Improvements in Submarine Vessels or Diving Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Submarine Vessels or Diving Apparatus.
I, CARRICK PAUL, of Carrington Avenue, Hurstville, near Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows: -
In the Specification No. 23392 of 1896 I described submarine diving apparatus.
My present invention relates to improvements in such apparatus and submarine
vessels whereby they are rendered suitable for working under water in
comparatively great depths, and are practically safe and easy in operation.
The submarine vessel or diving apparatus according to this invention is of the
kind in which the operators are "housed" in a shell which is in communication
with the atmosphere above the level of the water, and the present improvements
have been specially contrived to enable the operators to have better control than
heretofore over the lowering and raising of the vessel and its movement generally
and to provide the operators with more effective and more easily manageable tools
or grips than heretofore.
Besides the main vessel or shell occupied by the operators there is a second but
smaller auxiliary vessel which can be extended outwards or drawn inwards in order
to increase or lessen the displacement of the whole so that the vessel will rise or
sink. The jointing of the auxiliary to the main vessel is practically air-tight and
water proof but the inner end of the auxiliary vessel is open to the main vessel. In
the main vessel there is arranged a sliding weight so that the centre of gravity of
the apparatus may be altered at will to vary its inclination. At the front end of the
vessel or the end opposite to that from which the auxiliary vessel protrudes is the
gear for lifting and gripping external objects. And at this front end also are
external windlasses which can be worked from within the vessel so that it can be
easily manouvered by means of warps from moorings or the like. In combination
with the main vessel there is a dome or entrance on which is tightly fixed a cover
which can be released from the inside or outside, and in combination with the
vessel there is a safety connection for the air supply and escape pipes which are
self closing under stress of outside pressure.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference is now made
to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a
submarine vessel or diving apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 2
is a front elevation. Figure 3 is a cross section on the line a a of Figure 1 and
Figure 4 is a rear end elevation. Figures 5 and 5 form together an elevation to
an enlarged scale of the gripper arms and Figures 6 and 6 form together a plan
of these. Figure 7 is an elevation, Figure 8 a plan and Figure 9 a section on the
line bb of Figure 7 shewing to a still larger scale the holding jaws or gripper
proper. Figures 10 and 11 are an elevation partly in section and plan looking
from below of the safety connection of the air supply and escape pipes with the
vessel.
A is the main vessel preferably cylindrical in form having at its front end a dome

page_text: or entrance way B, on which is a water-tight cover B¹ sitting upon a ring B² hinged
at B3 and pressed air-tightly upon the top flange of the dome B by a screw B.
Inside under the ring B2 is a crossbar B5 by which and a ring screw Bo the
cover B¹ is secured air-tight on the ring B2. If at any time the operators
have to come out of the vessel A, they can by unscrewing the bolt B loosen the
bar B and push off the cover B¹.
Extending from the rear end of the vessel A inwardly to a ring support C1
is an annular chamber C2, closed at the inner end and formed between a shell C³,
and an inner shell C, which is closed at its outer end. In this annular chamber
between shells C3 and C+ slides longitudinally a dome ended cylinder forming the
auxiliary vessel C. At the rear end of A is a stuffing box C with a gland C
making a water-tight joint between the end of vessel A and the auxiliary vessel C.
The gland C is tightened by studs and nuts C. The auxiliary vessel C is protruded
or retracted by means of an internally threaded ram D extending from the dome
end through the closed end of the shell C to a central' bearing D2 for the scrow
ram D¹ which is made hollow for passing through it a spindle of a screw propeller.
On the rear closed end of the auxiliary vessel C is a stuffing box C8 with gland C
to make a tight joint around the ram D. This gland C is tightened from the inner
end of the shell C by nuts C10 on long studs C₁ enclosed in tubes C so that when
the nuts C are tightened the tubes force the gland C into the stuffing box C³.
The tubes and studs pass through a bracket C¹³. As the auxiliary vessel C is
moved longitudinally outwards or inwards by means of the ram Dand screw ram D¹
tight joints are maintained against admission of the outer water to the interior of
the vessel. The screw. ram D¹ carries on its inner eund. a worm wheel D³ gearing
with a worm D' mounted in bearings D. On the worm spindle is a pulley Do con-
nected by a chain or belt to a hand wheel D7 in a convenient position by
revolving which the screw ram D is turned within the female thread of
the ram D so as to longitudinally move the vessel C as may be desired.
