Improvements in Navigational Sounding Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1899
ABIL
1000
1000
Improvements in Navigational Sounding Apparatus.
I, JOHN CLARK DOBBLE, of 45, Clyde Place, in the City of Glasgow, Nautical
Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention, which relates to apparatus for navigational sounding or for
ascertaining the depth of the sea, has for its object to simplify such apparatus
and render it more accurate while better adapting it for taking soundings in
deep water.
The improved apparatus is of the class in which the sounding is measured by
the admission of water and compression of the air contained within it propor-
tionate to the depth of immersion, and it is composed of a tubular casing either
of uniform bore or of larger diameter at its lower end. which is closed, whilst its
upper end is formed with an orifice or orifices covered or enclosed by a removable
fluid tight cap or cover. Water is admitted into the casing through a small
tube bent to U-shape or wound helically around the casing and entered through
the cap or cover in line with the orifice in the upper end of the casing or it may
enter at any point near the upper end or above the maximum water level attained
within the casing, the object of this arrangement being that whilst the water
under pressure due to the depth of immersion of the instrument may freely enter
the sounding tube or casing, it may not escape or be forced out by the air pressure
when the apparatus is drawn up out of the water. The inlet orifice formed by the
small tube may be fitted under the cap or cover with a ball or other valve of
vulcanite or other light material adapted to close said orifice in order to prevent
further admission or escape of water while the sounding apparatus is being drawn
up; and in order that the water around the inlet should be kept quiescent and
water only proportionate to the pressure due to the depth of immersion of the
sounder may be admitted through the tube, a perforated covering may be fitted
over the cap and upper end or over the whole of the casing. Or a metallic ball
may be used and fitted in a cage near the inlet orifice, the ball being normally
held up against a seat in the orifice to prevent the return of the water by means
of a small magnet or the ball may have a magnetised pivot or a spring may be
used to hold up the ball.
Within the tubular casing of the sounding apparatus is fitted a baffle plate or
number of baffle plates extending from the upper end to near the bottom of the
sounder casing so as to divide it into compartments, the water entering through
the inlet orifice and passing down a central compartment and thence under the
lower edge of the baffle or baffles to the other compartment or compartments,
the object being to prevent surging or rapid return flow of the water. These
baffles may be perforated or formed with small air holes at top in order that the
pressure in the compartments may be equalized.
These baffles instead of being vertical may be fitted transversely or they may
be arranged to swing with the motion of the water.

page_text: The cap or cover is preferably hinged or jointed to the body of
the casing and is provided with a rubber 01' like face or is fitted
with an annular ring of rubber of circular cross section to render the
cap or cover water-tight and prevent admission of water otherwise than by
the inlet tube when the cap is fastened down which is conveniently effected by
means of a screw bolt preferably jointed to the casing and adapted to engage in
a slotted lug on the cover. The orifice in the casing may be of tubular, triangular,
semi-circular or like form through which the scale for measuring the depth of
water in the casing is inserted. This scale may consist of a flat bar or strip of
metal, vulcanite or other material graduated upon one face, and which is inserted
through the orifice so that the scale upon the face may not make contact with
the sides of the orifice and be wetted or otherwise marked.
In a modification the scale is formed of a graduated glass tube the lower end
of which is fitted with a valve disc held by means of spring prongs extending
upwards within the tube. The scale tube is inserted into the sounder casing
whilst the valve disc at its lower end is open so that the water flows freely into
the scale tube, but before taking out the latter it is pressed downwards against
the bottom of the sounder so that the valve disc is closed upon its seat and thus
retains the water within the tube and permits of sight reading of the depth on the
scale.
improvements in Navigational Sounding Apparatus.
I, JOHN CLARK DOBBIE, of 45, Clyde Place, in the City of Glasgow, Nautical
Instrument Maker, 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:.
-
This invention, which relates to apparatus for navigational sounding or for
ascertaining the depth of the sea, has for its object to simplify such apparatus
and render it more accurate while better adapting it for taking soundings in deep
water.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being an
elevation of the improved sounding apparatus with its surrounding casing in
section, and Fig. 2 a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4
are views of two different forms of scale employed for measuring the amount of
water within the apparatus.
The improved apparatus is of the class in which the sounding is measured by
the admission of water and compression of the air contained within it proportionate
to the depth of immersion, and it is composed of a tubular casing A either of
uniform bore or of larger diameter at its lower end, which is closed, whilst its
upper end is formed with an orifice B or orifices covered or enclosed by a remov-
able fluid tight cap or cover C. Water is admitted into the casing through a
small tube 1 bent to U-shape, as shewn, or wound helically around the casing A
and entered through the cap or cover C in line with the orifice B in the upper
end of the casing A, or it may enter at any point near the upper end or above the
maximum water level attained within the casing A, the object of this arrange-

