IMPROVE- MENTS IN NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: Filed 10th January 1882.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir WILLIAM
THOMSON, Knight, of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws, and Professor of Natural
Philosophy in the University and College of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty third day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Sir William Thomson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her special license
that I, the said Sir William Thomson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Sir William Thomson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the terin therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Sir William Thomson, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and causo
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent :
And whereas I, the said Sir William Thomson, by an instrument in writing,
being a Specification under my hand and seal, did declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the saine was to be performed, and caused the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office on the Twenty third day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty: And whereas, since filing the said
Specification, I have discovered that certain of the claims made therein are too
broad, and may be construed as claiming apparatus which was not new at the date
of my aforesaid Letters Patent, and I am therefore desirous of disclaiming the Fifth
claiming clause in the said Specification contained, and of more particularly defining
Price G77

page_text: the Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh claiming clauses, and of otherwise amending cortain
parts of the said Specification in the manner hereinafter set forth :
"
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Sir William Thomson, by and with the
leave of Her Majesty's Attorney General, for the reasons aforesaid, do alter and
amend the said Specification in manner following, that is to say :-I strike out the
words "In certain gauges to obviate," which occur at line 22 of page 6 of the
Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification, published at the Great Seal
Patent Office in 1880 (and which are by error there printed "Inserting gauges
to obviate "), and I substitute therefor the words "To provide a convenient
arrangement of gauges obviating." I also strike out the words " preferably of
about seven pounds," which occur at lines 12 and 13 of page 8 of the said Queen's
Printers' copy of the said Specification, and I substitute therefor the words
"sufficient to give the necessary restraint in paying out." I also strike out the
words and figures "preferably of about 14 lbs.," which occur at line 18 of
the said page 8, and I substitute therefor the words "sufficient to stop the
revolution of the drum is." I also insert the word "and" between the words
"end" and "hangs," which occur at line 19 of the said page. 8. I also
strike out the words "(preferably of about seven pounds)", which occur at line
36 of page 9 of the said Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification. I also
strike out the words "(preferably of about fourteen pounds)" which occur at
the said line 36 and line 37 of the said page 9. I also strike out the words and
figure "of about 5 lbs." which occur at line 3 of page 10 of the said Queen's
Printers' copy of the said Specification. I also strike out the words "of seven
pounds" which occur at line 45 of the said page 10. I also strike out the words
"of two" which occur at line 13 of page 11 of the said Queen's Printers' copy of the
said Specification, and insert in place thereof the words " by connecting two separato."
I also insert the words "(that is to say, two or more) between the words
"several " and "different" which occur at line 4 of page 12 of the said Queen's
Printers' copy of the said Specification. I also strike out the words "least and
which occur at line 23 of the said pago 12, and I insert the words "and least"
between the words "greatest "and".
'depths" which occur at the said line 23. I
also strike out out the word " tube" which occurs at line 35 of page 13 of the
said Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification, and I substitute therefor the
word "tubes." I also strike out the word " passage" which occurs at line 12 of
page 14 of the said Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification, and I substitute
therefor the word "opening." I also strike out the word "water" which occurs at
line 22 of the said page 14, and I substitute therefor the word "liquid." I also
insert between the words "that" and "what" which occur at line 47 of tho said
page 14 the words "I am aware that navigational sounding gauges have before
the date of my present Patent been constructed so that the pressure of the water
being sounded compresses the air in the gauge, and a quantity of water in pro-
" portion to the depth to which the gauge descends is by this means caused to
flow into and remain in a tube or vessel, and forms the means of ascertaining
" the extent to which the air in the gauge has been compressed and consequently
"the depth to which the gauge has descended, and therefore I lay no general claim
"to such an instrument, nor do I claim generally the construction of a single depth
gauge of different calibre in different parts, but." I also insert in the fourth
claiming clause the words constructed of two parts joined together as " between
the words "water" and "described" which occur at line line 13 of page 15 of the
said Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification. I also strike out the fifth
claiming clause consisting of the words "Fifth. An air compression depth gauge
which occur at line 21 of the said page 15, and the following words down to and
including the words "essentially as hereinbefore describod" which occur at line 24
of the said page 15. I also strike out the word "Sixth" which occurs at line 25
of the said page 15, and substitute therefor the word "Fifth." I also insert the
words "as shewn more particularly in Figure 16 of the accompanying Drawings"
66
"
46
"

page_text: "
between the words “capacity” and “with” which occur at the said line 25 of the
said page 15. I also insert the words as herein before described " after the word
"it" which occurs at line 28 of the said page 15. I also strike out the word
Seventh" which occurs at line 29 of the said page 15, and I substitute therefor
the word "Sixth." I also insert after the word "tube" which occurs at line 31 of
the said page 15, the words "as herein before described, with reference to Figures 16
" to 27 of the nccompanying Drawings." I also strike out the word "Eighth" which
occurs at line 32 of the said page 15, and I substitute therefor the word "Seventh.”
I also strike out the words "claimed in the fifth, sixth, and seventh claiming
"clauses" which occur at line 35 of the said page 15, and I substitute therefor the
words "hereinbefore described."
And in order that the effect of the Disclaimer and Meinorandum of Alteration,
as aforesaid, may be clearly understood I annex hereto a copy of the said Specifica-
tion as it will appear when so altered and amended, the preamble and testing clause
being omitted.
My said Invention relates to improvements in navigational sounding apparatus,
and has for its objects,—
First. To facilitate and render more expeditious the operations to be performed
for measuring the depth of water below a ship without reducing the speed of the
ship.
Second. To apply with greater certainty and accuracy the desired resistance,
regulating the egress of the steel wire or other sounding line from the ship.
Third. To better preservo the steel wire from rust, and so render it more
durable.
Fourth. To obtain, especially for depths of from thirty to one hundred and
twenty five fathoms, longer divisions to mark the depth than those of the scale
shewn of full size in the Drawing filed with the Complete Specification of my
Patent, No. 3452, A.D. 1876, and photolithographed half size for the printed copy
thereof.
Fifth. To provide a convenient arrangement of gauges, obviating the necessity
for lining the gauge tube with a chemical preparation to shew how much water has
been forced into it during its descent to the bottom of the sea.
Sixth. To obtain an indication of the depth, which shall not require correction
for the height of the barometer, and which shall be less liable to error, whether
from temperature or from absorption of air by water than any modification of the
air pressure gauge for measuring depth can be.
The first, second, and third objects are attained by an improved form of sounding
machine, which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings,
the box being shewn in vertical section. The lid of the box is shewn open in
Figure 1 and closed in Figure 2. Instead of taking the wire drum off its bearings,
as in my former Patent, and putting it into a tank of lime water or other preserva-
tive liquor in the sounding machine constructed according to the present improve-
ments, the said wire drum is plunged into line water without taking it off its
bearings. The bearings a of the wire drum A are under my present improvements
fixed to that side of the hinged lid b of the water tight box B which is the under
side of the lid when the box is closed. This box B contains a sufficient quantity
of lime water or other preservative liquor to completely cover the wire drum A
when the box is closed by the lid b. Two legs are so hinged on the lid or on the
box as to securely support the said lid when it is turned from the closed position
through an angle of 210 degrees or thereabouts, that is to say, into a position
inclined downwards outside the box B at an angle of about 30 degrees, as shewn in
the Drawing. The box B is fixed to the taffrail or other convenient platform of
the ship, with the hinge of the lid b aft, so that when the said lid is opened and let
down to rest on its legs in the outside inclined position the wire drum A overhangs
the sea.
The support or legs shewn in the Drawing are situated one on either side
of the box B. These legs each consist of a tube c hinged to the box at c², and of
a rod c³ hinged to the lid 6 at cº, the said rod c³ entering the said tube c. When the

page_text: lid b is open the collar c³ of each of the rods c³ rests upon the top of the tube c,
and the lid b is thereby supported in position, as shewn in the Drawing. When
the lid is closed the rods and tubes c follow the motion thereof, the said rods
rising in the said tube, and when the lid is fully closed the tubes c and rods c³ lie
close to the side of the box. Ordinary struts or supports may be employed in
place of this arrangement, but I prefer the latter, as the supports are automatically
adjusted as the lid is opened or closed, and are when the lid is closed not in the
way of ropes or the like. The cranks or handles d for turning the drum A to haul
in the wire are in this arrangement similar to those hereinafter described with
reference to Figures 6 to 10, but they may be ordinary winding handles slipped
upon square ends of the axle, and may be simply taken off and kept outside the
box during the egress of the wire, and also when the machine is out of use and the,
wire drum closed into the box. The said handles & may be merely unshipped and
hung upon the framework a beside the drum A in such a position as not to impede
the rotation of the drum during the egress of the wire, nor to obstruct the shutting
of the box when the machine is out of use. For this purpose a metal ring may be
clenched round the inner part of the handle in a circular groove, permitting the
handle to turn within it, and this ring is attacned by a short chain to the frame-
work of the wheel, so that when the handle is pulled off the square end of the axle,
and left to itself, it hangs by this chain. In Figures 4 and 5 I have shewn in front
elevation and side elevation, partly in section, a handle provided with means for
connecting it to the axle for winding the wire, and for permitting it to hang upon
the said axle without rotating with it when the wire is running out. A pin d³ is
attached to the back of the arm of the handle by a pinching screw d engaging in
a slot d' in the said handle. By raising this pin d² it is caused to pass through a
hole in the axle of the wire drum, and secure the said handle to the said axle for
winding, the screw ds being screwed up so as to retain the pin d in its raised
position. By loosing the said screw d³ the pin d can be withdrawn from the hole
in the axle, and the handle will hang upon the axle without rotating with it as the
wire runs out. The screw d engaging in the circular groove d retains the handle
upon the axle, and by withdrawing this screw d from the said groove de the handle
can be removed from the axle of the drum.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in side elevation, partly in section, a pair of handles
constructed so that they can be attached to the axle of the drum for winding in
the wire, or caused to hang loose thereon whilst the wire is running out, and so
also that the parts of the handles grasped by the hand may be turned through
a quarter rotation so as to be out of the way when the drum is to be shut into the
box. The one part of the handle, viz., that grasped by the hand, is attached to
the arm part by a ring upon the said part engaging between two collars dª
and do. The ring d' has a part cut away so as to form shoulders at do and d¹¹.
The collar d has a projecting part forming a shoulder at d", as shewn in
Figures 8, 9, and 10, which Figures 9 and 10 represent transverse sections taken
on the line 1, 2, Figure 6, Figure 9 shewing the parts in their respective positions
when the part of the handle grasped by the hand is fixed in position for winding,
and Figure 10 shewing the parts in their respective positions when the said hand
part of the handle is turned through a quarter rotation when the lid of the box B
is to be closed. A pine passes through the arm of handle, being forced by a
spring e' into a hole el in the axle of the drum, so as to secure the handle to the
axle for winding in the wire. When the said pin e is in this position its transverse
head passes down through nicks or slots d¹³ in the collar do, the sides of the said
head standing before the shoulders do, d, of the ring d, as shewn in Figures 9
and 6, and that part of the handle grasped by the hand and attached to the ring d'
is therefore fixed in position for winding. When the wire is to be run out from
the drum in order to prevent the handles rotating with the drum, the pin e is
withdrawn (by grasping its head from the hole e' in the axle, as seen in
Figure 7, and the crosshead e is withdrawn from before the shoulders do, d", and
the

