IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SUBMARINE Ex- PLORATIONS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SUBMARINE Ex-
PLORATIONS."-A communication.
Sealed the 10th December 1858, and dated the 11th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th October 1858.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SUBMARINE
EXPLORATIONS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production of an apparatus for submarine
explorations, by means of which persons may with safety descend to any
required depth, and remain there for à considerable length of time with-
out communication or connection with the surface. And to this end the
leading character of the Invention consists in combining with the working
chamber or chambers in which the explorers are to be placed, a reservoir
containing air compressed to such an extent and in such quantity and so
combined with the said working chamber or chambers, that the explorers

page_text: inside may draw the required supply from the said reservoir to suit their own
demands for respiration, and to control the buoyant or rising power of the
apparatus.
The Invention also consists in combining with the working chamber or
chambers and the reservoir of compressed air, one or more ballast chambers,
which the explorers inside the apparatus can at their discretion cause to com-
municate with the compressed air in the reservoir and with the surrounding
water, so that air may be admitted to force out the water when it is re-
quired to increase the buoyancy of the apparatus to rise, or the water may
be introduced to expel the air whenever it is desired to increase the sinking
power of the apparatus for the purpose of sinking.
The Invention also consists in purifying the air inside the working chamber
or chambers, whenever it has become vitiated by the respiration of the
explorers inside, by a shower of water either in the natural state, or holding
in suspension some chemical agent that has a strong affinity for carbonic acid,
and which water in passing like spray through the vitiated atmosphere will
absorb the carbonic oxide or carbonic acid given out in respiration, while the
said water will at the same time give out the free atmospheric air known to
be contained in considerable quantity in water.
The Invention also consists in combining with the working chamber or
chambers, and with the reservoir of compressed air, a pump which communi-
cates by means of its eduction pipe with the reservoir of compressed air, and
by means of a flexible induction pipe with the atmosphere above the surface,
the said flexible pipe for this purpose being provided with a float having a
spring valve so regulated that it will be kept closed by the pressure of the
water while rising to the surface, and opened by the spring after reaching the
surface of the water, so that when required in case of accident, by the working
of the pump, air may be drawn from the surface and forced in the reservoir
of compressed air whenever from any cause the supply forced in before sinking
becomes insufficient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County 3
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said Willam
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING SUBMARINE EXPLORATIONS," being a com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is the production of an apparatus for sub-
marine explorations, by means of which persons may with safety descend to
any required depth in the water, and remain there for a considerable length
of time without communication or connection with the surface. And to this
end the leading character of the Invention consists in combining with the
working chamber or chambers, in which the explorers are to be placed, a
reservoir containing air compressed to such an extent, and in such quantity,
and so combined with the said working chamber or chambers, that the
explorers inside may draw the required supply from the said reservoir to suit
their own demands for respiration, and to control the buoyant or rising power
of the apparatus.
The Invention also consists in combining with the working chamber or
chambers and the reservoir of compressed air, one or more ballast chambers,
which the explorers inside the apparatus can at their discretion cause to
communicate with the compressed air in the reservoir and with the surrounding
water, so that air may be admitted to force out the water when it is required

