SOUNDING AT SEA BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1884

page_text: WILLIAM BALCHI 18 Prior Street Greenwich in the County of Kent, Pensioner
of the Royal Navy do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
SOUNDING AT SEA BY ELECTRICITY to be as follows:-
Apparatus consists of a weight with an hollowed centre an Electrict line placed
in the head & secured in by an insolated plug, a line is made fast to the head of
weight & secured to the Electric line, a plug being attached to the bottom. Four
pins are passed from the side of weight into the centre, for connecting Electrict
wire, & keeping them from the centre by a spiral spring, an India rubber band
being fixed round the weight with a Insolated cap pins passing through the same.
Metal levers are attached at the sides of weight for protecting springs & pins, a
metal cap being attached for protecting the levers.
The apparatus consists of a metal weight with a tappered or rounded head,
& hollowed in the centre with an hole passing through from top to bottom. An
Electric line with an insulated plug attached is placed in the head of weight
& cemented in, making that part waterproof. 4 small holes are made one at cach
side & directly opposite each other. An India rubber band is placed round the
weight, the band having also four small holes in it. A small insulated cap attached
to the band and covering each of the holes is then ready to receive four pins either
of metal or otherwise.
The electric wire is attached to the end of the Pins. A spiral spring or other
appliance is placed over tho head of each of the Pius in order to keep them out
from the centre one end of the spring being made fast to the India Rubber Band
and the other at the end of the pin.
The insulated cap is secured to the end of the pin making them waterproof. A
metal plug is then secured to the bottom of the weight by means of screws or
other appliances thus making the whole apparatus waterproof.
Four Metal Levers are secured outside the apparatus one end secured direct
above the pins, the other end covering the head of the pins thus protecting them
from undue pressure.
The use of the Levers is as follows. Directly the apparatus comes into contact
with the bottom or any hard substances, its own weight pressing on one of the
Levers causes the piu to enter the centre of the apparatus & come into contact
with the points of the other pins thus completing the circuit of electric contact and
causing the alarmn to be sounded on board the ship.

page_text: The Levers themselves are protected by a metal cap tapered at the head, that
part fitting tight to the head of the apparatus. The lower part of the cap which
follows the curve of the Levers is loose over them. It is in fact a larger lever
protecting the smaller ones.
The pins with their respective caps and levers may be four in number, or less or 5
more. The line or bracket being made fast round the head of the apparatus for
securing the same to the electric line, takes the weight of the same off the insulated
plug and off the electric line. The apparatus may be made of any weight or shape
either for deep sea sounding or on approaching land. It is towed from the ship
& the ends of the electric line on board attached to a Battery and Gong & which I
sounds immediately the apparatus touches the bottom as mentioned.

page_text: WILLIAM BALCH, Pensioner Royal Navy N° 17, Clerance St Greenwich, Kent
formerly of N° 18 Prior St, Greenwich aforesaid I do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for SOUNDING AT SEA BY ELECTRICITY 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 a method for sounding at sea or else where by electricity.
Hence indicating to the mariner the approach of the Ship to land, rocks, or other
danger, and giving him timely warning, thus saving many valuable lives, and much
property from inevitable destruction.
To enable me to carry out my invention and to bring it into practical uso, I
employ a heavy weight or other suitable appliance with a hole through the
centre, the said hole being larger at the bottom than at the top for arranging
connecting pins.
Small holes are drilled at intervals round and through the lower part of weight
for receiving connecting pins and spring. An insulated cablo with double wire or
other means being placed in the aforesaid hole of the apparatus. The one wire
being connected to a metal cap, the said metal cap being surrounded by a washer,
or other available means leaving a short projection downwards. Round the washer
springs are placed at intervals, coming directly opposite the holes made in the lower
part of the apparatus and in the direction of the pins.
The second wire of cable being attached to the said spring or other electrical
appliance.
A washer of India rubber or of other suitable mateiral with small caps is then
placed round the outside, thus covering the holes and pins.
A cap of metal or other suitable material being secured to the lower part, the
said cap having a hole for arming denoting the kind of bottom the apparatus comes
in contact with.
Caps of metal or of other durable material are then placed and secured direct
over the caps of the washer, the said caps being placed round the apparatus.
The top of the cable or material used as a conductor of electricity is connected
to the points for connecting the principal cable, the same being filled with an
insulated plug or cap.
When the wires are connected the said cap is placed over the head of the
apparatus and secured by a band screw or other means; slings are then secured
round the top of the apparatus making the same fast to the cable and taking the
weight of the apparatus from the aforesaid cable.
In order to make my invention understood fully, I will proceed to describe the
same by referring to the accompanying drawings in which are represented the
different views and sections, viz ;-
A. is the metal cap.
B. is the metal spring.
C. is a pin and spring.
D. is a cap or protector.
the electric wice

page_text: J. Bridle for regulating apparatus, and keeping the same in an angle from
spinning while being towed from the Ship, also for securing the caps from
coming in contact with any hard substance.
K. are the slings for securing apparatus to the cable or aforesaid article used as
a conductor of electricity.
O. Insulated cap secured on electric cable and placed on head of apparatus and
secured by band and thumb screw.
P. is the thumb screw.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows.-
It may be either thrown or towed from a Ship or led down to the Keel of
Ship.
The inboard ends of the cable, are led to the most convenient part or place, such
as the bridge, Captain's cabin, or else where, one wire being secured to battery, the
other wire to an Alarum.
As soon as the Apparatus comes in contact with a greater resistance than
the water, the pressure coming on Cap. G. Presses on P. C. the same presses on
Spring. B. the same coming in contact with metal cap A. forms contact thus
sounding an Alarum on board, giving warning to those that soundings are being
obtained.
A Bridle or Guy is also fitted to lower part of Apparatus for keeping the same
from revolving.
The operation is substantially unique with that of the apparatus shewn in
drawings. Elevation, and other sections therefore need no further description.
I have described my invention as applicable aud practicable for Ship's use, the
same may be used in any depth of water, the cable being marked as the ordinary
lead line denoting the depth of water.
Having thus described iny invention and suitable means for carrying the same
into effect, I wish to be understood that what I claim is to be performed.
I declare that what I claim is
1st An appliance for sounding at Sea and elso where by Electricity, consisting
of the combination of parts, as described and represented-in-the_accompanying
drawings,
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