page_text: by giving a partial rotation to the said pin e and crosshead e³, the said crosshead es
can be brought over an uncutaway part of the collar da, upon which it will rest
and retain the pin e in this withdrawn position. The part of the handle attached
to the ring & may now be turned through a quarter rotation until its shoulder
comes against the shoulder d" of the ring do, and in this position the said part of
the handle may pass under snugs or retaining pieces b² fixed to the lid bin proper
position, as shewn in Figure 2, and also with regard to one handle in plan in
Figure 3; these snugs are omitted from Figure 1 for the more clear illustration of
the other parts.
In the machine constructed according to my present Invention, the counter f
(Figure 2) is permanently attached to the bearings of the wire drum instead of
being removeable to allow the wheel to be taken off its bearings and plunged into
lime water, as described in my aforesaid Specifications.
In the machine constructed according to my present improvements I use an
improved form of friction brake and clamp for regulating and stopping the egress
of the wire; this brake is shewn in Figure 1. A weight g, sufficient to give the
necessary restraint in paying out, is attached to one end of a brake cord or rope h.
This cord h passes (when the lid is open and the drum A is in position for use)
vertically up through a hole in the lid b to a grooved pulley attached to one side
of the wire drum, as described in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent. It is
carried about three quarters round the circumference of this pulley, and then is
brought away almost horizontally over the forward lips of the box B, and a
weight i, sufficient to stop the revolution of the drum, is fixed to its other end and
hangs close to the forward side of the box B. The lip of the box B is rounded to
allow the brake cord h to slip over it with sufficient ease. When the brake cord h
is left to itself, it is in the position shewn in Figure 1, and the weight g is held
pressed up against the underside of the lid b, the cord being kept stretched by
the weight i, and thus the wire drum A is securely clamped with sufficient force to
resist the egress of the wire. To allow the wire to run out the operator takes hold
of the brake cord h over the mouth of the box, and cases up the weight i and lets
down the weight g through several inches, whether more or less is of no con-
sequence provided the weight g hangs clear; thus a very constant resistance of
about four or five pounds is applied to the egress of the wire. When the sinker
reaches the bottom the weight of the sinker being taken off the wire, the resistanco
produced by the friction of the brake cord h on the pulley stops the drum, and the
operator pulls the brake cord, letting the weight i go down, and removes his hand
from the brake cord and so clamps the drum A. To hawl in, the handles d are
fixed to the axle of the drum A by mounting them on the square ends thereof, or
by passing the bolts into the holes in the axles, according to which arrangement of
handle is adopted; and one of the operators unclamps the drum A, that is to say,
he takes off the pressure exerted by both of the weights and by a simple
contrivance, which consists as follows:-A metal ring h³ is fixed in between tho
strands of the brake cord at a point which may be nearly over the forward
lip of the box B. A stout small cord is attached by one end by a cord /* to
a weight g, the said cord * passing up through the hole in the lid b, and having a
metal ring in its end to which the cord ³ is fastened, the said cord h³ thence
passing to the ring in the brake cord, and through this ring, and having
a stout metal hook h° attached to its other end. To release the drum A
from the pressure of both weights g and i for hauling in, the operator takes
this hook in his hand, lifts it, and pulls upon it upwards and aft, and
hooks it upon the ring h³. The small cord ³ when thus fixed causes the weight i
to pull upon the weight g, and entirely relieve the brake cord h of tension in
the part of it which is round the pulley. When the hauling in is complete tho
operator lifts this hook he out of the ring h³ and lets it go, and the wire drum A
is instantly clamped. When a cast has been taken the handles d are immediately
unshipped off the squares or by the withdrawal of the bolts by which they are

page_text: fastened to the axle, so as to be ready either for taking another cast or for shutting
the drum down into the box, which unless another cast is to be taken instantly is
always to be done immediately after each cast is taken as follows:-The lid b is
lifted up and shut the rods c³ rising in the tubes c and causing the said tubes o to
follow the motion of the lid b and be turned over, as shewn in Figure 2. The
operator whilst he shuts down the lid b with one hand eases the break cord / with
the other, and pulls upon it so as to ease up the weight into the position which
it takes when the lid is shut down. To prepare for a fresh cast, all that is
necessary is to open the lid b up from the mouth of the box and let it down
outside without touching the brake cord h, the rods c³ as the lid is opened causing
the tubes c to be turned out into the position, shewn in Figure 1, for supporting
the lid in its open position.
Figure 11 represents in side elevation (the box being in section) and Figuro 12
in end elevation a modification of the above arrangement. The wire drum A is
mounted in bearings carried by a framing a, having feet a projecting on either
side at front and back. On either side of the interior of the box containing the
lime water or other preservative liquor supports b³ are fixed. The framing a is
provided with a cross piece a³ at top. When a cast is to be taken, the framework a
bearing the wire drum A is lifted up from the box B by means of the cross piece a³,
and when its feet a² are level with the mouth of the said box, it is moved hori-
zontally aft until the after part of the wire drum A overhangs the outside of the
box aft. In this position the said framework a and drum A are supported by the
feet a resting upon the tops of the supports 63. Top guards of wood or metal are
firmly attached to the top edges of the sides of the box, projecting inwards over
the feet and preventing the framework from being lifted too high, and two screws
mounted in these top guards (as at 64, 6) are screwed down upon the feet a² to
hold the framework a firmly in position whilst the wire drum is in use, or wedges
or other equivalent devices may be employed for this purpose. The upper part of
after end of the box is carried up sufficiently high to forin a stop to prevent the
framework from being pressed too far aft after it has been raised out of the box.
The handles d, shewn in this arrangement, are of the construction herein before
described with regard to Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 11 the one shewn bangs
loosely on the axle. A radial mark a is made upon the drum A which is in line
with the hole in the axle through which the pin d² (see Figures 4 and 5) is to pass
to fix the handle to the axle. Thus by bringing the handle in line with this
mark at, the pin d² can at once be passed into the said hole in the axle. The
other side of the drum bears a like mark for indicating the position for the other
handle.
In connection with this arrangement I have shewn a modified mode of applying
the brake which may be adopted with the arrangement of the wire drum upon the
lid of the box as herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The
weight and the weight i are respectively attached to the ends of the brake
cord h, as described with regard to the arrangement Figuro 1. The said weight g
has horns g projecting from its sides which engage in loop shaped stops g³ attached
to a plate at the forward part of the framework; this plate is shewn broken away
in Figuro 12. These stops g³ limit the upward and downward movement of the
weight g to a range of about two inches. Two blocks of wood j, constituting check
blocks, are fixed on the forward outer side of the box near the top thereof, and in
such position that the brake cord h passes down between them, as shown. A bead
k is clamped or tied to the brake cord in any suitable manner. A convenient
form of bead is shewn in horizontal section in Figure 13. It has a ring capable
of sliding in a recess in its interior, so that when the brake cord h is passed
through this ring the said ring may be drawn forward into the position shewn
in dotted lines by rotating the nut upon the screw k³, projecting from the said
ring the said ring being thereby caused to pinch the cord firmly between itself
and the interior of the bead k, and the said bead k is thereby firmly fixed in

page_text: position upon the brake cord h. The position in which it is fixed is at a distance
below the underside of the check blocks j less than that between the upper and
lower parts of the loop stops g³.
In manipulating this brake cord h in taking a cast, the operator lifts up the
weight until the bead & comes into contact with the underside of the check
blocks j, when the weight g will descend a corresponding distance, but not so far as
to rest upon the lower parts of the stops g. Thus during the descent of the
sounding wire the weight g hangs freely on the cord , and a resistance to the
egress of the wire is exerted by the friction of the said cord upon the pulley.
When the bottom is reached, the operator releases the weight i and lets it hang
freely with the full brake power exerted upon the drum to prevent any more wire
running out; the handles d are then at once fixed to the axle for hauling in, the
weight i being lifted and the bead rested upon the top of the check blocks j, the
weight g moving through such a distance on this raising of the weight i as to rest
by its horns g² upon the lower parts of the stops g³, and thus the brake cord his
loosed round the pulley of the wire drum, and the said drum is relieved entirely
from the braking action of both weights.
By the use of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the process of
lifting the framework and drum up out of the box and sliding it into its proper
position may be performed by one man, simply by grasping the cross piece a³ and
lifting the said framework and drum up to the top of the box, and then moving it
horizontally aft as far as it will go. During this process he does touch the brake
cord. The weight i descends while he is lifting the framework through about
of the upward motion until the bead rests upon the tops of the check blocks j.
After that the horizontal part of the brake cord is relieved of tension, and does not
resist the final aftward motion of the framework and drum. To replace the
framework and drum in the box after a cast has been taken the operator grasps
the cross piece a³ with one hand, next undoes the screws 6 with the other hand,
and lastly, applies this hand to the brake cord h close above the weight i, lifts the
said weight and pulls the cord forwards and upwards so as to draw the framework
and drum from off the supports 63, and then ease it down into the box into the
position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 11.
Springs, or particularly spiral springs of galvanized steel wire, may be substituted
for weights at the two ends of the brake cord with advantage when, as in sounding
from boats, lightuess is the object.
is
When space and appliances in the ship are suitable, and more particularly when
the depth to be measured exceeds 150 or 200 fathoms, another plan of brake cord
is preferable, allowing the hauling in to be done by turning by manual or steam
power, or by a dynamo-electric engine, a second axle fixed to the forward side of
the box or to a separate stand at any convenient position on the ship. This
arrangement I will describe with reference to Figure 14. On this plan an endless
rope / is made to serve alternately for brake cord and for transmitting the power
from the second or hauling shaft to the wire drum A. The said second shaft l
carries a pulley with a sharp V groove, and also a ratchet wheel controlled by
a pawl so as to allow the shaft to turn freely in one direction and to prevent it
from turning in the opposite direction. The framework bearing the shaft
mounted upon one half of the lid of the box B containing the lime water or other
preservative liquor, the drum A being carried on the one half of the lid, so that
when the two half lids are turned into the position shewn, the endless rope h is
tightened and forms a driving band for driving the drum A from the shaft 7 in
hauling in the sounding line. The weight g is used as in the preceding plan for
controlling the egress of the wire, but in this alternative plan it is temporarily
clamped upon the endless cord h, or it may be hung by a short length of cord from
a convenient clamp which is temporarily attached to the endless cord when the
wire is to be paid out, and may be detached and put aside when the wire is being
hauled in. The half lid carrying the framework is fixed in position by the bar 70
passing through eyes . To pay out the wire from the drum A the half lid carrying

