Apparatus for Preventing the Sinking of Ships and other Water Craft, and for Raising Sunken Vessels and other Submerged Objects.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Preventing the Sinking of Ships and other Water
Craft, and for Raising Sunken Vessels and other Submerged
Objects.
We, FREDERICK KINDT, Cattle Breeder, of Saratoga, State of Wyoming, and
JOHN CHARLES DAVIS, Banker, of Rawlins, State of Wyoming, both in the
United States of America, 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 drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
This invention relates to apparatus for preventing the sinking of ships and other
water craft, and for raising sunken vessels and other submerged objects; and it
consists in an inflatable gas, air, and water tight bag of any suitable size aud form
to be secured, in any required number, to water craft, or other objects, and capable
of inflation, (preferably by electrical explosion of gas-generating chemicals contained
in a storage receptacle enclosed by the bag and communi cating therewith ;) so as
to buoy up a vessel in case of emergencies, such as collisions, springing a leak, etc.;
and to be available, also, for raising sunken vessels and other objects.
It is more especially the purpose of this invention to provide inflatable buoying
apparatus conveniently arranged for storage aboard a ship and which will be always
ready for speedy and effective use to prevent sinking of the vessel in a sudden
emergency, thereby aiding greatly in the saving of life and property at sea.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a part sectional view of the inflatable buoying apparatus for sustaining,
raising, and preventing the sinking of leaky ships, vessels, boats, and other water
craft.
Fig. 2 is a part sectional view of a receptacle or holder for explosive gas-
generating chemicals enclosed in the inflatable buoy or bag and provided with
means for electrical ignition.
In carrying the invention into effect, we provide for the attachment to the sides
of ships, vessels, boats, or other water craft, a sufficient number of inflatable gas,
air, and watertight bags, the capacity and number of which may be suitably
proportioned to the size, weight, and tonnage of the vessel, craft, or other object
to be held afloat.
Each inflatable bag or sack designated by the numeral 1, is composed of a suitable
waterproof and air or gas tight material, such as canvas covered with rubber. If
desired, the bag may be lined with asbestos, or be otherwise made fireproof. The
bag or sack should be made of sufficient strength to withstand a pressure of, say,
On its outside
twenty pounds to the square inch, or any other required amount.
the bag is preferably braced by a network of cords 2 secured in any suitable
manner.
At a convenient point there is securely fastened, in an aperture of the bag
material, an internally screw threaded collar 3 of brass, bronze, or other metal.
A steel cable 4 is vulcanised or otherwise secured in the seam of the sack or
bag 1, and has its ends fastened to rings 5 on opposite sides of the collar 3, the
said cable being extended entirely round the bag or sack. On one side of the
sack, opposite the collar 3, the cable 4 is extended outward and formed into a
ring 6 to afford means for attaching the bag to an object or vessel to be raised in.
the water, or prevented from sinking. A stay or brace rod 7 may be fastened to

page_text: the projecting portion or arms of the cable 4 between the ring 6 and the bag.
Two or more heavy bands or strips 8 of canvas, or other suitable material, are
extended around the bag 1 and vulcanised thereto and are also extended over the
cable 4, thus further strengthening the bag or sack and equalising the pulling or
holding power of the cable.
The internally screw threaded collar 3, is arranged for insertion and secure.
engagement of a metal screw plug 9, having a flanged head 10 and a handle 11 by
which the plug may be screwed into place. The plug 9 may be fastened to the
collar 3 by means of bolts passed through the flange 10, as well as by the screw
threaded engagement of plug and collar, or they may he fastened together by
any other suitable means. This plug 9 affords support for one or more metal
tubes 12, 13, to contain the gas-generating material for use in effecting inflation of
the hag or sack. In Fig. 2, we have shown two of these tubes, but any required
number may be provided according to the quantity of chemicals to he consumed in
producing the gas. Where two tubes are provided, as shown, oue tube may be
longer than the other. Both tubes are closed at the ends which are secured to the
plug 9 and their other ends are open for reception of the chemicals to be packed
therein, and for escape of the gases generated when the tube contents are ignited
or exploded. The tubes 12 and 13 may be of any size or capacity required. To
the end of the longer tube 12, is fastened a metal hood 14 to protect the bag 1
from any flame issuing from the tubes, the said hood being sufficiently wide to
extend across both tubes. As a means for attaching the hood 14, it is provided
with two spring arms 15 detachably secured to the tube 12 by pins 16, or
otherwise.
