IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES
Year: 1877

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Atkinson, "Naval Engineer," and Robert Parsons,
Clerk," both of 33, Albert Terrace, South Lambeth Road, and late of 259,
Wandsworth Road, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES."
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 21st April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Atkinson and Robert
Parsons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April
1877.
WILLIAM ATKINSON, "Naval Engineer," and ROBERT PARSONS, "Clerk," both of
33, Albert Terrace, South Lambeth Road, and late of 259, Wandsworth Road,
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN
SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
Within an iron buoy "A" is fixed an iron cylinder "B"; inside the cylinder is
placed a piston "C" made of oak, which is strengthened by iron plates and bars "J”
(see Fig. 1) bolted or riveted to piston; around the edge of the piston (which is
grooved to allow of india-rubber stuffing) is screwed a cast-iron junk ring "K," in
the manner of Fig. 2, which can either be raised or lowered, according to the pressure
required to compress or loosen the stuffing against the sides of the cylinder "B."
Upon the bottom of the piston are fixed iron hangers "L" (see Fig. 1), to which
hangers chains are fixed, passing through the opening "M" in the bottom of the
cylinder. The piston works up and down in the cylinder, its position being regulated
by a piston rod "D" which is fixed in the centre of the piston at the point "G,"
passing through and being secured on the opposite side of the piston by a brass
nut "H," by being screwed on to the piston rod at the end "I." The piston rod
passes uprightly through the top of the cylinder and then works through the stuffing
box "P" at the top of the buoy. The cylinder is fixed in an upright position to
the top of the buoy by a circular iron neck "O" fitted with angle irons, to which
the buoy and cylinder are riveted; they are also fixed together at the bottom by

page_text: rivets passing through the circular iron ring "Q" at the bottom of the buoy into
the bottom "R" of the cylinder in manner as
"
S."
ور
The bottom of the cylinder (see Fig. 3) is made of iron with a circular opening "M"
to allow the chains fixed to the piston to pass through; it is strengthened by an
iron ring "T" riveted or bolted around the circular hole "M," and also by iron bars
running diagonally across the bottom; around the outside edge is bolted a massive
iron ring "V" to support the bottom of the cylinder. The pipe "W," with cock "X"
and india-rubber tube Y, is for the passage of air either into or out of the cylinder.
The hangers "Z" at the top and bottom of the buoy are for the chains to be fixed
to, either for the raising or lowering of the buoy..
The mode in which the buoy is worked is as follows:-Chains are attached to
the top hangers "Z" at the top of the buoy and also to the two hangers "Z" at
the bottom of the buoy, and also one to the swivel loop at the top of the piston rod.
The chains attached to the top hangers and piston rod loop are fastened to a
tug," and the chains attached to the lower hangers are fastened to another "steam
tug."
The buoy is then lifted into the water with the piston at the bottom of the
cylinder.
"steam
When the buoy is required to be sunken the piston is drawn to the top of the
cylinder, the cylinder then fills with water and is then lowered to the bottom.
When the buoy is attached to the sunken ship, the chains fixed to the lower
hangers and the loop at the top of the piston rod are the detached and the buoy
hauled upwards by the chains attached to the top hangers until the piston reaches
the bottom of the cylinder; air is then pumped into the cylinder through the
tube "W" and Y, the cock X is the closed, which done, the boy is pulling at the
ship with its whole power.
The mode in which the buoy is detached from the sunken ship is as follows:-
A rope or chain is lowered and passed through the loop "B" (see Fig. 5) and
attached to the lever "A," the bolt running through the catch "C" and through the
end of the hook "D" at the point "E" is then withdrawn; the lever is then drawn
through the loop "B," thereby raising the hook "D" which instantly lets slip the
chain "F"; the cylinder is the released and the buoy is only retained by the
chains "G, G"; the cock W at the top of the buoy is then turned on.
The piston
is drawn to the top of the cylinder, whereby the buoy sinks, the chains detached
from the sunken ship, and the buoy hauled to the surface of the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Atkinson and Robert Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th October 1877.
WILLIAM ATKINSON, "Naval Engineer," and ROBERT PARSONS, "Clerk," both of
No. 93, South Lambeth Road, London, and late of 33, Albert Terrace, South Lambeth
Road, London, in the County of Surry. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
Our said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
apparatus for raising sunken ships and other submerged bodies. We now describe
our Invention.
Within an iron buoy "a" (see large Figure) is fixed an iron cylinder "B."
Inside the cylinder is placed a piston "C," made of oak, which is strengthened by
iron plates and bars "J" (see Fig. 1), bolted or riveted to piston; around the edge
of the piston (which is grooved to allow of india-rubber stuffing) is screwed a cast-
iron junk ring "K" in the manner of Fig. 2, which can either be raised or lowered
according to the pressure required to compress or loosen the stuffing against the
sides of the cylinder "B." Upon the bottom of the piston are fixed iron hangers "L"

