Improvements in Apparatus for Establishing Communication between a Stranded Ship and the Shore for Life Saving Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Establishing Communication
between a Stranded Ship and the Shore for Life Saving
Purposes.
We JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of the Crown Works, Northam, Engineer,
and CHARLES GEORGE THOMSON, of 6 Waterloo Road Freemantle, Master
Mariner, both of Southampton in the County of Hampshire, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to marine life saving apparatus and comprises various
improvements hereinafter described.
The main object of our said invention is to provide simple apparatus by means
of which communication can be established between a stranded vessel and the shore
for life saving purposes.
Our improved apparatus may be so constructed that it can be readily adjusted
upon a rocket of a kind similar to that used as the known means for throwing a
line or lines from the shore to, or over a stranded vessel.
In making our apparatus according to one form or modification of our invention
we provide a tube, made to tightly embrace a rocket when passed over same, the
tube is arranged to project somewhat beyond the pointed end of the rocket and at
a short distance from, and in this end of the tube, a plug, or diaphragm is fitted,
over this end also of the tube, we fit a cap which is free to move backwards and
forwards to a limited extent upon the tube-the plug and the cap are connected
together by a bolt which is passed through a hole-somewhat larger than the
diameter of the bolt-in the centre of the plug and then connected to the cap at
the centre of same, the head of the bolt being at the underside of the plug, a
spiral spring, embracing the bolt-is provided between the plug and the cap the
length of the spring corresponding to the normal distance it is desired to keep
the plug and cap apart, which distance is governed by the length of the bolt.
Upon the outside of the cap at the lower part of same we provide three, or more
lugs, or eyes, and connect to each of same an arm, with a grapnel or fluke shaped
end, these arms hinge or pivot upon pins passing through same and the said lugs.
or eyes.
The arms are arranged to fold down as close as possible to the sides of the tube
and the grapnel shaped end of each arm, when in this position, is arranged to.
engage with a recess provided in the sides of the tube, but to effect this engage-
ment it is necessary to first push the cap down somewhat on the tube the spiral.
spring is thus compressed and when the engagement-of the grapnel ends of the
arms with the recesses-is effected the cap is allowed to spring back the grapnel.
ends of the arms being thus held in the said recesses and this is the position ofi.the
arms before the rocket is fired.
Under each arm we fit a plate, or other suitably, shaped spring and when the.
arms are folded to the side of the tube the said springs are compressed; before
firing the rocket the line, or lines is, or are suitably attached to the tube.
The line communication between the ship and the shore is effected in the following
manner :-
The tube being adjusted upon the rocket and the latter fired our complete
apparatus, with the attached line, or lines, is carried by the rocket in its flight, to
the shore, upon the point or cap of the apparatus striking the shore or beach it
(the cap) is pushed back somewhat upon the tube whereby the grapnel or fluke
ends of the arms are released from their engagement with the recesses in the sides
of the tube, the arms being thus freed they are forced outwards by means of their.

page_text: respective springs into a position forming an approved angle to the longitudinal
centre of the tube, the extent to which they can expand being regulated by a stop
provided on the hinged joints, or by other suitable arrangement.
Our apparatus with the arms in this expanded position forms a complete grapnel
and upon hauling upon the line or lines attached to the apparatus it becomes
embedded in the shore as would an anchor, or grapnel, and communication is thus
established between the ship and the shore.
We may provide a suitable stand upon which the apparatus will be mounted for
firing.
According to another form or modification of our invention instead of passing
our apparatus over a rocket, in manner as herein before described, we may some-
times arrange for the explosive charge, necessary for impelling our apparatus to the
shore to be contained in the aforesaid tube.
In this arrangement the required attachments and connections would, to suit
the circumstances, be somewhat similarly disposed upon the tube in manner as
herein before described, but it is obvious the ends of tube would then require
to be entirely closed so as to form a case to contain the explosive charge.
Our apparatus would then be complete and self contained ready for immediate
use at any time without having to pass
Dated this 10th day of May 1892.
over a rocket.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Establishing Communication
between a Stranded Ship and the Shore for Life Saving
Purposes.
We JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of the Crown Works, Northam, Engineer,
and CHARLES GEORGE THOMSON, of 6, Waterloo Road, Freemantle, Master
Mariner, both of Southampton, in the County of Hampshire, 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 :-
Our invention relates to marine life saving apparatus, and comprises various
improvements hereinafter described.
The main object of our said invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus
by means of which communication can be established between a stranded vessel
and the shore for life saving purposes.
Our improved apparatus will be so constructed that it can be readily adjusted,
fixed upon, and impelled by a rocket of a kind known as a "Boxer" service rocket,
now used as the means for throwing a line or lines from the shore to, or over a
stranded vessel for life saving purposes.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to one form, or
modification of our invention and fitted upon a Boxer rocket.
Fig. 2, a sectional plan taken on line
Fig. 3, a plan.
Fig. 4, an end view.
a, a.
Fig. 5, a cross section taken on line b, b.
Fig. 6, a plan view illustrating a detail hereinafter described.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, is the Boxer rocket; B, B, parts of the rocket stick attachment which will
be of the usual length; C, is a tube forming a sleeve, of a size that will permit of
its being passed over the rocket A, fitting nicely upon same and to which it is
secured by means of the nut and screw bolt c, d, or other suitable means.

