IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Jordan Hough, of Saint Helen's Place, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING
MOTIVE POWER FOR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Jordan Hough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1876.
EDWARD JORDAN HOUGH, of Saint Helen's Place, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS."
This Invention has for its object the raising of vessels that may be sunk by
accident, collision, or otherwise; the arrangements being also applicable for other
submarine purposes.
In raising sunken vessels I prefer to adopt mainly the following arrangements:-
All openings in the vessel are first to be secured by means of covers made of wood
or other suitable material fitted water-tight, and then small engines with centrifugal
Couble-acting spear or other suitable pumps attached, same being placed on the
upper or lower deck of the vessel, or against any convenient opening in the side
thereof. These pumping engines are driven from the surface by compressed air,
steam, or any suitable gas, same being conveyed thereto by tubes or pipes
connecting the pumps. The compressed air or suitable gas is driven by pumps
from a steamer on the surface, and in the case of compressed air suitable arrange-
ments are adopted for effecting same, which is then conveyed by the tubes or pipes
before mentioned to the engine and pumps below the surface which drive same, the
exhaust from the said engines being conveyed by suitable tubes or pipes to the
surface, thereby relieving the pistons of the engine from back pressure. To each
pump a vent pipe or tube (which may be flexible or of metal or other suitable
material) would connect same with the interior of the vessel; one end of said pipe
or tube is connected to the foundation plate of the pump, or other suitable position
open to the compartment or place to be emptied of water; the other end is
brought to the surface of the water so as to admit the passage of air into the
interior of the vessel or submarine structure, and so give vent while pumping.
In cases where compressed air or gases are used to support the weaker parts of

page_text: the vessel or submarine structure against the pressure of the surrounding water
while being emptied, such air or gases would be forced down the before-mentioned
vent tubes or pipes; said tubes or pipes when brought to the surface would bring
the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the water within the vessel. The
discharge from the pumps is made as short as possible.
To shew the amount of air pumped into the vessel to be raised an air meter is
attached to each vent pipe, which would shew the number of cubic feet of air
pumped into the vessel. This would represent the water pumped out and slew
the progress of the work; of course as the water is displaced from the interior of
the vessel the air takes its place.
In using steam in place of compressed air the same is conveyed through tubes
(protected for avoidance of condensation) to any suitable pump, working on the
principle of condensation, as for instance, the ordinary injector.
In applying my Invention to submarine operations the arrangements are
somewhat similar in action and effect to that above described.
It is evident that any suitable gas may be used to effect the desirable results
above mentioned.
In some cases the decks of the vessel may not be of sufficient strength to support
the pressure of the water on same, and in this case I prefer (through the before-
mentioned vent pipes) to force compressed air into the vessel to within a few
pounds of the pressure of the external water, and this would support the weakest
part of the vessel.
If desired stanchions may be used to support the deck.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Jordan Hough in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
December 1876.
EDWARD JORDAN HOUGH, of Saint Helen's Place, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS."
This Invention has for its object the raising of vessels that may be sunk by:
accident, collision, or otherwise; the arrangements being also applicable for other
submarine purposes.
from
In raising sunken vessels I adopt substantially the following arrangements:-All
openings in the vessel are first to be secured by means of covers made of wood or
other suitable material fitted water-tight, and then small engines with centrifugal
double-acting spear or other suitable pumps are attached, same being placed on the
upper or lower deck of the vessel, or against any convenient opening in the side
thereof. These pumping engines are driven from the surface by compressed air,
steam, or any suitable gas, same being conveyed thereto by tubes or pipes
connecting the pumps. The compressed air or suitable gas is driven by pumps
a vessel or the surface, and in the case of compressed air suitable arrangements are
adopted for effecting compression of the air, which is then conveyed by the tubes or
pipes before mentioned to the engine and pumps below the surface and drive same,
the exhaust from the said engines being conveyed by suitable tubes or pipes to the
surface, thereby relieving the pistons of the engine from back pressure. To each
pump a vent pipe or tube (which may be flexible or of metal, or other suitable
material) would connect same with the interior of the vessel; one end of said pipe
or tube is connected to the foundation plate of the pump or other suitable position
open to the compartment or place to be emptied of water; the other end is
brought to the surface of the water so as to admit the passage of air into the
interior of the vessel or submarine structure, and so give vent while pumping.
In cases where compressed air or gases are used to support the weaker parts of

