AN IMPROVED NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING MACHINE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knight of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws and
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University and College of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for AN IMPROVED NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING MACHINE to be as
follows:-
•
This Invention relates to an Improved Navigational sounding machine.
The apparatus consists of an improved depth-recorder, and a drum on which is
coiled about 300 fathoms of steel wire with a brake arrangement analogous to that
described in my previous specification No. 5675 A.D. 1883.
The depth-recorder consists of a bottle having a neck prolonged inwardly
constituting a smooth cylinder in which a piston is fitted with a leather or
equivalent collar so as to be nearly water-tight against a head of water of say
100 fathoms and yet to move with but small frictional resistance. The fluid
pressure tending to thrust the piston into the bottle is balanced by a spiral spring.
The greater the pressure the farther it is pushed in. A light marker pushed along
the piston rod and retained by friction in the extreme position to which it is
pushed, while the instrument is let down to the bottom of the sea and drawn up
again, shows on a scale of equal or nearly equal divisions, the depth that has been
reached.
Either the bottle or the piston may be fixed to the main frame of the instrument
and the other may be pulled direct by the spiral spring whichever of the two is
fixed is placed preferably uppermost and the other is thrust upwards by the fluid
pressure which is balanced by downward pull of the spiral spring. When the
piston is fixed and the bottle moveable the capacity of the bottle may be made
sufficient to float its own weight and half the weight of the spiral spring; so as to
annul the effect of shock on the bottom, in disturbing the relative position of
piston and bottle. It is preferred to fix the bottle, and let the piston be pushed
up from below by the fluid pressure and to attach a water-tight floater to buoy up
the weight of the piston and half the spring.
To prevent the shock on the bottom from disturbing the marker, I let down
the main frame of the instrument into a tall narrow can kept full of water, and
hang this can by a spiral spring inside the sinker which is a stout open tube of

page_text: galvanized iron loaded with a weight such as lead filling a short length of it near
its lower end. The top of this tube is closed by a removable cover which carries
the hanging spring. Too much of impulsive fluid pressure within the sinker at
the instant of striking the bottom is obviated by a hole or holes in the iron tube
above the lead barrier. A piece of cloth or canvas may be tied over these holes to
prevent sand from the bottom of the sea from getting in.
The bottle is provided with a screw plug by which, as often as is necessary, any
water that has leaked into it may be run out.
To prevent the wire from jumping off the drum, pieces of springy sheet iron are
fixed to a stiff cylindrical sheath which surrounds the wire wheel. These pieces
are so shaped and so placed that their ends touch lightly on the inner edge of the
rim of the wire wheel while it flies round.

page_text: An Improved Navigational Sounding Machine.
I, Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knight, of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws and
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University and College of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for AN IMPROVED NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING MACHINE and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My Invention relates to an improved navigational sounding machine.
The apparatus consists of an improved depth recorder and a drum on which is
coiled about 300 fathoms of steel wire with a brake arrangement analogous to that
described in my previous specification No. 5675 A.D. 1883.
The depth-recorder consists of a bottle having a neck prolonged inwardly
constituting a smooth cylinder in which a piston is fitted with a leather or
equivalent collar so as to be nearly water-tight against a head of water of, say
100 fathoms, and yet to move with but small frictional resistance. The fluid
pressure tending to thrust the piston into the bottle is balanced by a spiral spring.
The greater the pressure, the farther it is pushed in. A light marker pushed along
the piston rod and retained by friction in the extreme position to which it is
pushed, while the instrument is let down to the bottom of the sea and drawn up
again, shows on a scale of equal or nearly equal divisions, the depth that has been
reached.
Either the bottle or the piston may be fixed to the main frame of the instrument
and the other may be pulled direct by the spiral spring, whichever of the two is
fixed, is placed preferably uppermost and the other is thrust upwards by the fluid
pressure which is balanced by the downward pull of the spiral spring. When the
piston is fixed and the bottle moveable the capacity of the bottle may be made
sufficient to float its own weight and half the weight of the spiral spring; so as to
annul the effect of shock on the bottom, in disturbing the relative position of piston
and bottle. It is preferred to fix the bottle, and let the piston be pushed up from
below by the fluid pressure and to attach a water-tight floater to buoy up the
weight of the piston and half the spring.
To prevent the shock on the bottom from disturbing the marker, I let down the
main frame of the instrument into a tall narrow can kept full of water, and hang
this can by a spiral spring inside the sinker which is a stout open tube of
galvanized iron loaded with a weight such as lead, filling a short length of it near
its lower end. The top of this tube is closed by a removable cover which carries
the hanging spring. Too much of impulsive fluid pressure within the sinker at
the instant of striking the bottom is obviated by a hole or holes in the iron tube
above the lead barrier. A piece of cloth or canvas may be tied over these holes to
prevent sand from the bottom of the sea from getting in.
The bottle is provided with a screw plug by which, as often as is necessary, any
water that has leaked into it may be run out.
To prevent. the wire from jumping off the drum, pieces of springy sheet iron are
fixed to a stiff cylindrical sheath which surrounds the wire wheel. These pieces