page_text: the drum A is moved forward by pulling upon the chain or rope 13 attached to the
half lid carrying the framework and to the framework carrying the drum A, so
that the said drum and the half lid carrying it are brought into the position shewn
in dot and pick lines, whereby the rope h is relieved of the weight of the drum and
other parts, the weight 7 giving the necessary resistance in paying out by pulling
the upper part of a brake cord next the wire drum vertically downwards. To
stop the egress the rope or chain 18 is let go, when the half lid carrying the drum A
falls into the position shewn in full lines, whereby the brake cord his tightened
enough to stop the motion of the wire drum, the said drum A and half lid being
additionally weighted to effect this if their weight alone be not sufficient. After
this, to haul in, all that is to be done is to unclamp the weight g from the brake
cord h, and if need be to give an additional pull or push down to the half lid carrying
the drum A to prevent the cord h from slipping. Handles are then slipped upon
the squared ends of the shaft by which the hauling in is effected, the brake
cord h now acting as a driving belt to transmit motion to the drum A.
The fourth object of my Invention is attained by using instead of the tube of
uniform diameter lined with chromate of silver or other equivalent preparation for
marking, a glass tube made by connecting two separate parts, as shewn at m
and min Figure 15, the said two parts being sealed together the upper part m²
of smaller calibre than the lower part m, the whole lined within with chromate
of silver or other preparation for marking, and being closed at top and open at
bottom. The upper part m² is made of constant length (I have chosen one foot
in my trials hitherto). The lower part m is cut to such a length that its volume
bears a constant proportion to the volume of the upper part. If, for example, four
to one be the chosen proportion, the sea water is forced up through the lower
part m of the tube during the descent from the surface of the water to a depth of
twenty two fathoms, and at greater depths it is forced into the upper part m² of
the tube to the same distance from the top as if the tube were of uniform bore of
5 feet in length. When the sea water has been forced into the narrow part
of the tube the whitening of the chromate of silver enables the depth to be read by
a scale graduated to fathoms, the same scale serving for every tube. When on the
other hand it is found that the sea water has not been pressed beyond the wide
part of the tube, the depth is read by aid of graduation on the glass itself.
I would here remark that I do not claim under the present Patent the construction
generally of a depth gauge of a different calibre in different parts, as I used such
a gauge publicly in 1876 on board the Cunard steamer "Scythia."
I attain the fourth object and at the same time the fifth object of my Invention
by an improvement upon the well known form of depth gauge, which was described
by Lieutenant Jewell of the United States navy in "Nature" for the 17th day
of January, A.D. 1878, and which consisted in using a glass tube closed at one end
and bent downwards on the two sides of its middle, so as to constitute two equal
parallel legs with their lower ends, one open and the other closed. When the
depth exceeds 5 fathoms the water is pressed to the top of the open leg, and falls
down into the closed one. The quantity of water found remaining in the closed
leg when the gauge is brought to the surface is taken as an indication of the depth.
This instrument would give thoroughly trustworthy indications if during the
whole time of its being brought up from the bottom of the sea and got on board
the ship it were kept nearly enough upright to prevent any water from being
expelled out of the closed leg or from flowing into it. But this instrument is liable
to error, because this condition is not fulfilled when the sounding is taken from a
ship moving rapidly through the water. To remedy this defect I substitute
for the glass tube bent in its middle two pieces of straight tube, one of them of
glass and the other preferably of metal, with their ends covered by cap (by
preference of metal) communicating by a fine bent or angled metal tube passing
through holes in the centres of these caps so as to establish communication between
the two tubes. The lower end of the glass tube is stoppered by a pad or its
equivalent, which can be readily removed to allow the water standing in the said

page_text: glass tube to run out therefrom after the depth indicated thereby has been ascer-
tained. The other tube is open at its lower end. If the water forced into the glass
tube in this instrument be not more than enough to half fill it, there will be
practically no liability to error through any of the water being expelled during
the ascent from the bottom, but there will be liability to such error if the said
glass tube be more than half filled with water. Hence I limit the graduation for
fathoms to the lower half of the glass tube, or to such length of it as experience
may shew, to give a perfectly trustworthy character to the indications, and I use
several, that is to say, two or more different gauges for different ranges of depth
with glass tubes of approximately equal calibre, and with the other open tubes of
greater and greater calibre for the greater depths, instead of the single gauge
described by Lieutenant Jewell, with its two legs of equal calibre. Thus, for
example, I use three gauges, of which the first has its open tube of twice the
capacity of its glass tube, and is suitable for depths of from 11 to 27 fathoms.
The second gauge has its open tube of five times the capacity of its glass tube, and
is suitable for the range of depths from 271 to 604 fathoms. The third gauge has
its open tube of eleven times the capacity of its glass tube, and is suitable for the
range of depths from 60 to 126 fathoms. In Figures 16 to 26 of the accom-
panying Drawing I have represented a sounding instrument, consisting of threo
gauges in combination, as herein before described, Figure 16 being an elevation of
the instrument, Figure 20 a section of the saine wherein the section of the envelope
or casing of the instrument and its adjuncts is taken in a diametrical line; but the
section of the gauge tubes is taken on the line 3, 4, Figures 18 and 19; Figure 17
is an elevation of the group of gauge tubes removed from the casing; Figure 19
is a plan of underside of the same; Figure 18 is a transverse section on the line 5, 6,
Figure 17; Figure 21 is a vertical section, and Figure 22 a plan of the casing and
its adjuncts; Figures 23 and 24 are vertical sections respectively (taken on the
lines 7, 8, and 9, 10, of Figures 18 and 19), of the gauges for the greatest and least
depths, shewing the communication between the two tubes of each gauge. In
Figure 20 a similar view of the gauge for middle depths is shewn. Figure 25
represents the instrument enclosed in its outer projecting sheath, the upper part
being in section to shew the method of fastening the instrument in this outer case,
and Figure 26 represents a plan of the fastening used for this purpose.
There are three gauges in the instrument illustrated, the whole of them being
attached to the cap or top piece n, through which the communication between the
two tubes of the respective gauges are made, as shewn clearly in Figures 18, 20,
23, and 24. The gauge for depths of 11 to 27 fathoms consists of the brass tube p
and the glass tube 22, communicating with each other by the passage p³ through
the cap n.
The gauge for depths of from 27 to 60 fathoms consists of the brass
tube and the glass tube q³ communicating by the passage q³ through the cap n.
The gauge for depths of 60 to 126 fathoms consists of the brass tuber and the
glass tube communicating with cach other by the passage through the cap n.
The glass tubes 2, 92, 2, of the several gauges are of the same capacity and of the
same length; they are fixed water tight in the short tubes p, q, fastened in
recesses in the cap n. The brass tubes p, q, r, are fastened upon projections n²
from the said cap n. The communications from the brass tube to the glass tube
of each gauge consists of the trumpet mouthed opening n³ from the brass tube to
the transverse passage (2³, 93, or 7), from which transverse passage the passago n
opens into the glass tube (p, 92, or r³), the said passage n' being formed through
a cone shaped nipple piece projecting into the glass tube as shown. The tubes
and caps n are slipped with the casing 8, wherein are three slots 82 respectively
opposite the three glass tubes p², q², and r² of the three gauges, and through which
the amount of water in the said glass tubes can be seen after a sounding has
been taken. The said slots 8 have at their sides scules upon which are marked
divisions shewing the distance to which water will be forced into the respective
glass tubes at certain depths. The scale for the first gauge glass p' is marked p³,

page_text: and that of the second is marked q³. The scale for the third gauge glass is shewn
at Figure 16 and is marked 75.
At the bottom of the casing 8 is situated a metal plate or disc t, with a pad of
india rubber t at its upper side. This disc is retained in an approximately
horizontal position by a not absolutely rigid rod engaging in the hole in a
bracket piece t* fixed to the sido of the casing (Figures 21 and 22), and by a guide,
as at working in a slot in the casing a. It is guided also by three slight
projections or knobs, as at ts, projecting from itself to make an easy fit in the
casing, with about one nineteenth of an inch of free space all round it elsewhere to
allow sand or other solid particles to wash freely away without jamming the disc.
A screw to works in the bottom end of the casing 8, and when the gauge tubes are
in position in the casing 8, and secured therein by the cap piece 8, by screwing up
this screw to the india rubber pad is pressed against the ends of the tubes p², q*,
and, and effectually closes them air and water tight. t is a guard piece to
prevent the screw to from being accidentally fully withdrawn and lost. The brass
tubes p, q, and are shorter than the glass tubes p², g², and r³, so that their ends
always remain open. The ends of the said brass tubes p, q, and have screwed
prolongations u upon them for adjusting the capacity of the said brass tubes to the
correct degree relatively with the glass tubes, as by screwing these pieces u in one
or other direction the whole effective length of the brass tube is increased or
diminished until the capacity is the proper multiple of the capacity of the glass tube
used in connection with it, which must be specially measured in every case. By
multiple I mean any whole number or proper or improper fraction. A piece of
cloth, as at u², is tied over the mouth of each of the tubes p, q, and r, to prevent
any air from escaping until all the water is expelled from the brass tubes as they
are drawn up obliquely from the bottom of the sea. These pieces of cloth are shewn
in Figure 17 but not in the other Figures.
The instrument when in use is attached to the sounding line by a piece of strong
plaited hemp rope ("sash-cord" or "signal halyard"), about two fathoms long,
passed through the hole & in the cap piece 83 at one end, and to the sounding line
at the other; and the sinker is attached by a similar but weaker rope or cord, about
two fathoms long, as shewn in Figure 27, to the loop v² at the bottom of the outer
protecting sheath v of galvanized iron, which is used to contain the instrument and
protect it. Figure 25 illustrates the instrument enclosed in this outer projecting
sheath v. The said instrument is fixed in the said shoath by a pin w passing
through holes in the said casing and in the cap piece s³. The said pin wis
retained in position by the spring piece w² and side horns w³; or a plain metal or
hard wood bolt, kept in position by an india rubber band passing through a hole
in one end, may be used. On this fastening being removed after taking a sounding,
the gauge may be withdrawn from the sheath v. Holes are formed through the
sheath for the ingress of water, which passes by the slots 82 into the tubes p, q,
and of the gauges, and thence upward and over into the glass tubes of the gauges.
The water first overflows into the glass tube of the first gauge, and thereafter when
a greater depth is reached the water will be pressed into the glass tube of the
second gauge, and when a still greater depth is reached the water will be pressed
into the glass tube of the third gauge. Several round sectioned rings of india
rubber are put around the casings, as indicated in Figure 16, so as to form a
padding between it and the outer sheath v. The cord or rope between the sinker
and the gauge ought to be so much weaker than that above as not to bear more than
seventy or eighty pounds, so that in case of the sinker being caught by a rock or
other obstacle the wire and pressure gaugo will come away, leaving the sinker
behind it.
When the depths to be tested are known to be all between certain moderato
limits, as 15 fathoms and 40% fathoms, a single gauge on the same plan will
suffice with proper proportion of the capacity of the brass tube to the capacity of

