An Improved Apparatus for use in Saving Life at Sea.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted. 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for use in Saving Life at Sea.
1, AUGUST KÖPCKE, of Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus for use in saving life at sea, and
comprises a ball designed for transporting a rope from the ship to the shore or
from one ship to another so as to establish the connection either between the ship
and the land or between two ships.
The said ball has a diameter of about 2 metres, and is made of water and air
tight india-rubber cloth. It possesses a tubular extension protected by a cross-
shaped bridge-piece, this extension serving for the introduction of air by means of
bellows, and having in its interior a return valve. By the side of the air inlet
thus formed is arranged the air outlet, which consists of a ring inserted into the
material of the ball and possessing an internal screw thread, and a screw fitting
into the said ring and suitably provided with a handle. The ball is moreover
provided with a few handles to which the said rope can be attached.
On the removal of the above mentioned screw the air flows through the opening
of the ring from the ball, and the latter can then be readily kept in the folded
state on board ship. In case of exigency, however, such as in a shipwreck or in
stranding, the ball is inflated in a few minutes by means of bellows connected with
the inlet, the rope is attached to the same and thrown overboard, whereupon the
ball will be driven ashore by the wind. The rope, which has a length of about
800 metres, is wound upon a roller or reel on board ship.
When the ball has reached the land it is caught by the persons there and the
rope is detached from it. The connection having thus been established with the
land, the saving of the shipwrecked persons can take place in the usual manner.
The inflation of the ball can also be effected by means of carbonic acid, for
which purpose a flask of liquid carbonic acid must then be kept on the ship.
Dated this 11th day of October 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for use in Saving Life at Sea.
I, AUGUST KÖPCKE, of Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, 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 an apparatus for use in saving life at sea, and comprises
a ball designed for transporting a rope from the ship to the shore or from one ship
to another so as to establish the connection either between the ship and the land or
between two ships.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus and
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the application of the same to the saving of
life at sea.
The improved ball is made of about 2 metres, diameter and is made of water
and air tight indiarubber cloth. It possesses a tubular extension & protected by a

page_text: cross-shaped bridge-piece a which extension serves for the introduction of air by
means of bellows, and having in its interior a return valve. By the side of the
air inlet thus formed is arranged the air outlet, which consists of a ring e inserted
into the material of the ball and possessing an internal screw-thread, and a screw d
fitting into the said ring and suitably provided with a handle. The ball is more-
over provided with a few handles to which the rope can be attached.
On the removal of the above-mentioned screw d the air flows through the
opening of the ring from the ball, and the latter can then be readily folded and
kept on board ship. In case of exigency however such as in a shipwreck or the
stranding of the ship the ball is inflated in a few minutes by means of bellows
connected with the inlet b, the rope is attached to the same and thrown overboard,
whereupon the ball will be driven ashore by the wind. The rope which has
a length of about 800 metres is wound upon a roller or reel on board the ship.
Figure 2 shows how the ball drifts from the ship towards the land.
When the ball has reached the land it is caught by the persons there and the
горе is detached from it. The connection having thus been established with the
land, the saving of the shipwrecked persons can take place in the usual manner.
The inflation of the ball can also be effected by means of carbonic acid, for
which purpose a flask of liquid carbonic acid must then be kept on the ship.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
-
In apparatus for saving life at sea the employment of a ball made of water and
air tight material for transporting a rope from a ship to the land or from one ship
to another, the said ball being adapted to be inflated, and being provided with air
inlet and outlet openings arranged to be kept closed by a valve.
Dated thin 1 1 of 100
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.