Improvements in Appliances for Sea Sounding.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Sea Sounding.
We, REUBEN RAY, Marine Engineer, 42, Fildes Street, Great Grimsby, and
BENJAMIN RAY, Watchmaker, 64, Corporation Road, Great Grimsby, in the County
of Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A small metal buoy medium size say about one foot by six inches having a
tapered tube through it, projecting about six inches, through which passes the
lead line, attached to the tube is an indicator worked by the line passing through
the tube the same indicating the number of fathoms passing through, there is
also attached to the tube two automatic levers weighted on the outer ends which
causes them to grip the line upon being hauled in.
REUBEN RAY.
BENJAMIN RAY.
We, REUBEN. RAY, Marine Engineer, of 42, Fildes Street, and BENJAMIN RAY,
Watchmaker, of 64, Corporation Road, both at Great Grimsby, in the County of
Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to appliances for ascertaining and registering the depth of
water in the sea, in rivers, or the like, and is illustrated in the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an
apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 is a vertical
section, Figure 3 a horizontal section, on lines X-X of Figure 2, and Figures 4
and 5 transverse sections, to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the lead
or sounding line.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
A is an airtight metal chamber or buoy having a tapered tube B passing
through its centre. C is a tube which forms a prolongation of the lower end
of the tapered tube B. 1) are lugs attached to the tube C and carrying at their
outer ends pins E attached to the gripping levers F, the inner ends of which are
adapted to enter holes formed in the sides of the tube C and to grip the lead
line G under certain circumstances to be hereinafter described, and as shown in
Figures 2 and 3. The outer ends of the gripping levers F are furnished with
projections or catches H which serve in conjunction with the hinged pawls I, to
017

page_text: retain the gripping levers F in the locked position when required. The outer
ends of the gripping levers F are also connected by means of the links J to the
weight K as shown in Figures 1 and 2. L is an arm attached at one end to one
of the pins and provided at its other end with a pin M. N is a corresponding
arm attached at one end to the other of the pins E and provided at its other end
with a slot into which the pin M takes. These arms L and M ensure the
simultaneous action of the gripping levers. F in relation to the pawls I. P is a
detachable cover cone which is held in place on the lower end of the chamber A
by means of the nut Q screwed on to the lower end of the tube C, and against
the lower end of the cover P, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This cover l' is
preferably perforated, as at R for example, in order to allow the free passage of
water to and from the interior thereof. S is a registering or indicating apparatus
which may be of any well known construction actuated by the lead line G which
causes the spindle T to rotate as the said line passes round the grooved pulley.
The indicating mechanism may be removed if desired by simply unscrewing the
tube V (to which it is attached) from the lower end of the tube B.
When it is desired to use the appliance for ascertaining the depth of the sea,
for example, from a boat or other vessel, and the parts are in their normal
positions as in Figure 1 the lead line is first gently drawn through the tubes C
and V until the part of such line which has a metal tube W rivetted thereto (see
Figures 2 and 5) is opposite the openings in the sides of the tube C, and the
sinking weight (not shown in the drawings) is drawn up into contact with the
nut on the bottom of the buoy. The purpose of the metal tube W is to prevent
the inner ends of the gripping levers F from gripping the lead line when
launching the apparatus. The buoy is thrown overboard, and as soon as it rests
on the surface of the water the lead line is released and the sinking weight falls
to the bottom of the sea, actuating in its fall the indicating apparatus S by means
of the pulley G, which is caused to rotate and drive the indicator by the passage
of the lead line, as shown in Figure 2, the gripping devices remaining in the
positions shown in Figure 1, during the descent of the sinking weight.
The operator retains his hold of the spare portion of the lead line, and as soon
as the sinking weight has reached the bottom the buoy can be hauled on-deck by
means of the said line, because on commencing to draw up the lead line the inner
ends of the gripping levers F are caused to grip the said line firmly and the buoy
and the line are thus clamped together with a force proportionate to the weight
of the buoy and its parts, and they are rotated in that condition by the pawls I
taking over the catches H on the outer ends of the gripping levers F as shown
in Figure 2. On examination of the indicator S the length of lead line which
has passed over the pulley U, and consequently the depth of the water, can be
ascertained at sight. Or in the absence of the indicator, or as a check thereon,
the lead line may be graduated in any desired manner, but I prefer to attach
thereto (by clamping or otherwise) metal clips or rings Y as shown in Figures 2
and 4. In order to release the gripping levers F from the lead line, the apparatus
is turned upside down, and tension is put upon the lead line from the indicator
end of the apparatus. This causes the release of the pawls I from the catches H.
and the said pawls I fall by gravity with their stops I¹ resting on the bottom
plate A¹ of the chamber A.
The weight K will now act through the links J and draw the inner ends of the
levers out of contact with the lead line back into the position shown in Figure 1,
when the lead line which had been paid out can be drawn through the apparatus
which will then be ready for use again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
t
First. Sounding apparatus which consists of an airtight chamber or float A
having a contual tuka Ra tuka (1) navigating from the said tube orinning

page_text: levers F pivotted to the said arms with or without guide arms L N secured to
the pivots of the said levers and connected together by a pin and slot or other
equivalent means, a weight K connected to the gripping levers F be means of
links J, projections or catches H on the gripping levers F, and pawls I, combined
and operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The sounding apparatus forming the subject of the first claiming clause
hereof in combination with an indicating or registering device, substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. Sounding apparatus constructed and operating as described.
THIS
པས ས་་
Sanuary
R. RAY.
B. RAY.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.