AN IMPROVED RESPIRATORY APPARATUS FOR USE UNDER WATER
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings. London, for an Invention
of AN IMPROVED RESPIRATORY APPARATUS FOR USE UNDER WATER."
A communication from abroad by Achille Khotinsky, of Paris, France,
Lieutenant, Imperial Russian Navy.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED RESPIRATORY APPARATUS FOR
USE UNDER WATER." [A. communication from abroad by Achille Khotinsky, of
Paris, France, Lieutenant, Imperial Russian Navy.]
The respiratory apparatus hitherto used by divers are so arranged that the diver
is in constant communication with the surface by means of an india-rubber tube
which supplies the air required for breathing. The diver is attached to a rope by
which his descent into or ascent from the water is facilitated, and he has a cord at
his disposal for signalling. When using these apparatus the diver is impeded in his
movements and he does not possess sufficient freedom; he can neither rise nor
descend, without help from outside; he cannot explore sunken vessels without
danger of entangling the signal-cord and the rope, or without fear of suffocation if
he should bend the tube which supplies him with air. The supply moreover is not
regular nor adapted to the requirements of the diver as it is regulated from
outside.
i
These various defects are remedied by the use of the respiratory apparatus
constructed according to this Invention for the use of divers, the nature of which is
hereinafter described. A supply of oxygen is indispensable in order to maintain
respiration or breathing. Azote is a neutral gas which serves merely to rarefy the
oxygen. A man at work consumes about 25 5 litres of oxygen per hour. This
improved respiratory apparatus is based on the renewal of the active part of the
airiz. the oxygen. The quantity of azote remains constant; it
goes. from the

page_text: lungs to the apparatus, and vice versa. The azote combined with carbonic acid
coming from the lungs is freed from the carbonic acid which is absorbed by suitable
substances provided in my said apparatus, as hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide iron cylinders, which are
connected by two rings of hoops. One of these cylinders has at its lower part an
orifice provided with a valve through which, the cylinders are supplied with
oxygen. At the upper part of the cylinders I attach by means of nuts a series of
branch pipes leading into a horizontal pipe from which a branch extends, provided
with a cock. This branch pipe at the part near the lower end of the apparatus
divides or branches into two others, which communicate with regulators and are
furnished with cocks. One regulator supplies the respiratory apparatus, and
another the diver's lamp.
To the cylinders is fixed a vessel which encloses another regulator, and the
respiratory apparatus, properly so called, having at its upper part a collapsing and
expanding or bellows like apparatus (hereinafter called a collapsible apparatus), and
at its lower part an absorbing chamber provided with divisions or partitions. To
the said collapsible apparatus is attached a cord. This absorbing chamber contains
baryta, caustic soda, or some other substance capable of absorbing carbonic acid.
This chamber is also provided with a small box having two valves, one serving for
drawing in and the other for expelling. At the lower part of the aforesaid vessel
is placed a valve for the exit of condensed vapors, and at the upper part there is a
second valve which allows the escape of any excess of air.
Before descending under water the diver draws in his breath powerfully in 'order
to obtain a sufficient supply of azote for the time he is to remain under water;
then applying to his lips the respiratory tube of the apparatus he throws out the
gas contained in his lungs, and composed of unconsumed' oxygen, azote, carbonic
acid, and water vapor caused by the oxidation of the blood. This gaseous mixture
passes into the small box within the absorbing chamber, where it loses its carbonic
acid, the water vapor condenses on the partitions, and the other gases pass to and
lift the collapsible apparatus, which thus contains the inspired azote and oxygen in
excess. The volume of the gases contained in the collapsible apparatus is therefore
smaller (to the extent of the quantity of oxygen consumed) than that of the volume
of air drawn in; "the carbonic acid and the water are retained in the aborbing
chamber. If then the diver inhales he causes to euter his lungs a part of the gases
from the collapsible apparatus, which descends proportionately to the volume of
gas inhaled, and is held by the cord fixed at its centre. Although the gases do not
contain carbonic acid, there are two reasons why the requirements of respiration
are not satisfied under these conditions, viz., first, the volume of the inhaled gases
'is smaller than that which the lungs require to dilate. them completely, and to
cause all their surface to be exposed to oxidation; secondly, the mixture contains
only an insufficient quantity of oxygen. The diver however continues to inhale,
producing thereby a depression in the collapsible apparatus, which is transmitted
by a pipe to the diaphragm of the regulator. This diaphragm in descending opens
the oxygen valve which allows a quantity of this gas sufficient to complete the
"volume required for one inhalation to pass. The latter thus completed, the diver
sends out the gases from his lungs; the carbonic acid and the water vapor are
retained, the gases passing into the collapsible apparatus. A new inspiration or
inhalation causes a new volume of oxygen to enter, and so on.
