Improvements in Life-saving Apparatus for Use at Sea or in other Waters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1889-Accepted. 21st Sept.. 1889
CONTTIM
Improvements in Life-saving Apparatus for Use at Sea or in
other Waters.
1. CARLO FRATTINI, c/o The Brance di Genova 4 Via San Luca, Genoa in the
Kingdom of Italy, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to life-saving apparatus for use at sea or in other waters,
more particularly to the class of apparatus comprising flexible receptacles which are
made of water-proof material, and which can be inflated with air or other gas, but
its distinctive feature consists in the means whereby the inflation is effected. By
reason of the special principle upon which it is based and the mode of its application
the improved apparatus will be automatically inflated as soon as it is introduced into
the water.
The apparatus constructed according to the aforesaid invention is represented in
the accompanying drawing which however serves only as an example in order to
render the following description better understood, for within very wide limits the
present invention is applicable to apparatus of any capacity and form.
This apparatus is composed of three principal parts, namely the receptacle or bag
the clip or clips and the chemical substances.
In the accompanying drawing similar letters of reference designate corresponding
parts of the device.
The receptacle A (Figures 1, 8 and 9) is a bag of India-rubber or other water-
proof and flexible material comprising two compartments & d' of equal or different
capacity, which are in communication with each other through the medium of one
or more passages e. Each of these compartments has a mouth or aperture which
can be hermetically closed and serves for introducing chemical substances into the
bag as will be hereinafter set forth.
The clip B (which constitutes one of the most important parts of the invention) is
composed of two metallic strips g g (Figures 4 and 6) which are connected by a
hinge in proximity to one of their extremities. A ring of India-rubber is applied
to the short arms of the strips y, g' so as to press these arms together, thus compelling
the long arms to open. Around a metallic ring i (Figure 5) formed of two semi-
circular parts is several times wound a strip of blotting paper (unsized paper or the
like. This ring is applied to the extremity of the long arms of the said strips g g¹
(Figure 6) when the clip is to be kept closed.
The clip thus formed is applied to the exterior of the passage or passages e of the
bag (Figures 7 and 9) by means of a solution of gum or other mastic which is
insoluble in water.
The clip may be formed of two flexible metallic strips g, g' (Figures 2 and 3)
which are independent and pressed together by two rings placed at the two
extremities.
The chemical substances used can be selected from amongst those which have the
property of generating gas by the single contact of two with each other. To obtain
a rapid generation it is preferable that the two substances shall be liquid. In any
case it is necessary that at least one of the said substances shall be liquid.
The following substances may be mentioned by way of example.
Acidulated water and a solution of carbonate of ammonium.
Acidulated water and a solution of bicarbonate of soda.
Acidulated water and turnings of iron or zinc.
Pure water and effervescent magnesia, citrate or the like.

page_text: The two compartments d, d' of the bag A are disconnected by pressing the arms
of the clips B (Figure 8) together, after which the rings i are placed on the said
arins.
Two chemical substances, the quantities of which proportional to the gas which
they will generate and the capacity of the receptacle are next separately introduced
into the compartments d', d of the bag which are then hermetically closed.
i
By reason of the property possessed by blotting paper of losing almost instan-
taneously all its consistance on being wetted, the parts of the above-mentioned
ring will be disconnected when the apparatus is plunged into the water and the
India-rubber rings will compel the clip to open, thereby opening the passages e.
Then the two chemical substances introduced into the compartiments of the bag will
come in contact with each other and cause the generation of gas and the inflation of
the apparatus (Figure 9) which can then float.
The apparatus which forms the subject of the above described invention by reason
of its small volume before the immersion and its automatical inflation to the size
adapted for floating as soon as it is plunged into the water is susceptible of very
important humanitarian and industrial applications for saving men, animals,
merchandize, boats and other property from submersion in any catastrophies at sea,
or lakes and rivers.
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 :-
:-
First. In life saving apparatus the employment of one or more hermetically closed
receptacles which may be put in communication with each other and serve to contain
two substances capable of generating gas by simple contact with each other, these
substances being kept apart either through the medium of an exterior clip adapted to
be automatically opened as above described, or by other pressing devices which can
be opened by hand or by the insertion of cocks or the like in the passages between
the said compartments of the receptacle.
Second. In life-saving apparatus the application, to the above mentioned clips, of
blotting paper or other material the consistence of which such that it will be
rapidly destroyed by immersion in water for the purpose of opening the said clips.
Dated this 9th day of August 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.