Improvements in Diving Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by STEFANO KUNKL and GUISEPPE Pixo, both of
Genoa, in the Kingdom of Italy.]
Improvements in Diving Apparatus.
T, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 an apparatus in which one or more persons may des-
cend in the water to a certain depth, the apparatus itself being adapted to be
guided in any desired direction either when rising or descending, and also being
capable of travelling along the bottom. In addition to this the apparatus in
question enables work to be executed outside from the interior, by the employ-
iment of suitable devices, even at great depths, either for recovering objects,
examinations, salvage and so forth upon the bottom in submarine caverns or upon
the sides of submerged vessels.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure represents a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure is a horizontal section.
Figure 4 is a front elevation.
Figure 5 represents upon a larger scale, one of the tools intended to work out-
side the apparatus.
Figures and are respectively a section and front elevations of the said tool.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 represent another form of tool shewn in detail.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section shewing the device serving to operate the
anchors.
Figures 12 and 13 are detail views of the gear mechanism by means of which
said anchors are caused to rise or descend, and
Figure 14 represents the submarine apparatus in position at the bottom of the
water, connected with a guide ship or vessel.
The
As will be seen by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 my improved submarine
apparatus is represented as almost ellipsoidal in form, with a central cylindrical
portion; it may, however be made of any suitable form according to circum-
stances. It may be constructed in iron, steel or any other material adapted to
resist the pressures which the vessel is intended to support. It will of course be
understood that all the parts which pass through the walls of the casing are
either provided with stuffing-boxes or packed in some suitable manner.
apparatus is formed at its upper portion with a dome through which access is
obtained to the apparatus and is provided with a door a adapted to be closed
hermetically and which may be opened or closed by means of the mechanism 6.
Upon the lower portion and outside the apparatus is fixed a tank or reservoir
for ballast, which should be lead or some other material of high specific gravity:
the ballast may be freed in case of need by opening from within the dischargers s
.
Price 8d 1

page_text: (see Figures 1 and 2) which are operated by means of screw devices.
The plat-
form is arranged upon the bottom of the apparatus. Apertures or windows f
are formed in the walls of the apparatus, in different positions in order to enable
the persons confined within the said apparatus to view their surrounding. These
windows are glazed with glass of great thickness, protected by shutters which
ensure tight closing in the event of the breakage of the window.
At the upper portion of the dome is arranged a cock e, for the purpose of
enabling air to be drawn in when the apparatus is floating, without the necessity
of opening the door a.
MOVEMENTS OF THE APPARATUS.
In order to cause the apparatus to descend vertically, a basin or tank m
Figures 1 and 2 ballasted with water, is arranged within the vessel at its lower
portion; water may be caused to enter this basin through the cock n' to the
extent necessary to submerge the apparatus.
In order to cause the apparatus to rise vertically, there are provided the dis-
chargers ss. for heavy ballast, which are utilised in case of need, and a pump ?
which forces the requisite quantity of water out through the valve from the tank
or reservoir m¹.
Movement in either a horizontal or an oblique direction is obtained by means
of a screw, operated by gear mechanism o or its equivalent, in combination with
the vanes, which are hereinafter described; for the purpose of effecting move-
ment of rotation around the vertical axis of the apparatus, there is provided a
screw m, actuated by the hand lever n or in any other suitable manner, which
screw, in combination with one of the anchors which are hereinafter described,
enables the apparatus to be caused to make that part of a revolution which may
be necessary to carry it to the desired point.
When the apparatus is resting upon the bottom, it is displaced by means of the
two pairs of wheels, &, the axle of which may either traverse the walls of the
casing directly or in a closed tube which passes through the said walls; the
wheels are protected by projecting portions of the casing. These wheels are
actuated within the apparatus by means of the endless screw which gears with a
corresponding screw thread formed upon the wheel axles, or in any equivalent
manner. The front and rear wheels may either be independent or connected in
such a manner as to move simultaneously.
The anchors are also employed in order to descend or to rise when the apparatus
is in equilibrium upon the bottom (see Figure 4) the anchors, or one of them, are
allowed to descend until they rest upon the bottom. The apparatus, relieved of
the weight of the anchor or anchors, is then able to rise by allowing the anchor
cable or chain to run out, or to descend by hauling upon it.
STEERING THE APPARATUS.
The vanes serve to steer the apparatus in the desired direction; the axis of
these vanes passes through the walls of the vessel, and they may be inclined at
any desired angle by means of the crank g. The steering of the apparatus depends
upon the combined action of these vanes and of the screws which afford the
motive impulse.
