A NEW METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A PORTABLE COVERED COPPER-DAM, OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING OPERATIONS UNDER THE WATER, IN THE WATER, OR OUT OF THE WATER, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Daniel Lancaster Banks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
June 1862.
I, DANIEL LANCASTER BANKS, Engineer, the Roodee Iron Ship Building
Company, Limited, No. 17, Gracechurch Street, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A PORTABLE
COVERED COPPER-DAM, OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING OPERATIONS UNDER THE
WATER, IN THE WATER, OR OUT OF THE WATER, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object to facilitate the examination of and
repairing or otherwise operating upon when required of the bottoms of ships
or other vessels, or other structures when floating or in the water, or when out
of the water, or for examining the bottoms of rivers or other waters. For
this purpose I construct of wood, iron, or other metal or material a box or
chamber, and which I prefer to be of an oblong shape, and open at one end.
I divide it across its length vertically in the inside by means of a partition into
two compartments, thus one of the compartments is closed, the other is
open; on the inside round the edge of the open compartment I attach a
flange, to this flange by means of bolts or rivets I attach vulcanised sheet india-
rubber, waterproofed leather, or canvass in folds, or other flexible material,
which I form to follow the flange round the edge, joining it at the ends, or
forming it without a scam, thus the india-rubber or other material forms a

page_text: continuation of the compartment, the same being continued to a suitable
length; the india-rubber may be supported and strengthened by means of rope,
chain, or metallic rods, or other means in resisting the pressure of the water,
also it, may be kept distended by means of stretchers after the manner of
bellows; round the outer edge of the india-rubber or other material may be a
pipe, also of india-rubber, joined at the ends, and partially filled with water or
air, thus the water or air is continuous in the pipe, or the india-rubber may
be edged with thrummed matting or other yielding substance; to the pipe at the
back opposite to the flange I attach iron or other metallic pressure plates, plates
or wooden battens, also there may be changes of the india-rubber pipes and
pressure plates, so that they may be adapted to the varied shapes of different
structures. Again, on two of the opposite sides of the closed compartment
the two sides being crosswise with the end, I form short pipes of suitable bore,
and continue their bore into the closed compartment; into each of the short
pipes I insert elbow pipes, around the elbow pipes at their junction with the
short pipes are stuffing boxes, for the purpose of keeping them water-tight;
the other ends of the elbow pipes meet together, and at their junction form
one large pipe or main, which I continue to the desired length; this pipe
may have joints similar to the folding branches of a gas pipe as used for lights,
the bore of this pipe through its whole length and connections is sufficient for
the passage of a man into the compartment, also the partition which divides
the box is constructed with a man-hole and lid, provided with means for
keeping it water-tight; also there may be attached to the main pipe a hollow
ball or other vessel, for the purpose of regulating the buoyancy of the pipe by
means of ballast. Again on the flange on the edge of the open compartment
I form bosses with bolt holes through them into the open compartment; the
holes are fitted with strong set bolts and nuts, the bolts have stuffing boxes
to keep them water-tight; the beads of the set bolts are worked from the
inside of the box, the points are connected to and act on the pressure plates
attached to the pipe or other edging of the india-rubber. The air may be
conveyed to the compartments by means of pipes fitted with suitable valves
and stop cocks, also there may be a force pump in the closed compartment for
forcing out the water from the compartments, or the water may be pumped or
forced out from above. The oblong box with the india-rubber edging and main
pipe with the other apparatus, as herein-before described, I call the portable
covered coffer-dam or apparatus for facilitating operations under the water, in
the water, or out of the water. Again I apply the coffer-dam with the india-
rubber edging towards that part of the vessel or other structure in the water
upon which it is desired to operate, and attach the dam to the vessel or other

page_text: structure by means of ropes, chains, or other tackle. I then set the pipes or
other edging against the vessel by means of the set bolts acting on the pressure
plates, and bring the pipes or edging to a joint, the water may then be pumped
out of the compartment, and thus will be laid dry that part of the vessel's
bottom to which the dam is opposite or attached. Sheaves may be fixed on
the dam in suitable frames for the purpose of guiding the ropes and easing
their haul, also wheels may fixed suitably mounted on the sides of the dam
to facilitate its movement along the vessel, also there may be pipes down the
main pipe for the passage of liquids or other articles into the the compartments;
also heated air may be supplied by the same means for the purpose of drying
the vessel, the air being supplied from a furnace conveniently situated to the
dam, also a speaking tube, for the purpose of communicating between the
vessel and dam may be used; also for lighting the dam I fix strong lenses
into its sides, or it may be lighted by a lamp, or other convenient light. The
main pipe may be made of india-rubber or other waterproof material, and may
be supported by metallic rods spirally disposed, and kept open by rings.
some cases I dispense with the main pipe, using the dam with the necessary
apparatus without it; also the dam may be hung in the same manner as a
compass, with a tubular communication through its hangings from the main
to the compartment; also the whole or any part of the dam may be galvanised
as required, and also the dam.may be used as required.
In