IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marcus Horatio Bland, of 123, Fenchurch Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPARATUS."
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marcus Horatio Bland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1876.
MARCUS HORATIO BLAND, of 123, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in diving apparatus.
At the present time divers have great difficulty in working in a tide-way in
consequence of the tide putting a heavy strain on the air tube and life-line. I
obviate this difficulty by the use, preferably in connection with a ladder by which
the diver descends, and which may be suspended from a vessel by which he is
attended, of a metal trough of sufficient weight and strength to withstand the tide,
and to descend vertically or sufficiently nearly so. The trough may be made in
lengths suitably jointed the one to the other. In descending the diver lodges the
air tube and line within the trough and secures it at intervals by latches provided
for the purpose. If the work be of such a nature as itself to afford shelter from the
tide (as, for example, if it be carried on in the hold of a sunken ship), however
strong the outside current may be, it will not interfere with the operations, as by
the means described no strain will be put upon the air tube and line, and they will
not, as at present, be liable to become entangled or broken. The latches on the
metal trough are so arranged as to open to admit of the diver being drawn up by
the line when he wishes to ascend.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Marcus Horatio Bland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
January 1877.
MARCUS HORATIO BLAND, of 123, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in diving apparatus.
At the present time divers have great difficulty in working in a tide-way in
consequence of the ide putting a heavy strain on the air tube and life-line. I
[Price 4d.]

page_text: obviate this difficulty by the use, preferably in connection with a ladder by which
the diver descends, and which may be suspended from a vessel by which he is
attended, of a metal trough of sufficient weight and strength to withstand the
tide, and to descend vertically or sufficiently nearly so. The trough may be made
in lengths suitably jointed the one to the other. In descending the diver lodges
the air tube and line within the trough and secures it at intervals by latches
provided for the purpose. If the work be of such a nature as itself to afford shelter
from the tide (as, for example, if it be carried on in the hold of a sunken ship),
however strong-the-outside current may be, it will not interfere with the operations,
as by the means described no strain will be put upon the air tube and line, and
they will not, as at present, be liable to become entangled or broken. The latches
on the metal trough are so arranged as to open to admit of the diver being drawn
up by the line when he wishes to ascend.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a transverse section.
a, u, is a metal trough, by preference it is of wrought iron galvanized, and has
fixed to it on either side the ladder-like steps b, b, which are also connected by
side bars c, c. The opening in the trough from end to end is about an inch and a
half wide, and latches a, a, are provided at intervals. This apparatus is made
in lengths which are joined by rivetting or bolting them together. The diver in
descending lodges the air tube and the life-line in the trough and secures it with
the latches. When the diver is drawn up the latches open freely without assistance
to liberate the tube and life-line.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myseif
to the exact details described, but I claim the construction and use of apparatus to
protect the air tube and life-line of a diver working in a tide-way, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marcus Horatio Bland, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
M. H. BLAND. (L.S.)