page_text: D, is a diaphragın forming part of, or suitably secured in position in, the
tube C; E, is a cap or cover fitted over the end of the tube C, in such a manner
as to allow of its free movement backwards and forwards on the tube end to a
limited extent; the cap E, is connected to the tube C, by the bolt e, which is
passed through the diaphragm D, and set up on the head of cap by a nut or
nuts f,, or other suitable means, a nut f¹, is also provided on the bolt e, at the
inside of cap for the purpose bereinafter more fully described, and between this
nut, and the diaphragm D, a spiral spring g, is fitted which embraces the
bolt e; F, F, are arms with grapnel or fluke shaped ends, the arms pivot between
lugs h, h, which form part of, or are attached to the cap E, on the outside of
same.
We have shown on the drawing six such arms, but a greater or less number may
be fitted as desired. The said arms are arranged to fold down upon and connect to
the sides of the tube C, in manner as shewn at Figs. 1, and 2; to complete the con-
nection, the cap E, must be pushed down on the tube C, until the hook pro-
jections i, i, pass into the openings i, i, meanwhile the spring g, is compressed and
upon releasing the thrust upon the cap E, it springs back locking the hook pro-
jections of the various arms in their respective openings,, in which they are
held until the cap is again pushed down on the tube.
To prevent the cap rotating on the tube, the bolt e, is made flat sided where it
works backwards and forwards in the square hole in the diaphragm, thus the hook
projections on the various arms are always kept in line with their respective
openings or recesses in the sides of the tube.
The position of cap lengthways of the tube, and consequently of the arms and
their hook projections in relation to the openings in the tube, -can always be nicely
adjusted by means of the screw nuts f, f, and f
Under each arm a plate, or other suitable spring, is fitted and when the arms
are folded to the sides of the tube these springs are in compression.
When it is desired to establish communication between a ship and the shore, our
apparatus, with the arms folded and locked in the side of tube C, is adjusted and
fixed upon the rocket, the stick B, fitted to same, the bridle K, connected to
the tube C, by clip hook, or other suitable,--connections 1, l, and the line m, to
the bridle and also to the stick B, if desired; placed in a suitable stand and the
rocket fired, the apparatus with the attached line is carried by the rocket in its
flight to the shore.
Upon the head or cap E, of the apparatus striking the shore or beach, or other
object, it is pushed back upon the tube C, by reason of the force of impact, thereby
releasing the hook projections i, i, from their engagement with the openings, , in
the sides of the tube; the arms being thus freed, they are forced outwards by means
of their respective springs j, j, into the expanded position shewn at Fig. 3, the
extent to which they may be opened out is regulated by a stop n, provided on the
pivotted end of each arm.
The apparatus with the arms in this expanded position forms a complete
grapnel, and upon hauling upon the line attached to the apparatus the latter
becomes embedded in the shore or soil as would an anchor or grapnel, communication
being thus established between the ship and the shore or place where the grapnel
is embedded.
In attaching the line m, to our apparatus we prefer to use the wire bridle K, and
to connect the line to the eye p, of the bridle only, but we may sometimes attach
the line m,
both to the bridle and to the rocket stick, or rocket, in the latter case
should the backfire of rocket destroy the line near where connected to the tube, or
the stick be broken, the line would still be attached to the apparatus by means of
its connection to the bridle, as the latter being made of wire would not be
destroyed by the backfire. We may sometimes attach a block q, (see Fig. 6,) to
the eye p, of bridle through which the line will be rove, thus forming a whip or
double part. In this arrangement the line m, will not be attached to the rocket or
its stick.

page_text: The apparatus is so balanced that when fixed upon a rocket, with its stick, and
fired, it will when coming to the ground light upon the cap E, thereby securing the
release of the arms.
Various forms of springs may be used to cause the arms to open out, other than
plate springs as illustrated, and means or devices may be adopted to keep the arms
opened out to their full extent after they have been released.
Many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus without
departing from the distinctive nature of the invention. For instance, the form of
the arms, more especially of the fluke, or palm ends of same, may be other than
that illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
According to another form or modification of our invention instead of passing our
apparatus over a "Boxer" rocket, in manner hereinbefore described, we may some-
times arrange for the explosive charge, necessary for impelling our apparatus to be
contained in the tube C. In this arrangement the required attachments,
connections, and devices, would to suit the circumstances be somewhat similarly
disposed upon the tube in manner as herein before described, but it is obvious the
ends and sides of the tube would then require to be entirely closed so as to form an
airtight case to contain the explosive charge, our apparatus would then be complete
and self contained ready for immediate use at any time without having to pass it
over a "Boxer" rocket.
Importance is attached to the method of connecting the arms to, and releasing
them from the tube, as and for the purpose specified.
Our improved apparatus is more particularly adapted for use in establishing line
communication between a stranded ship and the shore, but it is obvious that it can
be used for other similar purposes, for instance, if fired from the shore, for
establishing communication between same and a stranded or floating vessel, or other
object; or between two vessels, if fired from one of them, one or both being afloat
or stranded as the case may be; or, between two sides of a river being fired from
one side; or it may be fired into the sea from a vessel, or the shore for the purpose
of establishing communication between same and the bottom of the sea where it (the
apparatus) will become embedded.
We may provide a suitable stand upon which the apparatus will be mounted for
firing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
The improved apparatus for use in establishing communication between a
stranded ship and the shore for life saving purposes, comprising the tube C, with
the cap E, carrying the grapnel arms F, F,-adapted to engage with and to be
disengaged from the sides of the tube C,-and other devices all constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
and operating as, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 10th day of February 1893
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicants.