Improvements in and relating to Life-belts and similar Appliances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Life-belts and similar Appliances.
I, JAMES NICHOLAS LAYTON, of Nevsky No. 84, St. Petersburg, in the
Empire of Russia, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to life-belts and similar buoyant appliances and is chiefly
designed to enable such appliances to be readily and instantaneously inflated when
required without incurring the loss of time and consequent risk involved in inflating
them by means of an air-pump or by blowing into them.
According to my said invention I provide the life-belt or the like with two
expansible or inflatable gas-tight chambers or compartments each provided with a
separate aperture, which is closed by a removable screw-plug or by other suitable
means. These chambers are connected together by means of a chamber or passage
preferably arranged so as to communicate between the lowermost points of the
said compartments when the belt or other appliance is in position for use, the said
passage being normally closed by a suitable valve or closing device preferably an
external spring-clip for compressing or squeezing together the walls thereof which
are thickened to strengthen them and to ensure the closing of the passage when
the said walls are pressed together by the clip.
Into the said chambers or compartments I introduce suitable substances, which,
when allowed to mix with one another, for example, by opening the said
communicating passage will generate gas and so cause the belt or other appliance
to become inflated. The substances which I prefer to employ are aqueous
solutions of carbonate of soda and of tartaric acid.
In charging the belt, the communicating passage between the chambers or
compartments is closed and a suitable quantity of bicarbonate of soda, dissolved in
a quarter or a half glass of water, is poured into one compartment and a solution
of tartaric acid, into the other compartment, the openings are then closed air-tight
and the belt is ready for use. The said belt thus charged can remain for an
unlimited period without losing its efficiency. When required for use, the spring-
clip is removed, the solutions come together by the action of gravity and the gas
thereby generated instantly inflates the belt which is able to support the heaviest
man in a safe position, this being possible even if the clip be removed under water.
To discharge the belt, the plugs are removed and the gas allowed to escape, the
liquid therein is removed and the chambers washed out with clean water, after
which it may be re-charged as above mentioned.
I preferably make the belt of suitable water and air-proof material such, for
example as india-rubber covered with cloth, and arrange the filling apertures
above mentioned at its upper edge. I also provide suitable straps and buckles or
other fastenings whereby it may be secured to the person. It may be worn when
charged either under or over ones clothes without inconvenience and is ready for
use at any moment.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Life-belts and similar Appliances.
I, JAMES NICHOLAS LAYTON, of Nevsky No. 84, St. Petersburg, in the
Empire of Russia, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to inflatable life-belts and similar buoyant appliances, and
is chiefly designed to enable such appliances to be readily and instantaneously
inflated when required without incurring the loss of time and consequent risk
involved in inflating them by means of an air-pump or by blowing into them.
According to my said invention I provide the life-belt or the like with expansible
or inflatable gas-tight chambers or compartments each provided with a separate
filling aperture, which is closed by a removable screw-plug or by other suitable means.
These chambers are connected together by means of a channel or passage preferably
arranged so as to communicate between the lowermost points of the said
compartments when the belt or other appliance is in position for use, the said
passage being normally closed by a suitable valve or closing device, preferably an
external spring-clip for compressing or squeezing together the walls thereof,
which are thickened to strengthen them and to ensure the closing of the passage
when the said walls are pressed together by the said clip.
Into the said chambers or compartments I introduce suitable substances, which,
when allowed to mix with one another, for example, by opening the said
communicating passage, will generate gas and so inflate the belt or other
appliance. The substances which I prefer to employ are aqueous solutions of
carbonate of soda and of tartaric acid. I can, however, use other suitable
substances if desired.
In charging the belt or other appliance, the communicating passage between
the chambers or compartments is closed and a suitable quantity of bicarbonate of
soda, say about 10 drams dissolved in one eighth to one quarter of a pint of water,
is poured into one compartment, and a corresponding quantity of a solution of
tartaric acid (say about 8 drams dissolved in one eighth to one quarter of a pint
of water) into the other compartment, the openings are then closed air-tight and the
belt is ready for use. The said belt or other appliance thus charged can remain
for an unlimited period of time without losing its efficiency. In case of emergency,
it is only necessary to remove the spring-clip, when the solutions will come
together under the action of gravity, and the gas thereby generated will instantly
inflate both chambers or compartments of the belt, which, when so inflated, is. able
to support the heaviest man in a safe position, this being possible even if the clip
be removed under water.
To discharge the belt, the plugs are removed and the gas is then allowed to
escape and any remaining liquid poured out; the chambers are then washed out
with clean water, after which the belt may be re-charged as above described.
I prefer to make the belt of suitable water-proof and air-proof material, such,
for example as india-rubber covered with cloth, and to arrange the filling apertures
above mentioned at its upper edge. I also provide suitable straps and buckles or
other fastenings whereby it may be secured to the person. It may be worn either
under or over the wearer's clothes without inconvenience, and is ready for use at
any moment.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown one form of life-belt constructed
according to my said invention."
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the said belt with the channel or passage
between the chambers open.

page_text: Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of the same with the said channel or passage.
closed.
a, b are the chambers for containing the acid and alkaline solutions respectively.
c is the channel or passage connecting the said chambers. d is a spring clip which
is attached by a cord or chain d¹ to the belt and is adapted to be forced on to the
belt at the point where the channel c is situated, as shown in Figure 2, so as to
squeeze together the sides of the belt and thus tightly close the said channel.
e, fare the filling apertures which are closed by means of screw-plugs. g is a
strap for suspending the belt from the shoulders of the wearer, and h, h¹ indicate a
strap and buckle for securing it around the wearer's body.
It is obvious that other forms of life-belts and other buoyant appliances can be
similarly constructed according to my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The herein described method of providing for the inflation of life-belts-
or analogous appliances by the mixture of suitable substances, such as an acid and
an alkaline solution, previously contained in separate chambers or receptacles in
the belt or other appliance.
Second. A life-belt or analogous buoyant appliance having chambers provided
with filling apertures and with a connecting channel or passage closed by a suitable
valve or spring clip, substantially as and for the purpose above specified.
Dated this 8th day of October 1896
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.