IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: 1, WILLIAM DUNDAS SCOTT-MONCRIEFF, of 1 Fairholme Road Fulham, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer M.LM.E. do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES, to be
8.8. follows:-
This Invention has especial reference to apparatus of a novel and improved
construction and which is applicable for diving and analogous purposes and is
especially advantageous in facilitating the submarine examination of the bottom or
submerged portions of vessels or of other objects and in enabling engineers and
others interested to closely examine and inspect any such object at their convenience
and without subjecting them to the unpleasantness and inconvenience of descending
in diving dress or in an open mouthed diving bell.
The means of examining or inspecting submarine objects hitherto available have
consisted in various modifications of diving dresses in which only specially trained
and experienced men could with any degree of safety descend and never to any
considerable depth on account of the great pressure of the surrounding water.
Hence when using such means, engineers and constructors interested in the
examination of any submarine object have not been enabled to inspect it for
themselves but have had to rely upon the reports of divers and thus at times
an examination requiring special technical knowledge is not possible.
Other apparatus which has been used for the purposes of submarine exploration
has consisted of various modifications of the open mouthed diving bell; which also
it has not been found possible to use at any considerable depth on account of the
physical inconveniences caused by the compression of the contained air due to the
depth of water.
It is one of the especial objects of the present Invention to avoid these
inconveniences and to render it possible for any engineer constructor or other
interested persons to personally examine or inspect any submarine object (say, for
example, the injured portion of a vessel's bottom, the foundations of the piers of a
bridge, or the base of a breakwater) without any personal inconvenience to which
they would be subject with such means as have hitherto been used; and to
examine objects at a considerable depth which such means would not permit of.
To these ends the Invention consists in the application and use of a closed vessel
or enclosed chamber provided amongst other means with means for ensuring a

page_text: continuous exchange of air, for examining by sight any external object which can
be illuminated by the electric or any intense light, and with means of ingress and
egress, and of picking up and retaining external objects, and of steadying and
securing a horizontal position upon an uneven bottom.
The formation of the closed vessel as regards its shape is not essential though it is
preferred for convenience and cheapness of manufacture and as giving a form well
calculated to resist considerable external pressure that it should be cylindrical.
The material also of which it is made is immaterial malleable iron being however
preferred.
In an advantageous modification the vessel or chamber is made of a cylindrical
form of any desired diameter and height; and is hermetically closed at the
top with a strong cover, and at the bottom with a foot plate which extends
beyond the sides and is turned up to form a receptacle or basin for any article
which may be picked up and dropped therein. Leading to and from within the
chamber are pipes for supplying fresh and removing vitiated air and to which
pipes flexible tubing can be connected to accommodate the different depths of the
apparatus in the water. The top cover is fitted with a shackle ring or like means
for enabling the apparatus to be readily lowered and raised.
Three inclined cylinders rise from the bottom plate within the chamber and they
each contain a piston the projecting extremity of which acts as a foot and each of
such cylinders is in separate connection with a force pump in communication with
the outside water so that any one or more of the pistons can be thrust out as far
as desired for ensuring the horizontal position of the apparatus upon any uneven
bottom.
A manhole is made in the side of the apparatus for the ingress and egress of the
occupants, and it is provided with a strong door which can be clamped watertight
for preventing the entrance of water.
At a suitable height the vessel is also provided with glazed sight holes through
which also a strong beam of light may be passed for the illumination and inspection
of external objects.
The apparatus is also provided with a mechanical hand or equivalent appliance
which can be worked from within the chamber so that any object it is desired to
pick up from the bottom and raised to the surface can be lifted into the basin
surrounding the chamber. This device works in a ball and socket joint carried by
the vessel so that a wide range of movement and travel of the mechanical hand is
obtained in any one position of the vessel.
Doted this 21st day of Januo 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM DUNDAS SCOTT-MONCRIEFF, of 1, Fairholme Road, Fulham, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, M.L.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVING AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES,"
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 especial reference to apparatus of a novel and improved
construction and which is applicable for diving and analogous purposes and is;
especially advantageous in facilitating the submarine examination of the bottom or
submerged portions of vessels or of other objects and in enabling engineers and
others interested to closely examine and inspect any such object at their convenience
and without subjecting them to the unpleasantness and inconvenience of descending,
in diving dress, or in an open mouthed diving bell, or in other apparatus or means
at present available for effecting submarine exploration.
The means of examining or inspecting submarine objects hitherto available have
consisted of various modifications of diving dresses in which only specially trained
and experienced men could with any degree of safety descend and never to any
considerable depth on account of the great pressure of the surrounding water,
Hence, when using such means, engineers and constructors interested in the
examination of any submarine object have not been enabled to inspect it for
themselves, but have had to rely upon the reports of divers, and thus at times an
examination requiring special technical knowledge is not possible.
Other apparatus which has been used for the purposes of submarine exploration
has consisted of various modifications of the open mouthed diving bell, which also
it has not been found possible to use at any considerable depth on account of the
physical inconveniences caused by the compression of the contained air due to the
depth of water.
It has also been proposed to use for some of the purposes of the present invention,
an enclosed chamber comprising as material features, a means for producing oxygen
for breathing purposes by the decomposition of seawater by electricity; special
means of permitting the said enclosed chamber to descend or ascend at will in the
water, and special means for disconnecting the said chamber from a boat carrying
the same.
It is one of the special objects of the present Invention to avoid the necessity for,
any such means, and the inconveniences consequent upon their use, and to render it.
possible for any engineer, constructor or interested persons to personally examine or
inspect any submarine object (say, for example, the injured portion of a vessel's
bottom, the foundations of the piers of a bridge, or the base of a breakwater).
without any personal inconvenience to which they would be subject with such
means as have hitherto been used, and while being continually supplied with and
breathing ordinary atmospheric air.
To these ends the Invention consists in the application and use of a closed vessel
or enclosed chamber (substantially similar in character to that illustrated. on the
accompanying drawing) provided amongst other means, with means for ensuring a
continuous exchange of air and supply of atmospheric air, for examining by sight
any external object which can be illuminated by the electric or any intense light,
and with means of ingress and egress, and of picking up and retaining external
objects, and examining them by contact, and of steadying and securing a horizontal
position upon an uneven bottom.

