Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels.
I, EZRA GILBERT PETTIT, formerly of Zanesville, but now of Marietta, Ohio,
U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
.
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for
raising sunken vessels; the object of the invention being to provide such an
apparatus whereby vessels can be raised with very little expenditure of money
and labour in a simple and expeditious manner.
My invention comprises a boat having one or more fixed compartments closed
on all sides. Each compartment comprises a flexible bag which is provided with
an opening or openings and a tube or tubes whereby it can be inflated and deflated
in the manner hereinafter described.
The boat is provided with one or more openings capable of being opened or
closed by suitable valves. The boat is also provided with means for attaching
ropes thereto so that it may be secured to sunken vessels and to the raft or vessel
carrying the pumps.
When air is pumped into the flexible bags, the water is expelled from the com-
partments by the bag expanding: but when the air is allowed to escape from the
bags the water enters the compartments and assists in expelling the air from
the bags.
Dated this 21st day of Santambon 1900.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels.
EZRA GILBERT PETTIT, formerly of Zanesville, but now of Marietta, Ohio,...
3.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
[Price 8d.]

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
―
This invention relates to boats, and more especially to that class of boats
employed in raising sunken vessels or other objects below the surface of the
water. The object of the invention is to provide a sinkable boat so constructed
that it has a series of compartments in which are arranged inflatable bags or
sacks from which pipes lead to an air-pump upon shore or a floating vessel. The
sinkable boat is constructed with special reference to raising sunken vessels,
being designed so that a requisite number being attached to such will raise the
same to the surface when the bags are inflated; and the boat may be of any
desired form or size according to the work to be accomplished thereby.
The accompanying drawings shows a longitudinal section of a boat constructed
in accordance with and embodying my invention, the bags being shewn deflated,
and the position they will assume when inflated being shewn in dotted lines.
Reference being had to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the hull, prefer-
ably made flat for a considerable distance as shewn at 2. The boat is covered in
by a deck 3 and is divided into any number of compartments 4 in each of which
is an air-tight bag 5 connected to an inflating pipe 6 which passes through a
suitable opening in the deck 3 or the side of the hull if more convenient, and
is attached to an air-pump on shore or on a floating vessel. The boat is equipped
with one or more valves 7 operated by a stem 8 having a suitable handle 9. Each
compartment may have a separate valve or one may serve for several compart-
ments.
Cables 10 are attached to the hull for manipulating the same.. In operation,
the hoat having been towed to position, the valve 7 is opened and the water enters
the compartments 4 deflating the bags and allowing the boat to sink. After the
boat is secured to the object which it is desired to raise the bags are inflated by
the air-pump and as they distend they force the water from the compartments 4
through the valve 7 and when fully inflated the valve may be closed, and also the
connections from the air-pump to the tubes 6. This operation having been per-
formed with a sufficient number of boats the sunken vessel will be raised to the
surface.
Where a plurality of boats is used I may employ, to hold them in proper
relative position, a float or beam attached to the several boats by suitably arranged
cables.
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:-
(1) A boat provided with a fixed compartment closed on all sides, a valve
located below the water-line for admitting water to said compartment, and an air-
tight bag arranged in said compartment and having provision for its inflation
and deflation, substantially as described.
(2) A boat provided with a plurality of fixed compartments closed on all sides,
one or more valves controlling the admission of water to said compartments, an
independent air-tight bag for each compartment, adapted when inflated to fill its
own compartment, and an air-pipe in communication with said bags, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
(3) A boat having one or more fixed compartments closed on all sides, and
provided with a valve controlling the admission of water thereto, in combination
with an air-tight bag arranged in each compartment and adapted, when inflated,
to fill the same and expel the water therefrom and designed to be deflated by the
action of the admitted water and to be inflated by the provision of an inflating
pipe and a suitable pump, substantially as described.
(4) A boat provided with a series of fixed compartments closed on all sides,
and one or more valves for admitting water to said compartments, in combination
with a series of air-tight bags arranged one in each of said compartments and

page_text: .
adapted, when inflated, to fill their respective compartments and expel the water
therefrom, and a corresponding series of air-pipes leading to said bags, an
independent pipe being employed for each bag, substantially as described.
(5) A boat provided with a fixed compartment closed on all sides and having
a valve controlling the admission of water thereto, in combination with an
inflatable bag located within said compartment and adapted when inflated to fill
the same and expel the water therefrom, the arrangement being such that when
the bag is inflated, water is forced from said compartment and when the air is
allowed to escape from the bag, the water enters the compartment and assists in
expelling the air from the bag, all substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Tune 1000
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.