Improvements in Raising Wrecks and other Submerged Structures, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Raising Wrecks and other Submerged Structures,
and Apparatus therefor.
A communication by THOMAS H. CAVANAUGH and JOSEPH W. ROBINSON, of
Willets Point, New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object the raising of sunken vessels by placing
uninflated bags therein and attached thereto, and inflating the same sufficiently to
raise the vessel. This has been suggested before but hitherto has been found
impracticable on the following grounds.-
Firstly. If the bags are inflated in deep water, and the vessel-rises to the
surface, the excessive pressure required to force the air into the bags when helow
the surface, bursts the bags when they arrive at the surface. If on the other hand
the bags have been left open at their bottom while below, it is impracticable to
inflate them. Further no apparatus for relieving the pressure has been discovered
which will work. Further the bags all have a tendency when filled to congregate
at the point where the greatest escape of air takes place, and no diver dare go down
among the bags while they are being filled.
Now by our invention we form the bags preferably of long tubes and in two
layers one inside the other attached to the same nozzle but only the inner one
receives the inflating air. These layers are of strong canvas or duck closely
woven, and in some instances we may weave metallic. wires in them to strengthen
them. The bag is waterproofed on the inside with a. preparation of rubber,
turpentine, and linseed oil until it will sustain an unbalanced air pressure of about
seven to ten pounds. Each bag or cylinder is attached with a mouthpiece or
nozzle of special construction and is attached by a hose to a receiver, several of
these bags will be attached to each receiver, and several of these receivers to a
single compressor. The bags have preferably, eyelets and gaskets attached to their
sides into which are inserted the hooking ring or stanchion to hold them in place.
These stanchions are preferably fixed by the divers to the side of the ship as well
as to the deck, and thus the pressure on the deck is removed. The bags are also
provided with strips or ties to hold them together when folded or rolled up.
In carrying out the operation, the bags are rolled in a bundle and tied, and are
then taken down by the diver, unrolled and placed in position attached to hooks or
the stanchions which he has already fixed in place where practicable. The hose is
then attached to the mouthpiece of the bags and a sufficient number of bags placed
in position to fill the various hollow places of the vessel sufficiently to give the
requisite floatation to float it. The air is then directed first into those bags or
cylinders nearest the surface, and when they are sufficiently inflated to rise upward
against the deck or other restrainer, the air is directed to the next course or tier of
cylinders which action is repeated until the air has been started in them all. The
full force of the air is then directed into all at the same time until sufficient water
is displaced by the expanding cylinders to float the vessel to the surface. By this
means, the wear and tear on the distended bags held below the surface for a long
period is prevented. The bags are preferably painted outside with a poisonous

page_text: paint to prevent action on them by marine animals. Now our bags differ from any
others hitherto constructed in that while the cotton duck itself is calculated to
stand a very strong pressure, the waterproofing is only calculated to stand seven
pounds on the 'square inch; the result is, when the bags rise to the surface, the
waterproofing gives way all over the bag owing to its elastic quality and the
pressure is relieved. Furthermore we have one bag inside another, the outer bag
being of course the larger of the two, the result is, that the air exuding from the
first bag inflates the second, and then escapes again from the pores of the latter.
By this means a greater pressure can be safely sustained than where there only
one bag, as the outer bag maintains a given pressure, and the inner bag has that
pressure to assist it against its internal pressure. In cases of raising ships from a
great depth, we may have three or more bags one inside another in this manner.
Eurther the elastic waterproofing will hold the air sufficient to keep the bags
distended, and as the bags are still attached to the inflating apparatus any leakage
is maintained by keeping the compressor going and the receivers full of air, at a
pressure of from three to seven pounds on the square inch. Besides the bags
placed inside the vessel we may sometimes use metallic cylinders attached to the
vessel outside it, or may even attach our bags to the sides of the vessel, or as
regards some suspend them in an inflated manner by tying them by ropes or other-
wise to the vessel with such a tether that the vessel is first only partially raised, the
rising stopping when these bags reach the surface; by this means a gradual rising
instead of a sudden upward pull, can be achieved. The stanchions which we use
for securing the bags in place are made solidly of iron or metal and have an
extensible hollow pipe point or are otherwise telescopic. The end of the stanchion
is threaded and supplied with a nut or collar which is attached to the shoulder of
the hollow point by the diver he lengthening the stanchion and securing the points
each end to the deck or to the side or other part of the ship or vessel.