page_text: .
to increase the buoyancy of the apparatus to rise, or the water may be intro-
duced to expel the air whenever it is desired to increase the sinking power
of the apparatus for the purpose of sinking.
The Invention also consists in purifying the air inside the working chamber
or chambers whenever it has become vitiated by the respiration of the
explorers inside by a shower of water either in its natural state, or holding in
suspension some chemical agent that has a strong affinity for carbonic acid,
and which water in passing like spray through the vitiated atmosphere will
absorb the carbonic oxide or carbonic acid given out in respiration, while the
said water will at the same time give out the free atmospheric air known to
be contained in considerable quantity in water.
The Invention also consists in combining with the working chamber or
chambers and with the reservoir of compressed air, a pump which commu-
nicates by means of its eduction pipe with the reservoir of compressed air,
and by means of a flexible induction pipe with the atmosphere above the
surface, the said flexible pipe for this purpose being provided with a float,
having a spring valve so regulated that it will be kept closed by the pressure
of the water while rising to the surface, and opened by the spring after
reaching the surface of the water, so that when required, in case of accident
by the working of the pump, air may be drawn from the surface and forced
in the reservoir of compressed air whenever from any cause the supply forced
in before sinking becomes insufficient.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, and
Fig. 2 an external elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on
the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 3, 4, of
Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5, 6, of Fig. 3. The
same letters indicate like parts in the several Figures. a represents the outer
shell, which the Inventor prefers to make of a cylindrical shape with a flattened
dome top; within this there is an inner shell 6 of a corresponding form, with a
space between the two, which may be called the compressed air chamber.
Apertures are made at various suitable places and in corresponding parts of
the two shells, to which are fitted tubes c extending from one shell to the
other, to which tubes are fitted suitable glasses d for the admission of light
and exclusion of water; all the joints are to be made air and water tight.
The two shells at their lower end are properly secured to a strong metallic
hollow ring e termed the ballast ring. The space between the two shells is
divided by an air-tight horizontal partition f a short distance above the ballast
ring, to form two chambers 9 and h; the one g above the partition is termed
the compressed air chamber, and the other h is termed the ballast chamber,

page_text: and will assist the ballast ring in ballasting the apparatus under certain circum-
stances to be presently described.
The space inside the inner shell is divided into two working compartments
i and j, by a horizontal floor k, with a central hatchway 1, which can at
pleasure be closed air-tight by a hatch m, Fig. 4, to be secured in any suitable
manner. A corresponding hatchway n is formed through the dome of both
shells, which are connected by a cylindrical tube o, both ends of the tube o
being provided with a cap or hatch p, q, connected by a screw bolt r, for
securing them, and to exclude water when sinking the apparatus. If desired,
the inside may be divided into more than two compartments, but two are
considered sufficient. The compressed air chamber communicates with the com-
partments i andj by means of two stop-cocks s, Fig. 3, and t, Fig. 4, one above
and the other below the floor k, so that air can be let into either or both of the
compartments at any time from the compressed air chambers or reservoir, but
a greater number may be employed if desired. A communication is formed
between the compressed air chamber g and the ballast chamber h, by means of
a bent pipe u, Fig. 4, governed by a cock or valve, and a like communication
is formed between the compressed air chamber g and the inside of the ballast
ring e, by means of another bent pipe v, Fig. 4, also governed by a cock or
valve. By means of another bent pipe w, governed by a cock or valve, the
ballast chamber communicates with the surrounding water, and by a similar
pipe a, also governed by a cock or valve, the inside of the ballast ring com-
municates with the surrounding water. The pipes for forming these several
communications extend within the working compartment, so as to have the
several cocks or valves by which they are controlled within the convenient
reach of the operators inside the working compartment. The continuosity of
the inside of the ballast ring e and of the ballast chamber his interrupted by a
vertical partition y, Fig. 3; this partition is on one side of the communicating
pipes above described, and on the other side of the partition the inside of the
ballast ring communicates with the surrounding water by a cock near the
bottom, and the ballast chamber h in like manner communicates with the:
surrounding water by a pipe a', Fig. 8, near the bottom, governed by a cock or
valves, but both the ballast ring and ballast chamber may be divided into any.
desired number of compartments to insure the balancing of the apparatus,.
in which case the several pipes and cocks for the admission of air and water
must be multiplied in the same proportion. There is a pipe 6, Fig. 4,
governed by a cock, which passes through the roof of both cases to the outside,
where it is bent, to have its discharge aperture at the lower end of the bent
part, for the purpose of discharging air from the working chamber when it is

