IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUNDING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ballantyne Hannay, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Chemist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOUNDING APPARATUS”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ballantyne Hannay
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1883.
JAMES BALLANTYNE HANNAY, of Glasgow, in the County. of Lanark, North
Britain, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUNDING APPARATUS
=
"
This Invention relates to sounding apparatus of the kind which is made to show
the depth of water by an indication derived from the pressure of the water due to
the depth.
In the improved apparatus a metal vessel, acting like the main part of an
aneroid barometer or analogous pressure gauge is combined with a pointer moving
over a graduated dial, and with a ratchet wheel and catch to retain the pointer at
the maximum point reached by it. This apparatus is attached to a sounding line
and has a sinking weight attached to it, and when it is cast or lowered the pointer
becomes moved in proportion to the depth reached and on its being hauled up
again will show the greatest depth reached quite independently of the length of
line or of the vertical or inclined position of the line. The precise form of the
improved apparatus may be variod, but in a convenient modification the barometric
vessel is of an elongated form with corrugated cylindrical sides, and is fixed by
its bottom end to the bottom of an elongated frame having the graduated dial at
its upper end. The upper end of the barometric vessel which is free to move with
the varying pressure is connected to the horizontal short arm of a bell-crank lever
centered on a cross bar of the frame. The longer arm of the bellcrank lever is
vertical and carries a toothed sector which gears with a pinion on the spindle of
the pointer. A finely toothed ratchet wheel is fixed on the spindle of the pointer
and is acted on by a catch or pawl having a very light spring by which the pointer
becomes retained in any position to which it may be moved. After an indication
has been noted the catch can be. released by touching the projecting end of it, and
then tho pointer is..turned back to zero by a light voluto spring. A glass may
be fixed over the dial and the instrument may be covered with a flexible material
which will not interfere with the action of the pressure.
.
Instead of the line being an ordinary cord it is preferred to use a wire of
manganese-bronze or other suitable metal which is not easily corroded.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Ballantyne Hannay in the Patent Office on the 3rd May 1884.
JAMES BALLANTYNE HANNAY, of Glasgow; in the County of Lanark North
Britain, Chemist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUNDING APPARATUS
"
My said Invention relates to sounding apparatus of the kind which is made to 5
show the depth of water by an indication derived from the pressure of the water
due to the depth.
In my improved apparatus a metal vessel acting like the main part of an
aneroid barometer or analogous pressure gauge is combined with a pointer moving
over a graduated dial, and with a ratchet wheel and catch to retain the pointer at 1
the maximum point reached by it. This apparatus is attached to a sounding line
and has a sinking weight attached to it, and when it is cast or lowered the pointer
becomes moved in proportion to the depth reached quite independently of the
length of line or of the vertical or inclined position of the line.
The precise form of my improved apparatus may be varied but a convenient 1
modification is shown on the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings.
Figure, 1, represents the case containing the apparatus in vertical section, the
apparatus itself being in side elevation. Figure, 2, is a view of the indicating
dial, figure, 3, a view with the dial removed, and figure, 4, a cross section of the
lower part of the case. Figures, 5, and 6 are a cross section and a longitudinal
section showing a modification of part of the apparatus.
In the modification shown in figures, 1, to 4 the barometric vessel, B, is of an
elongated form with corrugated cylindrical sides, and is fixed by its bottom ond
to the bottom of an elongated frame, F, having a graduated dial, D, at its upper
end. The barometric vessel, B, is of thin metal, and is hermetically closed. The
upper end of the barometric vessel, B, is free to move with the varying pressure
acting on the outside of the vessel, and has fixed to it a short slotted bar, A which
acts on the short arm of a bellcrank lever, CE, centered on a pin on a cross bar, G,
of the frame. The second and longer arm, E, of the bellcrank lever, has a toothed
sector, H, formed or fixed on its upper end, and this toothed sector gears with a
pinion, J, on a spindle, K, having a pointer, P, on its upper end. The spindle K,
has also fast on it a finely toothed ratchet wheel, R, and a spring catch, S, is
arranged to engage therewith for the purpose of retaining the spindle and the
pointer, P, in the position to which it may have been moved by the maximum
pressure experienced. The catch, S, is made with a tail pin, T, which projects up
through a short slot in the dial, and which can bo moved to release the catch after
an indication of the instrument has been noted; and a light volute spring, V,
returns the pointer to zero. The slot in the bar A, is made long enough to allow
of the barometric vessel recovering itself on the tempory pressure being removed,
without bearing up against the arm, C, of the bellcrank lever.
The apparatus is fitted inside of a cylindrical case, W, having holes to allow
the pressure of the water to act on the barometric vessel, B, The case is formed
with a conical bottom filled with lead, X, and has a cavity, Y, at the end to be
coated with adhesive matter for bringing up a small sample from the bottom of
the water. A conical cap, Z, is provided to screw on the top of the case and is
made with an eye or ring for the attachment of the sounding line.
In the modification shown in figures 5, and 6, the corrugated cylindrical metal
vessel, B, which is shown in section, is fixed so that the hermetically closed space
is outside of it and between it and an external cylinder, b, having a closed lower
end. The upper end of the corrugated cylinder, B, is fixed to the external
cylinder, b, and the lower end is closed but free to move the rod, A, being attached

page_text: to it for acting on the arm, C, of the bellcrank lever. The increased pressure of
the water at a depth elongates the corrugated cylinder instead of shortening it as
in the other modification.
The barometric vessel and the indicating mechanism may be protected from
corrosion by being electroplated with gold or other metal not easily corroded.
When the instrument is to be used for extremely accurate measurements of
depth I prefer to have the acting parts entirely enclosed and the case filled up
with a suitable liquid, one or more parts of the enclosing envelope being made of a
flexible material to transmit the pressure of the external water to the interior
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to bo novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The combination of a pointer moving over a dial, a ratchet wheel and catch for
retaining the pointer when moved, and mechanism for transmitting motion to the
pointor, with a barometric hermetically closed vessel the form of which alters with
changes of pressure, the whole being arranged for sinking and acting as sounding
apparatus, substantially as herein before described.
In Witness whereof I, the said James Ballantyne Hannay, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this second day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four,