EXPELLING WATER FROM VESSELS, AND KEEPING THEM FROM SINKING, RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, KEEPING WATER OUT OF COFFER DAMS, CAISSONS, FOUNDATIONS, OR VESSELS, OR WORKS THAT ARE BELOW WATER, AND PROPELLING VESSELS ON AND THROUGH WATER
Year: 1856

page_text: (This Invention received Provisional Protection, bearing date the 4th February
1856, but notice to proceed with the application for Letters Patent was
not given within the time prescribed by the Act.)
AMENDED PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, this 15th day of February 1856, by RICHARD
CLARKE PAULING, of 18, Great George Street, Westminster, Civil En-
gineer and Surveyor.
I do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for EXPELLING WATER FROM
VESSELS, AND KEEPING THEM FROM SINKING, RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, KEEPING
WATER OUT OF COFFER DAMS, CAISSONS, FOUNDATIONS, OR VESSELS, OR WORKS THAT
ARE BELOW WATER, AND PROPELLING VESSELS ON AND THROUGH WATER, to be as
follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists of expelling from and keeping water
out of ships or vessels that are floating in water, which either may have sprung
leaks or become water-logged from collisions or other causes; and I do this
by means of forcing into them compressed air in the following manner :-I
propose first to fasten down the hatches, and make air-tight the decks and other.
parts of the vessel or ship above water, by means to be shewn by Drawings.
I then propose, by means of air or blast fans, air pumps, or other apparatus:

page_text: placed on between the decks (through a flexable hose attached to such fans or
apparatus), to force air of a greater pressure or density than the water in the
hold of such vessel, and by such means repel the water from the interior of
such vessel, either through the aperture it came in at, or by making other
apertures below the water line, (such apertures to be closed, if necessary,
either wholly or in part, by means of valves or other apparatus. Thus, I
propose to expel the water at the bottom or sides of the vessel by means
of air forced in the vessel, instead of lifting it by the use of pumps.
The second part of my Invention is for raising vessels or ships that have
sunk, by forcing compressed air into them. I propose first, by means of divers
or diving bells, or other apparatus for working under water, to close the
hatches and other apertures that are open in or between the decks, and make
them as near as possible air-tight. I then by means of air fans, blast fans,
or other apparatus, communicating by a flexible hose from steam or other
vessels, or on the shore, to the sunken ship or vessel, pump air of greater
density than water, between the decks and into the hold, and thus expel the
water from the sunken vessel through apertures either existing or to be made,
such apertures to be provided with valves or other apparatus, if necessary;
the vessel will then rise to the surface and be kept afloat by the means before
described.
By the third part of my Invention I propose by means of compressed air to
force out water from coffer dams, cassions, or other works to be constructed
below water. I propose to effect this by forcing air into such dam, cassion, or
other artificial means that may be necessary for the construction of piers of
bridges, river or sea walls, locks or dock works, &c., and by means of an aper-
ture or apertures at the bottom, after having made the top of such dam,
cassion air-tight, I pump air into the chamber, and through this aforesaid
aperture, thus expelling and keeping the water out by closing such aperture
or apertures with slide valves.
The fourth part of my Invention refers to propelling floating vessels by
means of discharging compressed air therefrom, under the surface and against
the water. This I propose to do by means of blast fans, air pumps, and
pipes, as before described, placed either on or below the decks of the
vessel, as the case may require, such blast fan and air pumps being worked
by a steam engine, and the air by such means being forced through air
pipes leading to the interior of, & from thence through the sides or stern
of such vessel, where it is discharged under the water, and against it, in a
direction contrary to the way the vessel is to be propelled. The water in

page_text: this case offering a resisting medium to the air which is expelled from
the ship or vessel through the pipes above described, and by the before-
mentioned means I obtain a direct-acting propelling power, situate below
the water line.