page_text: ment being that whilst the water under pressure due to the depth of immersion
of the instrument may freely enter the sounding tube or casing A, it may not
escape or be forced out by the air pressure when the apparatus is drawn out of
the water. The inlet orifice formed by the small tube D may be fitted under the
cap or cover with a ball or other valve of vulcanite or other light material adapted
when raised by the water within the casing to close said orifice B in order to
prevent further admission or escape of water while the sounding apparatus is
being drawn up; or a metallic ball, or as shown, a mushroom valve E may be
used and fitted in a cage or perforated sleeve C¹ near the inlet orifice formed
integral with or separate from the cap or cover C, the ball or other valve being
normally held up against a seat C3 in said cage to prevent the return of the water
by means of a small magnet F or the ball may have a magnetised pivot or a
spring may be used to hold up the ball. In order that the water around the- inlet-
should-be-kept quiescent and water only proportionate to the pressure due to
the depth of immersion of the sounder may be admitted through the tube D), a
perforated covering may be fitted over the cap and upper end or over the whole
of the casing A, as shown at Fig. 1, this covering consisting of a metallic casing G
having orifices in it preferably covered by wire gauze to admit the water to the
apparatus.
Within the tubular casing of the sounding apparatus is fitted a baffle plate
or number of baffle plates H extending from the upper endsto near the bottom
of the sounder casing A so as to divide it into compartments, the water entering
through the inlet orifice B and passing down a central compartment formed by
two of the baffles, and thence under the lower edge of the baffle or baffles to the
other compartment or compartments, the object being to prevent surging of the
water. These baffles may be perforated or formed with small air holes H¹ at top
in order that the pressure in the compartments may be equalized.
These baffles instead of being vertical may be fitted transversely or they may be
arranged to swing with the motion of the water.
7
The cap or cover C is preferably hinged or jointed to the body of the casing,
as at C, and is provided with a rubber or like face, or it or the upper face of the
casing A is fitted with an annular ring of rubber I of circular cross section to
render the cap or cover C water-tight and prevent admission of water otherwise
than by the inlet tube 1) when the cap C is fastened down which is conveniently
effected by means of a screw bolt J preferably jointed to the casing, as at K, and
adapted to engage in a slotted lug C3 on the cover C.
The orifice in the casing may be of tubular, triangular, semi-circular or like
form through which the scale for measuring the depth of water in the casing
is inserted. This scale may consist of a flat bar or strip L, such as shown at
Fig. 3, of metal, vulcanite or other material graduated upon one face, and which
is inserted through the orifice B so that the scale upon the face may not make
contact with the sides of the orifice and be wetted or otherwise marked.
In a modification, as illustrated by Fig. 4, the scale is formed of a graduated
glass tube M, the lower end of which is fitted with a valve disc N held by means
of spring prongs N¹ extending upwards within the tube M. The scale tube M is
inserted into the sounder casing A whilst the valve disc N at its lower end is open,
as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 4, so that the water flows freely into the scale
tube M, but before taking out the latter it is pressed downwards against the
bottom of the sounder so that the valve disc N is closed upon its seat, as shown
in full lines, Fig. 4, and thus retains the water within the tube M and permits of
sight reading of the depth on the scale.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Navigational sounding apparatus, the parts of which are constructed, com-
bined and arranged. substantially as described.

page_text: 2. Navigational sounding apparatus composed of a tubular casing closed at one
end and having a removable fluid tight cover adapted to close the open end, said
casing being furnished with an inlet tube having at its inner end a non-return
valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In navigational sounding apparatus the combination with the water inlet
of a non-return valve, consisting of a ball or mushroom valve normally held upon
its seat by a magnet, substantially as described.
4. In navigational sounding apparatus the combination with a tubular casing
of a series of baffle plates arranged to prevent surging of the water within the
casing, substantially as described.
5. In conjunction with navigational sounding apparatus of the kind described
a scale consisting of an open-ended glass tube graduated upon its outer surface
and fitted at its lower end with a disc or like valve retained by spring prongs
projecting into said tube, said valve being opened to admit the water within
the sounder casing into the interior of the graduated tube, and closed to retain
said water, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of October 1800.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents, 62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.