page_text: the glass tube, as 3 to 1 in the case of the above example, or 3 to 1 if the smallest
depth to be measured be 18+ fathoms and the greatest 44.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth objects of my Invention are attained by the use of
an elastic flat shaped bottle, to show by the diminution of its volume the water
pressure to which it is subjected, and so as to allow the depth to which it is sunk
to be inferred.
Figure 28 represents in elevation, and Figure 29 in vertical section, an instru-
ment constructed according to this part of my Invention. The part which I call
the elastic bottle is marked x; it is a very flat approximately elliptic cylinder of
sheet brass which may be of about 15 inches long, and 2 inches longer diameter.
This bottle is furnished with a perforated plug communicating with the
interior of the bottle at its lower part, upon which plug the stopper ³ is screwed;
this stopper is shewn in its two positions in Figures 30 and 31. In the position,
Figure 30, the leather or india rubber pad in the stopper x² is pressed over
the opening in the plug ¹, and the passage to the interior of the bottle x is
closed.
2
In the other position the stopper ² is unscrewed, so that the pad is brought
from over the opening in the plug a', and communication with the interior of the
bottle established by the opening in the said stopper ², so that when the stopper.
is in this last named position a nozzle of a syringe or other like instrument may be
inserted into the said opening, and water or other liquid passed into the said bottle
until it is filled, when the stopper ³ will be screwed down to close the communi-
cation. A long fine tube y passes up from the bottom of the interior of the bottle x
(the said tube y being perforated at its lower end at y³, and passing through a
hole in the centre of the top of the said bottle and into a strong inverted rigid
brass bottle or chamber with a dome shaped top and a conical neck tapering to
its mouth to which the glass tube z is sealed. This glass tube is closed at its
lower end and serves as a measuring vessel. When the gauge is in use, the bottle
being filled with liquid the pressure of the water through which the gauge descends
pressing against the exterior of the said gauge forces more or less of the liquid
through the opening y into and through the tube y, and therefrom it falls down
into the glass tubes. The quantity of water in this tube z when the gauge is
brought to the surface will indicate the depth to which it has descended, and a
scale may be placed beside or attached to the said tube, which scale is graduated
by experiment by aid of an apparatus for artificially producing water pressure up
to twenty or thirty atmospheres or more. To prepare for a fresh cast the gauge
is turned upside down. The liquid which has been expelled runs from the
glass tube down to the dome shaped bottom of the rigid bottle xt. The
stopper is moved to open the communication with the interior of the bottle x,
and by blowing in or out several times by the mouth or by a hand blower the
liquid is forced up through the pipe y into the clastic bottle x. To make sure that
the whole of the liquid has thus been forced up there is in the middle of the dome
shaped top of the bottle a well or hollow, and the top open end of the tube y
touches, or nearly so, the bottom of this hollow. The elastic bottle ought to be
nearly full of liquid when all the liquid is thus forced into it. The liquid may be
either pure water or water with a little glycerine to prevent trouble by freezing.
The gauge is fitted with a sheath or sheaths provided with means for the ingress
of water, and is attached to the sounding line in the same manner as described with
regard to the gauge, Figures 16 to 27.
This "elastic bottle gauge" may be advantageously used in combination with
the single, double, or triple air compression gauge hereinbefore described, to extend
the scale; as, for example, in combination with the triple gauge to give measure-
ments of from 11 fathoms to 300 or 400 fathoms.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I
am aware that navigational sounding gauges have before the date of my present

page_text: Patent been constructed so that the pressure of the water being sounded compresses
the air in the gauge and a quantity of water in proportion to the depth to which
the gauge descends is by this means caused to form into and remain in a tube or
vessel and forms the means of ascertaining the extent to which the air in the
gauge has been compressed, and consequently the depth to which the gaugo has
descended, and therefore I lay no general claim to such an instrument, nor do I
claim generally the construction of a single depth gauge of different calibre in
different parts, but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. The arrangement or construction of deep sea sounding apparatus, consisting
in so combining the drum containing the wire sounding line and the framing
which carries the said drum with a box containing lime water or other preservative
liquor, that the said wire drum and framing may at once be turned down into or
placed in the said lime water or other preservative liquor without taking the snid
drum from its bearings.
Second. The arrangements of brake herein beforo described with referenco to
Figure. 1, 2, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings, wherein the necessary
resistance to be put upon the wire drum in paying out the sounding wire, and the
greater resistance required to stop or to prevent its revolution are applied to the
said drum by means of weights or springs on the two ends of a brake cord, and the
said resistance taken off from the said drum either by a secondary cord, ns in
Figures 1 and 2, so connected to the weights or springs as to cause the greater to
overbalance the lesser, or by. causing the said weights or springs to rest upon
supports or be checked by supports or stops, as in Figures 11 and 12, so that in
either case all resistance is taken from the wire drum when the sounding line is to
be hauled in.
Third. The arrangement of brake described with reference to Figure 14 of the
accompanying Drawings, wherein the cord is rendered capable of use both as a
brake cord and as a band for hauling in the sounding line.
Fourth. The gauge for indicating the depth of water constructed of two parts,
joined together as described with reference to Figure 15 of the accompanying
Drawings, consisting of a tube having an upper part of definito length and of finer
calibre than the lower part, the said lower part having a definite ratio of volume
to the upper part, so that one detached scale may serve for any number of such
gauges, the said parts of the gauge being lined with chromate of silver or other
chemical preparation for retaining a mark for enabling the distance to which the
water has entered the tube to be readily and accurately ascertained.
Fifth. The depth guage, consisting of a tube of adjustable capacity, as shewn
more particularly in Figuro 16 of the accompanying Drawings, with or without
cloth to guard its lower end, and communicating at its upper end through a fine
tubular passage with another tube capable of being closed and opened, and used
for shewing the depth by the quantity of water forced into it, as herein before
described.
Sixth. A depth guage, consisting of a group of two, three, or more gauges,
wherein each succeeding tube by which the water enters bears an increasing ratio
of capacity to its receiving tube, as herein before described with reference to
Figures 16 to 27 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The depth gauge for indicating depths by pressure upon an elastic
vessel, essentially as herein before described with reference to Figure 28 to 31 of
the accompanying Drawings, whether it be used alone or in combination with the
single or multiple gauge hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir William Thomson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.

page_text: To the Commissioners or ratents for invention.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above named Sir William Thomson,
to file in the Office of the Commissioners of Patents for Invention, with the
Specification to which the same relates, the above written Disclaimer and
5 Memorandum of Alteration.
Dated this 9th day of December 188+ January-1882.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir William Thomson, Knight, of Glasgow College,
Doctor of Laws and Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University and
College of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir William Thomson at
the Offico of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1880.
Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knight, of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws and
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University and College of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING
APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is sixfold,―
First. To facilitate and render more expeditious the operations to be performed
for measuring the depth of water below a ship without reducing the speed.
Second. To apply with greater certainty and accuracy the desired resistance
regulating the egress of the steel wire or other sounding line from the ship.
Third. To better preserve the steel wire from rust, and so render it more
durable.
Fourth. To obtain, especially for depths of from thirty to one hundred fathoms,
longer divisions to mark the depth than those of the scale shewn in the full size
Drawing filed with the Completo Specification of my Patent, A.D. 1876, No. 3452,
and photolithographed half size for the printed copy.
Fifth. To obviate the necessity for lining the gauge tube with a chemical
preparation to show how much water has been forced into it during its descent to
the bottom of the sca.
Sixth. To obtain an indication of the depth which shall not requiro correction
for the height of the barometer, and which shall be less liable to error, whether
from temperature or from absorption of air by water, than any modification of the
air pressure gauge for measuring depth can be.
The first, second, and third objects are attained by an improved form of sounding
machine. Instead of taking the wire drum off its bearings, as in my former
Patent, and putting it into a tank of lime water, in my sounding machine
constructed according to the present improvements the wheel is plunged into
[Price 18. 2d.1

page_text: lime water without taking it off its bearings. The bearings of the wheel under
my present improvements are fixed to that side of the lid of a water-tight box, which
is the under side of the lid when the box is closed. This box is filled to a sufficient
height with lime water to completely cover the wire drum when the box is closed
by the lid. Two legs are so hinged on the lid as to securely support it when it is
turned from the closed position through an angle of 210° or thereabouts, that is to
say, into a position inclined downwards outside the box at an angle of about 30°.
The box is fixed to the taffrail or other convenient platform of the ship with the
hinge of its lid aft, so that when the lid is open and let down to rest on its legs
in the outside inclined position the wire drum overhangs the sea. The handles
for turning the wheel to haul in the wire may be ordinary winding handles
working on square ends of the axle, and may be simply taken off and kept outsido
the box during the egress of the wire, also when the machine is out of use, and the
wire drum closed into the box; but I prefer to have the handles merely unshipped,
and hung upon the framework beside the wheel, in such a manner as not to impede
the rotation of the wheel during the egress of the wire, nor to obstruct the shutting
of the box when the machine is out of use. For this purpose a metal ring is
clenched round the inner part of the handle in a circular groove perinitting the
handle to turn within it, and this ring is attached by a short chain to the framework
of the wheel. Thus when the handle is pulled off the square end of the axle and
left to itself it hangs by this chain. Or the handles may be kept always on the
shaft (for this purpose made with round ends) and held in gear by bolts pressed
into holes in the axle by springs. To throw the handles out of gear these bolts are
drawn back, and so retained by catches. In the machine constructed according to
my present improvements the counter is permanently attached to the bearings of
the wire drum, instead of being removeable to allow the wheel to be taken off its
bearings, and plunged in lime water, as described in my aforesaid Specification.
То
In the machine constructed according to my present improvements I use an
improved plan of friction brake and clamp for regulating and stopping the egress
of the wire. A weight of about seven pounds is attached to one end of a cord or
rope. This cord passes (when the lid and wheel are in position for use) vertically
up through a hole in the lid to a grooved pulley attached to one side of the wire-
drum; it is carried about three quarters round the circumference of this pulley, and
then is brought away almost horizontally over the after and forward lips of the
box, and a weight of about fourteen pounds fixed to its other end hangs close to
the forward side of the box. The forward lip of the box is grooved and rounded
to allow the brake cord to slip over it with sufficient ease. When the brake-cord
is left to itself, the seven pound weight is held pressed up against the underside of
the lid, the cord being kept stretched by the 14 lb. weight, and thus the wire-
wheel is securely clamped with sufficient force to resist the egress of the wire.
allow the wire to run out the operator takes hold of the brake-cord over the mouth
of the box, and cases up the fourteen pound weight, and lets down the seven pound
weight through several inches, whether more or less it is of no consequence
provided the weight hangs clear. Thus a very constant resistance of about four or five
pounds is applied to the egress of the wire. When the sinker reaches the bottom the
operator lets the 14 lbs. weight go down, and removes bis hand from the brake-cord,
and so clamps the wheel. To haul in, the handles are mounted on the square ends
of the axle or are put in gear by the bolts, and one of the operators unclamps the
wheel by means of a simple appliance which consists as follows:-A metal ring is
fixed in between strands of the brake-cord at a point nearly over the forward lip
of the box. A stout small cord attached by one end to the 7 lbs. weight passes up
through the hole in the lid, and thence horizontally to the ring in the brake-cord,
and through this ring, and has a stout metal hook attached to its other end.
A metal ring is imbedded in it about the position over the after lip of the box
To release the wheel for hauling in, the operator takes this hook in his hand, lifts
it, and pulls upon it upwards and aft, and hooks it upon the ring in the small cord
This perfectly relieves the brake-cord of tension in the part of it which is round

