Improvements in Means for Facilitating Communication between Diver and Attendant.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating Communication between
Diver and Attendant.
We, WILLIAM ROBERT FOSTER, of No. 87, Grange Road, Bermondsey, in the
county of Surrey, India Rubber Manufacturer and ROBERT Fox. of No. 79, Great
Portland Street, Marylebone, in the county of Middlesex, Submarine Engineer,
jointly trading as C. E. Heinke and Company, Submarine Engineers, at 79, Great
Portland Street aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention relates to improved means for facilitating communication between a
diver under water and an attendant above water whereby the desired object can be
effected in a simple and efficient manner without exposing the diver to any increased
danger even if the speaking tube connected to the helmet and extending above the
surface of the water be broken, as is the case with some of the means hitherto
employed.
Within the helmet of the diver's dress is arranged or formed an enclosed chamber
of metal or other suitable material, and within the said chamber are a number of
springs which bear against a plate constituting one side thereof. The lower end of
a tube passes through the case of the helmet and opens into the said chamber oppo-
site the before mentioned side thereof. The upper end of the said tube is above the
surface of the water in a convenient position for the attendant. By the employment
of the means above described conversation between the attendant and diver can be
carried on without difficulty.
In some cases, in order to automatically effect the closing of the lower end of the
tube or the opening in the helmet in case of the tube becoming broken or disconnected
from the helmet, we arrange a sliding valve, at or near the lower end of the tube,
so that when the tube is broken or disconnected the said valve will be forced against
its seat and the entrance of water to the chamber thereby stopped.
Dated this 30th day of August 1888
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating Communication between
Diver and Attendant.
We, WILLIAM ROBERT FOSTER, of No. 87, Grange Road, Bermondsey, in the
County of Surrey, India rubber Manufacturer, and ROBERT Fox, of No. 79, Great
Portland Street, Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, Submarine Engineer,
jointly trading as C. E. Heinke and Company, Submarine Engineers at No. 79,
Great Portland Street aforesaid, 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 relates to improved means for facilitating communication between
a diver under water and an attendant above water, whereby the desired object can be
attained in a simple and efficient manner without exposing the diver to any increased
danger, even if the speaking tube connected to the helmet and extending above the
surface of the water or any other part of the apparatus he broken.
Within the helmet of the diving dress is arranged or formed an enclosed chamber
of metal and within the said chamber are a number of springs which bear against a

page_text: sound plate or diaphragin constituting one side thereof. The lower end of a speaking
tube passes through the case of the helmet and opens into the said chamber opposite
the sound plate or diaphragm. The upper end of the said tube is above the surface
of the water in a convenient position for the attendant. By the employment of the
means above described conversation between the attendant and diver can be carried
on without difficulty.
In order to automatically effect the closing of the lower end of the tube or the
opening in the helmet in case of the sound apparatus becoming broken or disconnected
from the helmet, we arrange a valve at or near the lower end of the tube, so that in
such event the said valve will be forced against its sent by the pressure of air within
the helmet and the opening thereby closed.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure L. is a vertical transverse section of an apparatus constructed according to
our invention.
Figure 2. is an elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1. with the sound plate
or diaphragm removed.
Figure 3. is a sectional plan of the apparatus represented at Figure 1. and
Figure 4. is a detail view of the mouthpiece or terminal of the speaking tube.
Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the several figures.
a represents a portion of the helmet of a diving dress and represents the sound
chamber which is placed within the helmet a at one side thereof.
The sound chamber bis constructed of metal and one side 2 thereof constitutes
a vibrating sound plate or diaphragm.
Within the chamber 6 are arranged a number of spiral springs 63 or they might
be of other forin which may be fastened by solder to the inner side of the sound plate
or diaphragm 62 and bear against the opposite plate and serve to support the sound
plate or diaphragm 2 against the pressure of the air within the helmet a.
The sound chamber bis hermetically closed against the pressure of the air within
the belmet a but the side thereof is provided with an opening & therein surrounded
by a screw fitting by means of which the sound chamber is connected with a
corresponding fitting of a valve chamber or box c. to the nozzle c' at the upper
part of which is connected the lower end of a speaking tube c provided at its
upper end above the surface of the water with a mouthpiece or terminal c which
is arranged in a convenient position for the attendant.
Within the valve chamber or box c. is arranged a valve which is adapted to
close against a corresponding seat c* upon the upper part of the valve box or
chamber and this valve is guided in its movements by its spindle which is received
into and loosely fits a hole or recess c' formed in a plug e screwing into the lower
part of the valve box or chamber c.
The valve will normally rest in the position represented by the full lines in
Figure 1 but in the event of the sound chamber breaking or becoming disconnected
with the valve box or chamber the valve c* will be forced against its seat by the
pressure of the air within the helmet a. and the opening will be thereby closed
thus preventing the escape of the air from the helmet.
If however a break should occur in the air tube c' any water gaining access
thereto will be prevented by the sound chamber b. from entering the helmet a. the
pressure of the air within the helmet a. upon the exterior of the sound chamber b.
preventing injury thereto.
In order to communicate with the diver the attendant must speak through the
mouthpiece or terminal when the sound will be communicated by the tube c³ to
the sound plate or diaphragm 62 of the sound chamber band by placing his ear to
the sound plate or diaphragm 6* the diver may thus distinctly hear the message.

page_text: On the other hand when the diver wishes to speak to his attendant, it is only
necessary that he should speak his words slowly and distinctly within the helmet a.
the attendant in this case placing the terminal c' at his ear.
When the communicating apparatus is not required to be used and the air
tube is disconnected from the nozzle c² of the valve chamber or box c. a cap
should be.screwed thereon in order to exclude the water from the 'sound chamber or
box b.
We are aware that it has before been proposed to employ a sound chamber within
the helmet of a diving dress for conveying messages to and from the diver, but in
such case the sound plate or diaphragin was not supported by springs and it there-
fore buckled with the pressure of the air within the helmet and such plate was thus
rendered useless as a vibrating sound plate or diaphragm and we do not therefore
claim such device broadly considered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The means for facilitating communication between diver and attendant consisting
of a close chamber b. arranged within the helmet a. and one side 6 of which is
formed of comparatively thin or flexible material in order that it may constitute a
sound plate or diaphragm such side 6 being supported by means of springs 63 which
bear against the opposite plate 6', a communicating opening 6' and a speaking tube c
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. The means for facilitating communication between diver and attendant
consisting of a close chamber b. arranged within the helmet a. and furnished with a
communicating opening 64, a valve such as c adapted to close automatically by the
pressure of the air and a speaking tube c³ substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 30th day of May 1889
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.