An Automatically-inflatable Life-saving Apparatus for use in Water.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatically-inflatable Life-saving Apparatus for use
in Water.
I, CHRISTIAN PAULSEN, of Baumeister St., 91, St. Georg, Hamburg, in the
German Empire, Merchant, 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 apparatus designed to be carried about the person for
use as a safeguard against drowning, and comprises an expansible vessel in
conjunction with means for automatically inflating the same with gas, which is.
spontaneously generated upon the apparatus being immersed in or coming in.
contact with water.
In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the way in which I
prefer to carry out the present invention,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus without the expansible vessel.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding longitudinal section; the cartridge-case being empty.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x in Fig. 2.
The cartridge-case a, which is filled with a suitable inflammable substance, is
inserted into the cylinder b. The rear end of the latter is thereupon firmly closed
by screwing on a cap c. The folded expansible vessel is then fastened on a
nozzle d projecting from the other end of the cylinder. In order to enable the
cartridge-case a to be easily pushed in its proper position into the cylinder b, the
guiding rods e and are provided. Any rotation of the cartridge in the cylinder
is prevented by the projecting piece g, which lies between the rods f. The contact.
of the cartridge with the cap c and the nozzle d is rendered impossible by the
projecting piece on the cartridge-case a and the projecting piece i on the guiding
rod e.
The firing of the cartridge is effected by means of a hammer k arranged in a
box attached to the side of the apparatus; this hammer being actuated by a
spring m coiled on the axis of the hammer, and kept cocked by a sear or lever..
As soon as the sear or catch is released, the hammer strikes through the hole n in
the cylinder b, and fires the cartridge. The cocking of the hammer k is effected
by the handle o, which is attached to the axis of the hammer and works in a
gas-tight bearing in the wall of the box j.
The hammer is kept cocked and liberated in the following way :-A second box q
attached to the cylinder b is filled with a substance which, while being easily
soluble, is not hygroscopic. The broad flat arm of the lever rt lies on this
substance, so that a rotation of the lever about the centres in the direction
indicated by the arrow is hereby prevented. The short arm t of the lever t
engages with the arm u on the axle l, and prevents the turning of the axle and
consequently of the hammer itself.
On the apparatus entering the water, the substance contained in the box q
dissolves and frees the lever rt, whereupon the axle is turned by the spring m,
and the hammer falls, its nose passing through the hole n and firing the cartridge,
which then produces the gases for inflating the expansible vessel. In order to
protect the parts o, u and t from injury, a plate (Fig. 3) may be inserted between
the guides w.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction
illustrated in the drawings, as the cartridge, instead of being fired by a spring-
actuated hammer, may be fired by a substance (such, for instance, as one of the
alkali metals) which becomes ignited on contact with water.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. An automatically-inflatable life-saving apparatus for use in water, substantially
as herein described.
2. An automatically-inflatable life-saving apparatus, substantially as herein
described, wherein the combustion of a cartridge fired in the water iuflates a vessel
which in its normal condition is folded up.
3. In an automatically-inflatable life-saving apparatus of the kind herein
described, the employment, for keeping in engagement the sear or catch which
retains the igniting device in its active position, of a solid substance easily soluble
in water.
4. In an automatically-inflatable life-saving apparatus of the kind herein
described, the employment, for igniting the cartridge, of a hammer actuated by a
spring and retained in the cocked position by a lever or catch which is released by
the dissolving of a substance easily soluble in water.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1892.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.