IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND REMOVING SUNKEN OR STRANDED VESSELS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Henry Sisson, of Coole, in the County of York,
"
for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND
REMOVING SUNKEN OR STRANDED VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Henry Sisson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November ISSO.
DANIEL HENRY SISSON, of Goole, in the County of York.
"IMPROVED MEANS
OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND REMOVING SUNKEN OR STRANDED VESSELS."
My improvements are applicable not only to ships and other vessels for the
purpose of raising them after being sunk in deep waters, but also for removing
those that have been stranded on rocks, sands, or beach.
The apparatus is constructed as follows:-
I provide a closed cylinder or box, formed by preference of light metal and of an
oblong shape; to this box or cylinder are applied inlet and outlet valves. When
the apparatus is brought into use for sunken vessels it is filled with water and
carried by divers into the interior of the vessel, and fixed in a vertical direction in
the hold, between decks, or any other part of the interior. The number of these
cylinders or boxes required depends upon the dimensions of the ship or other
vessel. The required number of apparatus having been applied side by side, the
water contained therein is forced out of the outlet valve by means of a pump (to
which it is connected at the inlet valve by ordinary tubing), and its place occupied
ly compressed air, the pressure of which is varied in accordance with the depth to
which the vessel is sunk. The outlet valve is so arranged to admit of the internal
pressure of air escaping in the same ratio as the ship rises in the water. By this
means I am enabled to make my apparatus much lighter and of less strength than
if the pressure were retained to the last, thus admitting of the apparatus being
made of light or very thin metal, rendering it much more portable and easy of
application. After cach apparatus has been filled with the required quantity of
air the tube is disconnected and the inlet valve closes automatically.
As soon as the work of supplying the air to the required number of apparatus
has been completed the vessel rises to the surface without any other assistance.
When employed for stranded vessel the operation is similar to that herein
described for sunken vessels, except that in some cases it is not necessary to fill the
apparatus with water, but by applying the apparatus in sufficient quantity the
vessel may be lifted and removed at the rise of the tide.
The length of each apparatus may be varied to suit circumstances.

page_text: looking at the bottom; Fig. 4, a cross section of ship shewing mode of applying
apparatus.
I provide a cylinder or box a closed at each end, as shewn at b and c, formed by 1
preference of light inetal plates and of oblong shape. The apparatus may be made
either in one length or constructed in parts, these being coupled together as shewn
at d, provided with suitable elastic packing to render the joints perfectly air
tight. Each apparatus has applied thereto an inlet valve e and outlet valve f.
When the apparatus is brought into use for sunken vessels it is carried by divers
into the interior thereof, and fixed by preference in a vertical direction in the hold,
between decks, or any other part of the interior, as shewn at Fig. 4; and in order
to secure the apparatus in position I provide the screws g, fitted at the lower
extremity with the hold fast or dog h, and working freely in a nut j attached or
let into a cylinder or box i. The upper end of the box or cylinder a is also pointed
or jagged at k. By such arrangement the points at the top and bottom may be
held tightly in their position, also relieved at pleasure by turning the screw out
of or into the nut j.
The number of these cylinders or boxes a required depends upon the ship or other
vessel.
The required number of apparatus having been applied side by side as shewn,
the water contained therein is forced out of the outlet valve ƒ by means of a pump
or its equivalent (to which it is connected at the inlet valve e by ordinary tubing),
and its place occupied by compressed air, the pressure of which is varied to the
depth to which the vessel is sunk. The outlet valve f admits of the internal
pressure of air escaping in the same ratio as the ship rises in the water. By this
means I am enabled to inake the apparatus much lighter and of less strength than
if the pressure were retained in full to the time of the vessel emerging from tho
water. The apparatus being made of very light thin metal it is rendered much
more portable and easy of application.
After each apparatus has been filled with the required quantity and pressure of
air, the tube is disconnected and the inlet valve e closes automatically.
As soon as the work of supplying air to the required number of apparatus has
been completed, the vessel rises to the surface without any other assistance.
When employed for stranded vessels the operation is similar to that herein before
described for sunken vessels, except that in some cases it is not necessary to fill the
apparatus with water, but by applying the apparatus in sufficient quantity the vessel
may be lifted and removed at the rise of the tide. In this case the apparatus is
applied in the horizontal position, and secured by ordinary means, as shewn in
dotted lines at l.
The length of each apparatus may be varied to suit circumstances.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and particularized the
same by details which answer well in practice, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the exact details set forth; what I do claim is,-
The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts forming the
improvements in means or apparatus for raising and removing sunken or stranded
vessels, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Henry Sisson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
D. H. SISSON. (L.S.)