page_text: are so shaped and so placed that their ends touch lightly on the inner edge of the
rim of the wire wheel while it flies round.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively elevations of the front, back and side of a
depth-recorder constructed according to my present Invention.
Figure 4, is a plan of the same.
Figure 5, is a plan of the same after a portion bas been removed as hereinafter
more particularly described.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sections of the same taken respectively on the
lines A B, C D, and E F, Figure 3.
Figures 9 to 13 (inclusive) are detached portions of the same drawn to an
enlarged scale and all hereinafter more particularly described.
Figures 14 to 18 (sheet 2) are further detached portions of the same all herein-
after more particularly described.
Figures 19 and 20 are elevations of the can and its connections in and by which
the depth-recorder (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is supported within the sinker when
lowered down into the sea.
Figure 21, is an elevation of the sinker drawn to a reduced scale.
Figure 22, is a longitudinal section of the same also drawn to a reduced scale
and shewing the depth-recorder supported in its position therein when ready for
taking a sounding.
Figures 23 and 24, are respectively a transverse and a longitudinal section of a
Bounding machine constructed according to and constituting a further part of my
present Invention.
The depth-recorder as represented at Figures 1 to 18 (inclusive) consists of a
bottle, the outer casing a, of which is preferably of metal and the neck b, of which
as represented in dotted lines at Figure 2, and in elevation at Figure 17, projects
inwardly and constitutes a smooth cylinder in which a piston is free to slide
longitudinally. This piston as represented more particularly in the vertical section
shewn at Figure 15 of the annexed drawings, consists of the cup leather c, which is
secured to the end of the rod d, by means of the screw e, and the ferrule 81, or by
the equivalents thereof. The tube which constitutes the neck b, is secured in the
cap or cover plate f, which plate is soldered into the lower end of the outer casing a.
The plate f, is formed with the short ferrule g, upon which the tube h, is screwed.
This tube h, is shewn in elevation at Figure 14, as connected with the plate f, and
in elevation at Figure 16, when detached therefrom, and, as represented more
particularly at Figure 15, the said tube is closed at its upper end, while at its
lower end are formed the openings i, which allow any water which may have
leaked in around the piston c, passing to the lower part of the bottle a. The rod d,
at the upper end of which is the piston c, extends downwards and out from the
neck b, and its lower end is provided with the hook j, or its equivalent. The
surface of the rod d, as indicated at Figure 1, of the annexed drawings is engraved
or otherwise marked with a scale of equal divisions, from which scale is subsequently
read off the depth to which the recorder has been lowered into the water, by the
position of a light marker upon the said scale. This marker which is shewn
upon an enlarged scale at Figures 9, 10 and 11 in front, side and rear elevations
respectively and at Figures 12 and 13 respectively in plan and transverse section,
consists of the short vulcanite barrel or collar k, provided with the spring 1, for
exerting pressure upon or against the surface of the rod d, sufficient to retain the
collar k, thereon in any position into which it has been moved. The said collar k,
is further provided with four feet r, which bear against the front surface of the
rod d, so as to reduce the friction to as little as possible. A portion of the front
of the collar k, is removed as represented more particularly at Figures 9, 10 and 13
so that between the ends of the said collar k, a part of the scale-marking of the
rod d, is left exposed to view, that is to say, in the manner indicated at Figure 1.
The thin wire m, is stretched as across the last mentioned opening in the collar k,