THE TOOLS AND THEIR ARRANGEMENT.
The tools are arranged in different parts of our submarine apparatus: they are
diagrammatically represented in the drawing and designated by the letters of
reference y, a, b, c, d, o, f, g, h in Figure 3, and in detail in Figures 5, 6, 7,
S, 9 and 10. These tools are arranged in such a manner as to enable the appara-
tus, when it has entered a cavern or a submerged vessel, to work in any position
in which it may be situated without its being necessary to displace it.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7 one of these work tools is represented as a whole; it
The tools are arranged in different parts of our submarine apparatus: they are
diagrammatically represented in the drawing and designated by the letters of
reference y, a, b, c, d, o¹, f, g, h in Figure 3, and in detail in Figures 5, 6, 7,
S, 9 and 10. These tools are arranged in such a manner as to enable the appara-
tus, when it has entered a cavern or a submerged vessel, to work in any position
in which it may be situated without its being necessary to displace it.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7 one of these work tools is represented as a whole; it

page_text: consists (see Figure 3) of a tight casing Z, in the form of a sleeve, applied to
the external wall of the vessel by means of a solid disc, of bronze or other suitable
material which is bolted to the said wall. To this disc are connected by means
of rings, rods g of steel or other suitable material arranged circularly and at-
tached at the other extremity to other rings, hooked to a hollow cylinder of a
special bronze or other suitable material, to which is fixed another series of rods.
These latter terminate in a bronze part VI upon which is fixed or cast the pincers
or jaws which form the extremity of the sleeve. The part VI is pierced to permit
of the passage of an axle X provided with a stuffing box W; this axle is pro-
vided with a screw thread corresponding with a female screw formed in the
part V. By causing the handle ', which is situated at the extremity of the
axle X, to rotate, the screw thread of the axle advances in the female screw in the
part V, and causes the lower portion of the jaw to descend, the said jaw being
consequently opened. The upper portion of the jaw is also rendered movable by
connecting it with the rotating axle likewise; in this manner the two arms of
the tool may be opened or closed at the same time. The apparatus as a whole,
for the purpose of rendering it impermeable to water even at high pressure, is
covered by one or more impermeable bandages which are arranged in such a
manner as to be capable of relaxing when the sleeve is drawn back. In the
drawing (Figure 5) two bandages are shewn; the first s of silk thread, the second
and outer bandage of india rubber. Coverings of any other suitable kind may,
however, he adopted according to requirements. These coverings are firmly fixed
to the extremities of the sleeve or to the vessel, as shewn in Figure 5, or in a
similar manner; the attachment should of course be water tight.
In order to operate the tool, the arm is introduced into the apertures y of the
vessel (see Figures 1 and 4), the handle is seized (see Figure 5) and with a
movement of the arm or hand, the tool is guided in the desired direction. Owing
to the arrangement of the tension rods, the sleeve may readily be deflected, and
the operator, by introducing both his arms into the apertures y, is able to per-
form the same work as a diver but at far greater depths.
in order to prevent any possibility of the water entering the vessel, in case of
rupture of the sleeves, these latter are provided with protecting covers i
Figures and 3 the shutter of which is caused to descend between slide-ways
by means of screws, this type of cover may be employed for protecting the win-
dows instead of that represented in Figures 1 and 3.
If it is desired to recover objects beneath the water instead of the jaws which
have been described (indicated by in Figure 3) a cutting tool d may
be pro-
vided, the movement of which is similar to that of the lower branch of the jaw;
this tool causes the product of its work to fall into a sack arranged beneath it.
Another form of tool is represented in Figures S, 9 and 10, and is indicated by
the letters a, b, c, f, gin Figure 3; two coupled tools of this kind are prefer
ably arranged upon each side of the vessel. They consist of a tube which
traverses a sphere y', which latter is fixed, by means of slide-ways to either the
internal or external wall of the casing within this tube slides an axle all which
may be advanced or withdrawn within the tube by means of gear of or other
equivalent mechanism, which causes the opening and closing of a jaw, respect-
ively, with a movement similar to that already described. This mechanism is
represented in detail in Figure S.
Another gear mechanism or its equivalent, as shewn in Figure 8, serves to
advance or withdraw the tube within the sphere y¹ upon this tube may be
arranged other tools in addition to the jaws or pincers above referred to, and
the tube may be turned in all directions within the sphere, this latter enabling
the apparatus as a whole to move in all directions. It is obvious that with one
or two arms all the work of a diver may be performed, but at greater depths, pro-
vided that the stuffing boxes which x the sphere to the flanges and the axle in
the tube are capable of resisting the pressures corresponding to the depths to
which the submarine apparatus is intended to descend.

