Improved Means applicable for use in Visually Examining Sub- merged or other Bodies or Surfaces Diffiloult of Access.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Means applicable for use in Visually Examining Sub-
merged or other Bodies or Surfaces Diffiloult of Access.
I, WALTER JOHN HAMMOND, of 36, Lime Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for visually examining the submerged portions
of ships' bottoms or sides or the surfaces of other structures or bodies either sub-
merged, or in mines or in any place difficult of access, and consists of water-tight
tubular apparatus furnished at its lower extremity with means for projecting a
powerful beam of light, and provided internally with mirrors or prisms arranged
in such a manner as to reflect the representation of the object examined to the
opposite end of the tube, the latter being of such a length as may be necessary.
For examining the side of a vessel, the tubular portion of the apparatus may
be straight with the illuminating head only turned at right-angles; whilst for
examining a ship's bottom, the tube itself may be bent at right-angles, or other
appropriate angle, and terminate in a head adapted to project the beam of light
upwards against the under side of the vessel.
The apparatus having been swung over the side of the vessel, the illuminating
head may be caused to approach either the keel or the bilge by means of a bell-
crank-lever fulcrumed against the side of the vessel, one arm engaging with the
tube, whilst the other extends outwards and has attached to it a guy rope which
leads to a windlass on board. By hauling on the guy rope and thus turning the
bell-crank-lever, the whole apparatus is caused to assume a different angular
position, the illuminating head approaching the bilge.
The apparatus may be fitted internally with lenses of a character adapted to
condense the beam of light and to transmit the same in parallel rays to the observer
at the surface of the water or other point of observation.

page_text: Improved Means applicable for use in Visually Examining Sub-
merged or other Bodies or Surfaces Difficult of Access.
I, WALTER JOHN HAMMOND, of The Grange, Knockholt, near Sevenoaks, in the
County of Kent, formerly of 36, Lime Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to means for visually examining the submerged portions
of ships' bottoms or sides or the surfaces of other structures either submerged, or
in mines or in any other place difficult of access, and consists of water-tight tubular
apparatus furnished at its lower extremity with means for projecting a powerful
beam of light, and provided internally with mirrors or prisms arranged in such a
manner as to reflect the representation of the object examined to the opposite end
of the tube, the latter being of such a length as may be necessary.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal section and side
elevation of apparatus constructed according to my improved method and adapted
for examining the under side of a ship. Portions of the tube are removed for the
purpose of rendering the figure compact, but it will be understood that the length
of the tube will vary according to the conditions prevailing in the particular use
to which the apparatus is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower extremity of the
tube. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the means for projecting a beam of light
upon the surface to be inspected, for reflecting such surface and for maintaining
both the outer glass and the mirror clear. Fig. 4 is a plan of the upper extremity
of the tube showing the top late for carrying the eye-piece.
According to the method illustrated, the apparatus comprises a water-tight
tube A which is swung over the vessel's side; the said tube being furnished at its
upper extremity B with an eye-piece and lenses. The tube A is preferably made in
lengths, thus being capable of elongation, by inserting the requisite number of
lengths, to any desired extent. To the lower end of the vertical portion of this
tube A is arranged, approximately at right-angles, another tube A¹; a reflector
or mirror being placed at a suitable angle, preferably 46°, in the junction-piece C
of the two tubes. The tube A¹ is built up in sections in a similar manner to the
depending tube A. The outer extremity of the horizontal tube A¹ is furnished
with a number of incandescent electric lamps D for illuminating the under side of
the ship. Or other illuminating means, such as oil, gas or magnesium wire may
be employed. The lamps may be arranged within the tube if preferred.
The end of the tube A¹ is sealed by means of .an outer plate of
glass. E. F is a mirror or reflector arranged at right-angles, or approximately so,
to the mirror or reflector in the junction-piece C. The inner side of the glass E
and the surface of the mirror F respectively may be maintained in a clear condition
by wipers and F¹. The travel of the wiper F1 being longer than that of the
wiper E, these wipers are preferably actuated through a system of differential
pulleys. To the spring roller or sheave e is attached one end of a cord e³, a portion
of the cord being wound upon the said roller; while the other end of the cord e¹
is secured to the wiper E. From the other side of the wiper, other cords, e,
pass round and are attached to suitably sized pulleys 6³, es, mounted upon a shaft e
From a central pulley is led a corde which passes round guide-pulleys e², e³, 69
to the wiper F to which it is secured. This wiper is, by means of cords ff, con-
nected with rollers f f mounted upon a transverse shaft f. The wipers thus
connected may be operated simultaneously from the deck of the vessel, whence

