mprovements in Diving Dresses, and in Appliances for Supplying Air thereto.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in Diving Dresses, and in Appliances for Supplying
Air thereto.
I, ARTHUR MCQUILLAN, of 8 Napoleon Street, Balmain, near Sydney, in the
Colony of New South Wales, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
ny invention for "Improvements in diving dress and in appliances for supplying
ir thereto," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the mode of constructing
diving dresses so as to enable them to resist the pressure incidental to deep diving,
and consist essentially in providing the dress with a number of tubular rings of
iron or other suitable metal. These rings are sewn between two or more thicknesses
of the material composing the dress, a sewn seam being between each ring. The
dress is further provided with an external waterproof covering. The invention
also comprises means for supplying air by means of an india rubber tube to the
diver, and means for conveying the foul air from the diver to the surface of
the water.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1. is a front view of the dress.
Figure 2. is a detail section showing the manner in which the supporting rings
are arranged in the dress.
Figure 3. is a sectional view of a vortex wheel, or one form of blast fan for
supplying air to the diver.
Figure 4. is an end view of the same.
Figure 5 is a general view of my invention.
A are the tubular rings, sewn between two or more thicknesses of the
material composing the dress, a seam is sewn between each ring A. The sleeves 5¹
and legs of the dress are constructed in this manner. The rings A are
preferably tubular. R are flanged or other suitable joints having one ring only
between said joints. These joints are coincident, or nearly so, with the knee, leg
and arm joints of a diver. The object being to afford greater freedom of move-.
ment. B are coverings for the feet composed of copper or other suitable metal of
sufficient strength to resist pressure of water at great depths, and of the form or
shape of Wellington boots. The feet covering or boots B are secured to the
legs 62 of the dress preferably by flanged joints c, and the lower part of the body,
and the arms, are secured to the metallic covering E by similar flanged joints d
and f. E is a covering composed of bronze or other suitable metal, which forms
a protection for the upper part of the body, cylindrical in shape around the breast
and back and of a dome or spherical form from the shoulders to the helmet or head
covering G.
The head covering G is preferably brazed to the covering E, but it is obvious
that G and E may be constructed in one piece, or may be connected in any other
suitable manner.
The parts G and E are made of sufficient strength to resist great external
pressure. Suitable means, such as J, for connection of the india rubber air supply
pipe or tube is provided on the head covering or helmet G, and means such as J
for connection of the exhaust pipe or tube, is provided and secured in any suitable.
manner to the front of the body piece E. A suitable valve, such as J³ is provided

page_text: in connection with this exhaust pipe, so that the diver may when necessary regulate
the outlet of air.
Those parts of the dress constructed of tubular rings A are suitably lined,
internally and externally with waterproof material.
In Figs. 3 and 4. K are vortex wheels supported in suitable bearings K¹ within
the casing M. This casing is constructed of any suitable material preferably of
wood.
Motion may be imparted to this form of blast fan by means of the pulley
wheel P.
:-
The manner of using this invention is as follows:-
The dress being disconnected at the joint d, the diver gets into the lower part.
The upper part may then be placed upon him by an attendant, who afterwards
connects the dress at d, and by means of the flange joint. The air pipes being
connected the diver is then ready for a descent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In diving dresses, constructing the lower part of the body, and the arms and
legs, of tubular rings secured between an inner and outer covering, together with
metallic boots and a covering for the breast back shoulder and head composed of
suitable metal for the purpose of resisting the pressure of water at great depths,
as herein specified.
2. In diving dresses, boots composed of copper or other suitable metal secured
to the legs of the dress by flange or other joints as herein specified.
3. In diving dresses, the combination of a metallic covering, or coverings for
the upper part of the body with the covering of fabric strengthened by tubular
rings and with the metallic boots, for the purpose of resisting the pressure of
water at great depths, as herein specified.
4. In diving gear, a vortex fan for supplying air through the interior of the
dress and up again to the surface through the agency of rubber tubes as herein
'specified.
Dated this First day of December 1896.
ARTHUR M'QUILLAN.
Witness to signature-
J. H. MITCHELL.
Marks & Clerk,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.