In order that the diver may breathe with facility and without fatigue, it is
'necessary that the pressure upon his chest shall be equal to that of the air entering
his lungs. To provide for this, the aforesaid vessel attached to the cylinders is not
hermetically closed, and gives access through a small aperture to the entry of water,
which exercises a pressure upon the collapsible apparatus. In this manner the
internal pressure of the air contained in this collapsible apparatus is the same as
that which is exercised outside upon the body of the diver, for the reason that the
apparatus being placed on his shoulders is at the same depth in the water as he is
himself, and is therefore subjected to the same pressure.

page_text: It is necessary to regulate the length of the cord connected to the collapsible
apparatus according to the depth to which the diver is required to descend, and
for this purpose a regulator is provided constructed as follows:-It consists of a
device capable of collapsing and extending, and secured or fixed near the lower
part thereof. Upon the cover of this device there is a rack guided by a roller and
meshing with a toothed wheel. The axis of the aforesaid roller and that of the
rack, and that of another roller, are in a frame fixed to a case. The toothed
wheel also gears with a second rack to which the said cord is attached. The
height of this regulating collapsing device is equal to that of the first named
or respiratory collapsing apparatus. The upper part of the latter serves really
as a regulator, and the lower part serves to control the regulator itself according
to the depth; the surface of oxydation of the lungs is variable in different
persons. This regulation is effected by means of a screw, which by being raised
lifts the upper part of the second collapsing and extending device, which by
means of the toothed 'wheel and rack operates the cord, so that the entry of
'oxygen will be expedited, 'and the inhaled air will therefore be more rich in
oxygen.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in. pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th November 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED RESPIRATORY APPARATUS FOR
USE UNDER WATER." [A communication from abroad by Achille Khotinsky, of
Paris, France, Lieutenant, Imperial Russian Navy.
The respiratory apparatuses hitherto used' by divers are so arranged that the diver
is in constant communication with the surface by means of an india-rubber pipe
or tube which supplies him with the air required for, breathing. The diver is
attached to a rope by which his descent into or ascent from the water is facilitated,
and he has a line or cord at his disposal for signalling purposes. When using
these apparatuses the diver is impeded in his movements and does not possess
sufficient freedom; for instance, he can neither ascend nor descend without outsido
help or assistance, and he cannot explore sunken vessels without danger of
entangling the signal-cord and the rope, or without fear of suffocation if the tube
which supplies him with air should be bent or collapsed. The supply of air more-
over is not regular nor adapted to the requirements of the diver, as it is supplied.
from an extraneous source.
These various defects are remedied by the use of the respiratory apparatus for
the use of divers constructed according to this Invention.
A supply of oxygen is indispensable in order to maintain respiration or
breathing. Azote or nitrogen is à neutral gas which serves. merely to rarify the
oxygen. A man at work consumes about 255 litres of oxygen per hour. The
improved respiratory apparatus is based upon the renewal of the active part of the
air, viz., the oxygen. The quantity of azote remains constant.
It passes from the
lungs to the apparatus, and vice versa. The azote combined with carbonic acid
coming from the lungs is freed from the carbonic acid, which is absorbed by
suitable substances provided in my said apparatus, as hereinafter described.
My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of my improved apparatus, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation, also partly in section, of the same.
My improved apparatus is provided with iron cylinders A, A, which are
connected by two rings or hoops X. One of these cylinders has at its lower part
an orifice provided with a delivery valve a through which the cylinders are
supplied with oxygen. At the upper part of the cylinders I attach by means of
nuts b, b, a series of branch pipes leading into a pipe e from which a branch pipe
provided with a stop-cock e extends. This branch pipe branches at f into two
parts or pipes g, h, which communicate with the regulators B and C, and are
furnished with stop-cocks and k. The regulator B supplies the respiratory
apparatus, and the other regulator supplies the diver's lamp.