page_text: .
SUBSIDIARY WORKING APPLIANCES.
These appliances consist in the anchors, arranged outside the casing of the
apparatus, as indicated in Figures 4 and 11 and in the bar o to which is sus-
pended the bucket (see Figure 1). As indicated in detail in Figures 4 and 11,
the anchors which are preferably brush shaped, are formed by fragments of
chain, in order that they may be capable of extending upon a bottom of any kind.
They are attached to a cable which is wound upon a drum carried upon supports
arranged outside the vessel; the axle 6 within the apparatus (as shewn in
Figure 1), is divided in such a manner that it may either be united by means of
a pin, or not, according as it is desired to render both the anchors operative at one
time or only one of them. The anchors may be raised or lowered by means of
gear mechanism g* (see Figures 12 and 13).
In Figure 1 the bar ol is represented fixed to an axle, which passes through the
upper wall of the vessel and terminates in a handle X which enables the bar to
be rotated and placed in any desired position; to the lower extremity of the
bar is suspended a bucket W, in which objects collected by the sleeves or work-
ing arms may be placed. A cord V one end of which is attached to the bar whilst
the other extremity is attached to the ship or vessel which accompanies the sub-
marine apparatus, serves as a guide for lowering within reach of persons in the
apparatus, tools, chains or other articles which they may require, and for bring-
ing to the surface the objects which have been collected.
The submarine apparatus may be placed in communication with the surface
of the water by means of a telephone t, and it may be provided with a pressure
gauge for ascertaining the depths to which it descends. It may be lighted
either within or from the exterior by means of electric or other lamps or reflec-
tors, which may be in communication with generators of electricity arranged in
the conveying or guide vessel. The air necessary for the respiration of the occu-
pants of the apparatus, in addition to that contained therein, may be supplied by
means of a pump provided in the conveying vessel for this purpose, there are
provided in the casing two attachments for impermeable tubes which form a cir-
cuit for the admission and discharge of the air. Within the apparatus are pro-
vided three cocks d, e and p; the cock & serves for the introduction of the air,
the cock for the evacuation of the air in excess, the cock being kept closed.
If it is not desired to renew the air the cocks and c are closed and the central
cock is left open, the air circulating around the upward and downward pipes.
Should these pipes become injured, the person enclosed in the apparatus is able
to interrupt, all communication with the outside and prevent the admission of
water by closing the cocks and c; in this manner it is possible to indefinitely
prolong the period during which the workmen remain beneath the water without
any ill effects resulting.
In conclusion, our improved submarine apparatus, as already stated, is adapted
to descend independently and alone beneath the water to the desired depth, with-
out in any way being in communication with the air; if the apparatus is con-
nected with a convoying vessel by means of pipes for supplying air, it presents
- as a whole the appearance illustrated in Figure 14.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. Screws, which may be arranged in different planes, for the purposes herein-
before set forth and adapted to be operated in combination with vanesh for effect-
ing the displacement and steering of the apparatus.
2. Tanks or reservoirs for heavy ballast and for water ballast adapted to be
discharged in the manner herein before set forth.
3. Tools termed sleeves or arms, suitably arranged either singly or coupled,
consisting of one or more systems of rods connected with hollow cylinders or with

page_text: plates the whole being covered by one or more impermeable bandages or cover-
ings for the purposes and in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
4. In a tool as described in Claim 3 a mechanism of the kind represented in
Figure 5 of the drawings, or other equivalent means for separating and bringing
together the branches of the jaw or pincers fixed to the extremity of the sleeve
or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. Tools suitably arranged either singly or coupled, consisting of a sphere
retained upon the walls of the apparatus, within which is arranged a tube con-
taining a rod which may be operated within the said tube, and the mechanical
means for displacing the tube in the sphere and the rod in the tube, substan-
tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
G. In the tools described in Claims 3 and 5, the application to the same of other
work appliances and devices.
7. The system of wheels arranged externally to the apparatus, which may be
operated as desired by the person enclosed within the apparatus, for the purposes
and in the manner hereinbefore referred to.
8. A bar o or other equivalent device, which may be operated from the in-
terior of the apparatus, in combination with the cord or cable V, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
9. A system of anchors, the cable or chain of which is wound or unwound upon
drums arranged outside the apparatus, and the means for rendering operative
either one of the anchors only or both of them together, as described substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth, the anchors being preferably composed
of several lengths or fragments of chain in the form of a brush.
10. The special arrangement of the pipes and cocks for renewing the air within
the apparatus, as above described.
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.