THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING SUBMARINE ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, LINES, CABLES, OR OTHER CONTRIVANCES OF A LIKE SORT
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS. PATENT to Reinhold Edward Kaulbach, of No. 9; Grove Road,
St. John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
LAYING SUBMARINE ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, LINES, CABLES, OR
OTHER CONTRIVANCES OF A LIKE SORT."
Sealed the 12th October 1866, and dated the 16th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Reinhold Edward Kaulbach
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1866.
I, REINHOLD EDWARD KAULBACH, of No. 9, Grove Road, St. John's Wood,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS POR
LAYING SUBMARINE ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, LINES, CABLES, OR OTHER
CONTRIVANCES OF A LIKE SORT," to be as follows:-
The formation of a permanent way or bridge beneath the surface of the
ocean for the support and carrying through of the said wires, lines, cables, or
other contrivances of a like sort, by means of which it may be intended to
transmit the electric current from shore to shore; the said permanent way or
bridge to consist of a series of vessels or condensers stationed along the whole
of the intended line of communication at distances to be determined according
to circumstances or requirement, sunk to an average depth of seventeen
fathoms, and firmly moored to the bed of the sea. The said vessels or con-

page_text: densers are constructed of copper, steel, iron, or any other metal of sufficient
strength and tenacity, and are of the form shown in Fig. I. (side elevation)
and Fig. II. (end elevation), which form, however, may be varied for the
sake of convenience, without in any way affecting or departing from the
nature of and principle whereon the said Invention is founded. The aforesaid
vessels or condensers are perfectly air-tight, and of sufficient strength to
resist a pressure of eight or ten atmospheres. Each vessel or condenser is
traversed by a longitudinal tube A, B, Figs. I. and III., also of copper, steel,
iron, or any other metal of sufficient strength and tenacity. The said tube
widens and is open at both ends, where it becomes somewhat bell-shaped,
and allows a free passage for the water through the entire length of the
vessel. These mouths of the aforesaid longitudinal tube are respectively
provided with a clasp, which is placed at the neck or narrowing of the tube,
as shown at C, Fig. II., C, C, Fig. III., C, Fig. IV. The said clasps are of
metal, and are intended to receive and attach to the vessel or condenser the
aforesaid wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort. The lower
half of each clasp is a fixture, and is supplied with semicircular grooves
e, f, g, h, i, Figs. II. and IV., wherein the aforesaid wires, lines, cables, or
other contrivances of a like sort rest. The upper half, supplied with corre-
sponding semicircular grooves, is not only moveable as a whole, but each.
groove is separately moveable, and may be raised from or brought into
contact with its corresponding semicircular groove in the lower half of the
clasp by means of a screw s, s, Figs. I. and III., each separate groove having
a-distinct screw worked by a key common to all. By this arrangement the
whole or a
portion of the upper half of each clasp may be screwed down till
it.firmly grips and secures all or any one of the said wires, lines, cables, or
other contrivances of a like sort, while, on the other hand, any one of the
said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort may be removed
changed, or repaired without disturbing or otherwise interfering with the
working of the adjacent wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of
like sort. In addition to the aforesaid longitudinal tube, each of the sai
vessels or condensers has two vertical tubes a, b, Fig. III., and a, b, a', b
Fig. IV.; the lower extremity of these tubes descending to within a
inch of the bottom of the aforesaid vessel or condenser, while the uppe
extremity is supplied with a valve box V, Fig. III., V, V, Fig. IV. Int
this valve box, about half way, descends a shorter vertical tube d, Figs
I., II., III., and d, Fig. IV., but of the same diameter as the longer tub
just mentioned; the aforesaid shorter vertical tube being closed at its lowe
end by a valve v, Fig. IV., connected by a rod r, Figs. I., II., III., and IV

