Improvement in the Means of Obtaining Information from Vessels Lost at Sea.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Means of Obtaining Information from Vessels
Lost at Sea.
GRIFFITH OWEN 19 Miriam Road Anfield Liverpool Mercantile Marine
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
―
The object of my invention is to provide that all vessels lost at sea by foundering,
caused by collision, fire, or otherwise, may leave some information of the casualty
by means of an apparatus working automatically, which will contain logbook or
abstracts of same, with information written thereon up to the latest moment
possible, this apparatus is intended to liberate itself and float when the vessel
becomes submerged, and to remain afloat until picked up by a passing vessel, or
cast on shore. To accomplish this object I provide watertight chambers made of
glass, metal, ebonito, vulcanite or other waterproof material, and of sufficient air
capacity with suitable form to float lightly upon the water, and also to support
another chamber attached to it, also watertight-which will contain logbook
or abstracts of same, and any other documents or valuables which may
belong to vessel, crew, or passengers, this chamber to be fitted with watertight
door having simple means of being opened and closed quickly, and without at
anytime baving to interfere with the watertight air float of the apparatus. The
upper float chamber by preference to be painted red, as most likely to attract
attention of passing vessels. .It is evident that various forms of apparatus may be
made and various class of material used, by preference I would adopt copper or
vulcanite, and in form the float chamber to be oval or globular, with name of
ship or vessel stamped into material used in its construction. All this apparatus
to be placed in a convenient position on board of vessel, within easy access for
master or officer who may be entrusted with care of apparatus, also to be placed
so that lurching of ship may not affect its mode of liberating itself when necessary,
for this purpose I intend to place the apparatus in a tube socket working on
swivels or otherwise, dependant on build of bridge-and secured to deck, fitted
with lever gear to which are attached hollow copper globes which keep apparatus
firmly and safely in position, and also will automatically liberate the apparatus
when vessel is actually sinking.
My apparatus is a safe on board ship wherein to place records, documents,
jewellery, or other valuables of passengers &c., having in view that in case of loss
of vessel and all lives-as unfortunately has taken place in the past-my apparatus
will convey tidings for those concerned, and all documents, or valuables enclosed
therein forwarded to those as directed-to receive them. Each passenger to
pay a small fee for this security, thus reducing effectively the expense incurred by
shipowners of having provided the apparatus on board their respective vessels.
In case of loss of ship but saving of lives by means of boats, this apparatus may be
cast into the water and towed by boat until picked up; or in the event of loss of
such boat the apparatus will then answer the purpose of its invention.
Dated this 7th day of August 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Means of Obtaining Information from Vessels:
Lost at Sea.
I, GRIFFITH OWEN, of 19 Miriam Road, Anfield, Liverpool, Mercantile
Marine 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby vessels lost at sea by
foundering from any cause, may automatically leave on the surface of the sea a
floating apparatus in which may be contained a log-book or abstracts there-
from, or any other records or information which it may be desired to preserve.
The apparatus constructed for the purposes of this invention consists of a buoyant
waterproof chamber or chambers, forming, containing, or combined with a safe or
receptacle in which the log-book and any other papers or articles desired to be
preserved can be enclosed. The buoyancy of the whole apparatus, as well as its
strength is calculated to ensure its floating until it is cast ashore or picked up and
the contents recovered.
I will more particularly describe my said invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of apparatus and in the
various figures of which similar parts are denoted by similar letters of reference.
Figure 1 illustrates in elevation the buoyant receptacle in position on the vessel.
Figure 2 shews a vertical section at right angles to the elevation shewn in
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a representation of a transverse horizontal section of that part of the
apparatus in which is contained the matter to be saved.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and an elevation of one form of device.
employed to retain the apparatus in its place.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are illustrations of an automatic releasing device which
operates upon the sinking of the vessel.
Figure 9 shews the application of the releasing mechanism to the retaining
device.
As will be seen on reference to the drawings the apparatus consists of two parts,
the upper buoyant part A and the lower containing receptacle or safe B provided
with a watertight door C of any desired construction. It is preferred to give the
apparatus the general form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and to place it upon the
deck or bridge D through which is passed the lower part B, for instance into a
cabin. The upper part A rests upon a ring E containing an indiarubber or other
suitable packing F which prevents any water upon the deck flowing through the
opening. To prevent the apparatus rocking upon its seat upon the movement of
the vessel, the receptacle or safe B may pass within and be embraced by a ring G
attached or secured to the bulkhead or side of the vessel H. This ring may be
plain but it is preferred to furnish it with some means by which rigid or close
connection with the safe may be established. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3
the ring is provided with thumb screws I adapted to engage with recesses in the
walls of the safe B or to press against the plain sides. Should the screws engage
with recesses in the safe then it would be necessary to unscrew them before the
safe would be free to float.
To obviate the necessity of personal attention to ensure the release of the
apparatus, the automatic release mechanism illustrated in Figures 4 to 9 has been
devised. In this modification the ring G is cut through at one side and its ends
are returned or forined with lugs as at J Figures 4, 5, and 9, the natural
tendency of the ring being to keep the lugs slightly apart. The lugs are perforated
as at K, the perforations being longer in one direction than another. Through the

page_text: perforations is passed the end of the rod L carrying projections or transverse
pins M M. The projections are of such a length as to easily pass through the
perforations in one direction but not when a partial rotation has been given to the
rod or shaft L. This rod or shaft is pivoted at N, Figure 6, and its outer end
engages with the lugs of the ring G. This is effected by rotating the rod L until
the projections M are in a position to pass through the perforations K, and then
closing the lugs J until they are between the projections M M¹ when a partial
rotation is given to the shaft L and the ring G is held in its closed position as.
illustrated in Figure 9. To ensure the safe being tightly held the inside of the
ring is preferably furnished with projections O which engage with or abut against
the chamber B.
Loosely mounted upon the shaft L is an arm P which engages with a pin upon
the shaft, the pin however being contained within a slot in the end of the arm P
so as to allow of the movement of the latter with the movements of the 'ship-
without affecting the shaft L. Should this movement be exceeded, for instance
should the arm P move through an angle of 90 degrees or other pre-determined
distance, then the shaft L is rotated and the projections M M' moves round until
the ring G springs open and releases the safe. The outer end of the arm P carries a
ball float Q which rises and rotates the shaft L upon the vessel boing submerged,.
thus automatically releasing the safe which is sustained at the surface of the water
by the buoyant part A:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I'
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for preserving papers valuables or other articles from sunken
vessels, the combination of a buoyant chamber and a safe or receptacle constructed
and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described for preserving papers
valuables or other articles from sunken vessels, the combination of a spring
retaining ring a float and a locking bolt or shaft automatically operated and
released upon the submersion of the vessel, substantially as and by the means.
herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. A floating apparatus for preserving papers valuables or other articles from
sunken vessels, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and.
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd dort of Anvil A D 1801