Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preventing the Sinking of Ships or Vessels, and for Raising Sunken Ships or Vessels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preventing the
Sinking of Ships or Vessels, and for Raising Sunken Ships or
Vessels.
I, JOHN MACKENZIE, of 3 New North Road, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to the method of and means for preventing the
sinking of ships or vessels and also for raising sunken vessels.
In order to carry out my invention I place in each or certain of the holds or
interior compartments of the ship or vessel, but preferably between the bulk-heads,
one or more tanks composed of iron or other suitable metal or material, in which
tanks I place a quantity of zinc or other suitable material, which, on sulphuric
acid (or other acid used in the manufacture of hydrogen gas) being introduced
therein, will generate hydrogen gas. On the deck of the vessel is another tank or
tanks, lined with lead or otherwise, containing sufficient sulphuric acid, with water
if required, to generate hydrogen gas, such tank or tanks being connected with the
tanks containing zinc by means of a pipe or pipes which terminate near to the
bottom of said zinc tanks, and form the channel or channels for conveying
the acid thereto. The zinc tanks are also provided with outlet pipes which extend
near to the top of the hold or compartment.
In the event of a vessel or ship springing a leak, from collision or other cause,
or shipping such a quantity of water as to threaten to sink the vessel, I admit
sulphuric acid to the pipe or pipes communicating with the tanks in the hold,
which, on meeting with the zinc in such tanks, generates hydrogen gas therein, the
gas passing through the outlet pipe into the hold and forcing the water through
an exit pipe or pipes onto the deck, whereby the vessel is kept afloat until repaired.
Before admitting the acid to the zinc tanks, the hatchways into the hold are made
as air-tight as possible by any suitable means, and all portholes or bulkhead doors
above the water line are closed.
When applying my invention to sunken ships or vessels, I sink the tanks
containing zinc or like material into the hold or other part of the vessel where
convenient, such tanks being provided with acid inlet pipes and with outlet pipes
as before set forth. An indiarubber tube or pipe is then attached to the acid
inlet pipe and reaches above the surface of the water, so that the sulphuric or like
acid, for manufacturing hydrogen gas, can be passed down said pipe and conveyed
to the tanks. The gas is generated as before described, and passing out at the
outlet pipes, expels the water out of the vessel, whereby it is enabled to rise to the
surface of the water and float.
By filling the holds or other like sunken spaces or compartments, in sinking or
sunken ships or vessels, with hydrogen gas generated by introducing acids, such as
sulphuric acid, upon zinc or other material which may be used with such acids for
decomposing water, either under water or otherwise, the sinking of leaking vessels
or ships is prevented, and sunken vessels or ships can be raised and floated.
Dated this 25th day of October 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Preventing the
Sinking of Ships, or Vessels, and for Raising Sunken Ships or
Vessels.
I, JOHN MACKENZIE, of 3 New North Road; Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Surgeon,
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, which has reference to the method of and means for raising
sunken ships or vessels, and also for preventing the sinking of ships or vessels,
consists in displacing or forcing the water from the whole interior of the vessel or
ship or from any interior spaces or compartments thereof by means of hydrogen:
gas or a mixture of hydrogen and other gas or gases, or by other gas having like
qualities to hydrogen gas (but preferably by hydrogen) which is generated either
on the ship or vessel to be raised or kept afloat, or on a separate ship or vessel, or
at the bottom of the water near the sunken vessel, and conducted by pipes to the
interior, or to compartments or spaces within the ship.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood; I have hereunto
annexed drawings illustrating various methods I may adopt in carrying my
invention into practice. It will be obvious, however, that the arrangement shewn,
and the methods of generating gas and admitting it into the interior of vessels or
ships to displace or force out the water therefrom are capable of modification. in
many respects according to the situation of the sunken vessel and to other
circumstances ; and it is further obvious that gas such as hydrogen may be
generated in any known manner.
b
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents one method of generating gas in or
on a sunken vessel A. a is a metal tank or generator, placed in the interior of
the vessel A, but which may be placed on the deck if preferred. This generator
is provided with an outlet pipe or pipes extending to any part of the interior of
the ship, and with inlet pipe c which reaches to the surface of the water and is
secured on board the attendant vessel B, or other floating structure. A quantity
of zinc, iron, or other suitable material is introduced into the generator a by
orifice d, which orifice is afterwards sealed up by a screwed cap or other means.