page_text: desired to reduce the quantity of air in the working chamber, so as to reduce
the buoyant power of the apparatus. In the working chamber there is placed
a rotary or other pump c¹, Fig. 3, with an induction pipe d' extending down to
the water, and a bent discharged pipe e¹ having a spraying bulb or rosef at
the discharge end, which discharge pipe is connected with the pump by a
swivel, so that the rose may be moved to different parts of the compartiment.
The purpose of this is to discharge a shower of water near the top of the
working chamber, in order that the particles of water in passing through the
air of the compartment may absorb the noxious gases given out by the respi-
ration of the operatives, and at the same time give out the free atmospheric
air which water is known to contain. There is also another pump g', (Fig. 4,)
in the working chamber with the eduction pipe ' leading into the compressed
air chamber, and an induction pipe leading down near to the bottom, to
which a flexible tube can be attached when desired. The other end of this
flexible tube is to be provided with a float having a valve on its upper end,
which will open by a spring when it reaches the surface of the water. The
tension of the spring must be so regulated that while the float is rising through
the water the pressure on the valve will keep it closed to prevent the entrance
of water, but when the pressure is reduced by reaching the atmosphere above,
the spring shall force open the valve to admit air. The object of this part of
the apparatus is, in case of accident, or when by any circumstance the
apparatus is required to remain below a longer time than is usually required,
the operators inside can get a new supply of air from the surface by attaching
the flexible pipe passing the float under the lower edge of the ballast ring, so
that it may rise to the surface, and then by working the pump to take in a
fresh supply of air.
The apparatus constructed as above described is to be operated in the following
manner, viz. Air is to be forced into the compressed air chamber to a con-
siderable density, say, to about four hundred pounds to the square inch, and water
excluded from the inside of the ballast chamber and ballast ring, and sufficient
pressure of air let into the working chambers so that the apparatus will float
with the dome above the surface; in this condition the hatch m in the floor is
closed air-tight, and then the hatches p, q, in the top can be opened to take into
the apparatus whatever may be required, the compressed air below the floor
maintaining the buoyancy of the apparatus, so that it will float like a boat on
the surface. The hatches p, q, in the dome are then closed, and air admitted
from the compressed air chamber into the upper working chamber to about the
same density as in the lower working chambers, so that the hatch in the
floor can be opened without shock; in this condition the apparatus will not

page_text: sink, but when it is desired to sink the apparatus the two communications
between the ballast ring and the surrounding water are opened, in consequence
of which water will enter through the lower one, and air escape through the
upper one, and as this takes place the specific gravity of the whole apparatus
with its contents is increased, and it will begin to sink. When the whole of
this chamber is filled with water the two cocks are to be closed, but it will be
perceived that the rapidity with which the substitution of water for air is to
take place is entirely under the control of the operatives by means of the
cocks, and hence the sinking of the apparatus may be as gradual or as quick
as may be desired. When more sinking power is required, the same
thing is to be done with the ballast chamber, the admission of water
to that chamber increasing still further the sinking power of the apparatus.
As the apparatus sinks and the pressure of the superincumbent column of
water is thereby increased, the density of the air in the working chambers
must be increased in proportion, or the water would enter from below to too
great a height in the working chambers, and it will be seen that the operators
inside have perfect control of this by simply opening either one of the cocks
leading into the compressed air chambers. When at any time it becomes
necessary to develop the buoyant or rising power to elevate the apparatus, the
communication between either the ballast chamber or the ballast ring, or both,
with the surrounding water is to be opened, and also the communication with
the compressed air chamber to admit compressed air, and thereby force out
the water, which renders the apparatus buoyant; or this can be done by
increasing the density of the air in the working chambers. In this way the
apparatus can, with the greatest ease and at the will of the operators inside,
be maintained at any desired depth, or be made to sink deeper, or to rise, and
all this without communication with the surface.
After completing any operation below, and before reaching the surface, it is
best to transfer all articles from the working shelf j' to the floor k, and close
the hatch m, and then the pressure of air in the upper working chamber can
be relieved through the discharge pipe b', so that when reaching the surface
the hatches in the dome or top can be opened to the atmosphere. Care
must be taken in rising not to develop the buoyant power of the apparatus
too rapidly, as the apparatus can be made to rise at a dangerous velocity.
And it will also be observed that the pressure of the air in the working
chambers should be gradually reduced as the apparatus rises to the surface
to correspond with the decreasing pressure of the column.
When operating below, whenever the operators find that the air in the