page_text: the vessel or submarine structure against the pressure of the surrounding water,
while being emptied such air or gases would be forced down the before-mentioned
vent tube or pipes; and said tubes or pipes when brought to the surface would bring
the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the water within the vessel. The
discharge from the pumps is made as short as possible.
To shew the amount of air pumped into the vessel to be raised an air meter is
attached to each vent pipe, which would shew the number of cubic feet of air
pumped into the vessel. This would represent the water pumped out and shew the
progress of the work; of course as the water is displaced from the interior of the
vessel the air takes its place.
In using steam in place of compressed air the same is conveyed through tubes
(protected for avoidance of condensation) to any suitable pump working on the
principle of condensation, as for instance, the ordinary injector.
In applying my Invention to submarine operations the arrangements are some-
what similar in action and effect to that above described.
It is evident that any suitable gas may be used to effect the desirable results
above mentioned.
In some cases the decks of the vessel may not be of sufficient strength to support
the pressure of the water on same, and in this case I prefer (through the before-
mentioned vent pipes) to force compressed air into the vessel to within a few
pounds of the pressure of the external water, and this would support the weakest
part of the vessel.
If desired stanchions may be used to support the deck.
Having thus intimated in general terins the nature or character of the said
Invention, I will at once proceed (with the aid of the accompanying Drawings) to
further and particularly describe and ascertain same, and especially the manner of
performing such Invention and carrying the same into effect, that is to say :-
Fig. 2, view of direct-acting pump.
Fig. 3, view of centrifugal pump.
Figs. 4 to 7, detail views of covers, Fig. 4 showing covering used for funnel,
ventilators, or similar portions in sunken vessels; Fig. 5, plan; and Fig. 6, side
elevation of covering for ports and other openings; and Fig. 7, cover for projecting
portions on decks or sides, such as the muzzles of guns and chain locker pipes.
In these Drawings A is a sunken vessel; B, vessel on surface; C, flexible tubes or
pipes from vessel B, which are preferably joined in pairs, one tube in each pair
conveying the compressed air to the pumps on the sunken vessel, the other tube
being for exhaust; D, vent tubes conveying air into the interior of the sunken
vessels; E, Figure 1, pumps; G, suction pipes connected at H to breeches pipe. I with
pumps; K, nozzle in foundation plate K, to which vent pipe D is secured; L, bar
connected to framing of pump, and projecting some distance above same, to which
the tubes or pipes are connected to keep same clear of working parts of the pump.
In applying my Invention I proceed in the following manner:-All openings in
the sunken vessel A. are first closed or secured by divers by coverings, such as
shewn in Figs. 4 to 7. The pumps E are then secured on the deck or sides of the
sunken vessel, either over openings convenient for same or otherwise, and the pipes
or tubes C and D are also connected, and the compressed air or other motor drives
the pumps as before described.
The compressed air supply pipe is connected to breeches pipe M at m (Fig. 2), and
the exhaust pipe or tube is connected with the breeches pipe M' at m¹.
The pumps are of ordinary construction, the peculiar point being that the
connections be made as shown. In Figs. 6 and 7 the cover is fitted with a bar

page_text: which is introduced into the opening and turned, so as to engage with the under
side of the edges of the opening, the screw shewn serving to tighten it up.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice, I
hereby declare that I claim the said Invention of improvements in obtaining and
applying motive power for submarine operations, substantially as the same is
herein-before set forth and described, the important or peculiar point or feature
thereof consisting in the adoption of arrangements for working pumps suitably
placed, fixed, attached, or connected to the sunken vessel or other submerged object,
and worked by compressed air or other suitable motor.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Jordan Hough, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM HILLIER,
21, Cockspur Street,
London, S.W.
EDWARD J. HOUGH. (L5.)