To the cylinders is attached a vessel which encloses another regulator F. and the
respiratory apparatus E (properly so called), having at its upper part the collapsing
and expanding vessel or bellows G, and at its lower part an absorbing chamber H
provided with divisions or partitions J. The bellows or collapsible apparatus is
fixed to the frame m, n, and has attached to it a cord s. The absorbing chamber
contains baryta, caustic soda, or some other substance capable of absorbing carbonic
acid. This chamber is also provided with a small box L having two valves, one of
which serves for the inlet and the other for the outlet; at the lower part of the
vessel D is placed a valve M for the exit of condensed vapor, and at the upper
part there is a second valve N which allows the escape of any excess of air,

page_text: Before descending, under water the diver draws in his breath powerfully
in order to obtain a sufficient supply of azote for the time he is to remain
under water; then applying to his lips the respiratory tube of the apparatus,
he throws out the gas contained in his lungs and composed of unconsumed
oxygen, azote, carbonic acid, and aqueous vapor caused by the oxidation, of the
blood. This gaseous mixture passes from the box L into the compartment or
chamber H, where it loses its carbonic acid, the aqueous vapor condenses on the
partitions, and the gases pass to and lift the collapsible vessel G, which thus
confines the exhaled azote and the oxygen in excess. The volume of the gases
contained in the collapsible vessel G is therefore smaller (to the extent of the
quantity of oxygen consumed) than that of the volume of air drawn in. as the
carbonic acid and water are retained in the absorbing chamber H. If then the
diver inhales he causes to enter his lungs a part of the gases from the bellows,
which will collapse proportionately to the volume of gas inhaled and is held by
the cord fixed at its centre. Although the gases do not contain carbonic acid there
are two reasons why the requirements of respiration are not satisfied under these
conditions, viz., first, the volume of the gases inhaled is smaller than that which the
lungs require to dilate them completely and to cause all their surface to be exposed
to oxidation; secondly, the mixture contains only an insufficient quantity of
oxygen. The diver, however, continues to inhale, producing thereby a depression
in the collapsible apparatus G, which extends by the pipe 7 to the diaphragm of
the regulator B. This diaphragm in descending opens the oxygen valve, which
allows a quantity of this gas (sufficient to complete the volume of gases required
for one inhalation) to pass. This inhalation being completed, the diver forces out
the gases from his lungs; the carbonic acid and the aqueous vapor are retained, the
gases passing into the collapsible apparatus. A fresh inspiration or inhalation
causes a fresh volume of oxygen to enter, and so on.
In order that the diver may breathe with facility and without fatigue, it is
necessary that the pressure upon his chest shall be equal to that of the air entering
his lungs. To provide for this the vessel D of my improved apparatus is not
hermetically closed and permits the access through a small aperture of water which
exercises a pressure upon the bellows or collapsible apparatus. In this manner the
internal pressure of the air contained in this collapsible apparatus is the same as
that which is exercised outside upon the body of the diver, for the reason that the
apparatus being placed on his shoulders is at the same depth in the water as he is
himself and is therefore subjected to the same pressure.
It is necessary to regulate the length of the cords connected to the collapsible
apparatus according to the depth to which the diver is required to descend, and for
this purpose the regulator F is provided. This regulator is constructed as follows.
that is to say-It consists of an expandingand collapsingdevice secured or fixednear
its lower end at a'. a. To the cover of this device there is fixed a rack c¹ guided
by a roller and gearing with a toothed wheel el. The axes of the roller. the
wheel e, and a roller f¹, are mounted a frame fixed to the box or case F. The
toothed wheel e' also engages with a second rack g', to which the cords is attached..
The height of the collapsing device is equal to that of the respirator collapsing
apparatus G. The upper part of the device serves strictly speaking as a regulator.
and the lower part serves for the regulation of the regulator itself according to the
depth and the surface of oxydation of the lungs, which isdifferent indifferent persons.
This regulation is effected by means of a screw 7, which on being raised lifts the
upper part of the collapsing and expanding device 0, which, by means of the
toothed wheel e¹ and rack operates the cords, so that the entry of oxygen will
be expedited and the inhaled air will therefore be enriched with oxygen.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same. I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details of the form and dimensions of
the various parts of my improved apparatus, or to the use of any particular

page_text: inaterials in the construction of the same, as these may be varied without departing
from the principle of my Invention, and that I claim,―
The improvements above described, and comprising the following essential and
novel features, namely,-
זי
".
First. The cylinders or reservoirs for containing oxygen.
Second. The purifyingchamber or compartment for the carbonic acid and aqueous
vapor.
Third. The collapsible apparatus or bellows for storing the air exhaled from the
lungs after its purification.
Fourth. The arrangement which permits the air in the interior of the apparatus
to have a pressure equal to the exterior pressure.
i
Fifth. The devices for regulating the pressure and for controlling the supply of
oxygen according to the depth of the diver's immersion and to the capacity of his
lungs.
All substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof. T, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WM, ROB LAKE. (L.S.)