page_text: The accompanying drawing illustrates in vertical section a submarine exploring
apparatus adapted with such improvements and constructed in accordance with the
present Invention.
1, represents the closed vessel, the formation of which as regards its shape is not
essential, though it is preferred for convenience and cheapness of manufacture and
as giving a form well calculated to resist considerable external pressure that it
should be cylindrical, which is the section in plan of the modification illustrated on
the accompanying drawing, it may be also made of any desired length, and of any
suitable material, malleable iron being however preferred.
The vessel or chamber is hermetically closed at the top with a strong cover, 2,
suitably secured, and at the bottom with a foot plate, 3, which has a flange, 4,
which extends beyond the sides of the chamber, and is turned up to form a
receptacle or basin for any-article which may be picked up and dropped therein.
Leading to and from within the chamber are pipes, 5, 6, which are respectively
intended for injecting fresh atmospheric air and for removing the vitiated air, and
to which pipes flexible tubing can be connected to accommodate the different
depths of the apparatus in the water. The top cover, 2, is fitted with a shackle
ring, 7, or like means for enabling the apparatus to be readily lowered and raised.
Three inclined and enclosed cylinders, 8, rise from the bottom plate, 3, within the
chamber, 1, and they each contain a piston, 9, the projecting extremity, 10, of
which acts as a foot or support, and each of such cylinders is in separate connection
with any suitable force pump, 11, in communication with the outside water so that
any one or more of these pistons, 9, can be thrust out as far as may be desired or
as may be necessary for ensuring the horizontal position of the apparatus upon an
uneven bottom.
A manhole, 12, is made in the side of the chamber, 1, for the ingress and egress
of the occupants, and it is provided with a strong door, 13, which by the device, 14,
illustrated, or by any equivalent means can be clamped water tight for preventing
the entrance of water into the chamber, 1.
At a suitable height, the vessel is also provided with glazed sight holes, 15,
through some of which a strong beam of light may be passed for the illumination
and inspection of external objects and through others of which such objects may be
viewed and examined or photographed.
The apparatus is also provided with a mechanical hand or equivalent picking up
and holding appliance, 16, which can be worked from within the chamber so that
any object it is desired to pick up from the bottom and raise to the surface can be
lifted into the basin, 4, surrounding the chamber. This device, 16, works in a ball
and socket joint, 17, carried by the side of the chamber, 1, or it may be otherwise
supported so that a wide range of movement and travel of the mechanical hand is
or may be obtained in any one position of the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects
of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. A submarine exploring apparatus consisting of a closed chamber substantially
similar in character to that hereinbefore described, formed or provided with
pipes, 5, 6, or equivalent means of ensuring a continuous exchange of air and fresh
supply of atmospheric air, and with glazed openings, 15, or equivalent means
permitting of the illumination and visual examination of submarine objects
external to the chamber, and with a manhole opening, 13, or equivalent means of
ingress and egress capable of being for the time hermetically closed, and with a
mechanical hand, 16, or equivalent means supported in a ball and socket or other
universal joint for picking up and retaining external objects and examining them
by contact, and with cylinders, 8, pistons, 9, and a force pump, 11, or equivalent
means of steadying and securing a horizontal position to the chamber upon an
uneven bottom; when such parts are arranged and combined substantially in the
manner herein before indicated.

page_text: 2. The application to a submarine exploring apparatus of the mechanical land, 16,
or equivalent means supported in a ball and socket or other universal joint and
capable of being operated from within the chamber of such apparatus for picking
up submarine objects external thereto, or for examining them by contact,
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
3. The application to a submarine exploring apparatus comprising a closed
chamber substantially similar in character to that hereinbefore described, of the
cylinders, 8, projecting pistons, 9, and force pump, 11, or equivalent means of
steadying and securing a horizontal position to the chamber or apparatus upon an
uneven bottom.