When
the vessel is of wood, these points can be in the form of a screw or gimlet and forced
into both the side of the ship and the deck or the lower deck and the hull of the
ship as the case may be. These stanchions therefore assist in preventing the deck
being blown up by the upward pressure of the air and they also keep each bag in
place, and thus allow the bags to be each connected by a pipe to the receivers
without any chance of the pressure of the other bags compressing this pipe so that
it becomes useless. In conclusion it must be understood that other waterproofing
compositions and other textures can be used for the bags besides the exact ones
herein mentioned, but these have been found in practice to answer best.
Dated the 2nd day of June 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Raising Wrecks and other Submerged Structures,
and Apparatus therefor.
A communication by THOMAS H. CAVANAUGH and JOSEPH W. ROBINSON, of
Willets Point, New York, United States of America..
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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:
This invention has for its object the raising of sunken vessels by placing uninflated

page_text: bags therein and attached thereto, and inflating the same sufficiently to raise the
vessel. This has been suggested before but hitherto has been found impracticable
on the following grounds :-
Firstly. If the bags are inflated in deep water and the vessel rises to the surface,
the external pressure of the water upon the bags diminishes, and the internal
pressure of the air becomes relatively greater, the bags burst and the vessel goes
to the bottom again. All attempts to relieve this internal pressure by means of
valves arranged in the bag, or in the hose connection, have proven impracticable,
and there are other difficulties in the practical application of the plan which have
been insurmountable. Furthermore the bags all have a tendency when inflated to
congregate at the point where the greatest escape of air takes place, and no diver
dare go down among the bags while they are being filled.
Now by the present invention, the bags are different from any others hitherto
constructed, in that while they are air tight under ordinary pressures, they will
leak or permit air to escape through their pores or meshes under excessive
pressures, thus automatically venting or relieving the pressure before they reach
the point at which the bag will burst.
The invention will be understood from the following description reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the compressed air receiver and distributer ;
Figure 2 an end view of the same;
Figure 3 a sectional detail of one of the manifolds by means of which the air-bags
are connected to the distributer in groups or gangs;
Figure 4 a sectional view of the hull of a vessel, showing the manner of securing
the bags in place between the decks and in the hold ;
Figure 5 a plan view of one of the improved waterproof and substantially air-
tight inflatable bags;
Figure 6 a cross section of the same;
Figure 7 a fragment of the interior of one of the bags showing the manner of
stitching and protecting the seams;
Figure 8 a sectional view of the nozzle for the bags;
Figure 9 a perspective view of the clamp of the nozzle, and
Figure 10 an elevation of my improved stanchion for securing the bags within
the vessel..
As is well known the pressure of the water increases with the depth, the ratio
being a little over half a pound for every foot; so that in sixty feet of water the
pressure on a sunken object would be something more than thirty pounds to the
square inch. In order to inflate an air-tight bag under water, the internal air
pressure must overcome this external pressure of the water. Therefore, to fully
distend and inflate a collapsed bag sunk to a depth of sixty feet would require an
internal air pressure of considerably more than thirty pounds to the square inch of
surface. At the same time this internal pressure would have very little effect at
this depth to strain the bag, for the reason that it would be uearly balanced by the
exterior hydraulic pressure. When, however, a bag which has been fully inflated
at such, or any considerable depth rises, the external pressure of the water
diminishes, and the internal air pressure, although actually remaining the same,
becomes relatively greater, that is to say, at or near the surface of the water there
is not that resistance to the internal pressure that there is lower down, and the
strain is thrown more and more on the material of the bag as it comes up until it
reaches the surface, when it would all be on the bag.
It has beretofore been impossible to use submerged air-tight bags successfully in
raising sunken vessels, for the reason that no flexible material is known having
sufficient strength to resist, when brought to or near the surface, the internal air
It is therefore
pressure necessary to fully inflate them at ordinary depths.
absolutely necessary to relieve this internal pressure as the bags come to the
surface, and many attempts have been made to do so by arranging valves in the
sides of the bag or in the hose-pipe. As before stated, however, these attempts

page_text: have all proved failures. It has been impossible to prevent the blowing out of the
valves, and there were other difficulties encountered which have caused this system
to be practically abandoned commercially.
