IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING Kingdom Italy, for the Invention of LIFE APPARATUS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Giacomo Martorelli and Nabor Soliani, of Spezia, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING
Kingdom of Italy, for the Invention of
LIFE APPARATUS.
"
Sealed the 18th July 1879, and dated the 29th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Giacomo Martorelli and
Nabor Soliani at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th
January 1879.
GIACOMO MARTORELLI and NABOR SOLIANI, of Spezia, in the Kingdom of Italy.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING LIFE APPARATUS."
In all apparatus for saving life from drowning hitherto constructed the buoyancy
of the apparatus was obtained either by making it of a fixed volume or by increasing
its volume when required for use by special means, such as by inflating it, which
Now in the first description
required the direct action of the person to be saved.
of apparatus with a constant volume, by reason of their excessive dimensions they
occupy a large space on board a vessel, and they can only be put on when the
danger is imminent. The second description of apparatus, on the other hand, with
a variable volume, requires an amount of exertion for inflating it that even a good
swimmer could scarcely perform in a moment of distress. By our self acting life
saving apparatus both these inconveniences are avoided, because while its ordinary
appearance is that of a simple bag, empty and flexible, and easily wearable, yet
when the danger is imminent and the person wearing it sinks in the water it
expands or distends automatically, thereby becoming a very serviceable agent of
safety.
The improved apparatus consists of a suitably shaped bag capable of containing
about five gallons in volume, and made of india rubber-cloth or other suitable
flexible cloth which is waterproof and air tight.
This bag is provided with four valves opening inwards, a screw stopper, a release
tube, and a safety tube having a valve opening inwards at its junction with the
bag. A tube of about one inch and a half in diameter and about seven inches long
is provided for containing (separated) about one hundred grains of bicarbonate of
soda and about one hundred grains of tartaric acid. This tube is formed of two

page_text: half cylinders separated (but dependent on each other) by the action of three
powerful steel springs, which tend to keep them separated and consequently the
tube opened. The tube having been charged with the said chemical substances, it
is shut and held closed by means of two strong paper ribbons, and afterwards it is
introduced into the bag through the opening closed by the stopper.
=
_ _ If-an-apparatus-of-this-construction sinks in the water the valves are opened by
-the-pressure-of-the-surrounding water, which enters the bag and moistens the paper
ribbons of the cylinder. These at once lose their tenacity, and breaking under the
action of the steel-springs-allow-the-cylinder-to-open, whereupon the bicarbonate
of soda and the tartaric acid coming in contact as water solutions re-act with great
energy, and the carbonic acid developing closes the valves and fills the bag. The
required volume of carbonic acid is soon obtained, and the empty and flexible bag
is thus changed into a very efficient life saving apparatus.
By means of the safety tube the person in the water is enabled to supply, by
blowing in air, the occasional loss of gas which might occur in the apparatus.
The principle on which the present self-acting life-saving apparatus is based, and
its automatic action are independent of its form and dimensions, which may be
varied, but the bag is preferably formed with an opening to pass over the head of
the person, and is provided with straps for fastening round the waist.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Giacomo Martorelli and Nabor Soliani in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th July 1879.
GIACOMO MARTORELLI and NABOR SOLIANI, of Spezia, in the Kingdom of Italy.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING LIFE APPARATUS."
In all apparatus for saving life from drowning hitherto constructed the buoyancy
of the apparatus was obtained either by making it of a fixed volume or by increasing
its volume when required for use by special means, such as by inflating it, which
required the direct action of the person to be saved.
Now in the first description of apparatus, with a constant volume, by reason of
their excessive dimensions, they occupy a large space on board a vessel, and they
can only be put on when the danger is imminent. The second description of
apparatus, on the other hand, with a variable volume, requires an amount of
exertion for inflating it that even a good swimmer could scarcely perform in a
moment of danger or distress. By our self acting life saving apparatus both these
inconveniences are avoided, because while its ordinary appearance is that of a
simple bag, empty and flexible, and easily wearable, yet when the danger is
imminent, and the person wearing it sinks in the water, it expands or distends
automatically, thereby becoming a very serviceable agent of safety.
But to make our Invention better understood we will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation
of a suitable form of our improved selfacting life apparatus, the bag being empty;
Figure 2, elevation shewing the bag inflated; Figures 3 to 8, details. Similar
letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
The improved apparatus consists of a suitably shaped bag A, capable of containing
about five gallons in volume, and made of india rubber-cloth or other suitable
flexible cloth which is waterproof and air tight. This bag A is provided with one
valve & opening inwards, which valve is always visible, so that it is easy to see if
it is in working order, and it may be easily removed if required; a screw stopper Q,
a release.tube R, and a safety tube T having a valve opening inwards at its junc-
tion with the bag A. A tube or cylinder M of about one inch and a half in diameter
and about seven inches long is provided for containing (separated) about one
hundred grains of bicarbonate of soda and about one hundred grains of tartaric acid.
This tube is formed of two separate half cylinders c, c, dependent on each other by
the action of three powerful steel springs 0, 0, 0, which tend to keep them separated,
and consequently the tube opened. Figure 3 is a plan of the cylinder opened;
Figure 4 shews the cylinder closed; Figures 6 and 7, end views of Figures 3 and 4;
and Figure 5 is a section of Figure 3. This tube can also be made of three separate
and equal cylindrical segments, the action being the same as hereinafter described.
In the second as in the first case the tube can open easily under the water pressure
surrounding the bag by the addition of three metal rings attached to it. The said
tube or cylinder M having been charged with the said chemical substances, it is
shut and held closed by means of two strong paper ribbons, and afterwards it is
introduced into the bag A through the opening closed by the stopper Q.
If an apparatus of this construction sinks in the water the valves 8 are opened by
the pressure of the surrounding water, which will then enter the bag and moisten
the paper ribbons of the cylinder M. These ribbons at once lose their tenacity, and
breaking under the action of the steel springs o, 0, 0, allow the cylinder M to open,
whereupon the bicarbonate of soda and the tartaric acid coming in contact as water
solutions, react with great energy, and the carbonic acid developing closes the
valves & and fills the bag. The required volume of carbonic acid is soon obtained,
and the recently empty and flexible bag A is thus changed into a very efficient life
saving apparatus.

page_text: "
By means of the safety tube T the person in the water is enabled to supply, by
blowing in air, the occasional loss of gas which might occur in the apparatus.
_ Having thus described our said Invention, and the best means with which we
are acquainted for carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that.
we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein laid down, as the principle
-on-which-our self acting life-saving apparatus is based and its automatic action are
independent-of-its_form_and_dimensions, which may be varied, but the bag is.
preferably formed with an opening to pass over the head of the person, and-is-
provided with straps-for-fastening-round the waist, but what we do claim is,--
1-
-
Firstly. The construction and employment of a life saving apparatus which
becomes automatically inflated when immersed in the water as herein before
described.
Secondly. The peculiar construction of the life saving apparatus as hereinbefore
described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The construction and employment in self-acting life saving apparatus of
the cylinder or tube arranged and operating as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
3
In witness whereof, we, the said Giacomo Martorelli and Nabor Soliani, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Twenty fourth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
د