IM- A communi- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for the Invention of "IM-
A communi-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS."
cation from Hans Conrad Carstens, of Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 15th November 1878, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 15th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1878.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN
VESSELS." (A communication from Hans Conrad Carstens, of Hamburg, in the
Empire of Germany.)
The purpose of this Invention is to raise sunken vessels in a considerably short
time, and in a very safe manner.
The apparatus consists of a number of balloons attached to the hull of the vessel
in a peculiar manner. Each of these balloons consists of an inner framework in
combination with a simple mechanism, and of an outer cover.
The inner parts consist of a wooden frame, and of three or more chains after
Gall's system, which are connected with their bottom ends to a cross beam, and
which are furnished with a ring at the upper end. These rings are used for con-
necting by means of chains two balloons placed on opposite sides of the hull,
The cross beam is connected to the bottom cross piece of the frame by means of a
strong hinge joint, and is furnished in the middle part of its bottom plane with a
bracket and hook. By means of chains and these hooks the balloons placed on
opposite sides of the hull are connected to each other at their bottom parts. By
means of these chains, the chains of Gall's system are at same time closely pressed
against the hull, while the frame can turn around the hinge joint.

page_text: The sides of each frame correspond or nearly correspond to the form of that part
of the hull to which the balloon is attached, and these sides are connected by an
axle upon which a wooden or metal lever formed like a cross turns loosely. To
that arm of this cross, placed vertical to the axle, the end of one of the Gall's chains
is fastened. This chain is then led over a pulley, and its other end is attached to
the upper cross beam of the frame.
On the axle of the chain pulley a ratchet wheel is placed, and by means of a
pawl, the pulley is prevented from a backward motion.
This before-described framework and mechanism is placed in an india-rubber
cover, and the opening through which the frame is passed into the cover is after-
wards closed by means of a metal plate and screw bolts. At a suitable part of this
metal plate a tube is fastened, which can be brought in connection with an air
pump.
The india-rubber covers are also furnished with short projections, three on the
top, one at bottom, and two at each side, for the reception of metal hooks for con-
necting the different balloons to each other.
At stem and stern of the vessel metal cramps are attached, and the balloons at
each side of the hull placed nearest to the cramps fastened to same.
The whole
system of balloons is now. firmly and safely attached to the hull. By means of an
air pump, the balloons, which are connected to each other by means of india-rubber
pipes, are filled with air.
During the swelling out of the balloons the frame of cach turns around the
corresponding hinge joint, and at same time lifts the cross lever; when the balloons
are filled sufficiently, the free ends of these cross levers catch behind a projection
attached to one of the Gall's chains, and keep the frame apart from the corresponding
chains, even when the pressure from the air pump is reduced.
The different balloons cannot therefore, after once being filled properly, be
collapsed by the pressure of the surrounding water, even should the air valves from
the balloons to the outer air be opened, and this is the main feature of my In-
vention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Offico
on the 15th November 1878.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN:
VESSELS.' (A communication from Haus Conrad Carstens, of Hamburg, in the
Empire of Germany.)
The purpose of this Invention is to raise sunken vessels in a considerably short
time, and in a very safe manner.
The apparatus consists of a number of balloons attached to the hull of the vessel

