Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels and the
like.
A communication from abroad by FRANÇOIS BINELLI, of Rome, in the Kingdom of
Italy.
J, 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 invention has for its object a salvage apparatus called a hydrostat.
A bag of closely woven material such as sail cloth dipped in water and then filled
with air is as capable of retaining the latter and of remaining expanded as if it were
made of impermeable material.
In consequence of the good results obtained by experiments with this material, the
inventor has devised a method for applying the principle to floating a submerged
vessel by constructing an apparatus called, on account of the use to which it is
applied, a "hydrostat."
The hydrostat is shown in the accompanying drawing. It is formed of a large
cylinder A of a very closely woven material, called, on account of its shape, a sack.
The size varies according to the dimensions of the compartment of the ship from
which the water is to be driven; its volume must not be less than that of the water
in the compartment of the ship. A small rope or lino is fastened into and runs along
cach of the seams where the breadths of the material are joined, and continues loosely
All the ropes which thus
for about one metre beyond the closed end B of the sack.
converge towards the extremity B, at the point through which the axis of the sack
passes, are intertwined and form a strong and thick cable called the tail. If, in the
compartment of the ship to be emptied, there be any openings, especially in the upper
part, the sack should be covered with a rope netting similar to that of aürostatic
balloons.
At the opposite end to the tail the sack terminates in an opening similar to a bottle
neck and called the mouth.
A metal tube C (not more than 50 centimetres in length and rising to 10 centimetres
in diameter) with a cock R in the middle, is fitted with a screw thread at one
extremity, while, at the other extremity, are three metal rings about 5 centimetres
apart. The space between them is covered with a coating of guttapercha.
The mouth of the sack is firmly fixed, by means of two bolts, to the tube at the
part covered with guttapercha. The same tube is connected at the screwed end, by
means of a nut, with a guttapercha tube T communicating with the air compressing
machine.
The sack being rolled up in regular folds along its length, a sufficient weight is
attached to the tail, and it is allowed to descend to the submerged ship by means of a
cord. A diver then places it in the compartment to be emptied. He places the tail
of the sack with the weight which served to sink it at the point opposite the entrance
to the compartment, and then takes off the cord with which the sack is kept rolled up.
Then by means of the nut he connects the tube which supplies the air with the tube
at the mouth of the sack and opens the cock. He then gives the signal for starting
the air compressor which thus fills the sack.
The water surrounding the sack prevents the air within from escaping; the sack
will therefore be seen to inflate like a balloon and will occupy the space formerly
filled by the water. When the sack is distended, the air pressure, being continued,

page_text: will drive out of the sack all the water contained therein, and the air will then begin
to permeate through the material of the sack in the form of small bubbles. The diver
now gives the signal for stopping the compressor, closes the cock, and unscrews the
air tube.
This operation is repeated in other compartments of the ship until, a sufficient air
space having been forined, the ship commences to ascend.
As the ship rises, the pressure of water, which balances that of the air, will gradually
decrease, and the air enclosed in the sacks will distend the latter to their maximum
amount, and then slowly escape through the fabric.
The advantages of this bydrostat are, first, its cheapness as compared with other
salvage apparatuses and the facility with which a sunken ship can be floated in any
position, on her side or even keel upwards in order that the damaged part may be
more easily repaired and the ship rendered sea worthy.
This hydrostat may also be used for raising weights from the bottom of the sea.
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. An apparatus, called a hydrostat, for raising sunken vessels, consisting of a
closely woven material in the form of a sack, terminated at one extremity by a tail,
and at the other by a neck.
2. In an appparatus formed as in claim 1, the use of ropes or lines fastened into
the seams connecting the widths of material, and intertwined where they meet at the
closed extremity of the sack to form a tail.
3. In an apparatus such as described in claims 1 and 2, the use of a metal tube
fixed on the open extremity or mouth of the sack having a cock in the middle.
4. The combination of an apparatus such as described in the preceding claims with
a guttapercha tube introducing compressed air into the sack from an air compressor,
substantially as above described and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1889.
WM. I. THOMPSON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.