page_text: the grooved pulley. When the hauling in is complete, the operator lifts this hook
out and lets it go; the wheel is instantly clamped."
When a cast has been taken, the handles are immediately unshipped off the
squares, or released by withdrawal of the bolts, so as to be ready either for taking
another cast, or for shutting the wheel down into the box, which, unless another
cast is to be taken instantly, is always to be done immediately after each cast is
taken, as follows:-The lid is lifted up from its legs and shut; the operator while
he shuts down the lid with one hand, cases the brake cord with the other, and
pulls upon it so as to ease up the 14 lb. weight into the position which it takes
when the lid is shut down. To prepare for a fresh cast at any time all that is
necessary is to open the lid up from the mouth of the box, and let it down on its
legs outside without touching the brake-cord.
When space and appliances in the ship are suitable, another plan of brake-cord
is preferable, allowing the hauling in to be done by turning (by manual or steam
power, or by a dynamo-electric engine) a second axle fitted to the forward side of
the box, or to a separate stand at any convenient position in the ship. On this
plan an endless rope is made to serve alternately for brake-cord, and for transmitting
the power from the hauling shaft to the wire drum. The second shaft carries a
pulley with a sharp V groove, also a ratchet wheel controlled by a pawl, so as to
allow the shaft to turn freely in one direction, and to prevent it from turning in
the opposite direction. The framework bearing it is so arranged as to readily
admit of tightening and releasing the endless rope at pleasure. The weight of seven
pounds is used as in the preceding plan for controlling the egress of the wire, but in
this alternative plan it is hung by a short length of cord from a convenient clamp
which is attached to the endless cord when the wire is to be paid out, and is
detached froin it and left lying on the lid with the 7 lb. weight hung down
below when the wire is being hauled in. To pay out the wire the framework of
the second shaft is moved aft and upwards, so as to press the upper part of the
brake-cord against a resisting obstacle, and thus keep it firmly enough in the
V groove to prevent it from slipping, and at the same time to relieve the contiguous
part of the brake cord from tension, and to let the seven pound weight pull the upper
part of the brake cord next the wire wheel vertically downwards. To stop the egress
of the wire, the framework of the second shaft is moved in the reverse direction,
that is to say, downwards and forwards until the brake-cord is tight enough to
stop the notion of the wire drum. After this to haul in all that is to be done is
to unclamp the 7 lb. weight from the brake-cord, and if need be to give an
additional pull to the framework of the second shaft to prevent the cord from
slipping.
The fourth object is attained by using instead of the glass tube of uniform
diameter lined with chromate of silver or other equivalent preparation for marking
a glass tube inade up of two parts sealed together, the upper part of smaller calibre
than the lower; the whole lined within with chromate of silver or other preparation
for marking. The upper part is made of constant length (I have chosen one foot
in my trials hitherto). The lower part is cut to such a length that its volume
bears a constant proportion to the volume of the upper part. If, as in my trials,
four to one be the chosen proportion the sea-water is forced up through the lower
part of the tube during the descent from the surface to a depth of twenty two
inthoms, and at greater depths it is forced into the upper part of the tube to the
same distance from the top as if the tube were of uniform bore of five feet in
.length.
When the whitening of the chromate of silver shews that the sea water has been
forced into the narrow part of the tube, the depth is read by a scale graduated to
fathoms, the same scale serving for every tube. When on the other hand it is
found that the seawater has not been pressed beyond the wide part of the tube, the
depth is read by aid of graduations on the glass itself.
Tattain the fourth object, and at the same time the fifth, by an improvement on

page_text: a well known form of depth gauge which was described by Lieutenant Jewel,
United States Navy, in "Nature," for the 17th day of January 1878, and which
consisted in using a glass tube closed at one end, and bent downwards on the two
sides of the middle so as to constitute two equal parallel legs with their lower ends
ono open and the other closed. When the depth exceeds 5 fathoms the water is
pressed to the top of the open leg and falls down into the closed onc. The quantity
fouud remaining in the closed leg when the gauge is brought to the surface shows
the depth. This instrument would give thoroughly trustworthy indications if
during the whole time of its being brought up from the bottom of the sea and
got on board the ship it were kept nearly enough upright to prevent any water
from being expelled out of the closed leg, or from flowing into it; but this
instrument is liable to error because this condition is not fulfilled when the
sounding is taken from a ship moving rapidly through the water. To remedy
this defect I substitute for the glass tube bent in its middle two pieces of straight
tube, one of them of glass, and the other of metal, with their ends covered by metal
caps communicating by a fine bent or anglod metal tube passing through holes in
the coutres of these caps. The lower end of the glass tube is stopped by a metal
socket with a screw plug and leather or india-rubber washer, so made that by
unscrewing it half a turn or a turn whatever water may have been standing in the
glass tube is allowed to run out. The brass tube is open at its lower end. If the
water forced into the glass tube in this instrument be not more than enough to
half fill it, there will be practically no liability to error through any of the water
being expelled during the ascent from the bottom, but there will be liability to
such error if the tube be more than half filled with water. Hence I limit the
graduation for fathoms to the lower half of the glass tube, or to such length of it
as experience may show to give a perfectly trustworthy character to the indications,
and I use several different gauges for different ranges of depth with glass tubes of
equal calibre, and with brass tubes of greater and greater calibre for the greater
depths instead of the single gauge described by Lieutenant Jewel with its two legs
of equal calibre. Thus, for example, I use three gauges of which the first has its
brass tube of twice the capacity of the glass tube, and is suitable for depths of
from 11 to 27+ fathoms; the second has its brass tube of five times the capacity
of its glass tube as is suitable for the range of depths from 271 to 60 fathoms ;
the third has its brass tube of eleven times the capacity of its glass tube, and is
suitable for the range of depths from 60 to 126 fathoms. In my trial instru-
ments I have made each leg one foot long, I cluster the six tubes of the three
gauges together, and the graduation for each glass tube is engraved on n contiguous
brass tube. A metallic sheath protects the brass and glass tubes from damage.
The sheath is slided up or down to allow the scale or scales to be read; or it may
have an aperture in one side and be turned round so as to allow the scales to be
seen, and again turned round to cover them for their protection. The triple gauge
thus formed has stout rings fixed to its upper and lower ends, the upper of which
is attached to the sounding line by a piece of strong hemp rope about half a fathon
long, and the lower to the sinker by a weaker hemp rope about a fathom long.
This weaker rope or cord ought to be so weak as not to bear more than seventy or
eighty pounds, so that in case of the sinker being caught by a rock or other obstacle
the wire and pressure gauge will come away leaving the sinker behind it.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth of these objects are attained by the use of an clastic
flat shaped bottle to shew, by the diminution of its volume, the water pressure to
which it is subjected, and so as to allow the depth to which it is sunk to be inferred.
In my trial instruments the elastic bottle is a very flat approximately eliptic
cylinder of sheet brass, of about 15 inches length, and 2 inches longer transverse
diameter. The diminution of volume which the clastic bottle has experienced in
going to the bottom is indicated when it comes up to the surface by a quantity of
liquid expelled from within it through a long fine tube passing up froin near its
bottom through a hole in the centre of its top into a strong inverted circular

page_text: cylindric rigid brass bottle with a dome shaped bottom (which is its roof in its
regular inverted position), and a conical neck tapering to its mouth, to which a glass
tube about fourteen inches long is sealed. The glass tube is closed at its lower end,
and serves as a measuring vessel for the expelled liquid. The fine pipe through
which the liquid is expelled has its upper end open close to the crown of the inverted
rigid bottle. The depth to which the gauge has been sunk is read off on a scale
attached to the glass tube, which is graduated by experiment by aid of an apparatus
for artificially producing water pressures up to twenty or thirty atmospheres
or more. To prepare for a fresh cast the gauge is turned upside down. The liquid
which had been expelled runs from the glass tube down to the dome shaped bottom
of the rigid bottle. An aperture in the now uppermost end of the elastic bottle.
which is ordinarily closed by a screw plug, is opened, and by blowing in or out for
several times, whether by the mouth or preferably by a little hand blower, the
liquid is forced up through the long pipe into the elastic bottle. To make sure that
the last drop of liquid has thus been forced up there is in the middle of the doine
a boss or hollow like the gravy well of the original Wedgewood dinner service, and
the fine conducting tube has its end touching the bottom of this hollow.
elastic bottle ought to be nearly full of liquid when all the liquid is thus forced
into it. The liquid may be either pure water or water with a little glycerine to
prevent trouble from freezing. The gauge is fitted with a brass sheath, and is
attached to the sounding line in the same manner as ny multiple air pressure
gauge, as herein before described.
The