On the top of the vessel A is fixed the safety connection of the air supply
pipe E which is inside the air escape pipe Ex. This contains a self-closing ball
valve E behind a cock or valve E², see Fig. 10. The supply pipe E contains a ball
valve E³ in front of a cock or valve E. Should water accidentally enter, the balls
close their respective branches and thus give the operators in the vessel time
to close the cocks or valves E2 and E4
and prevent flooding of the
vessel.
In the vessel A is a weight F sliding on a rod F¹ supported at each end on
brackets. This weight F can be easily shifted longitudinally by hand as may be
desired to balance any protrusion of the auxiliary vessel C and to alter the inclination
of the vessel as may be desired.
The vessel A has in front ports or light holes J and others J¹ at the sides where
convenient. A screw propeller may be inounted at the rear end of the auxiliary
vessel C, its. shaft indicated by dotted lines being passed through the
hollow screw-rain D¹ and through a stuffing box at the outer end of the
ram D.
The screw propeller shaft may be worked by hand or otherwise.
The lifting and operating appliances comprise a special arrangement of lazy-
tongs extension pieces on the outer end of which are jaws or grippers all theso
opeated inside the vessel. On the front end of the vessel A is the socket LX of a
ball and socket joint the ball L₁ being upon a pipe L on the end of which
is a stuffing box L2, through which passes a rod M. On the outer end of this
pipe L is a cross head M' fixed between the collars M2 and M³. The rod M beyond
the collar M is screw threaded and passes through a nut M5 pivotted to the first
joint of the lazy-tongs. From the cross-head M¹ short links N' are connected to the
inner ends of the lazy-tongs N. This lazy-tongs terminates after as many cross joints
as may be convenient at a point at which is attached the back end O¹ of the bottom
grip which is bent down-wardly as shown in Figure 7. Just within this connection
are pivotted short links N2 (Figure 6) carrying a guide N along the tail 02 of the

page_text: back end 01 of the grip O. To the bent back end 01 of the bottom grip O is fixed
a box P carrying the pivot bolt Q1 of the upper jaw Q and also covering the devices
by which this jaw Q is opened from or closed upon the lower grip O. Above P is
fixed the rear end of a spring which presses the upper jaw towards the lower
jaw O. Inside the box P is a bearing S, for a spindle S¹ on which is a cam S.
The rear end of the spindle S₁, after passing through the back plate O¹, has
a union S3 to which is attached a flexible shaft T. The upper jaw Q extends
behind its pivot Q₁ and terminates in a tail piece Q2. By revolution of the flexible
shaft T the cam S acts upon the tail Q2 aud so raises the jaw Q opening the pair
of jaws which can engage the article to be lifted or operated upon and then the
flexible shaft T being further turned the spring R presses the jaw Q towards
the jaw O, and causing the jaws to grip the article between them. The edge of
the upper jaw Q is preferably serrated and both the jaws are perforated or have
orifices of various forms through them as shown. The flexible shaft T extends
back from the front of the lazy-tongs to a union on a spindle 1 which passes
through a stuffing box T2 and terminates in a handle T3 by turning which within
the vessel A the grippers are opened and closed.
The windlass barrels U are carried in bearings U₁ on brackets U2 and have upon
their ends bevel wheels Us gearing with bevel pinions V₁ ou spindles V passing
through stuffing boxes V2 and terminating in hand-wheels V³, by turning which
either windlass barrel can be turned and the warp from mooring anchors
or the like can be wound or unwound to shift the position of the sub-marine
vessel.
Datad this 10th day of Anil 1908
ABEL & IMRAY,.
Agents for the Applicant.
I, CARRICK PAUL, of Carrington Avenue, Hurstville, near Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the Specification No. 23392 of 1896 I described submarine diving apparatus.
My present invention relates to improvements in such apparatus and submarine
vessels whereby they are rendered suitable for working under water in compara-
tively great depths, and are practically safe and easy in operation.
The submarine vessel or diving apparatus according to this invention is of the
kind in which the operators are "housed" in a shell which is in communication
with the atmosphere above the level of the water, and the present improvements
have been specially contrived to enable the operators to have better control than
heretofore over the lowering and raising of the vessel, and its movement generally,
and to provide the operators with more effective and more easily manageable tools
or grips than heretofore.
