IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Daniel Roth, of Blackheath, in the County of
Kent, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Daniel Roth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1881.
AUGUSTUS DANIEL ROTH, of Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA."
This Invention consists in forming a floating buoy of any suitable form and
materials. I prefer a balloon or pyroshaped vessel, and in attaching to this vessel
bolts, bands, or loops at the line of flotation to which sinking persons may hold.
The interior of the buoy is arranged for the reception of valuables and ship's
papers, and forms a safe. The exterior is fitted with a bell mounted on a universal
joint or ball and socket joint actuated by the least motion as a signal at night; and
for a signal by day, the buoy is surmounted by a metal sphere, nickel-plated, or
otherwise rendered capable of reflecting light. In case of anticipated accident the.
whole apparatus is thrown overboard.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Augustus Daniel Roth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th December 1881.
AUGUSTUS DANIEL ROTH, of Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA."
This Invention consists in forming a floating buoy of any suitable shape and
material, arranging and fitting up the interior of the vessel as a safe for documents,
mails, bullion, or valuables, and attaching to the exterior of the vessel belts, bands,
or loops at or about the line of flotation, so as to afford means of life preservation
when needed, or to suspend articles too bulky for the interior. The apparatus
may also be used for landing ship's mails on difficult coasts.
I will now proceed to describe the same by the aid of the annexed Drawings, in
which Figure
(Sheet 1) represents an elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2, a
plan seen from above; Figure 3, a horizontal section on the line A, B; Figure 4,
a vertical section on the line C, D; Figure 5 (Sheet 2), enlarged detail of the head
of the bell (as shewn in Figure 1); Figure G, a vertical section of a buoy con-
structed upon a double cased or cellular principle; Figure 7, a horizontal section of
the same on line E, F; Figure 8, enlarged detail of the head of the bell, as shewn
on Figuro 6.
Referring to the Drawings (Sheet 1), a is the outer shell of the buoy which I
prefer to make of a balloon or pear shape, and of copper or other metal; b is a top
or crown plate removable by taking out the screws c, or the crown plate may
screw into its senting upon suitable packing. Removing the crown plate access to
the interior is gained. d is a trap door hung in a light strong frame across the
buoy and fitted with a safety lock; this door extends as a diaphragm across the
waist of the buoy and forms the lower part e into a strong closet for the reception
of mails, specie, jewellery, papers, or other valuables, which being enclosed by the
frame and door are prevented from being shifted by the action of the waves, so that
they cannot be thrown into the upper part or air chamber of the buoy. The
part e, which is separated by a similar diaphragm and door forms a second chamber
for valuables or ballast, or the necessary ballast may be provided by thickening
the metal of the bottom plates to any required extent. Upon the body of the
buoy is hung a bell f pivotted to rock in one direction, and on a rocking beam g
pivotted to swing in the other direction; the beam g is hung in brackets or eyes
upon cross bars on standards & secured to the body of the buoy, this bell is to act
as a sound signal. The clapper i of the bell is suspended by a ball and socket
joint j, shewn enlarged in Figure 5 (Sheet 2), or any other description of universal
joint may be used, the object being to cause the clapper to strike by any wave
motion of the buoy or wind action upon the ball which is attached to the
standards h, and this ball may be nickel plated or otherwise rendered reflective of
light to operate as a sight signal; and further to assist this the buoy can be coated
with luminous paint. A band m is formed round the buoy at or about the line of
flotation, and to this band are connected rings, loops, or life belts n for the
assistance of drowning persons or for the suspension of bulky articles.
Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet 2) represent sections of a buoy of similar form, but con-
structed upon the double cased or cellular principle. The outer casing consists of
a series of watertight compartments o, and the crown plate p is also cellular and
fits into the opening in the crown between packings of waterproof material, the
screws s firmly securing it in place.
Figure 8 shews a mode of hanging the bell without independent rocking motion,
but it is attached to a block (u) in which is a socket to receive the ball forming
the joint of the clapper; or a short rod or other connection may be attached to the
top of the ball v and to the signal ball, by which connection the signal ball may by

page_text: wind action be made to assist the clapper in striking the bell. Either of the
modes described of arranging the signals may be applied to either form of buoy.
The signal standards and clapper rod may be tubular, to combine lightness with
strength, and in the double cased form of buoy a packing of cork may be employed
between the two casings. The signal ball may be furnished with a light similar
to a diver's lamp, or an electric light may be employed by constructing a reservoir
for storing electricity within or upon the buoy, and the buoy being coated with
luminous paint, as before stated, the whole object would thus be conspicuous at
night. To form a flotilla, two or more of those buoys may be connected by links
or chains; mails can also be landed by means of these buoys and floated from ship
to shore upon coasts which are otherwise difficult to approach.
For the purpose of obtaining increased buoyancy I form additional air-chambers
round the upper part of the buoy, and I construct these air-chambers in the form
of a segment of a sphere, so that the upper part of the buoy assumes a melon form,
each segment being secured to the casing by rivetting them thereto through flanges
formed upon the edges of each segment, the rivets passing through such flanges
and through the casing or shell of the buoy, inside which they are nutted or leaded
down; some of these extra chambers thus formed are fitted with doors, and are
arranged internally to contain provisions for the use of persons depending upon the
buoy in case of accident.
As an alternative mode of forming the cover of the man holo or opening on the
top of the buoy so as to avoid the use of screws for fixing it and rendering it more
efficiently watertight, I can make it after the manner of hollowware lids, with an
internal flange all round, and secure it by a cam on the one part engaging in a
groove on the other, with suitable packings between, and the same mode may be
employed for making and fixing the covers of the manholes in the internal decks
or diaphragms of the buoy to avoid hinging them. When electricity is used for
the light signal the same power may be employed for sounding the bell, as the
reservoir employed for the one purpose will suffice for both.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect,
I would remark that I am aware that buoys for saving life and property at sca
have been before known, and I therefore make no claim to the Invention of such
buoys generally, but that which I claim is,-
Firstly. The arrangement and combination of the several mechanical parts and
appliances herein shewn and described, forming a safety and signal buoy for
securing life and property at sea, or for landing mails.
Secondly. I claim coating such buoys with luminous paint and fitting them
with lights and light reflecting signals in combination with the other mode of
signalling described, and the adaptation of electric action for the purpose of sight
and sound signalling on such buoys.
Thirdly. I claim the modes by which I obtain the more certain action of the
signal bell by hanging it upon a rocking beam or from ball and socket joints, all
ns herein moro fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Daniel Roth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eight one
AUGUSTUS DANIEL ROTH. (L.S.)