The present invention is based upon the discovery that a flexible fabric, such as
duck made of cotton, linen, hemp, ramie or other fibre, can be made sufficiently air-
tight to resist the pressure necessary to inflate a bag made out of it, at any depth
under water at which a diver can work, and which will leak, or allow the air to
escape through it, when this pressure is exceeded, thus automatically relieving itself
as the internal pressure becomes relatively excessively greater than that on the
outside. An inflatable, waterproof bag made of such flexible material is the
principal mechanical feature of the invention, and, although my correspondents,
have devised a method of treating the fabric to make it thus air-tight under ordinary
pressures and self-relieving under excessive pressures, they do not intend to be
limited to any particular material, or any particular, method of or substance for
treating the fabric, but hold any bag having these properties to be within the
spirit and scope of their invention.
same sort.
Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, B indicates one of the improved flexible, water-
proof, air-tight, self-relieving bags. The construction of the bag is, of course,
ancillary to the generic feature above described, but it is preferred to construct it
as shown in the drawings herein. In these drawings b is an inner bag of relatively
light-weight duck, and an outer bag or envelope made of heavier material of the
In the ordinary duck of commerce, there are generally more threads in
the warp than in the woof, or rice versa, as it is desired to give the fabric more
strength in one direction than another. The best results, however, are obtained in
making the improved bag herein described out of a material made especially for
the purpose with an even number of threads to the inch in each direction, for the
reason that the strength of the same is substantially equal in both directions and
the meshes of the fabric have practically equal sides. The inner and outer bags
are entirely independent of each other, and are secured together in any suitable
manner. The inner bag should preferably be of the same size as the outer oue, so
that it may not be unduly strained when inflated. The seams of the two bags are
alike, and are made by folding the edges e of the fabric back upon the body portion,
and overlapping and interlocking these folded edges as shown more especially in
Figure 6. When the edges have been interlocked as thus described, a line of
stitchings is run along each edge of the fold made by the seam, the stitches going
through the four plies or thicknesses of the cloth, and an additional row of
stitching s¹ may if desired be run down the centre. This seam should be laid in
rubber cement, and after it is made and stitched as above described, a covering and
strengthening strip c of sufficient width to cover the entire seam is stitched to the
body of the bag by lines of stitching c¹ on either side of the seam. As shown in
Figure 5, the bag is rectangular; may, however, be of any form which taste or
the specific use for which it is intended may suggest. At one end, and preferably
at the corner furthest from the seam, it is provided with a nozzle N having a
coupling for connecting to it the pueumatic hose-pipe through which air is forced
into the interior from the distributor above the surface of the water. At intervals
along the sides, the bag is provided with flexible tabs t to afford means for securing
the bag firmly in position within the vessel. These tabs are preferably provided
with eyeleted perforations to receive hooks or other fastening devices.
The construction of the mouthpiece or nozzle is clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9.
The letter n denotes an interior inwardly flaring tubular neck having a collar or
shoulder on the exterior near the outer end. The flaring portion of this neck is
inserted in the bag, preferably so that the edge of the cloth comes against the
shoulder. An adjustable and detachable, sectional, tubular, clamp C, shown in
Figure 9, fits over the flaring neck and binds the material of the bag between it
and the outside of the neck of the nozzle, this clamp being provided with perforated
ears or lugs i at or near the meeting edges through which screw bolts p pass to
form a means for adjusting and securing the external clamp upon the neck. The

page_text: lamp C is, of course, flaring like the neck of the nozzle, and when in place its
Additional
maller end abuts against the flange f on the neck and makes a tight fit.
means to hold the clamp to the neck may be provided at the larger end if desired.
Such means are herein shown as consisting of screws passing entirely through
the two portions of the nozzle and the fold of fabric confiued between them; the
coupling D for the pneumatic hose may be of any preferred form. As shown in the
drawings, it consists of an interiorly threaded cap d having a shoulder d¹ to fit
against the flange on the neck, and an inwardly bent rim h at the outer end to
clamp the hose between it and the extreme end of the neck of the nozzle. The
outer end portion of the nozzle is cylindrical, and is exteriorly threaded to receive
the cap, which is screwed thereon in a manner that will be readily understood from
the drawings. This completes the mechanical construction of the bag. The best
method of treating it to render it air-tight up to a predetermined pressure and self-
relieving beyond that point, and the best material for so treating, at present known
to my correspondents, are as follows:
.