page_text: with the lever L, Figs. I. and III.; the necessity of having a separate lever
for each valve being obviated by springing a semicircular arc from each
fulcrum, and starting the beam from the summit of the said arc. Finally,
each of the aforesaid vessels or condensers is provided with a man-hole M,
Figs. I., II., III., and IV., a gauge cock G, Fig. III., and an air cock P,
Fig. III., the two latter having respectively a moveable metal cap m, m',
Figs. I. and II., for the sake of protection. The principle on which the
aforesaid apparatus is worked is as follows:-The air cock P, Fig. III., is.
opened, while the connecting rod r, Figs. I., II., III., IV., is detached from
the lever, so as to allow he valve v, Fig. IV., to drop. The buoyancy of the
aforesaid vessel or condenser being known, also the collective weight of the
said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort attached thereto,
and of the moorings whereby the.said vessel or condenser is made fast to the.
bottom of the sea, it is clear that if the remaining buoyant power after
deducting the aforesaid collective weight of the wires, lines, cables, or other.
contrivances of a like sort and the moorings be equally counterpoised, the
said vessel or condenser will sink. It is equally clear that the said vessel or.
condenser, thus sunk if relieved of the aforesaid counterpoise or additional
weight will instantly rise again to the surface. It is necessary therefore that-
the aforesaid counterpoise or additional weight shall be of such a nature as to
be easily cast off below water whensoever it may be required, and then only.
To supply this desideratum the very element in which the said vessel or
condenser is immersed presents itself. The air cock, as above stated, being
open, the requisite quantity of water is let into the body of the vessel through
the aforesaid vertical tubes; that being done the valves are again connected
with the lever, which by its own weight causes them to remain hermetically
closed. A condensing pump is then attached to the air cock, and air is forced
into the said vessel until it reaches the required pressure of eight to ten
atmospheres. These conditions being fulfilled the vessel or condenser, as.
already said, will sink, but in so doing will deposit at the bottom of the
ocean a proportionate length of chain or cable, whereby it may be moored
until its specific gravity becomes equal to that of the surrounding element,
when its downward course will cease. But better to ensure the position of
the aforesaid vessel or condenser at a given depth beneath the surface, and its
maintenance there, the above principle is carried out in a different way, that
is, at a distance of one hundred feet or so from the anchorage end of the
chains or cables, whereby the said vessel or condenser is moored, a certain
weight is attached, while only the requisite complement or proper quantity of
water is put into the vessel or condenser to cause it to sink until the aforesaid

page_text: weight has been deposited at the bottom. To denote the position of the said
vessels or condensers below water, a buoy floating on the surface is attached
to each from the ring O, Fig. I. Thus one continuous line of buoys. will
denote the course of the aforesaid submarine electrical telegraphic bridge or
permanent way from shore to shore. To each buoy there is likewise booked
a chain in connection with the extremity o, Fig. I., of the lever.'. When it
is required to bring the vessel or condenser again to the surface, the said
chain in connection with the lever is detached from the buoy, carried' on board:
ship, attached to a windlass, when sufficient power being applied to raise the
lever and open the valve, the pressure exercised by the condensed air within
the vessel being thrice that of the outward pressure of the water, the water
within the vessel is expelled through the now open vertical tubes, and the
said vessel or condenser thus gradually losing its weight, and becoming more:
buoyant, rises to the surface. Furthermore, messages' may be sent from mid-
ocean along one or all of the said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of
a like sort for the transmission of the electrical fluid by any ship or ships
awfully privileged to use the same, and this is done in the following manner: -
At one end only of the longitudinal tube A, B, Figs. I. and III., already
mentioned, and about one foot from the mouth of the said tube, small insulated
wires branching off from the main wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances
of a like sort pass through corresponding holes e, f, g, h, i¹, Fig. II., in
the upper portion of the bell, and immediately uniting in a tube of gutta
percha or other non-conducting material, are held by the fastening F, Figs. I.,
II., and III., whence they are carried upwards and through the buoy, to the
top of which they are finally secured in a close group, each wire terminating
in a loop and a small bead; the said beads being each of a different colour, each
colour denoting the particular place with which its corresponding wire, line,
cable, or other contrivance of a like sort is connected. The ship thus
attaches its own' wire to either of the aforesaid loops, and the message is thus
transmitted in the ordinary manner, and by means of the usual telegraphic
apparatus; the surface termination of the aforesaid group of wires being
covered with a moveable metal cap to protect it when not in use. Finally, the
aforesaid vessel or condenser is fitted with a side rail, rope, or chain, R, R,
Figs. I., II, and IV., for the convenience of boats or other purposes; while
a gauge let into the upper surface of the buoy, and connected by a suitable
tube with the gauge cock, serves to indicate at any moment the pressure
within the vessel or condenser to which it is attached.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Reinhold Edward Kaulbach in the Great Seal Patent Office
: on the 16th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, REINHOLD
EDWARD KAULBACH, of 9, Grove Road, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Reinhold Edward Kaulbach, Her special licence that I, the said Reinhold
Edward Kaulbach, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Reinhold Edward Kaulbach, 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
"THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING SUBMARINE
ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC WIRES, LINES, CABLES, OR OTHER CONTRIVANCES OF A
LIKE SORT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Reinhold
Edward Kaulbach, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 Reinhold Edward Kaulbach, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the improvement of the means of and
apparatus for laying submarine electrical telegraphic wires, lines, cables, or
other contrivances of a like sort by the formation of what I term a permanent
way or bridge beneath the surface of the ocean, for the support and carrying
through of the said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort by
means of which it may be intended to transmit the electric current from shore
to shore; the said permanent way or bridge to consist of a series of vessels