Besides the main vessel or shell occupied by the operators, there is a second but
smaller auxiliary vessel, which can be extended outwards or drawn inwards in order
to increase or lessen the displacement of the whole so that the vessel will rise or
sink. The jointing of the auxiliary to the main vessel is practically air-tight and
water proof but the inner end of the auxiliary vessel is open to the main vessel.
In the main vessel there is arranged a sliding weight so that the centre of gravity
of the apparatus may be altered at will to vary its inclination. At the front end of

page_text: the vessel or the end opposite to that from which the auxiliary vessel protrudes is
the gear for lifting and gripping external objects. And at this front end also are
external windlasses which can be worked from within the vessel so that it can be
easily maneuvered by means of warps from moorings or the like. In combination
with the main vessel there is a dome or entrance on which is tighty fixed a cover which
can be released from the inside or outside, and in combination with the vessel there
is a safety connection for the air supply and escape pipes which are self closing
under stress of outside pressure.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference is now made
to the drawings accompanying my provisional specification. Figure 1 is a longi-
tudinal sectional elevation of a submarine vessel or diving apparatus according to
the present invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation. Figure 3 is a cross section
on the line a a of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a rear end elevation. Figures 5 and 5ª
form together an elevation to an enlarged scale of the gripper arms, and Figures 6
and 6 form together a plan of these. Figure 7 is an elevation, Figure 8 a plan
and Figure 9 a section on the line b of Figure 7 showing to a still larger scale the
holding jaws or gripper proper. Figures 10 and 11 are an elevation partly in section
and plan looking from below of the safety connection of the air supply and escape
pipes with the vessel.
A is the main vessel preferably cylindrical in form having at its front end a
dome or entrance way B, on which is a water-tight cover B¹ sitting upon a ring B2
hinged at B3 and pressed air-tightly upon the top flange of the dome B. by a
screw B4.
Inside under the ring B2 is a cross-bar B5 by which and a ring screw B
the cover B¹ is secured air-tight on the ring. B2. If at any time the operators have
to come out of the vessel A, they can by unscrewing the bolt Bo loosen the bar B5
and push off the cover B¹.
The
Extending from the rear end of the vessel A inwardly to a ring support C¹ is an
annular chamber C2, closed at the inner end and formed between a shell C³, and an
inner shell C, which is closed at its outer end. In this annular chamber between
shells C and C+ slides longitudinally a dome ended cylinder forming the auxiliary
vessel C. At the rear end of A is a stuffing-box C5 with a gland Co making a
water-tight joint between the end of vessel A and the auxiliary vessel C.
gland C is tightened by studs and nuts C7. The auxiliary vessel C is protruded
or retracted by means of an internally threaded ram D extending from the dome
end through the closed end of the shell C to a central bearing D2 for the screw
ram D¹ which is made hollow for passing through it a spindle of a screw propeller.
On the rear closed end of the auxiliary vessel C is a stuffing box Cs with gland C
to make a tight joint around the ram D. This gland C is tightened from the inner
end of the shell C4 by nuts C10 on long studs C₁ enclosed in tubes C12, so that when
the nuts C10 are tightened the tubes force the gland C into the stuffing box C8.
The tubes and studs pass through a bracket C¹³. As the auxiliary vessel C is
moved longitudinally outwards or inwards by means of the ram D and screw
ram D tight joints are maintained against admission of the outer water to the
interior of the vessel. The screw ram D¹ carries on its inner end a worm wheel D³
gearing with a worm D* mounted in bearings D³. On the worm spindle is a pulley Do
connected by a chain or belt to a hand wheel D7 in a convenient position by
revolving which the screw ram D¹ is turned within the female thread of the ram D
so as to longitudinally move the vessel C as may be desired.
On the top of the vessel A is fixed the safety connection of the air supply pipe E
which is inside the air escape pipe Ex. This contains a self closing ball valve E¹
behind a cock or valve E², see Figure 10. The supply pipe E contains a ball
valve E3 in front of a cock or valve E. Should water accidentally enter, the balls
close their respective branches and thus give the operators in the vessel time to
close the cocks or valves E2 and E and prevent flooding of the vessel.