Five parts of pure rubber are taken and put in twenty-five parts of spirits of
turpentine. This is allowed to stand for from 48 to 72 hours, or as long as may be
When the rubber has been converted
necessary to completely dissolve the rubber.
into the solution, ten parts of Venice turpentine are added, and one-twentieth of
one part of pyroxiline, collodion, or celluloid, as it is frequently called, stirring the
mixture all the while to secure a complete intermixture or union of the ingredients.
This solution is allowed to stand for about twenty-four hours, when it is carefully.
strained and drained off into a vat or other vessel. To this mixture is then added
boiled linseed oil in the proportion of twelve parts of oil to one part of the solution:
Heat is then applied to the vat until the temperature of the solution is raised to
between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and while thus heated the mixture should
be gently stirred or agitated. The time required to complete this part of the
process depends largely upon the quantity of the solution being prepared, and no
particular rule as to the time required for continuing the heat can be given, as it is
a matter depending largely upon the skill and judgement of the operator. There is
considerable latitude in regard to the degree of heat, but the above temperature
has been found to be about right, and a thirteen gallon quantity of the solution,
that is to say, a mixture of twelve gallons of linseed oil and one gallon of the
rubber solution, requires to be heated only from one-half to three-quarters of an
hour. After this step in the preparation of the composition is completed, the
solution may be drawn off into suitable vessels for storage until required for
subsequent use or the bags may be treated in the heating vat just described. But
whether immediately treated in the vat, or in some other receptacle into which the
material is drawn off, it is to be understood that the mixture must be hot when the
bags are submitted to it. The simplest way of impregnating the fabric of the bags
with the above described solution is to submerge or immerse the bags in the heated
liquid, allowing them to remain in the same for from three to six hours. While
the bags are in the solution, gentle heat is applied to the vat to keep the mixture
in a thin freely fluid condition, the amount of heat naturally varying with
circumstances, but a temperature of between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit being
about right. The inner bag and the outer envelope are treated separately, and it
is preferable, also, after the two bags have. been secured together to again treat
them as before. After remaining in the solution as above described until the
material of the bags is thoroughly impregnated, they are removed and carefully
dried. This may be done in the open air, or in a heated atmosphere, or in any
other convenient way, after which the bags are ready for use or storage. Care
must be taken to get the bags perfectly dry, as the materials in the solution are
highly inflammable and combustible, and the presence of dampness or moisture
would render them liable to take fire by spontaneous combustion when packed
away.. Instead of simply immersing the bags in the solution, as above described,
they may be impregnated by forcing the solution into and through the pores under
pressure, which may be done in a vacuum vat, or in any other, suitable manners

page_text: "The invention is not intended to be limited to the exact proportions of parts above
stated, as they may be varied to produce a higher or lower degree of air-tightness
in the bag. Thus by increasing the amount of rubber in the mixture, the point at
which the bags will leak would be raised, and the reverse effect could be secured by
reducing the amount of rubber.
"
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, E indicates the portable air receiver and
distributor. This receiver is made of boiler ir n, steel, copper, or other suitable
metal, and is preferably cylindrical in form and provided with stands or legs mat
each end. At one side it is provided with nozzles o for connection to steam air
compressors. Four of these connections are shown in the drawings, but of course
there may be any number desired. Diametrically opposite to these compressor
nozzles are the connections for the hose-pipes leading to the air-bags, the object of
_so-locating them being to provide a straight-away course for the air. G is a
pressure gauge on top of the distributor to indicate the amount of air pressure
within, and F is a safety valve of ordinary construction. The air bags are connected
to the distributor in groups or gangs, there being five bags in each group in the
present illustration, though of course there may be any desired number. The
distributor shown in Figure 1 is equipped and adapted for ten groups of five bigs
each, or fifty bags in all. Each group is connected to the distributor by means of
a sort of drum or manifold P, and the manifolds are connected to the distributor
by short sections of pipe r, and have stop cocks or cut-off valves in the pipes by
means of which the admission of air to each group may be controlled. H denotes
pressure gauges in the pipes outside the stop-cocks, whereby the amount of pressure
in the manifolds may at all times be ascertained. The cut-off valves are preferably
adapted to be turned by means of a hand wrench as by the squared ends; of the
valve stems. The individual hose-pipes leading to the air bags are connected to
the manifolds by means of short pipes having any suitable form of hose
couplings at their outer ends. Each of these pipes has a cut-off valve or stop
i
cock w similar to those controlling the admission of air to the manifolds, and is also
provided with a pressure gauge outside the stop-cock, which indicates to the
operator at all times the amount of pressure in the submerged bags and enables
him to keep them fully inflated. As shown in Figure 2, there are two rows of
hose-pipe connections or nozzles on the receiver, one being above the other. This,
however, is merely a convenient arrangement to get as many nozzles as possible in
a small space, and any other arrangement or location of the nozzles may be made.