page_text: observation is being conducted, by means of the main cord f; the latter passing
round a guide-pulley to a central pulley f, around which it is wound and to
which its end is secured. Upon the release of the cord f³, after the wipers have
been drawn over the respective surfaces to which they pertain, both wipers are
returned to their original positions by means of the spring roller e and cords et
and e. The wipers are respectively mounted upon guide-rods and f. The
outer surfaces of the glass E is cleaned by streams of water which issue from per-
forations in a tube F. G G are rollers for protecting the outer glass from contact
with the surface under observation. H H are the terminals of the conductors. for
the electric lamps. The wipers may be made of any suitable material, such as
india-rubber, sponge or fibrous material.
For examining the side of a vessel, the tubular portion of the apparatus may be
straight, the illuminating head only being turned at right-angles; whilst for
examining a ship's bottom, the tube itself may be bent as already described, and
terminate in a head adanted to project the beam of light upwards. For other
uses, as for examining a ship's hold, the tube may be bent at any other angle or its
axis may be at right-angles to the face of the illuminating head.
The apparatus having been swung over the side of the vessel, the illuminating
head may be caused to approach either the keel or the bilge by suitable means,
such as a bell-crank-lever fulcrumed against the side of the vessel, one arm engaging
with the tube, whilst the other extends outwards and has attached to it a guy rope
which leads to a windlass on board. By hauling on the guy rope and thus turning
the bell-crank-lever, the whole apparatus is caused to assume a different angular
position, the illuminating head approaching the bilge.
The apparatus may be fitted internally with lenses of a character adapted to con-
dense the beam of light and to transmit the same in parallel rays to the observer
at the surface of the water or other point of observation. If found requisite, a
telescope may be employed in conjunction with the tube A. and means may be pro-
vided for recording the various observations by photography.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :—
1. The herein described means for visually examining bodies or surfaces sub-
merged or difficult of access, same comprising tubular apparatus furnished at one
extremity with an eye-piece and at the other extremity with an illuminating
device for projecting a powerful light upon the surface to be examined and with
mirrors or prisms arranged to reflect a representation of such illuminated surface
at the opposite end of the said tube.
2. In apparatus for visually examining bodies or surfaces submerged or difficult
of access, the combination, with a tube, such as A, of a mirror or reflector, such
as F, and illuminating device, arranged or operating. substantially as set forth.
3. In apparatus for visually examining bodies or surfaces submerged or difficult
of access, the combination, with a tube, such as A, of another tube, such as A¹, a
junction-piece, such as C, wherein is mounted a mirror or reflector and an illu-
minating device, arranged or operating substantially as set forth.
4. In apparatus for visually examining bodies or surfaces submerged or difficult
of access, an illuminating head comprising a casing whereof the outer end is sealed
by a glass plate E and the interior is provided with a mirror; a number of incan-
descent electric lamps D being mounted upon the casing in such a manner that a
powerful beam of light is projected towards the object to be examined, substantially
as set forth.
5. In an illuminating head for use in visually examining bodies or surfaces
submerged or difficult of access, the herein described means for maintaining the
outer glass E and mirror F clear of moisture, same comprising wipers El and F¹
connected by a cord e arranged about suitably proportioned pulleys and e³, and
onerated by a cord f; the return movement of the wipers being effected by means
of the corde and spring roller e, substantially as set forth,

page_text: 6. In apparatus for visually examining bodies or surfaces submerged or difficult
of access, the combination, with an illuminating head, of a perforated tube, such
as E, arranged or operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 4th day of October 1898.
Dated this 4th day of October 1898.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.