IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES UNDER WATER, AND FOR KEEPING AFLOAT VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES LIABLE TO SINK
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Doran, residing at Number 10, Cornwallis
Street, in the Town of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the lu-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN
VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES UNDER WATER, AND FOR KEEPING AFLOAT VESSELS OR
OTHER BODIES LIABLE TO SINK."
Sealed the 25th July 1856, and dated the 26th January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Doran at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
January 1856.
I, PATRICK DORAN, residing at Number Ten, Cornwallis Street, in the Town
of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN
VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES UNDER WATER, AND FOR KEEPING AFLOAT VESSELS OR
OTHER BODIES LIABLE TO SINK," to be as follows:--
This Invention consists of constructing and applying peculiar flexible air
and waterproof bags, which are readily placed inside the ship or vessel to be
raised, or attached to a chain first made fast around the sunken ship or vessels,
or to any other part without or within the vessel to which they may be advan-
tageously fixed. For this purpose flexible air and water-tight bags are made
of strong canvas or fabric, closed in on all sides and at the ends, and they are
rendered waterproof by the usual means. The bags, although generally long
shaped, are used of various shapes and sizes, according to the point or points to

page_text: which they are to be attached. Over these bags are affixed strengthening net
work, and strong bands are applied around them at short distances from each
other, to which are attached hooks or other instruments to connect the bags
to the chain or chains, or other parts of the vessel. A flexible pipe is attached
to each bag, through which air is pumped from above into it, and there is also
a valve opening into the bag at the entrance of each air supply pipe, by which
any return of air is prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Patrick Doran in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th July 1856.
TO ALL TO. WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PATRICK
DORAN, residing at Number 10, Cornwallis Street, in the Town of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Patrick Doran, Her special licence that I, the said. Patrick Doran, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Patrick
Doran, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEU-
MATIC APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES UNDER WATER,
AND FOR KEEPING AFLOAT VESSELS OR OTHER BODIES LIABLE TO SINK," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Patrick Doran, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Patrick Doran, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: This is an improvement in pneumatic apparatus for raising sunken vessels,
and for keeping afloat vessels or other bodies liable to sink. The Invention is
applicable not only to the raising of sunken vessels, but also to vessels in
danger of foundering by stress of weather or other causes, when the apparatus,
as herein-after described, may be attached as circumstances admit, and may
be used also for the preservation of life in the event of its being compulsory or
desirable to abandon a ship at sea.
In order to carry out this Invention, the apparatus will consist chiefly of the
following air-tight and water-tight bags or tubes, of such shapes and sizes as
may be best adapted to the body to be raised, to be of india-rubber either
vulcanized or otherwise, as manufactured by the patent process of Mess**
Mackintosh & Co, or any improvement thereon, either. by them or any other
parties, of gutta percha, or other fabric or material, as may be most expedient.
In each bag or tube in such part, place, or position as shall be considered
most convenient, shall be inserted a pipe or nozzle made of brass or other
metal, and so constructed that it may be joined or attached to a flexible pipe,
also made of air-tight and water-tight fabric, the pipe or nozzle to be fitted
with a clack valve, in order to prevent the escape of air when the bag or tube
is inflated, as herein-after is mentioned.
In order that the bags or tubes may be preserved from accident by chafing
or otherwise, and also in order to protect them from a greater pressure, either
from within or from without, it is intended to encase each bag or tube in a
network of flexible material, and also with bearing straps or bands made of
suitable material, to which will be fastened strong clip hooks for the purpose of
attaching therewith the bags or tubes to such article or body as may be required
to be raised.
Having thus explained the apparatus to be manufactured, I proceed to shew
how I put the same in operation:-
I suppose a ship to be sunk in deep water, and instead of the operation
called "creeping," I propose to use the helmet dress, and send down divers for
the purpose of passing a chain or chains round the vessel at or immediately
under her bilges, and, if need be, also under the vessel, or in such other parts
or places as may be most convenient; the chain to be so fixed as to form a sort
of bed or cradle for the vessel, and to be held in that position by means of
belts, previously to attaching any thing thereto; this cradle being all secure, I
lower down, by means of weights attached thereto for the purpose of sinking
them, a bag or tube compressed and uninflated to the divers below, who attach
the same to the chain, as named before, by means of the clip hooks, and
detaching the weights as the clip hooks are affixed. This process is repeated

page_text: until the quantity of tubes required to raise the vessel have been so attached,
with a flexible pipe running from each bag or tube to the deck of a vessel in
attendance immediately in the vicinity of the wreck, where they are connected
and fitted to a powerful double-action force pump, to be driven by steam
power sufficient for the complete inflation of the bags or tubes below. The
inflation completed, the vessel will rise to the surface, and will be there sup-
ported by the apparatus, as described, and may be towed or sailed into any
haven or port, as desired. I prefer that the bags should be made of strong
canvas and covered exteriorally with india-rubber..
In the case of a vessel stranded and left by the tides, it is only requisite to
adopt the same course when the ship is dry, and she will float with the tide.
without further trouble.. In the event of a vessel in danger of founding at
sea, it is necessary to pass a chain or chains under her in different parts, and
attach the bags or tubes thereto, and inflate them either by a common force
pump or otherwise, and once inflated the clack valve will prevent the air
escaping. For the purpose of saving lives at sea, the bags or tubes may be
used with convenience and facility either for the formation of rafts or other-
wise, as the circumstances of the case may afford.
In conclusion, I do not claim the Invention of the air-tight bags or tubes, nor.
the material of which they may be made; but I do claim the merit of fitting,
attaching, and, applying the apparatus, as herein specified, for the raising of
sunken vessels or other bodies, and for floating and keeping such bodies afloat,
as described.
In witness whereof; I, the said Patrick Doran, have hereunto set my:
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEO. PITT,
4, Old Square.
PATRICK DORAN. (L.S.)