I, I denote screw-nipples or other form of connection by means of which two or
more of the distributors may be connected together, as hereinafter more fully
explained.
For the purpose of securing the bags in place within the vessel, an extensible,
adjustable stanchion R is provided. This stanchion is shown in detail in Figure 10,
and in Figure 4 the manner of using it is illustrated. It comprises a solid rod I
provided at its upper end with sharp points or teeth 2, and its lower portion is
screw-threaded as shown at 3. The lower part of the stanchion consists of a
tubular sleeve 4 adapted to receive the threaded portion of the rod just described.
The lower end of this tube has teeth or spurs 5 filed on it, corresponding in form
and function with those on the upper end of the rod, and the material of the tube
is plain so that the threaded end moves freely in it. On the thread of the rod a
nut 6 is arranged to play above the end of the tube. The nut fits the thread and
bears on the upper end of the tube, so as to lengthen and shorten the stanchion by
projecting it from the tube or withdrawing it into the tube as the case may be. In
preparing to raise a wreck, the divers take a number of these stanchions down
with them and erect them between the decks in different parts of the vessel,
wherever the bags are to be secured. The upper and lower ends of the stanchions
engage the ceiling and floor, and the teeth prevent the turning of the parts while
the stanchion is being adjusted in length by turning the nuts 6: The bags are
attached together by any suitable detachable means connected to the tabs t. As
shown in the drawing, this connection is an ordinary S-shaped hook, but it may be

page_text: any sort of a connection desired. The bags are secured to the stanchion by means
of rings y which are slipped loosely over the end of the stanchion before it is.
secured in place. These rings are connected by any sort of hooks to the tabs on
the bags, and, as the bags fill, they hold them securely in place, the loose connection
with the stanchions permitting them to rise freely on the rod.
The construction being as above described, the method and operation are as.
follows:-
The combined receivers and distributors being located in position on a tug or
tender, and connected up to the air compressors also on the tug, the latter is
anchored near the sunken vessel. The number of compressors to each distributor
will depend largely upon the size and capacity of the distributors. In the drawings.
herein connections are shown for four air compressors to the distributor. Expert
divers are sent down to the vessel, and the deflated or collapsed bags are located
in convenient positions in the hold, between the decks, in the state-rooms, and in
fact wherever they can be secured. The bags, are laid in piles in these places, as
shown on the left of Figure 4, and there should be a sufficient number to completely
fill the space, so that they will press upon the bottom, and top of the same, as
shown on the right of Figure 4, thus expelling as much as possible of the water;
connections are then made by means of the hose-pipes between the bags and the
distributors in a way which will be understood by those skilled in the art without
further explanation, and, when sufficient pressure has been got up in the distributors,
the air is let into the bags in groups. It is essential to the proper working of the
apparatus that the bags should be secured in place and they are therefore secured
to the stanchions and to each other, by hooks or other detachable fastenings as
before described and as shown in Figure 4. Unless firmly secured in place, they
will invariably shift their position as they are inflated, and all will crowd to the
highest part of the vessel causing the wreck to careen and come up unevenly.