page_text: working chambers becomes too much vitiated by respiration, the pump c¹ is to
be operated to discharge a shower or spray from the bulb or rose, and this
shower by falling through the atmosphere of the compartments will cause
the particles of water to absorb the noxious gases contained in the air, while
the water at the same time gives out the free atmospheric air which it
contains. In this way by occasionally producing artificial showers in the
atmosphere of the working chambers so as to carry off the noxious gases,
the operator will be enabled to consume all the oxygen contained in the air,
together with that contained in the free atmospheric air given out by the
water. After the oxygen has been sufficiently consumed the air is to be
renovated in the working chambers by drawing a fresh supply from the com-
pressed air chamber; in this way the apparatus can remain a long time under
water without danger or serious inconvenience to the operators inside. In
case of danger the operators have the means within the apparatus of rising to
the surface as rapidly as they may desire, and if it should be desired to remain
under water longer than contemplated by the supply of air in the com-
pressed air chamber, by sending the float on the end of the flexible pipe to the
surface and operating the pump g', the supply of air can be renewed at
pleasure without the necessity of raising the apparatus; but the use of this
part of the apparatus will be of rare occurrence, as one charge of air will be
ample for the length of time usually required for any one submarine
exploration.
Care should be taken never to permit the pressure of the air in the
compressed air chamber to get down to the pressure in the working chambers,
for in that case it would become impossible to impart the required buoyant
power to the apparatus for rising, as the water can only be expelled from any
part of the apparatus by air under a tension greater than the pressure of the
superincumbent column of water, and in the event of neglecting this pre-
caution it would become necessary to restore the require the preponderance of
pressure in the compressed air chamber by sending the float to the surface
and working the pump g¹ as before described. The action of any and all
means heretofore employed for forcing the required supply of air in the
working chamber from the atmosphere above produces vibrations within
the apparatus, which vibrations under the pressure required to exclude the
water at considerable depths produce violent actions on the human system,
inducing bleeding at the nose and ears, and generally a painful sensation
throughout the system.
This is entirely avoided on my improved plan, as the vibrations are entirely

page_text: avoided, there being no pumping operation required for any of the operations,
except when it becomes necessary to remain below a greater length of time
than was anticipated, and then the pumping in of air is not in the working
chambers, but in the compressed air chamber, and therefore is not injurious
to the operators.
Any strength given to the apparatus which will resist in the open air the
pressure to which the air is to be compressed in the apparatus will be perfectly
safe under water, because the submersion of the apparatus will increase the
external pressure, and will contract the internal pressure of the compressed
air in the chamber.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the special form and
construction herein specified, as these may be greatly varied without departing
from the principle or character of the Invention.
What I claim as new in the present Invention, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent, is the method of controlling the rising and sinking power of
the apparatus by means of a reservoir or reservoirs of compressed air con-
nected and combined with a working chamber or chambers, and rising and
sinking therewith, so that the operators within, by the use of the compressed
air, can readily control the rising and sinking power of the apparatus without
communication with the surface.
1 also claim in a submarine explorer, in which the rising and sinking
power is controlled by a reservoir or reservoirs of compressed air, the dividing
the working chambers by a hatchway, which can be closed water and air tight
so as to sustain the apparatus with the top above water when the said top is
open for any purpose.
I also claim, in combination with the reservoir or reservoirs of compressed
air connected and combined with one or more working chambers, the employ-
ment of one or more ballast chambers at or near the bottom, and so arranged
that at the will of the operators they can be made to communicate with the
compressed air reservoir or reservoirs and with the surrounding water, so as
to increase the lifting or sinking power of the apparatus.
And I also claim in a submarine explorer the employment of a spray or
shower of water, which at the will of the operators inside may be discharged
at any time required to purify the air by absorption of any noxious gases.
And I also claim, in combination with the reservoir or reservoirs for com-
pressed air, the employment of a pump, which can be worked by the operators
within, and which communicates with the reservoir or reservoirs of compressed
air, and also by means of a flexible pipe and float provided with a self-acting

page_text: valve with the atmosphere above, so that in case of accident the operators
within can replenish the air in the reservoirs, to enable them to control the
apparatus.
In witness whereof I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)