Dilute sulphuric, or other acid is fed into the pipe e from the attendant vessel B
and is conducted by such pipe to the interior of the generator a, where it acts
upon the zinc or iron therein and generates hydrogen gas; the
of the gas
within the generator forcing it through the outlet pipe or pipes to the interior
of the sunken vessel, the water in which is gradually displaced or forced out by
the accumulating gas. When the whole or sufficient of the water has thus been
discharged from the vessel, and its place taken by the gas, the vessel is.rendered
buoyant enough to rise to the surface of the water and. float thereon, and will
continue floating so long as the pressure of the gas in the interior, thereof is
maintained:
pressure
Before commencing to generate the gas all openings above the usual water-line
of the vessel when afloat, excepting such as may be considered. necessary for the
egress of the water, are closed to as great an extent as is practically. possible.
In Fig. 2 I shew the generator placed at the bottom of the water near, to the
sunken vessel, A, the outlet pipe b conveying gas from the generator to the interior
of the said vessel, through, the opening in the side thereof, or the pipe b may be
carried through the deck to the interior of the ship.
In Fig. 3 the generator is placed on board the attendant vessel B, and the gas
conveyed therefrom to the submerged vessel by the pipe b.
The same arrangements as above described apply also when the vessel is only
partially submerged. Two or more generators may be employed where necessary.

page_text: In the event of the zinc or iron being used up before sufficient gas has been
evolved to raise the ship, a fresh supply is introduced into the generator or
generators, and when these are placed under water, it would be preferable to carry
a pipe from them to the surface of the water, such said pipe being sealed by any
ordinary double or back pressure valves, so that zinc or iron could be easily
admitted to the pipe and conveyed into the generators.
The gas may be introduced into a space or spaces between two or more bulk-
heads only, or may be admitted to the whole interior of the sunken or partially
submerged vessel as may be thought advisable.
or vessels
When applying my invention to prevent the sinking of leaking ships
(shewn at Fig. 4) I close all orifices which are above the water line in the whole
or in that part of the ship into which I propose to convey the hydrogen or other
gas, excepting such an orifice or orifices as may be considered necessary for the
egress of water. I then proceed to generate gas, preferably, by means of zinc or
iron, acid and water, as previously described herein, and convey such gas by outlet
pipe or pipes 6 to the interior of the vessel, or to that portion of it which it is
desired to drive out the water from, or to prevent the entry of water therein.
the gas is driven into the interior or a portion of the interior already wholly or
partially filled with water, the water will be driven from it either at the orifice or
orifices through which it found entry, or through those purposely left open, or
through orifices or pipes provided for that purpose.
If
The gas may also be let into the whole or a portion of the interior of a vessel or
ship and kept therein so as to prevent, by pressure, the water from entering.
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 :-
Firstly. For preventing the sinking of leaking ships or vessels, the charging of
that portion of the interior which it is desired to remove the water from (or to
prevent the entry of water thereto) with a gas such as hydrogen, substantially as
herein described.
Secondly. The raising and floating of submerged or partly submerged ships or
vessels by charging or filling the whole or portions of the interior thereof with a
gas having the power of displacing or discharging the water from the interior of
said ships or vessels substantially as herein described and after the manner shewn.
Thirdly. The generation of a gas such as hydrogen in a tank or generator such
as a provided with an inlet pipe for acid and an outlet pipe or pipes for gas, placed
on or in a submerged or partly submerged vessel, or on the bottom of the water-
way, or on an attendant vessel; or on a leaking vessel, in the manner and for
purposes substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 25th day of July 1891
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax and Huddersfield, Agents.