Improvements in Life Preservers for Preventing Drowning.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Preservers for Preventing Drowning.
I, OTTO DREYMANN of Linden near Hannover in the Empire of Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to a life preserver of that class which when in use, is
placed around the waist of a person and then inflated with air.
The object of my said improvements is an automatical inflation immediately the
device comes in contact with water as hereinafter described.
The distinctive features of my invention consists in the employment of chemicals
or mixtures of chemicals, which give off gaseous products on the same coming in
contact with water.
Life preservers heretofore used in the saving of persons from drowning, have to
be hand or mouth inflated, before the same can be used, which is a disadvantage,
inasmuch that a person oftentimes becomes helpless before the so called preserver
can be prepared or inflated.
My new improved life-preserver is attached to the waist of a person, or forms a
part of a garment, or is attached to a garment as may be desired.
My invention consists of a device in the form of a bottle of special construction,
and from the contents of which, gas for inflation is produced by water entering the
said bottle.
The gaseous matter thus produced, is then conveyed to the preserver, which may
consist of bladder, oil skin, caoutchouc, or other like material.
Figure 1 shows a person wearing a waistcoat life preserver constructed, arranged
and provided according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is an inside inner view of the said waistcoat and life preserver.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the bottle in which the gas is produced.
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional clevation of the said bottle or vessel.
Figures 6 and 6A is a sectional elevation and also a plan upon an enlarged
scale of the part R of Figure 4, and through which water enters the bottle.
Figures 7 and 7A are detail views-section and plan views of the part M, through
which gas escapes into the bladder or interior of the life preserver.
Figures 8 and 8 is a section and plan of part L, in which a safety valve is
placed.
The waistcoat W (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) is lined with a sack back or
chambers S and S' of double bladder or suitable material and is connected by
means of straps to the garment or outer part and which said parts are con-
nected together by communicating channels s', in order that parts S and S¹
may be inflated at one time. A flexible tube P passes through the waistcoat
and serves to connect the bladder or sack, with a mouthpiece M of the bottle F,
placed in a pocket T of the waistcoat.
The bottle F is fastened to the waistcoat W by means of strings and with
their ends attached to eyelets, which are drawn over buttons provided on the
outside of pocket T, in order that the waistcoat may be free to expand when
inflation takes place.
The sides of open front of the preserver are connected together by elastic
straps or cords W
I will now describe the bottle F, in which the gas for the inflation of the
preserver is generated.

page_text: The said bottle has in its cover F three holes into which are- screwed the parts
represented in detail.
The cap R is a plug having a central bore, closed at its inner end by a valve R',
opening only inwards and which allows water to enter the bottle F when the
wearer of the life preserver falls into water.
In order to introduce the required chemicals into the bottle, the plug R is
unscrewed. The valve R rests against a cross shaped. piece R2 see Figures 5 and 64
fixed to the inner end of plug R. Thus when the chemicals placed in the bottle F
give off gas through the influence of water and the pressure of this said gas closes
said valve R', and prevents the escape of the same and also further entrance of
water.
The middle cap M is the mouthpiece to which the pipe or tube P is connected,
and which mouthpiece is bored out as shown in Figure 7.
The bore is formed with a shoulder, being the seat of a check valve M¹ which
opens only to the outside, that is to say into the pipe P leading to the part S of the
air chamber of the
preserver.
A. cross shaped piece M² is provided flush with the seat of valve M' and aids in
supporting the same.
I is a cap screwed into the hole f of the cover F¹, and having a hole through it
and an outward passage e.
A spring L placed in the interior of the said cap keeps the valve L' ou
its seat, whilst the pressure of the gas in the bottle F tends to raise the valve off
its seat.
When the inside pressure exceeds the power of the spring L³, the valve is lifted
from its scat through notches provided in the valve box, thus the valve L' acts as
a safety valve.
The bottle F therefore is employed first for the reception of water, then for the
formation of gas for inflating the preserver, and finally as a safety device for
preventing the bursting of the said preserver should the pressure of gas become
too great.
The bladder is made of a material impervious to gas and the shape of the
same must be such as not to encumber the wearer of the life preserver, when
swimming.
As chemicals I employ any compound or mixture which freely gives off gas
when in contact with water as for example a mixture of bicarbonate of soda,
and tartaric acid.
In use the plug or cap R is screwed off, and the chemicals are introduced into
the bottle or vessel and the cap R screwed up.
The tube P is then drawn over the mouthpiece M, when the apparatus is ready
for use.
Should the wearer of the life preserver fall into water, the same will enter the
bottle, come in contact with the chemicals, and a gaseous product will be evolved.
and by its pressure will raise the valve M¹ from its seat, and from thence pass
up the tube P into the preserver, hence the automatic inflation of the same.
Should the pressure of gas become excessive then the valve will open and
relieve the pressure of same by allowing the superabundant gas to escape.
When no more gas is given off by the chemicals placed in bottle F, the bladder
will still be fully inflated, as the valve M' prevents any return of the gas into the
said bottle.
My improved life preserver remains buoyant in the water for any length of
time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
Lion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that, what I
claim is :-
First A life preserver; for preventing drowning, automatically inflating the
same, or the sack or bladder interior, interiors or parts of the-same; by or through

page_text: the instrumentality of gases evolved from chemicals such as a mixture of bicar-
bonate of soda and tartaric acid placed within a vessel, and coming in contact with
water, substantially as described and set forth.
:-
Secondly In an attachment for automatic inflating preservers as described,
providing or fitting the same with a gas evolving chamber or receptacle, which has
communication with the said preserver, by a tube or other passage, and contains
within itself, valves or appliances for the entrance of water to the chemicals placed
within it, preventing the escape of gas evolved, allowing the escape of gas to
preserver, and preventing the same returning to generating chamber, and relieving
excessive pressure, and which said parts are combined, arranged and act and re-act,
in manner and for the purpose substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly Employing in connection with life preservers of the kind as described,
chemicals which evolve gaseous products when brought in contact with water,
hence the inflation or rendering buoyant of the said appliance by the passage into
the interior of the same of the said gas or gaseous products, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fourthly-The improvements in life saving appliances (from drowning) and in
the fitting, attachment and parts, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 26th day of November 1891
OTTO DREYMANN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
OTTO DREYMANN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.