page_text: My said Invention relates to improvements in navigational sounding apparatus,
and has for its objects,-
First. To facilitate and render more expeditious the operations to be performed
for measuring the depth of water below a ship without reducing the speed of the
ship.
Second. To apply with greater certainty and accuracy the desired resistance,
regulating the egress of the, steel wire or other sounding line from the ship.
Third. To better preserve the steel wire from rust, and so render it more
durable.
Fourth. To obtain, especially for depths of from thirty to one hundred and
twenty five fathoms, longer divisions to mark the depth than those of the scale
shewn of full size in the Drawing filed with the Complete Specification of my
Patent, No. 3452, A.D. 1876, and photolithographed half size for the printed copy
thereof.
Fifth. Inserting gauges to obviate the necessity for lining the gauge tube with a
chemical preparation to show how much water has been forced into it during its
descent to the bottom of the sea.
Sixth. To obtain an indication of the depth which shall not require correction for
the height of the barometer, and which shall be less liable to error, whether from
temperature or from absorption of air by water than any modification of the air
pressure gauge for measuring depth can be.
The first, second, and third objects are attained by an improved form of sounding
machine, which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings,
the box being shewn in vertical section. The lid of the box is shown open in
Figuro 1, and closed in Figure 2. Instead of taking the wire drum off its bearings,
as in my former Patent, and putting it into a tank of lime water or other preser-
vative liquor, in the sounding machine constructed according to the present
improvements the said wire drum is plunged into lime water without taking it off
its bearings. The bearings a of the wire drum A are under my present improve-
ments fixed to that side of the hinged lid of the water tight box B, which is the
under side of the lid when the box is closed. This box B contains a sufficient
quantity of lime water or other preservative liquor to completely cover the wire
drum A when the box is closed by the lid b. Two legs are so hinged on the lid or
on the box as to securely support the said lid when it is turned from the closed
position through an angle of 210 degrees or thereabouts, that is to say, into a
position inclined downwards outside the box B at an angle of about 30 degrees, as
shewn in the Drawing. The box B is fixed to the taffrail or other convenient
platform of the ship, with the binge of the lid baft, so that when the said lid is
opened and let down to rest on its legs in the outside inclined position the wire
druin A overhangs the sea. The supports or legs shewn in the Drawing are situated
one on either side of the box B. These legs each consist of a tube c hinged to the
box at c², and of a rod c³, hinged to the lid b at c', the said rod c³ entering the said
tube c.
When the lid b is open the collar c³ of each of the rods c³ rests upon the
top of the tube c, and the lid b is thereby supported in position, as shewn in the
Drawing. When the lid is closed the rods c³ and tubes o follow the motion thereof,
с

page_text: the said rods rising in the said tube, and when the lid is fully closed the tubes c
and rods clie close to the side of the box. Ordinary.struts or supports may be
employed in place of this arrangement, but I prefer the latter, as the supports are
automatically adjusted as the lid is opened or closed, and are when the lid is closed
not in the way of ropes or the like. The cranks or handles for turning the
drum A to haul in the wire are in this arrangement similar to those hereinafter
described with reference to Figures 6 to 10, but they may be ordinary winding
handles slipped upon square ends of the axle, and may be simply taken off and
kept outside the box during the egress of the wire, and also when the machine is
out of use and the wire drum closed into the box. The said handles & may be
merely unshipped and hung upon the frame-work a beside the drum A in such a
position as not to impede the rotation of the drum during the egress of the wire,
nor to obstruct the shutting of the box when the machine is out of use. For this
purpose a metal ring may be clenched round the inner part of the handle in a
circular groove, permitting the handle to turn within it, and this ring is attached
by a short chain to the framework of the wheel, so that when the handle is pulled
off the square end of the axle and left to itself it hangs by this chain. In Figures
4 and 5 I have shewn in front elevation and side elevation, partly in section, &
handle provided with means for connecting it to the axlo for winding the wire and
for permitting it to hang upon the said axle without rotating with it when the
wire is running out. A pin d is attached to the back of the arm of the handle by
a pinching screw d³ engaging in a slot d' in the said handle. By raising this pin d
it is caused to pass through a hole in the axle of the wire drum, and secure the said
handle to the said axle for winding, the screw being screwed up so as to retain
the pin d in its raised position. By: loosing the said screw d³ the pin d³ can be
withdrawn from the hole in the axle, and the handle will hang upon the axlo
without rotating with it as the wire runs out. The screw d³ engaging in the circular
groove retains the handle upon the axle, and by withdrawing this screw
the said groove the handle can be removed from the axle of the drum.
from
Figures 6 and 7 represent in side elevation, partly in section, a pair of handles
constructed so that they can be attached to the axle of the drum for winding in the
wire, or caused to hang loose thereon whilst the wire is running out, and so alsó
that the parts of the handles grasped by the hand may be turned through a quartor
rotation, so as to be out of the way when the drum is to be shut into the box. The
one part of the handle, viz., that grasped by the hand, is attached to the arm
part by a ring d upon the said part engaging between two collars ds and do. The
ring has a part cut away so as to form shoulders at do and d¹¹. The collar do
has a projecting part forming a shoulder at №¹³, as shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10,
which Figures 9 and 10 represent transverse sections taken on the line 1, 2,
Figure 6, Figure 9 shewing the parts in their respective positions when the part
of the handle grasped by the hand is fixed in position for winding, and Figure 10
shewing the parts in their respective positions when the said hand part of the
handle is turned through a quarter rotation when the lid of the box B is to be
closed. A pin e passes through the arm of the handle, being forced by a spring e³
into a hole e' in the axle of the drum so as to secure the handle to the axle for
winding in the wire. When the said pin e is in this position its transverse head es
passes down through nicks or slots dis in the collar do, the sides of the said head es
standing before the shoulders do, d", of the ring a, as shewn in Figures 9 and 6,
and that part of the handle grasped by the hand and attached to the ring dis
therefore fixed in position for winding. When the wire is to be run out from the
drum in order to prevent the handles rotating with the drum, the pin e is with-
drawn (by grasping its head es from the hole e¹ in the axle, as seen in Figure 7,
and the crosshead is withdrawn from before the shoulders do, d, and by giving
a partial rotation to the said pin c and crosshead ³, the said crosshead can be
brought over an uncutaway part of the collar dº, upon which it will rest and
retain the pin e in this withdrawn position. The part of the handle attached to
the ring may now be turned through a quarter rotation until its shoulder comes

page_text: against the shoulder 12 of the ring do, and in this position the said part of the
handle may pass under snugs cr retaining pieces be fixed to the lid b in proper
position, as shewn in Figure 2, and also with regard to one handle in plan in
Figure 3; these snugs are omitted from Figure 1 for the more clear illustration of
the other parts.
In the machine constructed according to my present Invention, the counter f
(Figure 2) is permanently attached to the bearings of the wire drum instead of
being removeable to allow the wheel to be taken off its bearings and plunged into
lime water, as described in my aforesaid Specification.
In the machine constructed according to my present improvements I use an
improved form of friction brake and clamp for regulating and stopping the egress
of the wire; this brake is shewn in Figure 1. A weight g, preferably of about seven
pounds is attached to one end of a brake cord or rope h. This cord passes (when
the lid is open and the drum A is in position for use) vertically up through a hole
in the lid to a grooved pulley attached to one sido of the wire drum, as described
in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent. It is carried about three quarters
round the circumference of this pulley and then is brought away almost horizontally
over the forward lips of the box B, and a weight i, preferably of about 14 lbs, fixed
to its other end hangs close to the forward side of the box B. The lip of the box B
is rounded to allow the brake cord / to slip over it with sufficient easo. When the
brake cord his left to itself it is in the position shewn in Figure 1, and the
weight g is held pressed up against the underside of the lid b, the cord h being
kopt stretched by the weight i, and thus the wire drum A is securely clamped with
sufficient force to resist the egress of the wire. To allow the wire to run out the
operator takes hold of the brake cord over the mouth of the box and eases up the
weight i and lets down the weight g through several inchos, whether more or less
is of no consequence provided the weight g hangs clear; thus a very constant
resistance of about four or five pounds is applied to the egress of the wire. When
the sinker reaches the bottom, the weight of the sinker being taken off the wire,
the resistance produced by the friction of the brake cord on the pulley stops the
drum and the operator pulls the brake cord, letting the weight i go down and
removes his hand from the brake cord and so clamps the drum A. To haul in, the
handles & are fixed to the axle of the drum A by mounting them on the square
ends thereof, or by passing the bolts into the holes in the axles according to which
arrangement of handle is adopted, and one of the operators unclamps the drum A,
that is to say, he takes off the pressure exerted by both of the weights g and i by
a simple contrivance, which consists as follows:- A metal ring his fixed
in between the strands of the brake cord at a point which may be nearly
over the forward lip of the box B. A stout small cord ³ is attached by one end by
a cord h³ to the weight g, the said cord h* passing up through the hole in the lid b
and having a metal ring h³ in its end to which the cord h³ is fastened, the said
cord thence passing to the ring h³ in the brake cord and through this ring and
having a stout metal hook ho attached to its other end. To release the drum A
from the pressure of both weights g and i for hauling in, the operator takes this
hook ho in his hand, lifts it, and pulls upon it upwards and aft and hooks it upon
the ring h³. The small cord h³ when thus fixed causes the weight i to pull upon
the weight g and entirely relieve the brake cord h of tension in the part of it
which is round the pulley. When the hauling in is complete the operator lifts
this hook ho out of the ring he and lets it go, and the wire drum A is instantly
clamped. When a cast has been taken the handles d are immediately unshipped
off the squares, or by the withdrawal of the bolts by which they are fastened to
the axle so as to be ready either for taking another cast or for shutting the drum
down into the box, which, unless another cast is to be taken instantly, is always to
be done immediately after each cast is taken, as follows:-The lid b is lifted up and
shut, the rods c³ rising in the tubes c and causing the said tubes c to follow the
motion of the lid band be turned over, as shewn in Figure 2. The operator
whilst he shuts down the lid b with one hand eases the brake cord h with the

page_text: other and pulls upon it so as to ense up the weight into the position which it
takes when the lid is shut down. To prepare for a fresh cast all that is necessary
is to open the lid b up from the mouth of the box and let it down outside
without touching the brake cord h, the rods c³ as the lid is opened causing the
tubes c to be turned out into the position shewn in Figure 1 for supporting the
lid in its open position.
Figure 11 represents in side elevation (the box being in section), and Figure 12)
in end elevation a modification of the above arrangement. The wire drum A is
mounted in bearings carried by a framing a having feet a projecting on either
side at front and back. On either side of the interior of the box containing the
lime water or other preservative liquor supports b³ are fixed. The framing a is
provided with a cross piece a³ at top. When a cast is to be taken, the framework a
bearing the wire drum A is lifted up from the box B by means of the cross piece a³,
and when its feet a are level with the mouth of the said box it is moved
horizontally aft until the afterpart of the wire drum A overhangs the outside of
the box aft. In this position the said framework a and drum A are supported
by the feet a² resting upon the tops of the supports 65. Top guards of wood or
metal are firmly attached to the top edges of the sides of the box, projecting
inwards over the feet and preventing the framework from being lifted too high,
and two screws mounted in these top-guards (ns at b, b) are screwed down upon
the feet a to hold the framework a firmly in position whilst the wire drum is in use,
or wedges or other equivalent devices may be employed for this purpose. The
upper part of the after end of the box is carried up sufficiently high to form a stop
to prevent the framework from being pressed too far aft after it has been raised
out of the box. The handles d, shewn in this arrangement, are of the construction
herein before described with regard to Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 11 the one
shewn hangs loosely on the axle. A radial mark as is made upon the drum A which
is in line with the hole in the axle through which the pin d2 (see Figures 4 and 5)
is to pass to fix the handle to the axle. Thus by bringing the handle in line with
this mark at the pin d can at once be passed into the said hole in the axle. The
other side of the drum bears a like mark for indicating the position for the other
handle.
In connection with this arrangement I have shewn a modified mode of applying
the brake which may be adopted with the arrangement of the wire drum upon
the lid of the box, as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
The weight g (preferably of about seven pounds) and the weight i (preferably of about
fourteen pounds) are respectively attached to the ends of the brake cord h, as described
with regard to the arrangement, Figure 1. The said weight g has borns g³ projecting
from its sides which engage in loop shaped stops g³ attached to a plate at the
forward part of the framework; this plate is shown broken away in Figure 12.
These stops g limit the upward and downward movement of the weight g to a
range of about two inches. Two blocks of wood j constituting check blocks are
fixed on the forward outer side of the box near the top thereof, and in such
position that the brake cord passes down between them, as shewu. A bead kis
clamped or tied to the brake cord h in any suitable manner. A convenient form
of bend is shewn in horizontal section in Figure 13. It has a ring k² capable of
sliding in a recess in its interior, so that when the brake cord his passed through
this ring the said ring may be drawn forward into the position shewn in dotted
lines by rotating the nut k upon the screw projecting from the said ring ²,
the said ring being thereby caused to pinch the cord h firmly between itself and
the interior of the bead k, and the said bead / is thereby firmly fixed in position
upon the brake cord h. The position in which it is fixed is at a distance below
the underside of the check blocks j, less than that between the upper and lower
parts of the loop stops g³.
In manipulating this brake cord h in taking a cast the operator lifts up the
weight until the bead k comes into contact with the underside of the check
blocks j, when the weight g will descend a corresponding distance, but not so far as