page_text: and the depth is read off- from the position of this said wire on the scale. The
before mentioned hook j, engages with the eye m, which is secured to the upper
end of the floater o, to the lower end of which is also secured a second and similar
eye p. With the eye p, the upper end of the spiral spring q, engages, and the
lower end of the said spring engages with the eyer, which is secured by the
adjustable nuts 8, to the lower end of the rigid frame t. The frame t, is provided
with the rigid stops u, against which the upper end of the floater o, abuts-when
the depth-recorder has been lowered to its maximum depth, that is to say, the
greatest-depth to the registering of which the said recorder has been adapted. The
plate v, which closes in the upper end of the bottle a, as shewn at Figures 4 and 5,
has one, two or more holes w, formed through it, and it is further provided with
the screw x, over which the leather or equivalent washer y, and metal washer 3,
are passed and secured in position by the screwed nut a¹. By slackening the
nut a', and thereby the washers y, and z, any water that may have leaked into the
bottle a, may be poured off through the holes w.
In lowering the hereinbefore described depth-recorder down into the water for
the purpose of taking a sounding, the said recorder is supported in a deep can
which is elastically suspended within the sinker. This can b¹, which is shown in
part at Figures 19 and 22, is pivoted at its upper part to the bent link c¹, by the
pivoting over of which link from its vertical position, the depth recorder is capable
of being placed within the can b¹. The said can b¹, is suspended by the link c¹, and
spiral spring d, the upper end of which engages with the eye el, secured to the
underside of the lid or cover f¹. The sinker which is represented on a reduced
scale at Figures 21 and 22, consists of the tube g¹, into the upper end of which the
lid or cover f¹, is capable of being locked by the pin h, which engages with the
slot i, in the said tube g¹. The lower end of the tube g¹, is closed in by the leaden
filling, in the under surface of which is formed the recess . In this recess k¹,
at the time of taking a sounding a piece of tallow is placed, so that, a specimen
of the bed of the sea or river, may be brought up. Above the before mentioned
leaden filling, there are formed one, two or more holes A, over which there may
be tied a piece of cloth or canvas if found necessary to prevent the sand from
getting in, and at the upper part, the tube g³, has the bow or bent link m², pivoted
to it.
In order to prevent the wire from jamping off the drum of the sounding machine
constructed according to my herein before mentioned Complete Specification No. 5675
A.D. 1883, I secure two, three or more pieces of springy sheet iron or the equivalent
thereof to the cylindrical sheath which surrounds the said drum or wire wheel. As
shewn at Figures 23 and 24 of the annexed drawings, these springs n¹, are riveted
or otherwise secured to to the sheath o¹, and are otherwise so arranged that their
ends press against the inner surfaces of the flanges p¹. In the event of the wire q',
becoming slack and rising out of the groove of the drum, it is prevented from
passing over the flanges thereof by means of the springs n¹, the inclination of
which tends always to replace the said wire in the groove of the drum.
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
First. The improvements in navigational sounding machines consisting of a
depth recorder having a stationary bottle a, the neck 6, of which projects inwardly
and constitutes a cylinder in which the piston c, is moved longitudinally by the
pressure of water on its outer surface the maximum amount of motion so imparted,
representing the depth to which such recorder has been lowered, being indicated
by the relative position of the wire m, of a light marker upon a scale, and the fluid
pressure exerted upon the said piston being balanced by the spiral spring q, all
substantially as and operating in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth with reference to the annexed drawings.

page_text: Second. In a depth-recorder such as that claimed in the preceding claiming
clause the floater o, of capacity sufficient to buoy up the weight of the piston and
its directly connected parts and half the weight of the spiral spring 9, all sub-,
stantially as and operating in the manner herein before set forth with reference
more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
Third. The improvements in the navigational sounding machine consisting of a
depth-recorder having a fixed or stationary piston working in the neck of a
moveable bottle of capacity sufficient to support itself and buoy up half the
weight of the spiral spring q, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.
Fourth. The improvements in the navigational sounding machine consisting of
the tubular sinker g¹, the upper end of which is provided with the lid or cover f¹,
which supports the spiral spring d', and the deep can b¹, in which the depth-
recorder is elastically supported when in position for taking a sounding all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth with reference to
Figures 19 to 22 (inclusive) of the annexed drawings.
Fifth. The improvements in the navigational sounding machine consisting of the
springs n', secured to the sheath o¹, and bearing against the inner surfaces of the
flanges p¹, and so preventing the wire q', from jumping out from between and over
the said flanges pl, all substantially as herein before set forth with reference to
Figures 23 and 24 of the annexed drawings.