Improvements in and connected with Means for Establishing Communication and Effecting Rescue at Sea.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1894-Accepted. 22nd June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Means for Establishing
Communication and Effecting Rescue at Sea.
FRANCES WELLINGTON, Lady, Melrose, High Road, Chiswick, London, W.
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, with the aid of the accompanying drawings :-
:-
An inflated round ball globe or tank A made of strong thin specially manufactured
india rubber, skin, silk, leather or other fabric, or material whatsoever, in diameter
of about two feet or more, as may be thought necessary, with opening or projecting
mouth B, for inserting or binding in with copper wire or otherwise, a short tubular
mouth-piece, of brass, copper, galvanized iron, steel, or other strong material, C,
with stop tap D, or ball valve tap in centre, and strong revolving metal ring E, for
fastening a line to, said tubular mouth-piece will have screwed tapped top F, for
screwing on an air-pump, for inflating, afterwards to receive metal cap, the said
stop-tap or ball valve in centre of mouth-piece, will be opened for inflating the
said globe ball or tank, and when inflation is complete, will shut off to prevent
escape, during time of removal of pump and screwing on cap, G, where pump came
off inside top of cap will have an india rubber washer fixed to make a sound
joint.
A line of the very best and finest plaited hemp similar somewhat to a log-line in
dimensions specially made and prepared in boiling oil to keep out the wet to prevent
sinking, in length varying froni 300 to 1000 yards or more, according to size of
ball globe or tank, with a strong revolving metal snatch hook I with spring catch
to prevent coming off, spliced on one end of line ready to instantly connect to, ring
or mouth-piece E placed as before mentioned for this purpose; this making
connection with ball globe or tank complete.
A suitable winder made of metal, wood or other material for winding the line on,
similar to a reel that cotton is wound on, only sufficiently large to take the
necessary quantity of line, a tube or bar running through a hole in middle of reel
with just enough liberty to revolve and projecting out each end about five
inches, and prepared smooth for sailors to grasp in their hands, to allow line to pay
away off said reel, as the ball globe or tank rapidly proceeds to shore, as the gale
that put the ship ashore will put our ball globe or tank there, in a few seconds.
The small rocket line that takes hours sometimes to be driven against the gale,
can then be made fast to our line from ship on rocks or shore and be drawn aboard
and usual routine follow.
The ball globe or tank will be painted white with illuminous paint, thus making
it quite visible on dark nights.
The whole apparatus will fold up and pack away in quite a small sized box with
pump and winding reel with line on, ready for instant use, and can be hung up in
captain's cabin. It can be used from round top, deck or any position on board.
This method or apparatus before described, applies also for the use of ships,
steamers, or other sailing vessels in distress, or broken-down, water-logged, or
otherwise requiring assistance to get a line of communication with a boat or other
vessels going to the rescue or assistance of same, also for use on light-ships or
light-houses, or other vessels, where boats are knocking about for hours in terrible
seas trying to approach sinking or disabled vessels.
As a messenger for dispatching letters or news of mishap, &c., a mouth-piece
is made containing only. C. F. G the stop-tap or ball valve tap and cap as described

page_text: in first part of my declaration. Just below the said mouth-piece is inserted a pocket
about 15" depth by 8" width or larger or smaller as necessary, made of the same
material as the ball globe or tank and hanging inside of same, and mouth-piece
projecting about 1" outside of external part of globe ball or tank, in which is
made a similar size projecting mouth-piece H., so that the two may be strongly
sewn together or otherwise worked together in manufacture; and then after the
inserting of any message or letter the moutb-piece will be pressed air-tight together
by means of two parallel bars of metal or other material with small bolts and
nuts of suitable dimensions.
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,
1stly. I claim that my said invention consists of an inflated ball globe or tank
in size 2 feet diameter or more as may be thought necessary, composed of india
rubber overlaid with canvas, or india rubber alone, skin, silk or other fabric,
with projecting mouthpiece, in diameter inch or more for binding in with copper
wire or otherwise a short tubular mouthpiece of brass, aluminium, copper,
galvanized iron, steel or other strong material with stop tap or ball valve tap in
centre or spring bottom valve for letting in securing or discharging the air,
surmounted with revolving ring of metal for fastening a line or wire to said tubular
mouthpiece, will have an inside screwed tapped top for screwing in air pump for
inflating, afterwards to receive metal cap with india rubber washer jointed
ledge at top of wormed portion, screwed on to make air tight joint when inflation
is complete.
Attached to the strong metal revolving ring fixed on top of mouthpiece will be
fastened a long finest plaited hemp line or wire line, in length varying from
250 yards to a 1,000 yards similar to a log line, boiled in oil or a preparation to
prevent sinking, having at end a strong revolving metal snatch hood for instant
connection to said revolving ring. The said long line or wire will be wound round
a suitable winder made of metal, wood or other material in shape somewhat to
a reel, sufficiently large to receive quantity of line closely wound, a tube or bar
suitably connected to allow reel to revolve round, passed through centre of the said
reel and projecting about 5 inches out each side and suitably prepared as handles
for sailor to grasp with each hand to pay away with as the ball globe or tank flies
before the wind, or gale. The line on reaching the shore can be attached to rocket
or other line and pulled aboard ship, steamer or other vessel as the case may be.
The said ball globe or tank will be painted white with illuminous paint to be
plainly visible at night.
The said ball globe or tank will double up when not in use and pack away with
reel containing line, and small pump in a small box and be hung up in captain's
cabin ship's or steamer's name will be painted on same.
2ndly. I claim that my said invention used as a messenger from the sea consists
of an inflated ball globe or tank, in size 2 feet diameter or more as may be thought
necessary composed of india rubber, overlaid with canvas or india rubber alone,
skin, silk or other fabric with projecting tubular mouthpiece, in diameter about
inch or more, for binding in with copper wire or otherwise a short tubular
mouthpiece of brass, aluminium, copper, steel or other strong metal, with spring
valve on inside bottom, for stopping air during inflation; said tubular mouthpiece
will have an inside screwed tapped top to receive pump for inflating, afterwards to
receive screwed metal cap with an india rubber ring on ledge at top of same to
make perfectly air tight when inflation is complete. Just below the aforesaid
mouthpiece is inserted a pocket about 15" depth and about 8" in width or larger or
smaller as thought necessary, made of same material as ball globe or tank and with
hanging inside of same and fixed flush outside of a similar sized projecting mouth-
piece made in aforesaid ball globe or tank, strongly sewn together or otherwise
worked together in manufacture. The said parallel mouthpiece will be pressed

page_text: air tight together by means of two parallel bars of metal or other material, with
small bolts and nuts of suitable dimensions. The said ball globe or tank will be
painted with illuminous paint. The said inflated messenger after message or
important documents are inserted, will having ship's or steamer's or other vessel's
name painted on, be sent adrift, will soon reach shore and be overhauled by coast-
guard or others and soon be reported.
3rdly. I claim the use of this my said invention as a means of picking up a towing
hawser at sea.
4thly. I claim the use of this my invention as a means of picking up a line from
a boat coming to rescue of a ship steamer or other vessel in distress.
5thly. As a means of assisting pilot aboard ship.
6thly. As a means of getting rope connection from ship or steamer to another or
each other at sea, or from light-houses or light-ships to a boat coming to rescue or
assistance or a means of communicating a line from one point to another, at sea or
any other place.
December 19th, 1904
FRANCES WELLINGTON,
Melrose, High Road, Chiswick, London, W.