Improvements in Life Buo
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Whitby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1881.
ROBERT WHITBY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent.
LIFE BUOYS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to "Improvements in Life Buoys," and has for its object
not only to support a person in the water, but also to enable him to make signals
either by shewing a light or sounding a whistle, or by both, so as to indicate his
whereabouts.
My improved life buoy consists of two hollow metal tubes filled with any
suitable combustible composition, which when ignited thus form two standard
lights. Each of such metal tubes is fitted internally at its base with a spiral or
other suitable spring, so that as the ignited material consumes it is gradually
pushed upwards above the apex of the tube so as to prevent the light being
extinguished, while attached to the lower end of each tube is an adjustable weight
to keep the tubes in an upright position when the buoy is in the water.
About midway between these two uprights a hollow metal case or belt is
placed. Such belt or case is divided into air tight compartments and mounted on
swivel joints, so that when the buoy falls into the water the belt at once swivels
round and assumes a horizontal position. This belt is also made of such a form
as to afford support to the back of the person using the same, while in order to
prevent the metal edge from galling, its inner circumference is provided with a
wooden or other suitable mount, bevelled off to a convenient angle, against which
mount the back rests.
Outside the metal belt or case about midway a chain or its equivalent is
attached, which, when the buoy is immersed, hangs down beneath the belt
and acts as a stirrup or foothold whereon the feet are placed, thus allowing of
.
Prine G21

page_text: a person easily maintaining an upright or nearly upright position while in the
water.
The beforementioned wooden or other mount of the belt is fitted on either side
with a suitable stay, each stay having two apertures therein, three of which
apertures serve for holding hand lights, so that a person may, in case of necessity,
be able to make signals by means of such hand lights in order to attract attention.
In the remaining aperture a fog whistle is fitted, thus enabling him in
thick weather to signal therewith, so as to indicate his position and obtain succour.
Another advantage of my improved life buoy is that when hung up to the side
of the vessel or elsewhere it occupies less space than the life buoys hitherto in use,
while it can be manufactured at one half the ordinary cost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Whitby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th August
1881.
ROBERT WHITBY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent.
LIFE BUOYS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in life buoys, and has for its object not
only to support a person in the water, but also to enable him to make signals,
either by shewing a light or sounding a whistle, or by both, so as to indicate his
whereabouts.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, proceed
more particularly to describe and ascertain the same.
Figure 1 shews a view in side elevation of my improved life buoy ; Figure 2
shews the buoy in the water with a man inside; Figure 3 shews the position which
the buoy assumes when hoisting the man on board.
The construction of my improved life buoy is as follows:-A circular hollow
metal cylinder (a), which is divided into air tight compartments (a'), forms the
buoy. A chain (b) is attached to such cylinder, which chain, when the buoy
is immersed, hangs down beneath and serves as a foothold whereon the feet are
placed (as seen in Figure 2), thus allowing a person to easily maintain an upright
or nearly upright position in the water without experiencing the slightest fatigue,
while his hands and arms are comparatively free. In order to prevent the metal
edge of the cylinder chafing it is lined round its inner circumference with a wooden
hoop (c), bevelled off to a convenient angle, against which the back rests.
The cylinder or buoy is pivotted between two hollow metal tubes (d) in such a
manner that when dropped into the water it at once swivels, round and assumes a
horizontal position, while owing to the tubes (d) being heavier at the bottom than
at the top, they immediately right themselves and remain perpendicular, or nearly so.
Such tubes are secured to the sides of the cylinder by metal clamps (e) and are
filled with any of the well known compositions which ignite upon coming in
contact with water and remain unextinguished thereby. Their upper ends
terminate in conical nozles (f) through which the flame issues. Each tube is
fitted internally with a spiral spring (g) which, as the ignited material consumes,
gradually pushes it upwards, while attached to the lower end of each tube is a
weight (h) to keep the tubes upright, as already mentioned.
These tubes thus form two side lights, one of which ignites immediately the
buoy falls into the water, while the other can be ignited when required by the
slightest effort, and as the cause of ignition is contained in a glass tube it is not
susceptible to damp.
I sometimes dispense with the arrangement of the spiral spring above described,
and in lieu thereof place in the bottom of each tube a metal case charged with com-
bustible material (preferably phosphide of calcium) and having suitable perforations
made round its centre or elsewhere to allow the water to enter and produce
combustion. Fastened over these perforations is a band of strong wire gauze to
prevent any foreign matters clogging such perforations or getting into the body of
the case, while such case is fitted at the top with a plug attached to a wire which
ascending through the entire length of the tube is made fast on its upper extremity
to any convenient spot in the ship, so that when the buoy is plunged into the
water the shock acting upon such wire releases the plug, and when combustion has
been produced, allows the flame to ascend through the tube and issue through the
ozle at its upper extremity. This arrangement is illustrated at Figure 4, which

