IMPROVEMENTS IN BILGE-WATER ALARMS FOR BARGES AND OTHER VESSELS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER CONTAINERS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1882. Commu-
nicated to him from abroad by Alphonse Henri Léopold Oudry of Paris,
France.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK [of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark.] of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. IMPROVEMENTS
IN BILGE-WATER ALARMS FOR BARGES AND OTHER VESSELS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER CONTAINERS [Communicated to him from abroad by Alphonse Henri
Léopold Oudry of Paris, France]
This Invention relates to an improved bilgewater alarm for indicating by an
audible or a visible signal when the bilgewater in a navigable vessel or barge rises
too high, applicable also for indicating the level of water in other recipients. The
bilge water in a barge for example if allowed to exceed a certain height might
damage the cargo and even cause the sinking of the barge, and the apparatus of this
Invention is. designed to give warning of any such danger.
The Invention consists in the employment in combination with a suitable mechanical
or electrical alarm, of a solid substance soluble in water so applied as to prevent
the action of the alarm until, by the rise of the water to its level, the substance is
dissolved therein and liberates the mechanism. Many forms of apparatus may be
employed, but in order that the Invention may be understood, I will here describe
one example as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the apparatus and Figure 3 shows the same as
applied in a barge. The same letters of reference denote the same parts in the
three figures.
a is a frame of any form, and b is a rod fitted to slide in guides c d e thereon. fis
a spiral spring placed on rod b confined between guide c and a cross pin or collar g.
A wire h attached to a hook p on the end of rod b connects it with a detent lever v
by which a clock movement enclosed in a case k is held out of action and prevented
from sounding a gong l.
In Figures 1 and 2 the rod b is shown raised and the spring f compressed and a
lump of sugar m or other solid substance soluble in water is placed under rod b

page_text: between the guides de so as to prevent its descent until by the rise of the water
the sugar is dissolved whereupon the spring ƒ expands and through rod 6 and wire h
releases the alarm.
In Figure 3 the apparatus is placed in a barge n, the sugar or other soluble
matter m being located just below the floor or at the maximum height x x which
the bilgewater may with safety reach and the gong 1 or other signal operated as
above described, being placed on deck or in the cabin o or in any other situation,
the direction of the connection h being changed as required by means of bell
cranks.
The apparatus would be preferably enclosed in a perforated sheet iron or wire
gauze cage which, while allowing the free entry of water, will protect it from
accidental release and preserve the sugar or other soluble matter employed from the
attacks of rats or other animals.
Instead of a spring, a weight or other force might be used, and instead of a gong
a disc or other optical signal, or an acoustic signal such as a whistle may be
employed. Or a detonator may be placed at any suitable part of the boat and
exploded either mechanically or by an electrical deflagrator, or it may be exploded
by the descent upon it of the point p of rod b. The wire h instead of acting
mechanically may close an electric circuit in which are placed one or more electrical
alarms.