page_text: to rest upon the lower parts of the stops ³. Thus during the descent of the sounding
wire the weight y hangs freely on the cord h, and a resistance to the egress of the
wire of about 5 lbs. is exerted by the friction of the said cord upon the pulley.
When the bottom is reached the operator releases the weight i and lets it hang
freely, with the full brake power exerted upon the drum to prevent any more wire
running out; the handles d are then at once fixed to the axle for hauling in, the
weight being lifted and the bead & rested upon the top of the check blocks j, the
weight g moving through such a distance on this raising of the weight i as to rest
by its horns upon the lower parts of the stops g³, and thus the brake cord his
loosed round the pulley of the wire drum, and the said drum is relieved entirely
from the braking action of both weights.
By the use of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 the process of
lifting the framework and drum up out of the box, and sliding it into its proper
position, may be performed by one man simply by grasping the cross piece a³ and
lifting the said framework and drum up to the top of the box, and then moving it
horizontally aft as far as it will go. During this process he does not touch the brake
cord. The weight i descends while he is lifting the framework through about 3/4 of
the upward motion until the beadrests upon the tops of the check blocks j.
After that the horizontal part of the brake cord is relieved of tension, and does not
resist the final aftward motion of the framework and drum. To replace the frame-
work and drum in the box after a cast has been taken the operator grasps the cross
piece a³ with one hand, next undoes the screws b' with the other hand, and lastly
applies this hand to the brake cord h close above the weight i, lifts the said weight,
and pulls the cord forwards and upwards so as to draw the framework and drum
from off the supports 63, and then ease it down into the box into the position shewn
in dotted lines in Figure 11.
Springs, or particularly spiral springs of galvanized steel wire, may be substituted
for weights at the two ends of the brake cord with advantage when, as in sounding
from boats, lightness is the object.
When space and appliances in the ship are suitable, and more particularly when
the depth to be measured exceeds 150 or 200 fathoms, another plan of brake cord
is preferable, allowing the hauling in to be done by turning by manual or steam
power, or by a dynamo-electric engine, a second axle fixed to the forward side of
the box, or to a separate stand at any convenient position on the ship. This
arrangement I will describe with reference to Figure 14. On this plan an endless
rope & is made to serve alternately for brake cord and for transmitting the power
from the second or hauling shaft to the wire drum A. The said second shaft
carries a pulley 12 with a sharp V groove, and also a ratchet wheel 3 controlled by
a pawl, so as to allow the shaft to turn freely in one direction, and to prevent it
from turning in the opposite direction. The framework bearing the shaft lis
mounted upon one half of the lid of the box B containing the lime water or other
preservative liquor, the drum A being carried on the other half of the lid, so that
when the two half lids are turned into the position shown the endless rope / is
tightened and forms a driving band for driving the drum A from the shaft in
hauling in the sounding line. The weight of seven pounds g is used, as in the
preceding plan, for controlling the egress of the wire, but in this alternative plan it
is temporarily clamped upon the endless cord h, or it may be hung by a short
length of cord from a convenient clamp which is temporarily attached to the endless
cord h when the wire is to be paid out, and may be detached and put aside when
the wire is being hauled in. The half lid carrying the framework is fixed in
position by the bar passing through eyes 17. To pay out the wire from the
druin A the half lid carrying the drum A is moved forward by pulling upon the
chain or rope attached to the half lid carrying the framework, and to the frame-
work carrying the drum A, so that the said drum and the half lid carrying it are
brought into the position shewn in dot and pick lines, whereby the rope is relieved
of the weight of the druin and other parts, the weight giving the necessary
resistance in paying out by pulling the upper part of the brake cord next the wire
h

page_text: drum vertically downwards. To stop the egress the rope or chain 1 is let go when
the half lid carrying the drum A falls into the position shewn in full lines, whereby
the brake cord is tightened enough to stop the motion of the wire drum, the said
drum A and half lid being additionally weighted to effect this, if their weight alone
be not sufficient. After this, to haul in, all that is to be done is to unclamp tho
weight g from the brake cord h, and if need be to give an additional pull or push
down to the half lid carrying the drum A, to prevent the cord h from slipping.
Handles are then slipped upon the squared ends of the shaft by which the hauling
in is effected, the brake cord h now acting as a driving belt to transmit motion to
the drum A.
The fourth object of my Invention is attained by using instead of the tube of
uniform diameter lined with chromate of silver or other equivalent preparation for
marking, a glass tube made of two parts, as shown at m and m³ in Figure 15, the
said two parts being sealed together, the upper part m² of smaller calibre than the
lower part m, the whole lined within with chromate of silver or other preparation
for marking, and being closed at top and open at bottom. The upper part m² is
made of constant length (I have chosen one foot in my trials hitherto). The lower
part m is cut to such a length that its volume bears a constant proportion to the
volume of the upper part. If, for example, four to one be the chosen proportion,
the sea water is forced up through the lower part m of the tube during the descent
from the surface of the water to a depth of twenty two fathoms, and at greater
depths it is forced into the upper part of the tube to the same distance from the
top, as if the tube were of uniform bore of 5 feet in length. When the sea water
has been forced into the narrow part of the tube, the whitening of the chromate of
silver enables the depth to be read by a scale graduated to fathons, the same
scale serving for every tube. When..on the other hand it is found that the sea
water has not been pressed beyond the wide part of the tube, the depth is read by
aid of graduation on the glass itself. I would here remark that I do not claim
under the present Patent the construction generally of a depth gauge of a different
calibre in different parts, as I used such a gauge publicly in 1876, on board the
Cunard Steamer "Scythia."
I attain the fourth object, and at the same time the fifth object of my Invention
by an improvement upon the well known form of depth gauge, which was described
by Lieutenant Jewell of the United States navy in "Nature," for the 17th day of
January A.D. 1878, and which consisted in using a glass tube closed at one end
and bent downwards on the two sides of its middle, so as to constitute two equal
When the
parallel legs with their lower ends, one open, and the other closed.
depth exceeds 5 fathoms, the water is pressed to the top of the open leg, and falls
down into the closed one. The quantity of water found remaining in the closed
leg when the gauge is brought to the surface is taken as an indication of the
depth. This instrument would give thoroughly trustworthy indications if during
the whole time of its being brought up from the bottom of the sea and got on
board the ship it were kept nearly enough upright to prevent any water from
being expelled out of the closed leg, or from flowing into it. But this instrument
is liable to error,
because this condition is not fulfilled when the sounding is taken
from a ship moving rapidly through the water. To remedy this defect I substitute
for the glass tube bent in its middle two pieces of straight tube, one of them of
glass, and the other preferably of metal, with their ends covered by a cap (by
preference of metal), communicating by a fine bent or angled metal tube passing
through holes in the centres of these caps, so as to establish communication between
the two tubes. The lower end of the glass tube is stopped by a pad or its
equivalent, which can be readily removed to allow the water standing in the said
glass tube to. run out therefrom after the depth indicated thereby has been
ascertained. The other tube is open at its lower end. If the water forced into
the glass tube in this instrument be not more than enough to half fill it, there will
be practically no liability to error through any of the water being expelled during
the ascent from the bottom, but there will be liability to such error if the said

page_text: glass tube be more than half filled with water. Hence, I limit the graduation for
fathoms to the lower half of the glass tube, or to such length of it as experience
may shew, to give a perfectly trustworthy character to the indications, and I use
several different gauges for different ranges of depth with glass tubes of approxi-
mately equal calibre, and with the other open tubes of greater and greater calibre
for the greater depths, instead of the single gauge described by Lieutenant Jewell,
with its two legs of equal calibre. Thus, for example, I use three gauges, of which
the first has its open tube of twice the capacity of its glass tube, and is suitable for
depths of from 11 to 27 fathoms. The second gauge has its open tube of five times
the capacity of its glass tube, and is suitable for the range of depths from 27 to 60
fathoms. The third gauge has its open tube of eleven times the capacity of its
glass tube, and is suitable for the range of depths from 60 to 126 fathoms. In
Figures 16 to 26 of the accompanying Drawing I have represented a sounding
instrument, consisting of three gauges in combination, as hercin before described,
Figure 16 being an elevation of the instrument, Figure 20 a section of the same,
wherein the section of the envelope or casing of the instrument and its adjuncts
is taken in a diametrical line; but the section of the gauge tubes is taken on the
line 3, 4, Figures 18 and 19; Figure 17 is an elevation of the
group of gauge tubes
removed from the casing; Figure 19 is a plan of underside of the same; Figure 18
is a transverse section on the lino 5, 6, Figure 17; Figure 21 is a vertical section,
and Figure 22 a plan of the casing and its adjuncts; Figures 23 and 24 are vertical
sections respectively (taken on the lines 7, 8, and 9, 10, of Figures 18 and 19) of
the gauges for the least and greatest depths, shewing the communication between
the two tubes of each gauge. In Figure 20 a similar view of the gauge for middle
depths is shown. Figure 25 represents the instrument enclosed in its outer
projecting sheath, the upper part being in section to shew the method of fastening
the instrument in this outer case, and Figure 26 represents a plan of the fastening
used for this purpose.
9
There are three gauges in the instrument illustrated, the whole of them being
attached to the cap or top piece n, through which the communication between the
two tubes of the respectivo gauges are made, as shewn clearly in Figures 18, 20, 23
and 24. The gauge for depths of 11 to 271 fathoms consists of the brass tube p,
and the glass tube p², communicating with each other by the passage p³ through
the cap n.
The gauge for depths of from 27 to 60 fathoms consists of the brass
tube and the glass tube q communicating by the passage q3 through the cap n.
The gauge for depths of 60 to 120 fathoms consists of the brass tuber and the
glass tube, communicating with each othor by the passage through the cap n.
The glass tubes 2², q³, r, of the several gauges are of the same capacity and of the
same length; they are fixed water tight in the short tubes p', 9, 74, fastened in
recesses in the cap n. The brass tubes p, q, r, are fastened upon projections n³
from the said cap n. The communications from the brass tube to the glass tube of
each gauge consists of the trumpet mouthed opening n³ from the brass tube to the
transverso passage (p³, q³, or 3) from which transverse passage the passage n' opens
into the glass tube (2², q, or ), the said passage n' being formed through a cone
shaped nipple piece projecting into the glass tube, as shewn. The tubes and caps n
aro slipped into the casing & wherein are three slots 8 respectively opposite the
three glass tubes p², q², and r², of the three gauges, and through which the amount
of water in the said glass tubes can be seen after a sounding has been taken. The
said slots 8 have at their sides scales upon which are marked divisions shewing
the distance to which water will be forced into the respective glass tubes at certain
depths. The scale for the first gauge glass p² is marked ps, and that of the second
is marked . The scale for the third gauge glass is shewn at Figure 16A, and is
marked 5.
At the bottom of the casing a is situated a metal plate or disc t with a pad of
india rubber t at its upper side. This disc is retained in an approximately hori-
zontal position by a not absolutely rigid rod t engaging in the hole in a bracket
piece fixed to the side of the casing (Figures 21 and 22) and by a guide, as at t³,