page_text: or condensers stationed along the whole of the intended line of communication
at distances to be determined according to circumstances or requirement, sunk
to an average depth of seventeen fathoms, and firmly moored to the bed of the
sea. The said vessels or condensers are constructed of copper, steel, iron, or
any other metal, of sufficient strength and tenacity, and are of the form shown
in Figure I. (side elevation), and Figure 11. (end elevation); which form,
however, may be varied for the sake of convenience, without in any way
affecting or departing from the nature of and principle whereon the said
Invention is founded. The aforesaid vessels or condensers are perfectly air-
tight, and of sufficient strength to resist a pressure of eight or ten atmospheres.
Each vessel or condenser is traversed by a longitudinal tube A, B, Figures I.
and III., also of copper, steel, iron, or any other metal of sufficient strength
and tenacity. The said tube widens, and is open at both ends, where it becomes
somewhat bell-shaped, and allows a free passage for the water through the
entire length of the vessel. These mouths of the aforesaid longitudinal tube
are respectively provided with a clasp which is placed at the neck or narrowing
of the tube as shown at C, Figure II., C, C, Figure III., C, Figure IV.
The said clasps are of metal, and are intended to receive and attach to the
vessel or condenser the aforesaid wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of
a like sort. The lower half of each clasp is a fixture, and is supplied with
semicircular grooves e, f, g, h, i, Figures II. and IV., wherein the aforesaid
wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort rest. The upper half,
supplied with corresponding semicircular grooves, is not only movable as a
whole, but each groove is separately movable, and may be raised from or
brought into contact with its corresponding semicircular groove in the lower
half of the clasp by means of a screws, s, Figures I. and III., each separate
groove having a distinct screw worked by a key common to all. By this
arrangement the whole or a portion of the upper half of each clasp may be
screwed down till it firmly grips and secures all or any one of the said wires,
lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort, while, on the other hand,
any one of the said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort
may be removed, changed, or repaired, without disturbing or otherwise inter-
fering with the working of the adjacent wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances
of a like sort. In addition to the aforesaid longitudinal tube, each of the said
vessels or condensers has two vertical tubes a, b, Figure III., and a, b, a¹, b¹,
Figure IV; the lower extremity of these tubes descending to within an inch
of the bottom of the aforesaid vessel or condenser, while the upper extremity
is supplied with a valve box V, Figure III., V, V', Figure IV. Into this
valve box, about half way, descends a shorter vertical tube d, Figures I, II,

page_text: III., and d, Figure IV., but of the same diameter as the longer tube just
mentioned; the aforesaid shorter vertical tube being closed at its lower end
by a valve v, Figure IV., connected by a rod r, Figures I., II., III., and IV.,
with the lever L, Figures I. and III.; the necessity of having a separate
lever for each valve being obviated by springing a semicircular arc from each
fulcrum, and starting the beam from the summit of the said arc. Finally,
each of the aforesaid vessels or condensers is provided with a man-hole M,
Figures I., II., III., and IV., a gauge cock G, Figure III., and an air cock P,
Figure III., the two latter having respectively a movable metal cap m, m³,
Figures I. and II., for the sake of protection.
The principle on which the aforesaid apparatus is worked is as follows:-
The air-cock P, Figure III., is opened, while the connecting rod r, Figures
I., II., III., and IV., is detached from the lever, so as to allow the valve v,
Figure IV., to drop. The buoyancy of the aforesaid vessel or condenser being
known, also the collective weight of the said wires, lines, cables, or other con-
trivances of a like sort attached thereto, and of the moorings whereby the said
vessel or condenser is made fast to the bottom of the sea, it is clear that if
the remaining buoyant power, after deducting the aforesaid collective weight of
the wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort, and the moorings be
equally counterpoised, the said vessel or condenser will sink. It is equally
clear that the said vessel or condenser, thus sunk, if releived of the aforesaid
counterpoise or additional weight will instantly rise again to the surface. It
is necessary therefore that the aforesaid counterpoise or additional weight shall
be of such a nature as to be easily cast off below water whensoever it may
be required, and then only. To supply this desideratum the very element in
which the said vessel or condenser is immersed presents itself. The air cock,
as above stated, being open, the requisite quantity of water is let into the body
of the vessel through the aforesaid vertical tubes; that being done, the valves
are again connected with the lever, which by its own weight causes them to
be hermetically closed; a condensing pump is then attached to the air cock,
and air is forced into the said vessel until it reaches the required pressure
of eight to ten atmospheres; these conditions being fulfilled the vessel or
condenser, as already said, will sink, but in so doing it will deposit at the
bottom of the ocean a proportionate length of chain or cable, whereby
it may be moored until its specific gravity becomes equal to that of the
surrounding element, when its downward course will cease. But better
to ensure the position of the aforesaid vessel or condenser at a given depth
beneath the surface, and its maintenance there, the above principle is carried
out in a different way, that is, at a distance of one hundred feet or so from

