Applicable to the Construction of Buoys and to other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
Applicable to the Construction of Buoys and to other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM CHESHIRE, of 5 Martin Terrace, Morice Town, Devonport, in the
County of Devon, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Sc
The improvements in collapsable vessels, chambers, and other like structures in
which this invention consists are applicable also to the construction of life or other
buoys, balloons and appliances or apparatus of a similar or analogous nature.
According to this invention a central member made up of three tubes extends from
one end of the chamber to the other. The two end sections of the central tubular
member are telescoped at their inner ends into the middle section. Bearing against
their outer ends are collars to which are hinged ribs which constitute the skeleton
frame of the apparatus. To the ribs are hinged arms which are also connected to
collars situated towards the outer ends of the outer sections of the central member.
The ribs and arms vary in number, form and dimensions according to the con-
figuration and size of the apparatus. Firmly screwed into or otherwise secured to a
plug or stud screwed into the inner end of one of the outer tubular sections of the
central member is a rod or spindle which is extended through the corresponding plug
in the end of the other outer section and is recessed or grooved towards its free
extremity. The skeleton frame is envelopped in a covering or case of india rubber,
canvas or other material according to the purpose to which the apparatus is intended
to be applied. This cover or case is securely attached at the ends of 'the apparatus.
Normally, that is to say when the apparatus is in a collapsed state, the ribs and
arms are gathered about the central member the outer sections of which are drawn
out to their full length. When, however, the vessel or chamber is inflated or
otherwise expanded the outer sections of the central member are forced into the
middle section, the collars to which the arms are attached are made to approach one
another and the ribs are thereby thrust into the positions which they are designed to
assume, the covering or case aforesaid being distended accordingly. The recessed
extremity of the rod or spindle aforesaid is projected through an orifice at one end of

page_text: the appliance and held by a spring which engages with the recess therein. The
apparatus may be expanded by inflation or by means of nuts turned so as to force
the collars to which the ribs are attached towards one another, or by other means.
By disengaging the rod or spindle aforesaid from the spring and by permitting the
apparatus to yield to pressure it readily collapses.
Appliances so constructed are adapted for use as life or other buoys, or as receptacles
for preserving provisions or for other purposes.
Improvements in Сопарва те Vessels, amo,
Applicable to the Construction of Buoys and to other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM CHESHIRE of 5, Martin Terrace, Morice Town, Devenport, in the
county of Devon, draughtsman, 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 which relates to the construction of collapsable structures for various
purposes is specially applicable to the construction of life buoys.
Extending from one end of the structure to the other is a central tubular axis made
in sections, the end sections being telescoped into the middle section. Bearing against
the outer end of each of the end sections are collars to which are hinged ribs, which
constitute the frame of the structure. To the ribs are hinged arms which are connected
to collars situated towards the outer ends of the end sections of the central tubular
axis.
The ribs and arms vary in number, form and dimensions according to the configura-
tion and size of the structure.
This
Firmly screwed into or otherwise secured to a plug or stud screwed into the inner
end of one of the outer sections of the central tube is a rod or spindle which is
extended through the corresponding plug in the end of the other outer section.
rod or spindle is grooved or notched towards its free extremity. The skeleton frame
is envelopped in a covering or skin of india rubber, canvas or other material according
to the purpose for which the structure is to be utilized. This covering is securely
attached in its place on the structure,

page_text: Normally, that is to say when the apparatus is in a collapsed state, the ribs and arms
are gathered about the central tube the outer sections of which are drawn out to their
full extent. When, however, the vessel is inflated or otherwise expanded the outer
sections of the central tubular axis are forced inwards in to the middle section at each
end thereof respectively; the collars to which the arms aforesaid are at one end
attached are thereby thrust into the positions they are designed to assume, and the
covering or skin is distended accordingly.
The grooved or notched extremity of the rod or spindle aforesaid is, as the vessel
expands, projected through an orifice at one end of the vessel and engages with a
spring catch by which the vessel is retained in the expanded state.
After expansion of the structure the open end thereof is closed either by a water
tight cap or by a suitable valve situated at one end of one of the end sections of the
central tube.
In order to allow the structure to collapse, when desired, the notched rod or spindle
is freed from the pawl and the air is expressed as the valve opens.
Referring to the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents a
vertical section of a globular life buoy constructed in accordance with this invention.
The buoy is represented as expanded. Fig. 2 is a vertical section representing the
buoy as collapsed. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an elevation and plan of the buoy.
Extending vertically in the buoy is. a central tubular axis consisting of a middle
section a and two end sections b and c telescoped into the middle section a. Bearing
against the outer ends of the end sections b and c are collars d and e to which are
hinged the ribs f constituting part of the frame of the structure. To the ribs fare
hinged the arms g which, at the opposite ends are hinged to collars h situated towards
the outer ends of the sections b and c of the central tubular axis.
Firmly screwed into or otherwise secured to the plug or stud i fixed towards the
inner end of the tube b is a rod or spindle k which is extended through the corre
sponding plug j fixed in the tube c.
The rod or spindle k is notched towards its free extremity.
Normally, that is to say when the buoy is in the collapsed state as shewn at figure 2,
the sections b and c are drawn out to their full extent and the ribs fand arms g are
closed upon the tubular axis.
The buoy is expanded by a compressing strain exerted manually at the upper end.
The top of the collar 1, to which the covering or skin m is at that end attached, serves
as a seat for the valve n, as seen at Fig. 1. The compressing strain is applied to the
plate o fixed to the button p surmounting the tube g which, at the bottom, rests on
the button r. To prevent the valve n from closing before the buoy is fully expanded,
an upward strain is exerted by hand on the underside of the glands, the spring t being
thus compressed upwards.
When the buoy has been fully expanded, the glands is released and the valve n is
forced into its seat by the spring t acting above it. The spring catch u engages with
a notch in the rod or spindle k and so maintains the structure expanded.
To collapse the structure the spring guide clips n' of the valve n are compressed
and a downward pressure is exerted on the head v of the pin v¹ which bears upon the
cap ³which, acting against the spring catch u, releases the rod or spindle k, and the
valve n rises from its seat and permits the air to escape from the buoy.
At its lower end the buoy is provided with a loop, hook or link w for the attach-
ment of a belt, band or the like as seen at Fig. 5 for securing the buoy to the person.
Fig. 6 represents a buoy of oval or egg shape, the principle of construction being
the same as that herein before described with reference to the globular form.
The principle of construction in which this invention consists is applicable to other
structures than life buoys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved life buoy having a central tubular telescopic axis on which are

page_text: arranged sliding collars such as h with arms such as g hinged to the said collars and
to ribs such as themselves hinged to collars rigidly secured to the outer ends of the
said telescopic axis, which ribs and arms assume under a compressing strain exerted
on one end of the structure, a position dependant on their number, shape and
dimensions, governed by the desired configuration of the buoy, the whole being
envelopped in a watertight covering substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. The notched rod or spindle k and spring catch u for maintaining the structure
expanded, and the pin and cap for releasing the said rod, substantially as
described.
3. The valve n with spring guide clips n' for the purpose of closing the aperture in
the collar after expansion of the structure, arranged and operated substantially as
described.
4. The arrangement and construction of collapsable vessels or chambers, substantially
as described.