Improvements in Apparatus for Releasing the Lights used in connection with Life Buoys
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Releasing the Lights used in
connection with Life Buoys.
I, ROBERT WHITBY of 2 Forest Terrace, Capel Road, Forest Gate in the
County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me dated the 8th day of October 1889,
No. 15802 I described a method of releasing a life buoy in such manner that when
it fell it freed a self igniting light which dropped after it into the water. The
object of this invention is to simplify the appliances.
I dispense with the bent rod employed in my former apparatus for supporting the
bottom of the light case and I rest the light case directly on the top of the buoy so
that as the buoy descends it allows the light case to drop out of the cylinder
containing it and follow and fall with the buoy. In order to prevent the light case
from being far separated from the buoy, I attach the two together by a line.
In place also of attaching to the buoy the pin for tearing open the light case to
expose the composition as described in my former Specification, I now connect it to
the cylinder containing the light case.
The bottom of the light case rests in a shallow recess on the top of the buoy and
is retained in position by two spring loops of wire which overlap on the top of the
case the pin passing between them and the lower ends of the wires being fixed at
the edge of the recess. When the buoy is dropped and the pin is drawn out the
loops are freed but still retain the light case which falls with the buoy. On striking
the water however the light case is detached from the buoy but remains in close
proximity to it being retained by the connecting line.
Dated this 24th dor of Anril 1891
ROBERT WHITBY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Releasing the Lights used in
connection with Life Buoys.
I, ROBERT WHITBY of 2 Forest Terrace, Capel Road Forest Gate in the
County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me dated the 8th day of October 1889,
No. 15802 I described a method of releasing a life buoy in such manner that when
it fell it freed a self igniting light which dropped after it into the water.
object of this invention is to simplify the appliances.
The
I dispense with the bent rod employed in my former apparatus for supporting the
bottom of the light case and I rest the light case directly on the top of the buoy so
that as the buoy descends it allows the light case to drop out of the cylinder
containing it and follow and fall with the buoy. In order to prevent the light case
from being far separated from the buoy, I attach the two together by a line.
In place also of attaching to the buoy the pin for tearing open the light case to
expose the composition as described in my former Specification, I now connect it to
the cylinder containing the light case.
The bottom of the light case rests in a shallow recess on the top of the buoy and
is retained in position by two spring loops of wire which overlap on the top of the
case the pin passing between them and the lower ends of the wires being fixed at

page_text: the edge of the recess. When the buoy is dropped and the pin is drawn out the
loops are freed but still retain the light case which falls with the buoy. On striking
the water however the light case is detached from the buoy but remains in close
proximity to it being retained by the connecting line.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view and Figure 2 is a side view both partly in section. a is
a life buoy stowed against a ship's side in the way described in my former Specifi-
cation and ready to be let go by releasing the hand chain b. My improved light
releasing apparatus is also represented. c is a bottomless cylindrical case fixed in
position upon the ship's side. d is a tin case containing the light composition; this
case is shown in section to a larger scale in Figure 3. e is a pin passing through
the case d and all around the pin in the cavity e¹ the light composition is contained.
It may be arranged that the light composition shall be ignited when the case d
enters the water, the composition being of a suitable nature or being provided with
a priming which fires on contact with water; or it may be arranged that the with-
drawal of the pin e shall cause the ignition of the composition. In either case the
end may be attained by well known means forming no part of my invention. The
buoy a carries a plate fand in this there is a cavity in which the case d stands when
the buoy is in place as in Figures 1 and 2. The plate has two loops of wire gg.
attached to it and these come up on either side of the case d and crossing each
other are retained by the conical head of the pin e which passes through the loops.
The plate when in place forms a bottom to the outer case e and so the light case
is well protected from the weather. h is a short cord which attaches the pin e to
the top of the outer case c. i is another cord connecting the case d with the plate f.
When stowed the cord i is coiled away between the plate and the bottom of the
case d.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the buoy is released it falls
taking the case d with it; but shortly the pin e is arrested by the cord ; the paper
wrapper or envelope of the light case d is torn or opened out and the light is made
ready for action. The pin e also being drawn out from between the wire loops g 9
releases them but nevertheless their elasticity is such as to ensure that the case d
remains for the time upon the plate f. Figure 4 shows the buoy in the act of
falling and with the parts in the position above stated. The entrance of the buoy into
the water displaces the light case d and it leaves the buoy. The light is now
burning. Figure shows the final position with the buoy floating on the surface
and the light also floating a short distance off and moored to the buoy by the cord i.
The buoy is provided with one or more hand lights such as are shown by the
Figure 6. The man when floating with the buoy uses these at his discretion.
draws the light when required from its socket in the buoy as shown in Figure 5 and
ignites the composition or priming by exposing it to contact with the water.
He
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination of parts substantially as described consisting of the buoy a ;
the outer case c; the light and light case d resting on the buoy or on a part
attached thereto; the pin e and the cord h which arrests the fall of the pin.
2. Apparatus substantially as described for the simultaneous release of life buoys
and lights.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.