The number and size of bags required in any particular case depends, of course,
upon the tonnage and displacement of the vessel, and is a matter of easy calculation
based upon the well known fact that twenty-eight cubic feet of air will displace a
ton of water. After the vessel rises to the surface, she must, of course, be kept
afloat while being towed to her destination. It would not be practicable to keep
the distributors on the tender while the wreck was being towed, on account of the
liability to snap the hose pipes, and therefore it is arranged to transfer sufficient of
the apparatus onto the raised vessel, so that she will be kept afloat by the inflated
bags in the interior and be entirely independent of the tug or other towing vessel.
For this purpose the herein before described means are provided for connecting the
distributors together, and, when the vessel has been raised all the distributors but
one are disconnected from their compressors and are connected together. The
single compressor and its connected distributors are then transferred to the deck of
the raised vessel, when she will be entirely self-sustaining, and may be towed to
port with ease and safety.
The method herein described is to be carefully distinguished from that of pulling
the vessel up by means of chains attached to inflated air-tight bags above or on the
outside of the vessel. In the present invention the vessel practically raises herself,
that is to say, by expelling the water from the hold and other parts of the interior,
the buoyancy of the vessel is restored, and she rises naturally without strain upon
the decks or other parts. By connecting the bags to the distributors in gangs or
groups, the important advantage is attained of being able to control the position of
the wreck by simply turning more or less of the air pressure into any desired
group, and the location of the pressure gauges in the manifolds and hose pipes.
outside of the cocks enables the operator at all times to ascertain the condition of
the bags and to replenish any that may be deflated or not fully distended.
The improved water-proof inflatable bags are also to be carefully distinguished
from the air-tight bags with valves which have heretofore been tried. As before
stated, these air-tight bags are entirely inoperative for the purpose, for the reason
that no material has been found strong enough to withstand the enormous internal

page_text: pressure when they reach the surface, and for the further reason that it has been
impossible to relieve the pressure by means of valves. It has been herein
demonstrated that any inflatable bag to be successfully used for this purpose must
be one that is not absolutely air-tight and yet which is air-tight up to a certain
point; that is to say, the bags must be made out of a material which will permit
the air to escape through its meshes freely before the internal pressure reaches a
point where it would burst or rupture the bag. The internal pressure which they
will stand before leaking, need only be sufficient to fully inflate or distend them,
and my correspondents have found by experiment that an internal pressure of from
five to ten pounds in excess of the external pressure, is sufficient for this purpose.
By varying the proportions of the ingredients in the solution above described, the
_ point at which the bags will be self-relieving can be raised or lowered and the
invention is not confined to any particular degree of pressure.
In some instances metallic wires may be woven into the bags to strengthen them.
Moreover the bags may be painted outside with a poisonous paint to prevent action
on them of marine animals.
↓
Besides the bags placed inside the vessel, metallic cylinders attached to the
vessel outside may be sometimes used or even the bags may be attached to the sides
of the vessel, or as regards some they may be suspended in an inflated manner by
tying them by ropes or otherwise to the vessel with such a tether that the vessel is
first only partially raised, the rising stopping when these bags reach the surface;
by this means a gradual rising instead of a sudden upward pull can be achieved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, the same
consisting in forcing air under pressure into a common receiver and distributor
located above the surface of the water in proximity to the vessel, locating and
securing inside the vessel a plurality of deflated, independent, water-proof,
substantially air tight bags of flexible material, connecting said bags in gangs by
means of pneumatic hose pipes with the distributor, and inflating such of the bags
as may be desired with air under pressure from the distributor, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. Apparatus for raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, com-
prising an inflatable, water-proof bag of flexible material for sub-marine use, said
bag being formed of a material that is air-tight under ordinary internal air
pressure, but adapted under treatment to permit the escape of air under excessive
pressure, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, com-
prising an inflatable, water-proof bag of flexible material for sub-marine use, said
bag being formed of a material that is air-tight against internal air pressure only
up to a point slightly in excess of that of the external pressure of the water,
substantially as described.
4. Apparatus for raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, com-
prising an inflatable, water-proof bag of flexible material for sub-marine use, said
bag being air-tight only under an internal air pressure slightly in excess of that
required to fully inflate it under water; substantially as described.
5. An inflatable, substantially, air-tight, water-proof bag for sub-marine use in
raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, the same consisting of an
interior bag of relatively light material, and an exterior independent envelope of
heavier material, the two being secured together and provided with a nozzle for
connecting the bag to a pneumatic hose pipe, substantially as described.