In the vessel A is a weight F sliding on a rod supported at each end on
brackets. This weight F can be easily shifted longitudinally by hand as may be

page_text: desired to balance any protrusion of the auxiliary vessel C and to alter the
inclination of the vessel as may be desired.
The vessel A has in front ports or light holes J and others J' at the sides where
convenient. A screw propeller may be mounted at the rear end of the auxiliary
vessel C, its shaft indicated by dotted lines being passed through the hollow screw-
ram D¹ and through a stuffing-box at the outer end of the ram D.
The screw propeller shaft may be worked by hand or otherwise.
The lifting and operating appliances comprise a special arrangement of lazy-
tongs extension pieces on the outer end of which are jaws or grippers, all these
operated inside the vessel. On the front end of the vessel A is the socket L* of a
ball and socket joint the ball L¹ being upon a pipe L on the end of which is
a stuffing box L2, through which passes a rod M. On the outer end of this pipe L
is a cross-head M³ fixed between the collars M2 and M³. The rod M beyond the
collar M4 is screw threaded and passes through a nut M pivotted to the first joint
of the lazy-tongs. From the cross-head M¹ short links N¹ are connected to the inner
ends of the lazy-tongs N. This lazy-tongs terminates after as many cross joints as may
be convenient at a point at which is attached the back end 01 of the bottom grip O
Just within this. connection are
which is bent downwardly as shewn in Figure 7.
pivotted short links N2 (Figure 64) carrying a guide Ns along the tail 02 of the back
end O¹ of the grip O. To the bent back end O¹ of the bottom grip 0 is fixed
a box P carrying the pivot bolt Q1 of the upper jaw Q and also covering the devices
Above P is
by which this jaw Q is opened from or closed upon the lower grip O.
fixed the rear end of a spring R which presses the upper jaw Q towards the lower
jaw O. Inside the box P is a bearing S2, for a spindle S¹ on which is a cam S.
The rear end of the spindle S¹ after passing through the back plate O' has a union S³
to which is attached a flexible shaft T. The upper jaw Q extends behind its
pivot Q and terminates in a tail piece Q². By revolution of the flexible shaft T
the cam S acts upon the tail Q2 and so raises the jaw Q opening the pair of jaws
which can engage the article to be lifted or operated upon and then the flexible
shaft T being further turned the spring R presses the jaw Q towards the jaw O,
causing the jaws to grip the article between them. The edge of the upper jaw Q
is preferably serrated and both the jaws aro perforated or have orifices of various
forms through them as shewn. The flexible shaft T extends back from the front
of the lazy-tongs to a union on a spindle T which passes through a stuffing box T2
and terminates in a handle T3 by turning which within the vessel A. the grippers
are opened and closed.
The windlass barrels U are carried in bearings U₁ and brackets U2 and have upon
their ends bevel wheels U3 gearing with bevel pinions V₁ on spindles V passing
through stuffing boxes V2 and terminating in hand wheels V3, by turning which
either windlass barrel can be turned and the warp from mooring anchors or the like
can be wound or unwound to shift the position of the submarine vessel.
A
I am aware that submarine vessels for diving and other uses have been proposed,
such vessels being provided with a sliding compartment which can be protruded or
drawn inwards so as to increase or diminish the buoyancy of the whole.
submarine boat of this kind is described in the Specification to Patent No. 19,606 of
1894, and a diving vessel having a sliding compartment is described in my prior
Specification to Patent No. 23,392 of 1896. I therefore make no general claim for
a submarine or diving vessel having a sliding compartment for alteration of buoyance,
but
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 :-
1. In a submarine vessel or diving apparatus of the kind above referred to, in
combination with the main vessels and shells C³ and C having stuffing box C5 Co
and the auxiliarv slidino vessel C. a ram or pole D attached to the sliding vessel

page_text: and passing through a stuffing box C, and a screw ram D¹ with devices for causing
it to revolve, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
2. The safety connection of the air supply and discharge pipes having valves
automatically closing against inflow substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
3. The gripper and its connections and gear constructed and oporating
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
4. The external windlass and its gearing substantially as described with reference
to the drawing.
.
Dated this 22nd den of Sontambar 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.