Improvements in the Means of Leaving and Entering Submarine Boats or Vessels.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 5th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
Improvements in the Means of Leaving and Entering Submarine
Boats or Vessels.
I, ANDREW CAMPBELL, of 36 Pembury Grove, Lower Clapton, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means of leaving and entering
submarine boats and vessels employed for torpedo warfare, and other purposes where
it is required to carry on operations below the surface of the water, and its principal
object is to provide means whereby divers may leave and re-enter the submarine boat
or vessel in a simple manner and without affecting the specific gravity of such
submerged boat or vessel.
According to my present invention, I construct in a convenient and suitable position
in the submarine boat or vessel a watertight chamber, communicating with both the
inside and outside of the boat by means of manholes or openings provided with
watertight covers or doors, the chamber being also fitted with suitable watertight
connections for air-tubes signal lines and the like.
I also provide pumps or other suitable or convenient means whereby this chamber
may be filled with water from the bilge water, water ballast or other water supply
within the boat, and so arrange that the water contained in the said chamber may be
emptied, when required, back again into the boat to the source from whence it was
taken.
By these means the diver may enter the chamber and after having made the
necessary air connections &c. and shut himself in, water is pumped or otherwise from.
the bilge water, water ballast or other water supply within the boat into the said
chamber from which latter communication with the exterior of the boat or vessel is
made by opening the outer cover or door, and the diver is then free to leave the boat

page_text: for any desired purpose. When he requires to re-enter the boat he first enters the
chamber, closes the outer-cover or door and gives the signal for the water contained
in such chamber to be pumped or otherwise returned into the boat as before described.
When the chamber has been thus emptied more or less the cover or door
communicating with the interior of the boat is opened and the diver re-enters the
boat. Suitable air valves are provided for the admission of air into the chamber from
the interior of the boat when the said chamber is being emptied of water, and for the
outlet of air when the said chamber is being filled with water.
D
Cil 1
1000
A. CAMPBELL.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Leaving and Entering Submarine
Boats or Vessels.
I, ANDREW CAMPBELL, of 36 Pembury Grove, Lower Clapton, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing and
to the letters marked thereon that is to say:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means of leaving and entering
submarine boats and vessels employed for torpedo warfare, and other purposes where
it is required to carry on operations below the surface of the water; and its principal
object is to provide simple means whereby divers may leave, and re-enter the
submarine boat or vessel without affecting the specific gravity of such submerged boat
or vessel.
According to my present invention I construct in a convenient and suitable position
in the submarine boat or vessel a watertight chamber A (see the drawing hereto
annexed, which is a longitudinal section of part of a submarine boat or vessel with my
improvements applied thereto, communicating) with both the inside and outside of the
boat by means of manholes or openings provided with watertight covers or doors B
and C. The chamber A is also fitted with suitable watertight connections or
couplings for air tubes signal lines and the like for the use of the diver. A pump D
is provided whereby this chamber A may be filled with water from the bilge E or
from a water ballast tank or compartment or other water supply within the boat by
means of suitable suction and delivery pipes F and G, and the water so pumped into
the said chamber A may be emptied therefrom when required and returned to the
bilge or other part of the boat from whence it was taken through a pipe H provided
with a tap or valve I.
The mode of operating is as follows:-The door C being shut, the door B is opened
and the diver, clad in a suitable diving dress, enters the chamber A, closes the door B
and makes the necessary air and signal connections with the watertight couplings
provided in the chamber A for that purpose. Water is then pumped by the pump
D
or is otherwise forced from the bilge E for example into the chamber A until the latter
is full, the air escaping therefrom in the meantime through the cock or valve J which
the diver then closes. When the chamber A is quite full of water the outer door Cis
in equilibrium, and the diver opens it and steps out on to the platform or deck K.
When he has accomplished his purpose and wishes to re-enter the boat he first enters
the chamber A, closes the outer door C, opens the air valve J which he had closed
before opening the said door, then opens the emptying cock or valve I allowing the
water to run from the chamber A back into the bilge E or other part of the boat from
whence it was drawn. The door B is then opened and the diver passes again into the

page_text: interior of the boat.
chamber A.
L is an electric lamp for illuminating the interior of the
It will be readily understood that as the water for filling the chamber A is drawn
from some other part of the boat, and is returned thereto when the chamber is emptied,
and that no further quantity of water enters from the outside or passes out from the
inside during the operation, the specific gravity of the boat or vessel and her load
is not altered and her distance below the surface of the water is consequently not
affected by the operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I desire to have it understood that I
am aware that it is not novel to employ a chamber with an inside and an outside door for
the purpose of passing out from and returning into a submarine boat or vessel, but so
far as I am aware the water for filling the said chamber has heretofore been received
thereinto from outside the boat or vessel, and pumped or otherwise ejected therefrom
back to the outside of the boat or vessel, thereby affecting the specific gravity thereof,
and that I make no claim to such arrangements but I declare that what I do claim is:-
First. In a submarine boat or vessel provided with an egress and ingress chamber,
the employment of water contained in the said boat or vessel for the purpose of
charging the said chamber without affecting the specific gravity of the said boat or
vessel, substantially as herein before described.
Second. For the purpose of effecting egress from and entrance to a submarine
boat or vessel the use of a chamber A with inner and outer doors B and C in
combination with means for filling the said chamber with water from and for returning
such water to the bilge, water ballast compartment, or other suitable part of the
interior of the said boat or vessel, substantially as hereinbefore described, and
illustrated in the drawing hereto annexed.