Year: 1888

page_text: A commnication from abroad by HEINRICH FERDINAND SCHWARTZ, of Oebisfelde, in
the Province of Saxony, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Veterinary Surgeon.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 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 specification has been forwarded to me with instructions to file.
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus, intended for saving
life at sea, etcetera, by the application of liquefied carbonic acid gas to life saving
belts, and other water life saving apparatus. The belt or other water life saving
apparatus forming the object of this invention, is so constructed that it can be utilized
at once for its purpose at the moment of imminent danger. This end is attained by
the liquefied carbonic acid being transformed into gas by the sudden breaking or
opening of the vessel wherein it is confined. As the co-efficient of expansion of
liquefied carbonic acid gas is much higher than that of other gases, it is best adapted
for the sudden inflating of life saving belts, suits, etcetera. In carrying out the
invention, the liquefied acid is contained in small closed gas tight vessels, which are
applied within the life saving girdles, or suits, in such a manner that an opening or
breaking of the said vessels can be easily effected at a time of imminent danger. In
a moment the life saving belt or suit, etcetera, is inflated, and receives the required
buoyancy and supporting power.
The vessels containing the liquefied carbonic acid gas are preferably made of glass,
and in the form of capsules which are protected by a case against unintentional
pressure from the outside, and can be broken to pieces by a bolt or pin provided for
this purpose. As a matter of course, the quantity of liquefied carbonic acid contained
in the capsules must be in proportion to the capacity of the object to be filled with
carbonic acid gas.

page_text: The application of liquefied carbonic gas contained in gas tight closed vessels,
presents the following very important advantage, namely, the life saving belts,
suits, etcetera, occupy very little space when they are not, required for use, so that it
is easy to provide on board passenger steam-ships, for instance, the proper quantity of
life saving apparatus required both for the passengers and crew.
Of course any
number of capsules containing liquefied carbonic acid gas may be arranged within
the life saving appliance, so that the same apparatus may be used several times in
succession.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In water life saving apparatus, the employment of carbonic acid gas, sub-
stantially as described, for the purpose of producing sudden inflation and the requisite
buoyancy.
2. In a water life saving apparatus, the combination with a life saving belt, dress,
and the like, of air tight capsules or vessels arranged within the belt or dress, and in
which liquefied carbonic acid gas is contained, the said capsules or vessels being
capable of being opened or broken suddenly at the moment of danger so as to
transform the liquefied carbonic acid gas into a gaseous state, and thereby impart to
the apparatus the necessary inflation and requisite buoyancy.
Dated this 10th day of July 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Filing Agents for the Applicant.