6. An inflatable flexible bag for sub-marine use in raising and floating sunken
vessels and other objects, the same consisting of an interior, air-tight under low
pressure, water-proof bag of relatively light material, and an independent exterior
envelope of heavier material, the two being secured together and provided with a

page_text: nozzle for connecting the bag to a pneumatic hose pipe, and having tabs or other
means for securing it in place, substantially as described.
7. An inflatable bag of water-proof, substantially air-tight, material for sub-
marine use in raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, the same having
the seams formed by overlapping the edges of the fabric ani folding them back
upon themselves interlaced with each other, and being strengthened and protected
by an independent covering strip stitched to the body of the bag, and the inter-
laced edges being further secured by longitudinal rows of stitching along the sides,
substantially as described.
8. A nozzle for air-tight, water-proof bags adapted for sub-marine use, as above
described in raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, the same
consisting of a tubular neck, an exterior sectional tubular clamp adapted to fit over
the neck and clamp the material of the bag there-between, and a pneumatic hose
pipe coupling upon the outer end of the neck, substantially as described.
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9. A nozzle for air-tight, water-proof bags adapted for sub-marine use as above
described in raising and floating sunken vessels and other objects, the same
consisting of a tubular inwardly flaring neck having an exteriorly sliouldered outer
end, a correspondingly shaped sectional tubular clamp adapted to fit the exterior of
the neck and to clamp the material of the bag there-between, meaus for detachably
and adjustably securing the clamp upon the neck, and a pneumatic hose pipe
coupling upon the outer end of the neck, substantially as described.
10. An air receiver and distributor for use in connection with apparatus for
raising and floating sunken vessels and the like, the same consisting of a portable
metallic vessel having connections for attachment to a compressor or compressors,
and valved connections for the attachment of hose pipes thereto, said valved
connections being provided with pressure gauges outside the valves, substantially
as described.
11. An air receiver and distributor for use in connection with apparatus for
raising and floating sunken vessels and the like, the same consisting of a portable
metallic vessel having connections for attachment to a compressor or compressors,
supplemental connections whereby two or more of the distributors may be connected
together, and valved connections for the attachment of hose thereto, said valved
connections being provided with pressure gauges outside the valves, substantially
as described.
12. An air receiver and distributor for use in connection with apparatus for
raising and floating sunken vessels and the like, the same consisting of a portable
metallic vessel having connections for attachment to a compressor or compressors,
and valved connections for the attachment of hose pipes thereto, said valved
connections being arranged in groups or gangs and each connection being provided
with a pressure gauge outside the valve, substantially as described.
13. An air receiver and distributor for use in connection with apparatus for
raising and floating sunken vessels and the like, the same consisting of a portable
metallic vessel having connections for attachment to a compressor or compressors,
and valved connections for the attachment of hose pipes thereto, said connections
consisting of a manifold having a valved connection with the distributor, and a gang
or group of hose-pipe nozzles having valved connections with the manifold,
substantially as described.
14. An air receiver and distributor for use in connection with apparatus for
raising and floating sunken vessels and the like, the same consisting of a portable
metallic vessel having connections for attachment to a compressor or compressors,
and valved connections for the attachment of hose pipes thereto, said connections
consisting of a manifold having a valved connection with the distributor and a
pressure gauge outside the valve, and a gang or group of hose-pipe nozzles having
valved connection with the manifold and provided with pressure gauges ontside the
valves, substantially as described.
15. An adjustable and extensible stanchion for use in connection with apparatus
for raising sunkeu vessels, said stauchion consisting of a threaded rod, a tubular

page_text: sleeve adapted to loosely receive the threaded portion of the rod, and a screw-nut
fitting the thread of the rod and working upon the end of the sleeve, substantially
as described.
16. An adjustable and extensible stanchion for use in connection with apparatus
for raising and floating sunken vessels, said stanchion consisting of a threaded rod
having spurs or projections on its outer end, a tubular sleeve adapted to loosely
receive the threaded portion of the rod, and having spurs or projections on its outer
end, and a screw-nut fitting the thread of the rod and working upon the opposite
end of the sleeve, whereby the stanchion may be fixed in place and adjusted in
length without turning, substantially as described and for the use and purposes
herein before set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.