In the metal plug 9, is a rubber insulating plug 17 for passage of electric
wires 18 that extend outside the tube 12 and connect with a cartridge 19 in the
open end of said tube, the cartridge being charged with powder dust into which
may be inserted a section of platinum wire, in connection with the wires 18, for
giving a spark to ignite the contents of the tube. An asbestos covered fuse 20 is
connected with the contents of the tube 12, near its closed end, and is extended
thence to the contents of the tube 13 at a point near the open end of said tube. If
additional tubes are employed for storage of a larger quantity of gas producing
material, the several tubes will be connected by fuses, in like manner, so that the
contents of the tubes may be ignited or exploded in succession, and not all
at once.
In the plug 9 and communicating with the interior of the bag 1, is a safety
valve 21 to prevent an undue accumulation of pressure from the gases generated
within the bag.
The tubes 12, 13, being charged with chemicals, or a chemical compound, capable
of generating a sufficiency of light, buoyant gas, on ignition or explosion, and the
several described attachments having been properly adjusted, the plug 9 and
attached parts will be securely inserted in the collar 3 of the bag 1, and the latter
will then be placed in position and the wires 18 connected with a battery or source
of electricity.
When the bag 1 is fastened to an object under water, or to a vessel in danger of
sinking, an electric current may be supplied through the wires or conductors 18 to
ignite er explode the gas producing contents of the tube, or tubes. As soon as the
contents of the tube 12 are nearly consumed, the fuse 20 will fire the contents of
tube 13, and so on, if other similar tubes are provided. The gas thus generated
will inflate the bag and buoy up any object to which it is secured. It is intended
to so fasten the bags to a ship that they will be out of the way and not interfere
with the navigation of the vessel. If a ship is run into, stove in, or has sprung a
leak, and about to sink, the battery may be worked, the bags inflated almost
instantly and the vessel be thereby held afloat. The bags or sacks are to be made
any dimensions deemed necessary, and may be employed in any required number,
attached to the sides or interior of a ship in the most convenient or desirable
position. If desired, the safety valve 21 can be removed, and a pipe be screwed

page_text: on in its place as a means for re-inflating the sack, if found necessary, without
detaching it from the object to which it is fastened.
By use of the inflatable bags and their gas generating attachments, sunken ships
and any submerged objects may be raised to the surface, and they may be used at
a moment's notice, in case of accident, to prevent the sinking of water craft.
The gas generating material that we prefer to employ for inflating the bag, is
composed of blasting powder, three parts, and coal oil, one part; but other suitable
gas-generating compounds may be used. The blasting powder may contain
saltpeter 74-83 parts, charcoal 13.31 parts, and sulphur 11-86 parts, or thereabout.
In the construction of the inflatable bag 1, any required number of steel cables
may be employed, each extended around the bag and vulcanised into the bag seams
as already described with reference to the steel cable 4 shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels, and prevent the sinking of ships, an
inflatable gas tight and water tight bag or sack adapted to be secured to water craft,
or submerged objects, and provided, in the interior of said bag, with a holder for
gas producing material, and electrical devices for igniting said material to generate
a gas for inflating the bag, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels, and prevent the sinking of snips, an
inflatable gas tight and watertight bag or sack provided with means for securing it
to water craft, or submerged objects, and enclosing a detachable holder for gas
producing material, in combination with electrical devices for igniting said
material to generate a gas for inflating the bag, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels, and prevent the sinking of ships, the
combination of an inflatable gas tight and water tight bag, a steel cable secured to
and surrounding said bag and adapted to serve as a means for attaching the bag to
water craft, or submerged objects, means for bracing the bag on its outer side,
a holder for gas producing material enclosed in the bag, and means for igniting or
exploding said material to generate a gas and inflate the bag, substantially as
described.
4. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels, and prevent the sinking of ships, the
combination of an inflatable gas tight and watertight bag, means for securing said
bag to water craft, or submerged objects, an internally screw-threaded collar secured
in an aperture in one side of the bag, a screw plug detachably fastened in said collar
and carrying within the bag a holder for gas producing material, and electrical
devices for igniting said material to generate a gas and inflate the bag, substantially
as described.
5. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels, and prevent the sinking of ships, the
combination of an inflatable gas-tight and water-tight bag adapted to be secured
to water craft, or submerged objects, a collar fastened in an aperture in one part
of said bag, a plug detachably secured in said collar and provided with a safety
valve, tubes secured to the inner side of said plug to contain a gas producing
material, and each communicating at one end with the interior of the bag, a
cartridge in the open end of one of said tubes, electric wires connecting with said
cartridge, a fuse extended from the material in the closed end of one tube to the
material in or near the open end of the other tube, and a hood for the open ends of
said tubes, substantially as described.
Dated th: 214 1
CL 1000
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5*, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.