Improved Gripping Apparatus for Diving Bells or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Gripping Apparatus for Diving Bells or the like.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62, Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(as communicated to me by Bergnings-och Dykeri Aktiebolaget Neptun,
Stockholm, Sweden) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved gripping apparatus for diving bells or the
like by means of which a diver inside a diving-bell, diving-tube or the like may
be able to catch, grip or hold objects outside the bell or tube, such as hooks, chains
or ropes which are to be attached to an object that is to be hoisted up out of the
water, or the object itself.
The invention consists in placing a pair of jaws on the outside end of a tube or
the like, which passes through and is so journaled in the side of the diving-bell
or diving-tube that it may, by means of a suitable handwheel or the like inside
the bell be turned around and to either side or up and down to a certain extent
so as to facilitate the getting at the object to be gripped. The said jaws are
connected with mechanism by means of which they may be pressed together or
apart from the inside of the bell for gripping or releasing an object.
One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where
a represents the vertical section of the wall of the diving-bell or diving-tube.
In this wall a tube b is journalled by means of a ball-joint, so that the tube can
be moved in and out through the ball c as well as turned. To the outer end of
the tube b is fastened a cross piece d to which two jaws or claws are jointed. A
link h, which is attached to the end of a bar f, which in its turn is threaded through
This link is
and fits movably inside the tube b, is passed over the said jaws.
supplied with friction rollers i, on which the jaws g move. The latter are curved
in such a manner as to form inclined planes, on which the link h slides when the
bar is pushed out of or pulled into the bell. Said movement is produced by turn-
ing a handwheel k, or the like, fixed to the nut which in its turn is fastened to
the inner, threaded end of the bar f. The nut is journalled in another hand-
wheel m or the like, which is fixed to the tube b. The jaws g are guided and their
movement is limited by a link or guide n connected with the cross-piece d.
Dated this 10th day of April 1897.
Improved Gripping Apparatus for Diving Bells or the like.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62, Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d.1

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved gripping apparatus for diving bells or the
like by means of which a diver inside a diving-bell, diving-tube or the like may
be able to catch, grip or hold objects outside the bell or tube, such as hooks, chains
or ropes which are to be attached to an object that is to be hoisted up out of the
water, or the object itself.
The invention consists in placing a pair of jaws on the outside end of a tube or
the like, which passes through and is so journaled in the side of the diving-bell
or diving-tube that it may, by means of a suitable handwheel or the like inside
the bell, be turned around and to either side or up and down to a certain extent
so as to facilitate the getting at the object to be gripped. The said jaws are
connected with mechanism by means of which they may be pressed together or
apart from the inside of the bell for gripping or releasing an object.
The invention is illustrated in the drawing left with the Provisional Specification,
where a represents the vertical section of the wall of the diving-bell or diving-tube.
In this wall a tube b is journalled by means of a ball-joint, so that the tube can
be moved in and out through the ball as well as turned. To the outer end of
the tube b is fastened a cross piece d to which two jaws or claws are jointed. A
link h, which is attached to the end of a bar f, which in its turn is threaded through
and fits movably inside the tube b, is passed over the said jaws.
This link is
supplied with friction rollers i, on which the jaws move. The latter are curved
in such a manner as to form inclined planes, on which the link h slides when the
bar is pushed out of or pulled into the bell. Said movement is produced by turn-
ing a handwheel k, or the like, fixed to the nut Z which in its turn is fastened to
the inner, threaded end of the bar f. The nut is journaled in another hand-
wheel m or the like, which is fixed to the tube b. The jaws g are guided and their
movement is limited by a link or guide n connected with the cross-piece d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tube passing through
a ball-joint in the wall of the bell, a crosspiece attached to the outer end of said
tube, two jaws or claws jointed to the said cross-piece and curved in such a manner
as to form inclined planes, a link attached to the outer end of a bar, which is
threaded through and fits movably inside the said tube, and is provided on the
inner end with a hand-wheel or the like, and a link or guide connected with the
said cross-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th of T1000
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER.