AN IMPROVED PRESSURE RESISTING DRESS FOR DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Carey, of Belgaum, Bombay, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PRESSURE RESISTING DRESS FOR DIVING AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS."
Sealed the 8th May 1877, and dated the 1st March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Carey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1877.
WILLIAM CAREY, of Belgaum, Bombay. "AN IMPROVED PRESSURE RESISTING
DRESS FOR DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS."
Hitherto divers descending in deep water dressed in the ordinary dress are
deprived of. their full use of limbs the moment they are under the water, from the
fact that water being denser than air and deeper they descend greater is the pressure
of water on their bodies and limbs, so deprive them of the full action of their lungs,
veins, and heart, and eventually produces apoplexy.
My improved diver's dress is for the purpose of overcoming the pressure of
water on the body. For this purpose I make a light steel dress to be worn under
the usual diver's dress.
I make a cuirass of steel to fit close to the neck and shoulders, as well as at the
waist, but somewhat larger than the body from which it is intended to remove all
pressure from without on the wearer's chest and back. I make it in two parts,
back and front, fastened at the shoulders and down the sides by nuts, studs, or
screws, so as to make a strong case capable of resisting an outward pressure of
60, 70, 100, or more lbs. on the square inch, according to the depth of water
required to work in stomach and back plates of similar construction to be sus-
pended by means of flat hooks and chains to the lower portion and inner side of
cuirass, so as to allow of the free bending of the body. Armlets and leg pieces front
and rear of similar construction for use or not as required; all parts to be capable of
resisting the same outward pressure as the cuirass.
I have the fastenings on the shoulders and sides by projecting studs of steel on
the several back parts of the dress about 3/4 of an inch square, 3%, of an inch deep,
drilled to receive a male screw "/" in diameter.
The edges of the various front pieces of the dress to have orifice, so as to overlap
these studs. A plate of steel of about two inches wide, the length of the part it is

page_text: intended for to be similar, the orifice to receive these studs placed over them, so
that all is flush and kept in its place by means of large flat convex-headed
screws 3/8" in diameter to overlap edges of joint. Or the edges of the front pieces
may be thickened, so as to sit flush with the studs. The steel bar or plate may be
dispensed with.
The whole may or may not be lined or covered with flannel, and can be used
with any diver's head dress.
The usual diver's dress being put on over all makes the whole perfectly water-
tight, but removes all outward pressure from the wearer's body, allows him free
use of his lungs, and so enables him to breath freely at any depth below the sea
that air can be supplied, which with the Denayrouze head dress (said to contain
a resevoir for air) would be unlimited, as a diver would be capable working in
any depth of water for the purpose of raising any vessel or property from such
depth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Carey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th May 1877.
WILLIAM CAREY, of Belgaum, Bombay. "AN IMPROVED PRESSURE RESISTING
DRESS FOR DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS."
Hitherto divers descending in deep water dressed in the ordinary dress are
deprived of their full use of limbs the moment they are under the water, from the
fact that water being denser than air and deeper they descend, greater is the
pressure of water on their bodies and limbs, so deprive them of the full action of
their lungs, veins, and heart, and eventually produces apoplexy.
My improved diver's dress is for the purpose of overcoming the pressure of water
on the body. For this purpose I make a light steel dress to be worn under the
usual diver's dress.
I make a cuirass of steel to close to the neck and shoulders, as well as at the
waist, but somewhat larger than the body from which it is intended to remove
all pressure from without on the wearer's chest and back. I make it in two parts,
back and front, fastened at the shoulders and down the sides by nuts, studs, or
screws, so as to make a strong case capable of resisting an outward pressure of
60, 70, 100, or more lbs. on the square inch, according to the depth of water
required to work in; stomach and back plates of similar construction to be sus-
pended by means of flat hooks and chains to the lower portion and inner side of
cuirass, so as to allow of the free bending of the body. Armlets and leg pieces
front and rear of similar construction for use or not as required, all parts to be capable
of resisting the same outward pressure as the cuirass.
I have the fastenings on the shoulders and sides by projecting studs of steel on
the several back parts of the dress about 3/4 of an inch square, 3%, of an inch deep,
drilled to receive a male screw 3/8" in diameter.
The edges of the various front pieces of the dress to have orifice so as to overlap
these studs. A plate of steel of about two inches wide the length of the part
it is intended for to be similarly, the orifice to receive these studs placed over them
so that all is flush and kept in its place by means of large flat, convex, or other
headed screws /" in diameter to overlap edges of joint. Or the edges of the
front pieces may be thickened, so as to sit flush with the studs, and the steel bar or
plate may be dispensed with.
The whole may or may not be lined or covered with flannel, and can be used with
any diver's head dress.
The usual diver's dress being put on over all makes the whole perfectly water-
tight, but removes all outward pressure from the wearer's body, allows him free
use of his lungs, and so enables him to breathe freely at any depth below the sea
that air can be supplied, which with the Denayrouz head dress (said to contain a

page_text: reservoir for air) would be unlimited, as a diver would be capable of working in
any depth of water for the purpose of raising any vessel or property from such
depth.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein-before described, as the fastening of and the various parts
of the steel or metal dress may be varied without departing from the nature or
principle of my Invention. I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider
novel and original and claim as my Invention is, pressure resisting dress for divers,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Carey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 5th day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.