IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC AND OTHER BUOYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT TINDALL of Fraserburgh in the County of Aberdeen, Tronmonger,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METALLIC AND OTHER BUOYS" to be as follows:-
This Invention which relates to improvements in such metallic and other buoys
as are used in the herring and other fisheries has for its object to prevent the
collapse and destruction of the buoy which at present frequently takes place when
the buoy is sunk to any considerable depth under water, and further to enable the
buoy to be filled with water so as to enable it to be converted into or employed as
ballast, in the fishing boat when not otherwise in use.
The Invention consists in providing the bucy preferably near its lower part
with an india rubber or other valve, cork, or bung arranged to open automatically
when or before the buoy is sunk to such a depth as would otherwise tend to cause
it to collapse from external pressure. In so opening, a sufficient quantity of water
is admitted to the interior of the buoy to equalize or comparatively equalize the
external and internal pressures, whilst the air at the interior being still confined
the buoyancy or floating power is maintained.
When not used as a float, water may be filled into the interior of the buoy,
through the opening of the said valve or bung so as to convert the buoy into
ballast and when desired the water may be withdrawn through the said opening or
through a cock specially provided for that purpose.
ROBERT TINDALL,
By Geo. M. Cruikshank, Fel. Inst. P.A.
135 Buchanan St., Glasgow,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ROBERT TINDALL of Fraserburgh in the County of Aberdeen, Ironmonger,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METALLIC AND OTHER BUOYS" and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in such metallic and other
buoys as are used in the herring and other fisheries, has for its object to prevent
that collapse and destruction of the buoy which at present frequently takes place
when the buoy is sunk to any considerable depth under water and further to
enable the buoy to be filled with water so as to render it capable of conversion into
and employment as ballast in the fishing boat when not otherwise in use.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I have
bereunto appended an explanatory Sheet of Drawings with reference to which
I now proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner of using
or performing the same.
My said Invention consists in providing the buoy, preferably near its lower part,
with an india rubber or other disc or valve, or with a cork, bung, or plug arranged
to open automatically when or before the buoy is sunk to such a depth as would
otherwise tend to cause it to collapse from external pressure.
In so opening
a sufficient quantity of water is admitted to the interior of the buoy to compress
the air contained therein until the pressures on the external and internal surfaces
are equalized or comparatively equalized whilst the air being still confined the
buoyancy or floating power is maintained.
On the accompanying Drawings Figures 1, and 2, are elevations of two buoys
shewing thereon the position at or near which it is preferred to provide the india
rubber or other disc, valve, cork, bung, or plug, the said position being marked a.
One of the methods I prefer to adopt in using an india rubber valve or disc is
illustrated in transverse section at Figure 3, in top end elevation at Figure 5, and
in bottom end elevation at Figure 4.
As shewn by these Figures a socket or seat b, is soldered or otherwise firmly
secured in an opening made in the metal c, constituting the skin of the buoy. At
its inner end the said socket or seat is formed with a projecting flange or ring d,
on which a disc e, of india rubber or its equivalent rests so as to cover the aperture
within the ring d, the said disc being gripped and held in position by the bottom
or inner end of a cap f, which fits into the socket or seat b, as shewn at Figure 3,
the outer end of the said cap being perforated with holes for the ingress and egress
of water or instead of a cap so perforated a simple ring may be used at the interior
of the socket b, to hold the disc in position in which case the outer end of the
socket is entirely open to the water.
As shewn at Figure 4, the aperture within the flange d, is preferably made
eccentric to the body of the socket, so that the disc has a broader bearing at one
part than another by which arrangement when or before the pressure of water on
the buoy becomes so great as would otherwise tend to collapse it the disc gives way
at the part where it has least bearing and allows water to flow into the interior of
the buoy whilst at the same time the disc is prevented from itself passing into the
interior.
Under another arrangement shewn at Figures 6, 7, and 8, the india rubber or
equivalent disc may be placed immediately inside the perforated hood or cap as
at h, and pressed down on the outer end of the socket b, which forms the seat, the
cap in this case being outside the socket to which it may be locked if desired by
the pin and slot i, Figure 7, or by other equivalent means.
Under a modification of this arrangement a cork, bung, or plug may be
substituted for the india rubber or other disc in which case the perforated cap is
or may be dispensed with the cork, bung, or plug being merely inserted in

page_text: the socket with sufficient tightness not to yield until such a pressure of water is
reached or nearly reached as would otherwise tend to collapse the buoy at which
time the cork, bung; or plug will be forced by the pressure into the interior of the
buoy thereby allowing the water to follow and compress the air.
When a cork, bung, or plug is used in order to prevent it from passing into the
interior of the buoy the arrangement illustrated at Figures 9, and 10, may be
adopted, that is to say, the bottom of the socket b, is so contracted by a flange or
otherwise as not to permit of the passage of the cork. Around the socket at
a position inside the skin c, of the buoy a series of holes l, are made and the
socket may be covered with a perforated cap or left open as desired. When the
cork, plug, or bung m, is in the position shewn passage of water to the interior of
the buoy is prevented but when the pressure becomes so great as would otherwise
tend to collapse the buoy the cork, plug, or bung is forced inwards until its outer
edge is in the position indicated by the dotted line ", when the holes , being open
the water flows into the interior of the buoy and compresses the air the water
again flowing out through these holes before the cork, plug, or bung m, is again
drawn out into the position shewn.
Instead of an india rubber disc a metallic or other valve n, may also be
substituted substantially as illustrated at Figure 11. The said valve n, works in
a casing soldered or otherwise firmly secured in the skin c, of the buoy which
casing may be closed both at its outer and inner ends or at its inner end merely
and formed with two series of holes p, p', one series being at the outside of the
skin c, of the buoy. The valve n, is provided with a spring q, which acts both
ways being in its normal state when in the position shewn. When the pressure of
water on the outside of the buoy becomes too great the water acting on the valve
or piston n, forces it inwards until the holes p', are in communication with the.
holes p, thereby admitting water to the interior of the buoy. When the buoy is
brought to the surface or as it is being so brought the compressed air at the interior
of the buoy acting on the inner side of the piston or valve n, forces it outwards
until the piston is between the outer end of the easing and the holes p, which being
then again in communication with the holes p', the water at the interior of the
buoy or a portion of it is allowed to escape, thereby equalizing the external and
internal pressures and preventing destruction of the buoy.
When not used as a float, water may be filled into the interior of the buoy
through the opening otherwise closed by the disc, valve cork, bung, plug, or piston
so as to convert the buoy into ballast and when desired the water instead of being
withdrawn through the said opening may be withdrawn through a cock, or tap
specially provided for that purpose.
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,
In combination with metallic and other buoys the use of a disc, valve, cork, bung
or plug substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference
to the Drawings annexed.