page_text: in a peculiar manner. Each of these balloons consists of an inner framework in
combination with a simple mechanism and of an outer cover.
The inner parts
consist of a wooden frame, and of three or more chains after "Gall's" system, which
are connected with their bottom ends to a cross beam, and which are furnished
with a ring at the upper end. These rings are used for connecting by means of
chains two balloons placed on opposite sides of the hull.
The cross beam is connected to the bottom cross piece of the frame by means of a
strong hinge joint, and is furnished in the middle parts of its bottom plane with a
bracket and hook. By means of chains and these hooks the balloons placed on
opposite sides of the hull are connected to each other at their bottom parts. By
means of these chains, the chains of Gall's system are at same time closely pressed
against the hull, while the frame can turn around the hinge joint.
The sides of each frame correspond or nearly correspond to the form of that part
of the hull to which the balloon is attached, and these sides are connected by an
axle upon which a wooden or metal lever formed like a cross turns loosely. To that
arm of this cross, placed vertical to the axle, the end of one of the Gall's chains is
fastened. This chain is then led over a pulley, and at its other end is attached to
the upper cross beam of the frame.
On the axle of the chain pulley or ratchet wheel is placed, and by means of a
pawl the pulley is prevented from a backward motion.
This before-described framework and mechanism is placed in an india-rubber
cover, and the opening through which the frame is inserted is afterwards closed by
means of a metal plate and screw bolts. At a suitable part of the metal plate a
tube is fastened which can be brought in connection with an air pump.
The india-rubber covers are also furnished with short projections, three on the
top, one at bottom, and two at each side, for the reception of metal hooks for con-
necting the different balloons to each other.
At stem and stern of the vessel, metal cramps are attached, and the balloons at
each side of the hull placed nearest to the cramps fastened to same.
The whole
system of balloons is now firmly and safely attached to the hull. By means of an
air pump, the balloons, which are connected to each other by means of india-rubber
pipes, are filled with air.
During the swelling out of the balloons, the frame of each turns around the
corresponding hinge joint, and at same time lifts the cross lever; when the balloons
are filled sufficiently, the free ends of these cross levers catch behind a projection
attached to one of the Gall's chains, and keep the frame apart from the corre-
sponding chains, even when the pressure from the air pump is reducod.
The different balloons cannot therefore, after once being filled properly, be
collapsed by the pressure of the surrounding water, even should the air valves from
the balloons to the outer air be opened, and this is the main feature of this In-
vention.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent respectively in side view, plan, and end view a ship
to which the balloon apparatus is applied in the manner described.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively enlarged end view and side view of the inner
framing of a balloon.
A, A, are two balloons fastened to the vessel; these balloons are provided with an
interior framing inserted into the balloon through an opening which is then closed
by means of a plate or lid and screws. The framing, see Figures 4 and 5, consists
of the three chains a, a¹, a¹¹, constructed according to Gall's system; these chains are
connected at top by means of a cross beam b, and lower down by means of two
cross beams b', bº.
The upper cross beam 6 has three upper projections c, c¹, c², which pass through
the balloon, and terminate in eyes, through which are passed chains for connecting
the balloons opposite one another, two and two above and across the deck of the
ship. The lower cross beam 62 has a lower projection d, serving to connect the
balloons similarly under the keel of the ship, and on each side a projection d' and
, serving to connect the balloons on the same side of the ship, as shown in Figures

page_text: 1 and 2, say, by joint pins, as shown. The intermediate cross beam b', has a pro-
jection at each end, also serving to connect the balloons on the same side of the ship
with one another, as shown at Figure 1.
For larger ships, and in special cases, the junction of the balloons opposite one
another under the keel may also be effected as follows:-R is a strong saddle made
of sheet iron, which is drawn in under the keel by means of chains H, H. To the
projection d of the lower cross beam is attached a cord or string, and by means of
chains or ropos l, m, and rollers m, n, the balloons are lowered down on the side of
the ship, and the cords on the projections & thereby take hold behind the round
iron bars i, i, which are connected to the upper edge of the saddle R; this latter is
notched out in the places where a cord is to pass through, as shown in Figures 1
and 2. The flaps p, p, and the leather pieces e serve to guide the ropes and m
through the iron cross beam L placed at the stern of the vessel. The beam L and
the shears F, arranged at the stern of the ship, are connected together by means of
a steel band G, which is also held by vortical straps t, t; K² is a tightening screw in
front which draws the band G close to each side of the ship, and thereby fastens the
beam 1 to the ship. The two clips or shears F and F, as well as the two tightening
screws K and K², serve to hold the balloons united to one another together in the
length direction of the ship.
When the separate balloons have been attached to the ship in the manner
described, and have been covered with tarpaulings or wire netting, air from an air
pump is forced into them by the branch pipes x, the cocks z being opened. By the
air pressure in the interior of the balloons the two frames V, VI, which are united
to the cross beams b, 6, by hinge joints are raised, and the struts q, q¹, are by means
of the chains g, g, raised from their folded position. The struts q, q', prevent the
collapsing of the balloons by the exterior water pressure, even in the event of air
escaping from the balloons, or of an interruption in the connection with the air
pump.
When the balloons are to be folded together again, the screw caps w, w, are un-
scrowed, and by placing a spanner or key on the end of the shaft o this latter may
be turned so as to fold up the frames V, VI, and studs q, q', whereupon the india-
rubber balloon collapses as far as desired.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
that I claim,
Firstly. The construction of the separate balloons with an inner framing, and the
mechanism for opening and closing the frames and struts, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth, and as described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The mode of fastening the separate balloons to the ship and to one
another, substantially as set forth and as described with reference to the accom- 4
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.]
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL. (L.S.)