Improved Means or Apparatus for Sounding at Sea and Elsewhere by Electricity.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Sounding at Sea and Elsewhere
by Electricity.
I, FREDERICK HARGRAVE of 377 Strand London, W.C. in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 :-
This Invention relates to an improved method for obtaining Soundings at Sea or
elsewhere by means of Electricity so as to give in the case of vessels at Sea timely
warning as to the approach of the ship to land, rocks or other danger.
A suitable heavy weight or other appliance is used having an opening or hole
formed throughout the centre and length of the same, the said hole or opening being
larger at the bottom than at the top for arranging connecting pins. Small openings
or holes are drilled and formed at intervals round and through the lower part of the
weight for receiving the necessary connecting pins and spring or springs.
insulated cable with double wire or other means being placed in the aforesaid hole or
opening formed in the apparatus.
An
One wire being connected to a metal cap, having a washer surrounding the same
or other means leaving a short projection downwards. Springs are placed at intervals
around the washer coming directly opposite the holes made in the lower part of the
apparatus and in the direction of the pins. The second wire of the cable being attached
to the said spring or other electrical appliance, a washer of India rubber or of
other suitable material with small caps is placed round the outside, thus covering the
holes and pins.
A cap of metal or other suitable material being secured to the lower part, the
said cap having a hole for "arming" or denoting the kind of bottom, the apparatus
may come in contact with. Caps of metal or other suitable and durable material are
placed and secured direct over the caps of the washer the said caps being placed
round the apparatus.
+
The top or upper part of the cable or material employed is used as a conductor of
Electricity and is connected to the joints for connecting the principal cable, the same
being fitted with an insulated plug or cap.

page_text: Upon connecting the wires the said cap is placed over the top or head of the
apparatus and secured together by a screw, or other suitable means employed. Slings
or connections are then made fast round the top of the apparatus and then screwed
to the cable and thus taking the weight of the apparatus directly from the aforesaid
cable.
When the apparatus is in action being towed from a ship, the inboard ends of
the cable are led to the most convenient part of the vessel such as the bridge,
captains cabin or elsewhere one end being secured to a battery and the other wire to
an alarum; so that as soon as the apparatus comes in contact with a greater resistance
than the water the pressure coming on the cap presses on the spring the same acting
or coming in contact with a metal cap which forms contact and gives the necessary
signal by means of the alarum on board and that soundings are being obtained.
In the accompanying Drawing-I have shewn my Improved apparatus for the
purpose herein described but of different and improved arrangement to that just
referred to and previously proposed.
Figure 1 shews an elevation. Figure 2 a section of the same and Figure 3 an
under view or plan of Figure 2 and Figure 4 a detached view partly in section of
the lower movable pivot or portion acted upon when either taking the ground or by
means of the caps which are tapered and secured at their upper parts toward the
head of the apparatus and capable of yielding inwardly when striking the ground
and acting upon the movable pivot, which is permitted to yield to a sufficient extent
as to create the necessary contact to complete the circuit of electric contact and
causing the alarm to be sounded on board the ship.
The caps or springs may be enclosed within a case or cover, and have projections
or studs protruding and working therefrom and enable the said caps or springs to be
pressed inwardly and at same time prevent the said caps getting clogged either with
grit or dirt while in use and unable to work.
The following letters in the Drawing refer to like or corresponding parts. A, A is
the body of the apparatus, B the metal cap which may be screwed or fixed on to same
through which a vertical opening or hole C, is provided and enlarged at its lower
end D. An insulated cable with double wire or other means being placed in the
aforesaid hole of the apparatus, E, E are the respective caps or springs secured at
their upper portions to the body of the apparatus and curved toward and surrounding
the central movable head F¹, of the spindle F, upon which the said respective caps
or springs act when inwardly pressed or in contact with the bottom or any hard
substance, and assists in completing the circuit of electric contact which is suitably
arranged and provided for and insulated around same and in the usual manner to
effect the desired object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
An Improved means or Apparatus for obtaining soundings at Sea and elsewhere by
means of Electricity and in the combination of parts as herein described and represented
in the accompanying Drawings.
D
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