page_text: the anchorage end of the chains or cables, whereby the said vessel or condenser
is moored, a certain weight is attached, while only the requisite complement or
proper quantity of water is put into the vessel or condenser to cause it to sink
until the aforesaid weight has been deposited at the bottom. To denote the
position of the said vessels or condensers below water, a buoy floating on the
surface is attached to each from the ring O, Figure I. Thus one continuous
line of buoys will denote the course of the aforesaid submarine telegraphic
bridge or permanent way from shore to shore. To each buoy there is likewise
hooked a chain in connection with the extremity o, Figure I., of the lever.
When it is required to bring the vessel or condenser again to the surface,
the said chain in connection with the lever is detached from the buoy, carried
on board ship, attached to a windlass, when sufficient power being applied to
raise the lever and open the valve, the pressure exercised by the condensed air
within the vessel being greater than that of the surrounding water, the water
within the vessel is expelled through the now open vertical tubes, and the said
vessel or condenser, thus gradually losing its weight and becoming more buoyant,
rises to the surface. Furthermore messages may be sent from mid-ocean along
one or all of the said wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort for
the transmission of the electric fluid by any ship or ships lawfully privileged to
.use the same, and this is done in the following manner :-At one end only of the
longitudinal tube A, B, Figures I. and III., already mentioned, and about one
foot from the mouth of the said tube, small insulated wires branching off from
the main wires, lines, cables, or other contrivance of a like sort pass through
corresponding holes e, f, g, h, , Figure II., in the upper portion of the bell,
and immediately uniting in a tube of gutta percha or other non-conducting
material, are held by the fastening F, Figures I., II., and III., whence they
are carried upwards and through the buoy, to the top of which they are finally
secured in a close group, each wire terminating in a loop and a small bead,
the said beads being each of a different colour, each colour denoting the
particular place with which its corresponding wire, line, cable, or other con-
trivance of a like sort is connected, as seen in Figure V. and VI. The
ship then attaches its own wire to either of the aforesaid loops, and the
message is thus transmitted in the ordinary manner, and by means of the
usual telegraphic apparatus; the surface termination of the aforesaid group
of wires being covered with a movable metal cap to protect it when not
in use.
Finally, the aforesaid vessel or condenser is fitted with a side rail, rope, or
chain R, R, Figures I., II., and IV., for the convenience of boats or other
purposes, while a gauge let into the upper surface of the buoy, and connected

page_text: by a suitable tube with the gauge cock, serves to indicate at any moment the
amount of pressure within the vessel or condenser to which it is attached.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details shown, nor to the exact form represented in the Drawings,
as variations may be made therein to strengthen, facilitate, or otherwise assist
the construction thereof. Thus the longitudinal tube, with the wires, lines,
cables, and other contrivances of a like sort for the transmission of the
electrical fluid may be made to pass outside the vessel or condenser instead of
inside, while the former may be made of such length (longer or shorter) as
may be considered best adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.
Nor do I confine myself to the use of any particular material or materials in
manufacturing or carrying out my said Invention, but reserve to myself the
right of using such as may be deemed most suitable. Neither do I restrict
myself to any particular depth to which the vessels are to be sunk, nor to the
amount of pressure to which the said vessels or condensers are to be subjected
when required to be self-acting, both of these conditions being governed and
determined by circumstances, pleasure, or convenience. Furthermore I
would have it distinctly understood that what I claim as my own is,—
First, the suspending of wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like
sort for the transmission of the electric fluid mid-waters, by means of vessels
moored a certain depth.
Second, the particular method of mooring the said vessels with additional
weights, whereby they are kept at one uniform depth, and may be brought to
the surface, either by the self-acting power with which they may be invested,
as already described, or by external mechanical force, without disturbing the
moorings.
Third, the mode in which I propose sending telegrams from mid-ocean by
means of wires passing through the buoys, and in connection with the main
wires, lines, cables, or other contrivances of a like sort, the whole constituting
a system as set forth in title.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reinhold Edward Kaulbach, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
REINHOLD EDWARD KAULBACH. (L.S.)