IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL BUOYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Ebenezer Mann, of Lawrence, in the County of
Essex and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL BUOYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Ebenezer Mann at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1879.
EDGAR EBENEZER MANN, of Lawrence, in the County of Essex and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL
BUOYS."
This Invention relates to floating signal buoys, and consists in rendering them
sensitive to the movement of the water in which they float, and when agitated that
they shall emit noise and so signal. The improvements are performed by constructing
the buoy hollow, and with internal chambers containing liquid; in connection with
such chambers are air inlets and tubes communicating with a fog horn or whistle.
On the buoy being agitated the enclosed liquid draws the air from without the buoy
and forces it up through the air tubes communicating with the born or whistle,
which is thereby sounded. The various parts are preferably made of metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edgar Ebenezer Mann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
May 1880.
EDGAR EBENEZER MANN, of Lawrence, in the County of Essex and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America. " IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL
Buoys."
The Invention relates to signal buoys adapted to float upon the surface of the
water and thereby becoming sensitive to its action, the water when agitated causing
said buoys to oscillate, by which the liquid contained within becomes agitated and
draws the outside air into the interior of the buoy, so constructed that the air is
compressed and forced into the dome and thence through a horn or whistle, thereby
causing a sound which can be heard a long distance away. In the accompanying
Drawings Sheet I. represents a vertical section of an apparatus embodying the
Invention, and Sheet II. a plan and detail views or sections showing its internal
construction. Fig. 1 (plan b, b,) is a deck view indicating the position of tanks
T, T, T, manhole P, pivots J, J, connected to the casing B at 7, gymbol
ring M, with pintles I, I; Fig. 2 (plan a, a,) shows the bottom of dome W,
diaphragms X, X, upper valves V, V, and cover caps to pipes R, R, outside of dome;
Fig. 3 (section e, e) shows on an enlarged scale the lower valves U, U, U, connection
of pipes R, R., and pipes S, S, with tank T, and seats of valves U, U, while Fig. 4 is
a plan of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a side view of gymbol ring M. The base of the outward
casing has the form, of a segment, as seen at A, above which is the cylindrical
portion B, while its upper portion represents a truncated cone, as seen at C. This
casing (preferably of iron) is of such thickness as may be necessary for the shocks
to which it may be subjected, and is made water tight, having an outside manhole,
shown at O, which provides access to the interior of the casing. Within is a large
air space which may be more or less exhausted so as to enable the buoy more readily
to float. Its upper part is protected by a hood D, the base of which is perforated,
as seen at E, for the admission of air, which is then drawn upwards between the
casing C and hood D to the mouth of the cover caps N, N, designated with 3,
where it is drawn downwards into the pipes R, R, R, so as to fill the vacuum in the
tank T and pipes S, S. The interior of the buoy is provided at its base with a
tank T, T, made in sections which meet together at their centre, as seen at 4 in
Fig. 1, and extending in opposite directions, their ends being turned upwards. The
liquid confined in these sections flows readily from one side to the other, there being
no internal divisions therein. Above and attached to the ends of the tank T, T,
are four pipes R, R, R, of small dimensions running upwards inside of the casing C
to the base of dome W and into the latter, where they are covered with caps, as
seen at N, N. At their mouth 3 the air is drawn in by the motion of the fluid in
the tank T. Connected with the base of R are four smaller pipes S, S (as shown
in detail section e, e,), which run upwards, converging at their upper ends towards
the centre and entering the bottom of the dome W, where they are provided with
valves V, V. The dome W, which is fluted at its base and narrower at the top,
contains four diaphragms or partitions running upwards, as shown, Each of the
four compartments formed by the partitions contains one of the said valves V (Fig. 2)
placed above the upper orifice of the eduction pipes S, S Near the base of each
eduction pipe S, where the latter is connected with the induction pipe R, is the
valve seat and valve U, as shown in detail, Fig. 3; these valves are always open,
except when closed by the compression of air beneath, as they drop immediately
when the compression has subsided. When closed by the pressure of air they shut
off the communication with the induction pipes R, R, R, whereby the air is forced
through the eduction pipes S, S, and opens the valves V, V, at their upper orifice.
The air enters thus the dome W, where it rises up and escapes through the horn Y

page_text: or whistle with a loud noise. Connected with the tanks T, T, is pipe 1 running
upwards and emerging through the outer casing C below the lower portion of the
hood D and the perforated plate E, the orifice of the pipe being closed by a screwed
brass cap, as shown at 5. This pipe serves for charging the tanks T, T, when
required. On the opposite side is the pipe Z running downwards inside nearly to
the bottom of the buoy. It is likewise covered with a brass screw cap, as shown
at 6, this pipe enables the pumping out of the buoy when necessary. Between the
tanks T, T, T, and bottom of casing A are the chairs or brackets Q. Q, Q, for holding
said tanks securely in their position. Outside the bottom of the buoy and
approximately in its axis is the ring 4 for attaching a balance weight. The buoy is
provided with an inside deck which serves to strengthen and support the induction
pipes R, R, R, and pipes S, S. This deck is furnished with a manhole, marked P,
which gives easy access to all parts within. To the buoy are attached (at 7) two pivots
S, S, attached to the casing B, and with these pivots is connected the gymbol ring M
within which swings the body of the buoy. Half way between the pivots S, S, and
the gymbol ring M and opposite to each other are the pintles I, I, as shown in
Figure 1, and with each of these pintles is connected a ring K for the attachment
of a martingale chain, at whose lower portion is attached the anchor or grapnel that
serves to hold the buoy in the locality where moored. Above the hood D and in
combination with the upper part of the dome W is the connection of the horn Y or
whistlo, to which is attached the casing F provided with a cap G and apertures H, H,
for the escape of sound. Having described the construction and operation of my
Improved Signal Buoy," I claim, first, the construction of outer casing A, B, and C,
with manhole O, in combination with the pivots S, S, gymbol ring M, pintles I, I,
martingale rings K, and balance weight ring L, substantially as hereinbefore
described; second, the combination of the hood D covering dome W, with a space
between hood D and casing C, in connection with the perforated base E, substantially
as described; third, the formation and construction of tanks T, T, T, induction
pipes R, R, R, eduction pipes S, S, adapted for the purposes as specified; fourth, the
caps N,N, to pipes R, R, R, with their apertures, for the purposes set forth; fifth,
the combination of the pipes R, R, R, with pipes S, S, the tank T, T, and valves
U, U, U, substantially as shown in detail, Fig. 4; sixth, the dome W in combination
with the diaphragms X, X, valves V, V, shown in detail view a, a, together with
caps N, N, as therein shown; seventh, the chair supporters Q, Q. Q, the pipes 1
and 3 with caps 5 and 6 adapted for their purposes, as described; eighth, inside
deck with manhole P, as set forth; ninth, horn Y, casing F, cap G, with apertures
H, H, as shown; tenth, the construction of valves U, U, U, opening downwards
and closing only when forced by the pressure of air beneath, together with valves
V, V, being always closed except when forced by the compression of air beneath,
substantially as described; eleventh, the construction and combination of parts for
the purposes described, and substantially as shown in the Drawings, Sheets 1 and 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Ebenezer Mann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of April, A.D. 1880.