Apparatus for Submarine Exploration or for Directing Submarine Operations at Depths which have hitherto been Inaccessible to Divers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Submarine Exploration or for Directing Submarine
Operations at Depths which have hitherto been Inaccessible to
Divers.
I, ALEXANDER Joyce of Christchurch in the Provincial District of Canterbury
and Colony of New Zealand, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 certain apparatus for the purpose of submarine
explorations or for directing Bubmarine operations at depths which have hitherto
been inaccessible to divers, and consists of a closed vessel constructed of suitable
metal of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of the water at the depth at
which operations are to be carried on, and sufficiently large to contain and
accommodate one or more persons; such vessel is fitted with various, attachments
and provided with electric light or lights externally together with apertures fitted
with strong glasses for look-outs.
The said vessel is also provided with a heavy weight at bottom to enable it to be
lowered to any required depth; this weight may be either permanently attached
or detachable. The apparatus would be operated from n vessel on the surface of
the water and would be lowered, raised, or moved from place to place by means
of a rope or chain.
The occupant or occupants of the said closed vessel would be supplied with air
by means of tubes, compressed air or oxygenated gas as might be found most
advisable, and communication between the said occupant or occupants and those
in the vessel on the surfaco of the water or on shore would be maintained by
telegraph, telephone, or tube. The electric light is for the purpose of illuminating
the surrounding water and would consist of one or more lights either fixed
externally to the top or sides of the closed vessel or suspended near to it, the
necessary current being supplied from a dynamo or battery in the vessel on the
surface of the water, or on shore and conveyed to the apparatus by means of
insulated wires.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the annexed sheet of drawings in which:
Fig. 1 represents a transverse section of the closed vessel showing the various
attachments while Fig. 2 represents an elevation of same.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.
A is the closed vessel having look-out glasses a B. B. pipes to admit air, and
fitted with valves b. b inside said closed vessel.
C electric lamps protected by strong glass coverings c, the current wires being
connected through the pipes B. B. or by means of a separate cable as may be found
most convenient. D detachable top fitted with double screw d actuated by wheel
or arm e or their equivalent; this top is provided with flexible packing at the
junction of the pipes B. B. in order to form a porfect joint when screwed up;
similar packing is fitted round screw d so that in the event of the top D being
released the shoulders of screw d when screwed down forms a perfect joint. E is
the weight at bottom which may be attached to the closed vessel by means of the
double screw and smaller screws i. i. or other equivalent means in order that if
necessary the said weight may be released and thereby allow the closed vessel to
rise to the surface. Flexible packing j is fitted round screw so that when the
weight E is released a perfect joint is formed at shoulder of said screw, Fis a
spindle or drum on which is coiled a wire rope k or its equivalent, one end being
•

page_text: attached to weight E; Gås a man hole, the lid being secured on the inside of
closed vessel A.
By the use of this apparatus the occupant or occupants of the closed vessel
would be able to make submarine operations at any required dopth. In the event
of the air tubes or other gearing becoming damaged or entangled with any obstacle,
the top can be readily detached by means of screw d (the valves b. à. having been
previously closed) thereby sovering the connection of the air pipes B. B. and wires,
and similarly the weight E can be released by means of the screws h and i i whon
the closed vessel with its occupant or occupants would immediatoly rise to the
surface of the water and the said occupant or occupants could if necessary liberate
themselves through the man hole; the rope & would uncoil itself as the closed
vessel rose, so that the weight E could be recovered by said rope: I desire it to
be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular size, shape, or
materials, or to the precise details in the construction of the apparatus so long as
the nature and principle thereof be retained.
.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :—
"
Apparatus for submarine exploration or for directing submarine operations at
depths which have hitherto been inaccessible to divers, consisting of a closed vessel
such as A, fitted with look out glasses a, air pipes B B, electric light or lights C and
haring fixed or detachable top D, and fixed or detachable bottom weight E;
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
".
LAAA