page_text: The
shews a view in sectional side elevation of one of the tubes (d) so fitted.
bottom of each tube takes on and off so as to allow of easy access to the interior.
In addition to these side lights and in close proximity thereto, four recesses or
sockets (i) are formed in two of the air tight compartments of the cylinder, being
placed one on either side of the metal clamps (e). In three of these recesses or
sockets hand lights are placed, which can be used at intervals as required, and in
order to make such recesses or sockets watertight, they are provided with india
rubber nozles or caps which preserve them from wet or damp.
In the fourth recess or socket a powerfully shrill whistle is placed, which is
attached to the buoy by a chain. This whistle is intended for use in foggy weather,
as it can be easily held between the teeth, and by blowing it a man can readily
indicate his position.
Inside the buoy on one side is formed a water tight compartment (k), wherein
stimulants can be placed, or such compartment may be utilized to preserve valuable
papers when there is a likelihood of foundering at sea, as ships passing and seeing
such a buoy would endeavour to pick it up.
For use in the day time the buoy is furnished with two flags (1), placed one on
each side, and the flag staffs (7) of which fit into sockets (m) attached to the side
tubes. These flags serve to denote both to the man overboard and to the ship the
precise situation of the buoy.
The same weights which keep the side lights perpendicular also serve to keep
the flags in the same position.
In the front and rear there is a rope or chain becket (n), which a man can grasp
until he wishes to get into the safer position inside. These beckets also serve for
hooking on to when the buoy is being hoisted inboard.
Figure 5 shews a plan view of one of the clamps (e) wherein (e²) are the bolts
for securing same, and (e³) the nuts for securing the pivotting light holder, of which
light holder detail views are given at Figures 6 and 7.
The fitment of the buoy to the ship is simple and inexpensive. It consists of
two vertical guide rods (o), and a horizontal guide bar (0¹). The upper ends of the
guide rods and the two extremities of the guard bar are bent over and secured to
some convenient part of the ship and thus form a fender or guard behind which
the buoy is placed and suspended by one of the before mentioned beckets, the lower
ends of the guide rods passing through metal eyes (e) formed on the clamps (e) and
thus keeping the buoy in position when hung up.
The operation of my improved life buoy is as follows:-The man overboard
having got hold of the buoy presses it down with both hands, when it at once
swivels over and the opposite side comes over his head, thus placing him within
the circle of the buoy; he then places his feet on the chain and so stands in the
buoy with his back leaning against the wooden hoop inside, while his arms rest on
each side of the buoy (as seen in Figure 2), his hands being entirely free. By a
stroke of the hand he can place his back to the sea or his face towards the ship, or
he can swim in the buoy. In fact he has complete command of the buoy instead
of the buoy controlling him, and when once in it is a most difficult thing for him
to get out unless he wishes to do so, and whilst the side light which ignites on the
buoy falling into the water is burning, he has nothing whatever to do, but if he
.wishes he can use the whistle and so signal to the ship that he is in the buoy. By
the time the first side light has burnt out the ship will most probably be round
coming back to find him. He can then shew a hand light or two as the other long
side light had better be reserved until the ship nears the buoy, so that the man may
be hoisted on board by its light.
A whip being thrown out and towing overboard from the yard arm, davits, or else
where, and having a hook attached, the man can readily hook on and in a few
moments be run up to a place of safety, as when drawn up the buoy forms a chair
in which the man can sit while. being hoisted in as seen in Figure 3."
I would here remark that hundreds of lives have been lost in boats attempting
to save a man overboard, as even sometimes after he has been picked up the boat

page_text: has been dashed to pieces alongside the ship, it being a most difficult matter in a
heavy sea to hook on and hoist without an accident of some description occurring.
But with my improved buoy all danger both to life and limb is entirely obviated,
as it allows of a man being easily brought on board in a very short time even in
the roughest weather.
The advantages of my improved life buoy over the ordinary service buoy are
numerous and important.
1stly. It possesses a greater buoyancy, is cheaper in construction, and stows in a
less area.
2ndly. Its security is far greater, as a man cannot drop off through any of the
following causes which are incidental to the service buoy, namely, through cold or
through being shaken off by a rough sea; neither can he fall off through sheer
exhaustion, as he occupies a perfectly secure position.
3rdly. While the service buoy has only one light, which by mistake of the man
who lets go the buoy may never ignite and cannot be fired afterwards, my improved
buoy has five or more lights, one of which ignites on the buoy falling into the
water, but should it fail to do so the man has the means of shewing a light with
scarcely an effort.
4thly. In foggy weather lights are of very little use, but by using the whistle
with which my improved life buoy is fitted a man can make himself heard over a
large area, and signal to those who are searching for him that he is in the buoy,
even although they cannot see him, and when he shews a new light they will be
able to judge of his position.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention of improvements in life buoys, I would have it understood that what I
claim as novel and desire to secure by the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the improved construction of life buoy, consisting of pivotting
cylinder (a), chain (6), wooden hoop (c), tubes (d), clamps (e), eyes (e¹), recesses (i),
compartment (k), flags (l), sockets (m), and beckets (n), all combined, arranged, and
fitted, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Whitby, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
ELT & Co.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, London.
ROBERT WHITBY. (L.S.)