged as upcast, and down cast, reaching to
the surface; or the contained air can be purified by any existing system which
will effect this purpose. Embracing these tubes which are made of flexible
material, are the chains, hawsers, cables, or ropes F F, by means of which the cage
or chamber A is raised, or lowered. The bottom of the cage or chamber A, is
hollow, and in this space which may conveniently be located immediately under
the floor, is arranged a wheel G, (or a pumping device preferably of centrifugal
type) for the purpose of causing the vessel to move in any given direction Either
the wheel, or the pump, are connected to a shaft, or spindle H passing through the

page_text: floor of the cage; and they can be operated either from within the cage, or by
means of water, or compressed air driven under pressure through the flexible
tube I, from above, their motion being controlled by a cock J, within the
chamber A.
Ports KK, are arranged in the exterior wall of the wheel space, and by opening
any desired port, and putting in motion either the wheel, or pump G, water will
be forced out of the particular port opened, and assistance given to those in charge
of the hawsers, chains, or suspending cables, in steering the chamber in the desired
direction. If mechanical assistance be not required, the wheel or pumping device,
imparting motion to the spindle H, can be dispensed with, and the steering effected
by the issuing water alone.
Placed round the chamber A, at any convenient height are a series of ball, or
universal joints L these joints are packed preferably with a rubber washer M,
or in any similar manner. The balls or universal joints, can be perforated, or
prolonged into a rod or plunger N, the plunger thus forming part of the joint, can
be turned in any direction when actuated by a crab, air, or hydraulic engine
operated by air or water conducted through the tube I, and controlled by the
cock J, or the rod or plunger can be connected direct to the shaft H, before referred
to by means of a flexible joint, or in any other suitable manner, the shaft being
caused to revolve by means of air, or water, under pressure controlled by the
cock J, the effluent water, or air, escaping through the ports K, before referred to,
these ports being operated by the draw bars passing into the chamber through
suitably packed glands.
The rods, or plungers, are fitted outside the cage with hooks, rabbles, or any
other device suitable for passing chains, under a gun, or vessel, facilitating haulage
or bringing the chamber to anchor, or for any other subaqueous operations, which
by means of this invention can be carried on by divers irrespective of depth.
Should a diver be compelled to work outside the main chamber A, a second
chamber a is provided Fig. 5 into which by opening the door O, formed in the
skin of the main chamber he can step, the door O, is now closed and water
permitted to enter the second chamber by turning a cock or in any other manner.
Air is supplied to the diver from the main chamber A by means of a flexible tube
passing through a properly protected aperture in its skin and fastened to any
convenient part of his dress. Upon opening the door O, in the outer skin of
chamber a, the diver can inspect the desired object, or perform any work required
of him. His armour is stiffened by means of plates, or springs to resist the pressure
of the water, and means are provided upon his return to the second chamber for
emptying it of the water admitted to enable him to open the door O.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature, application and
object of my invention I would wish it understood that I lay no claim to any
special form of chamber for conducting subaqueous operations, nor to the ball and
socket joints, rods or plungers, when operated by manual power. Neither do
I confine myself to the exact detail shewn in the drawings, since the latter may be
varied without departing from the peculiar features of my invention. What
I believe to be novel, and therefore claim is
1st The combination in a suitable working chamber for subaqueous operations, of
a wheel or pumping device, operated by superincumbent, or other water or air.
pressure, conveyed by a flexible, or other tube, for the purpose of steering said
chamber by ejecting water or air, through the ports, or giving motion to machinery.
The wheel pumps and ports, being controlled from within said chamber in the way
and manner and for the purposes described.
2nd The combination, and application, in a suitable chamber for conducting
subaqueous operations of hydraulic, air, superincumbent, or other pressure by which
the chamber can be steered, or machinery driven, without the wheel or pumping
device referred to substantially as described.

page_text: 3rd In a working chamber suitably constructed for subaqueous operations, the
combi ation, application, and use of hydraulic, air, or other engines, operating the
plungers to which are attached the hooks, rabbles, or other implements. The
whole being controlled from within the chamber or cage, for the purposes and
substantially as described.
4th In a working chamber for subaqueous operations, the method, application,
and use, of a second chamber, by means of which a diver can pass froin, or reenter
the main chamber when the same is submerged, substantially as and for the
purposes and in the way and manner described.
Dated this tenth day of March 1886
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Applicant's Agent.