page_text: working in a slot in the casing 8. It is guided also by three slight projections or
knobs, as at ts, projecting from itself to make an easy fit in the casing, with about
one ninteenth of an inch of free space all round it elsewhere to allow sand or other
solid particles to wash freely away without jamming the disc. A screw to works
in the bottom end of the casing 8, and when the gauge tubes are in position in the
casing & and secured therein by the cap piece 83, by screwing up this screw 1º, the
india rubber pad is pressed against the ends of the tubes p, q, and 7, and
effectually closes them air and water tight; ' is a guard piece to prevent the
screw from being accidentally fully withdrawn and lost. The brass tubes p, q,
and r, are shorter than the glass tubes 2, 9, and so that their ends always
remain open. The ends of the said brass tubes p, q, and, have screwed prolonga-
tions upon them for adjusting the capacity of the said brass tubes to the correct
degree relatively with the glass tubes, as by screwing these pieces u in one or other
direction the whole effective length of the brass tube is increased or diminished
until the capacity is the proper multiple of the capacity of the glass tube used in
connection with it, which must be specially measured in every case. By multiple
I mean any whole number or proper or improper fraction. A piece of cloth, as
at u², is tied over the mouth of each of the tubes p, 9, and 1, to prevent any air
from escaping until all the water is expelled from the brass tubes as they are
drawn up obliquely from the bottom of the sea. These pieces of cloth are shown in
Figure 17, but not in the other Figures.
"
The instrument when in use is attached to the sounding line by a piece of strong
plaited hemp rope ("sash-cord or signal halyard") about two fathoms long
passed through the hole s in the cap picces at one end, and to the sounding lino
at the other, and the sinker is attached by a similar but weaker rope or cord about
two fathoms long, as shown in Figure 27, to the loop v² at the bottom of the outer
protecting sheath v of galvanized iron, which is used to contain the instrument
and protect it; Figure 25 illustrates the instrument enclosed in this outer pro-
jecting sheath v. The said instrument is fixed in the said sheath by a pin w
passing through holes in the said casing vand in the cap piece 8. The said pin w
is retained in position by the spring piece w and side horns w³, or a plain metal or
hard wood bolt kept in position by an india rubber band passing through a hole
in one end may be used. On this fastening being removed after taking a sounding
the gauge may be withdrawn from the sheath v. Holes are formed through the
sheath for the ingress of water, which passes by the shots 83 into the tube p, q,
and of the gauges, and thence upward and over into the glass tubes of the
gauges. The water first overflows into the glass tube of the first gauge, and there-
after, when a greater depth is reached, the water will be pressed into the glass
tube of the second gauge, and when a still greater depth is reached the water will
be pressed into the glass tube of the third gauge. Soveral round-sectioned rings
of india rubber s are put around the casings, as indicated in Figure 16, so as to
form a padding between it and the outer sheath v. The cord or rope between the
sinker and the gauge ought to be so much weaker than that above as not to bear
more than seventy or eighty pounds, so that in case of the sinker being caught by
a rock or other obstacle the wire and pressure gauge will come away, leaving the
sinker behind it.
When the depths to be tested are known to be all between certain moderate
limits, as 15 fathoms and 40+ fathoms, a single gauge on the same plan will
suffice with proper proportion of the capacity of the brass tube to the capacity of
the glass tube, as 3 to 1 in the case of the above example, or 3 to 1 if the smallest
depth to be measured be 18 fathoms, and the greatest 44.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth objects of my Invention are attained by the use of
an elastic flat shaped bottle to shew by the diminution of its volume the water
pressure to which it is subjected, and so as to allow the depth to which it is suuk
to be inferred.
Figure 28 represents in elevation, and Figure 29 in vertical section an instrument
constructed according to this part of my Invention. The part which I call the

page_text: clastic bottle is marked x. It is a very flat approximately elliptic cylinder of
sheet brass, which may be of about 15 inches long and 2 inches longer diameter.
This bottle is furnished with a perforated plug communicating with the interior
of the bottle at its lower part, upon which plug the stopper 2 is screwed; this
stopper is shewn in its two positions in Figures 30 and 31. In the position,
Figure 30, the leather or india rubber pad in the stopper ² is pressed over the
opening in the plug z¹, and the passage to the interior of the bottle x is closed.
is
In the other position the stopper is unscrewed, so that the pad is brought
from over the opening in the plug x and communication with the interior of the
bottle established by the opening in the said stopper ², so that when the stopper
is in this last named position a nozzle of a syringe or other like instrument may
be inserted into the said passage and water or other liquid passed into the said
bottle until it is filled, when the stopper ² will be screwed down to close the
communication. A long fine tube y passes up from the bottom of the interior of
the bottle (the said tube y being perforated at its lower end at y³ and passing
through a hole in the centre of the top of the said bottle and into a strong inverted
rigid brass bottle or chamber with a dome shaped top and a conical neck
tapering to its mouth, to which the glass tube is sealed. This glass tube
closed at its lower end and serves as a measuring vessel. When the gauge is in use
the bottle x being filled with liquid the pressure of the water through which the
gauge descends pressing against the exterior of the said gauge forces more or less
of the water through the opening y into and through ths tube y, and therefrom it
falls down into the glass tube s. The quantity of water in this tube when the
gauge is brought to the surface will indicate the depth to which it has descended,
and a scale may be placed beside or attached to the said tube, which scale is
graduated by experiment by aid of an apparatus for artificially producing water
pressure up to twenty or thirty atmospheres, or inore. To prepare for a fresh cast
the gauge is turned upside down. The liquid which has been expelled runs from
the glass tubes down to the dome shaped bottom of the rigid bottle ³. The
stopper a is moved to open the communication with the interior of the bottle x,
and by blowing in or out several times by the mouth or by a hand blower the
liquid is forced up through the pipe y into the elastic bottle x. To make sure that
the whole of the liquid has thus been forced up there is in the middle of the dome
shaped top of the bottle a well or hollow, and the top open end of the tube y
touches, or nearly so, the bottom of this hollow. The elastic bottle ought to be
nearly full of liquid when all the liquid is thus forced into it. The liquid may be
either pure water or water with a little glycerine to prevent trouble by freezing,
The gauge is fitted with a sheath or sheaths provided with means for the ingress of
water, and is attached to the sounding line in the same manner as described with
regard to the gauge, Figures 16 to 27.
This "elastic bottle gauge" may be advantageously used in combination with the
single, double, or triple air compression gauge herein before described to extend the
scale, as for example, in combination with the triple gauge to give measurements of
from 11 fathoms to 300 or 400 fathoms.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein befor in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement or construction of deep sea sounding apparatus consisting
in so combining the drum containing the wire sounding line and the framing which
carries the said drum with a box containing line water or other preservative
liquor, that the said wire drum and framing may at once bo turned down into or
placed in the said lime water or other preservative liquor without taking the said
drum from its bearings.
Second. The arrangements of brako heroinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings, wherein the necessary

page_text: resistance to be put upon the wire drum in paying out the sounding wire and the
greater resistance required to stop or to prevent its revolution are applied to the
said drum by means of weights or springs on the two ends of a brake cord, and the
said resistance taken off from the said drum either by a secondary cord, as in
Figures 1 and 2, so connected to the weights or springs as to cause the greater to
overbalance the lesser, or by causing the said weights or springs to rest upon
supports or be checked by supports or stops, as in Figures 11 and 12, so that in
either case all resistance is taken from the wire drum when the sounding line is to
be hauled in.
Third. The arrangement of brake described with reference to Figure 14 of the
accompanying Drawings wherein the cord his rendered capable of use both as a
brake cord and as a band for hauling in the sounding line.
Fourth. The gauge for indicating the depth of water described with reference to
Figure 15 of the accompanying Drawings consisting of a tube having an upper part
of definite length and of finer calibre than the lower part, and the said lower part
having a definite ratio of volume to the upper part, so that one detached scale inay
serve for any number of such gaugos, the said parts of the gauge being lined with
chromate of silver or other chemical preparation for retaining a mark for enabling
the distance to which the water has entered the tube to be readily and accurately
ascertained.
Fifth. An air-compression depth gauge in which the depth is discovered by
measuring the quantity of water forced into the air vessel after the air has been
compressed to some definite ratio of less than half the whole bulk of the air vessel,
essentially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The depth gauge consisting of a tube of adjustable capacity with or
without cloth to guard its lower end and communicating at its upper end through
a fine tubular passage with another tube capable of being closed and opened, and
used for showing the depth by the quantity of water forced into it.
Seventh. A depth gauge consisting of a group of two, three, or more gauges.
wherein each succeeding tube by which the water enters bears an increasing ratio of
capacity to its receiving tube.
Eighth. The depth gauge for indicating depths by pressure upon an elastic
vessel, essentially as herein before described with reference to Figures 28 to 31 of
the accompanying Drawings, whether it be used alone or in combination with the
single or multiple gauge claimed in the fifth, sixth, and seventh claiming clauses.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Sir William Thomson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand oight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM THOMSON. (L.S.)