page_text: in
"
(see Fig. 1), to which hangers chains are fixed, passing through the opening "M"
the bottom of the cylinder. The piston works up and down in. the cylinder, its
position being regulated by a piston rod "D" which is fixed in the centre of the
piston at the point "G," passing through and being screwed on to the piston rod at
the end "I." The piston rod passes uprightly through the top of the cylinder and
then works through the stuffing box "P at the top of the buoy. The cylinder is
fixed in an upright position to the top of the buoy by a circular iron neck " 0
fitted with angle iron, to which the buoy & cylinder are riveted, they are also
fixed together at the bottom by rivets passing through the circular iron ring "Q"
at the bottom of the buoy into the bottom "R" of the cylinder, in manner as "S."
The bottom of the cylinder (see Fig. 3) is made of iron with a circular opening "M"
to allow the chains fixed to the piston to pass through. It is strengthened by an
iron ring "T" riveted or bolted round the opening "M," and also by iron bars running
diagonally across the bottom. Around the outside edge is bolted a massive iron
ring "V" to support the bottom of the cylinder. The pipe "W" with cock "X" and
india-rubber tube Y, is for the passage of air either into or out of the cylinder.
hangers "Z" at the top and bottom of the buoy are for the chains to be fixed to,
either for the raising or lowering of the buoy.
t
The
The description of the chain gear (see Fig. 5) is as follows:-" G, G," are the
continuation of the chains which are attached to the hangers upon the bottom of
the cylinder, and "K, K," is the chain which is attached to the hangers on the
piston; now the chain "K, K," passes through a ring as "M," to which ring hangs
a chain "F"; in combination with the chain F is the hooking apparatus or slip,
situated between the rings M & N.
The description of this hook is as follows:-"D" is a hook with a lever "A" at
the top, which is supported by a bolt running through the bottom of the loop B,
and then through (midway between the hook and the lever) the lever hook "D, A;"
to this bolt is attached a catch in such a manner that it can be raised or lowered
like a street-door knocker; through the bottom of the catch and the end of the
hook "D a bolt is passed through & secured by a nut being screwed on to the
end of the bolt to keep the chain F from slipping off when the buoy is working.
"
The mode in which the buoy is worked is as follows:-First, a chain or wire rope
is passed round the sunken ship, then chains are attached to the two hangers "Z"
at the bottom of the buoy, and also on to the swivel loop at the top of the piston,
and on to the lower hangers "Z." The chains attached to the top hangers and
piston rod loop are fastened to a steam tug, and the chains on the lower hangers are
fastened to another steam tug. The buoy is then lifted into the water with the
piston at the bottom of the cylinder.
When the buoy is required to be sunken, the piston is drawn to the top of the
cylinder, the cylinder then fills with water and the buoy is then lowered to the
bottom.
When the buoy is attached to the sunken ship the chains fixed to the lower
hangers & the piston rod are then detached, and the buoy hauled upwards by the
chains attached to the top hangers until the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder,
the cock X is then closed, which done, the buoy has regained its buoyancy and
is pulling with its whole power at the ship; others are then attached in the same
way until the dead weight of the ship is counterbalanced, which done, she rises to
the surface.
The mode in which (if necessary) the buoy is detached from the sunken ship is as
follows: A rope or chain is lowered and passed through the loop "B" (see Fig. 5)
& attached to the lever "A." The bolt running through the catch" "C" and
through the end of the hook "D" at the point "E" is then withdrawn; the lever is
then drawn through the loop "B," thereby raising the hook "D" which instantly
lets slip the chain "F;" the piston is then released and the buoy is only retained by
the chains "G, G"; the cock at the top of the buoy is then turned on; the piston is
then drawn to the top of the cylinder, whereby the buoy fills with water & there-

page_text: fore loses its buoyancy, the chains detached from the sunken ship, & the buoy
hauled to the surface.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Atkinson and Robert Parsons, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1877.
WILLIAM ATKINSON. (L.S.)
ROBERT PARSONS.
(L.S.)