Improvements in Diving Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1397
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Diving Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT FASEY of 1, Queens Road, Leytonstone, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly describe.l and ascertained in an 1 by the following
statement-
This invention relates to improvements in diving apparatus or dress, and has
for its object to provide an arrangement which will allow the diver to descend
to a considerable distance in the water at the same time enabling him to move
freely.
In carrying out my invention I propose to form the complete diving dress from
metal made in sections, with joints at the necessary parts allowing the limbs to
bend or turn. The main parts of the dress are formed from sheet metal, separate
parts being used for the body, legs, arms and head. The joints 1 propose to employ
are of the ball and socket type, the extremities of one part being made at their
ends of hemispherical form secured in a socket of corresponding form on the ends
of the adjacent parts. Suitable packing is provided in the joints to render them
water tight, the packing being preferably formed from cupped or channelled
leather, the water pressure forcing the leather out to close the joint and the parts
are prevented from separating by means of small flanges and rings screwed or
otherwise fitted to close the joint. Owing to the construction of the dress from
metal it is prevented from collapsing when the pressure of the water becomes great,.
thus allowing the diver to descend much deeper in the water than is the case with
the ordinary arrangement.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. is a vertical section of the diving dress,
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the shoulder joint,
Fig. 4 shows the knee or elbow joint, and
Figs. 5, to 8 are detail views of slightly modified joints.
The body of the dress A is preferably formed in two or more parts which can
be bolted or screwed together at suitable points, ordinary joints being employed
which can be easily opened or closed, and which at the same time will be thoroughly
water tight. In the neck or top of the body the head B is screwed, the head being
made from metal with the ordinary windows. To the shoulder parts a the upper
sections C of the arm are fitted, the shoulder being formed in the arrangement
shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with a small rib or flange a'. A ring D the inner edge of
which bears against this flange serves to secure the arm in place. This ring, is
screwed into the end of the arm which is enlarged to form a recess for the
packing E. This packing consists of a ring of leather folded into channel form.
The water passes through the outer part of the joint when the dress is in use, and
enters the channel of the leather ring pressing the sides outward against the
surface of the arm and shoulder pieces forming a water tight joint of the kind well
known in hydraulic engineering. The upper parts of the arm piece C is formed
with the hemispherical socket c serving to receive the upper hemispherical end f
of the lower arm piece F, the parts being pivoted at 11. The top of this piece is
furnished with the small rib or flange and the joint is formed by the leather

page_text: ring c¹ similar to that employed in connection with the shoulder joint. A small
flange shown clearly in Fig. 4 limits the motion of the lower part of the arm, the
flange meeting it when the arm is bent. The joint is completed by the small
screwed ring c³ screwed over the end of the arm piece C this ring keeping the
leather in place.
The hip joint is of similar form to the elbow joint, the lower part of the body
being formed with a socket a' at each side, and the thigh pieces G are provided
with the rounded ends g fitting in the socket and pivoted or otherwise secured in
place by the arrangement above descrihed. The thigh pieces are provided at
their lower ends with the sockets g' in which the rounded ends h of the lower leg
pieces H fit, the joint being completed in the manner described with reference to
the elbow joint. As shown clearly in Fig. 2 the elbow, hip and knee joints allow
the limbs to bend in the required direction to a considerable angle thus giving free
play to the body. Instead of a single joint being employed at any of these points
the same arrangement may be repeated forming a moi e flexible joint the construction
however being the same.
Fig. 5 shows a modified form of joint suitable for use at the elbow, hip or knee,
in which the channelled leather ring is dispensed with, a leather ring J of L shape
being fitted to the joint by means of the screws ; and iron washers j. The flange
of the leather ring bears against the surface of the ball or hemispherical termination
and the pressure of the water causes this part to press tightly on the metal forming
a close joint. Fig. 6 shows another modification in which the channelled leather
ring c is employed together with the L shaped ring J, small bolts and
washers serving to fix the leather ring or packing J to the screwed ring c³, Fig. 7
shows a modified form of joint suitable for the shoulder, leather packing being
dispensed with. The shoulder piece is formed with the conical termination K and
the top of the arm piece C is provided with the conical socket K₁ the conical
parts being ground together. The parts are secured together by the screwed ring k
which can be adjusted until the joint is thoroughly watertight.
As shown in Fig. 8 a part or the whole of the arm may be made from rubber or
other flexible material, the lower part L being formed in this manner and connected
with a watertight joint to the metal part.
The lower part of the legs may also be made in the same manner.
This arrange-
ment is however only applicable in cases where the diver does not enter into very
deep water.
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.) An improved diving dress constructed from metal sections separate parts
being employed for the body and for each joint of the limb, ball and socket joints
connecting the parts, and packing rendering the joints watertight, substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
(2.) In an improved diving dress constructed from metal sections, joints connecting
the various parts formed from a hemispherical socket on one part and a hemi-
spherical enlargement on the adjacent part fitting into the socket closely, flanges
limiting the motion of the parts and packing forming a watertight joint, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
(3.) In an improved diving dress formed from metal sections connected together,
the combination with ball and socket joints at the elbows, hip and knees, and
leather packing in the said joints, of flanges on the shoulder piece, an enlargement
at the top of the upper arm piece, channelled leather packing placed in the groove
formed by the enlarged part and a screwed ring completing the joint, substantially
as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
(4.) In an improved diving dress constructed from metal and made in sections
connected together, joints for the elbows, hip and knees, formed from a hemi-
spherical socket on one part, a hemispherical enlargement on the adjacent part

page_text: pivoted to and fitting closely in the socket, flanges on the inside of the socket and
on the enlarged end limiting the motion, packing formed from a channelled leather
ring placed in the joint and a screwed ring fixing the packing in place, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
(5.) In an improved diving dress the combination with a metal boc y piece, a
head piece screwed into the top of the body, upper and lower arm pieces and upper
and lower leg pieces all constructed from metal of ball and socket joints for the
elbow, hips and knees formed from hemispherical enlargements on the ends of the
parts pivoted together, flanges on these enlargements, channelled leather packing
rings and screwed rings holding the packing in place, and shoulder joints formed
from flanges on the shoulder pieces, enlargements on the upper ends of the arm.
pieces leather packing rings in the channel so formed and screwed rings completing
the joint, constructed substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes specified.
(6.) In an improved diving dress formed from metal sections connected together,
ball and socket joints having a leather L shaped ring screwed to one part of the
joint and bearing against the ball, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 5.
and for the purposes specified.
(7.) In an improved diving dress constructed from metal made in sections
connected together, the combination with ball and socket joints at the elbows, hip.
and knees, of a sboulder joint formed from a cone and conical socket ground
together, and a screwed ring securing the parts to each other substantially as.
described and shown in Fig. 7 and for the purposes specified.
(8.) An improved diving dress formed from metal sections connected together
and provided with joints at the shoulders elbows, hips and knees, constructed.
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 95th don of November 1896
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.