Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd July, 1887
Complete Accepted, 7th Oct., 1887
I JOHN JOLY Civil Engineer of 43 Pembroke Road Dublin do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A sinker without an attached sounding line, and charged with an explosive material
is dropped from the vessel. By means of a projecting pin or trigger communicating
with a detonating substance within the sinker or by other suitable arrangement,
the explosive matter within the sinker is caused to explode on the sinker striking the
hottom of the sea. An ear trumpet or telephone or other arrangement for leading or
reproducing sound is attached to the ship arranged to dip into the water, so that the
observer on board the ship obtains by hearing a knowledge of almost the exact moment
at which the sinker explodes, that is the moment at which the sinker attains the bottom
of the sea.
The rate of descent of the sinker being known the observer computes the
depth of the water through which the sinker has descended-that is the required depth
of the sea-by noting the interval of time elapsing between the moment of release
of the sinker and the moment at which it reaches the bottom. To facilitate this
computation a contrivance of the nature of a stop watch or chronograph graduated to
feet in depth of the sea or to seconds and fractions of seconds, or both, may be used.
This apparatus the observer starts at the moment at which the sinker is released and
stops it on hearing the explosion: obtaining then the depth from the reading of the
instrument. For greater accuracy in starting the instrument simultaneously with
the release of the sinker I may provide mechanical or electrical connection between
the sinker and the instrument so that the sinker is released on operating the starting
mechanism of the instrument.
1000

page_text: I JOHN JOLY, Civil! Engineer, of 39 Waterloo Road, Dublin, 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 :-
A sinker without an attached sounding line, and charged with an explosive material
is dropped from the vessel. By means of a projecting pin or trigger communicating
with a detonating substance within the sinker or by other suitable arrangement the
explosive matter within the sinker is caused to explode on the sinker striking the bottom
of the sea.
An ear trumpet or telephone or other arrangement for leading or repro-
ducing sound, is attached to the ship, arranged to dip into the water, so that the
observer on board obtains by hearing a knowledge of almost the exact moment at
which the sinker explodes, that is the moment at which the sinker attains the bottom
of the sea. The rate of descent of the sinker being known the observer computes the
depth of the water through which the sinker has descended, that is, the required depth
of the sea by noting the interval of time clapsing between the moment of release of
the sinker and the moment at which it reaches the bottom. To facilitate this
computation a contrivance of the nature of a stop-watch or chronograph graduated
to feet in depth of the sea or to seconds and fractions of seconds or both may be used.
This apparatus the observer starts at the moment at which the sinker is released, and
stops it on hearing the explosion, obtaining then the depth from the reading of the
instrument. For greater accuracy in starting the instrument simultaneously with
the release of the sinker I may provide mechanical or electrical connection between
the sinker and the instrument so that the sinker is released on operating the starting
mechanism of the instrument.
The sinker, which may be made of cast iron, lead, carbon, glass or any suitable
material, is preferably of a cylindrical form pointed at each end to perinit ready
descent through the water. It may contain gunpowder, guncotton, dynamite or other
explosive e figs. 1, 2 and 7, and is unequally weighted so as to secure the first contact
of a projecting buffer or pin against the bottom of the sea, and thus by arrangements
to be presently described effect the explosion of the sinker.
The following are the methods by any of which I may secure the explosion of the
sinker.
(1) The sinker carries two elements, a and b fig. 1 sheet 1, which when immersed
in sea water play the part of the plates of a battery the sea water acting as electrolyte.
Within the sinker and surrounded by the explosive mixture a fine wire, w fig. 1 sheet 1,

page_text: preferably of platinum, or otherwise a fuse to be exploded on the passage of a current,
is arranged so as to be put in circuit with the plates of the battery immediately on
the sinker touching the bottom. The platinum wire or fuse within the sinker may,
if requisite, be immediately surrounded by a special explosive mixture more readily
exploded than the general body of the explosive filling the sinker. I may use as
elements suitable deposits on conducting materials, or conducting materials impregnated
with substances or of the nature of storage battery plates. The elements may be
carried in the form of plates projecting from the sinker or the sinker or its surface
may itself be composed of one of them, the other being attached to its surface by
insulating supports, c fig. 1 sheet 1. It will be understood that by closing circuit
with the electrodes by any suitable form of contact maker, d fig. 1 sheet 1, actuated
on the contact of the sinker with the bottom a current is passed through the wire or
fuse and the explosion of the sinker effected; suitable leads, 1, 1, fig. 1 sheet 1, being
brought from the said platinum wire or fuse within the sinker and joined to the
contact maker and elements.
(2) The sinker is provided with a cap, o fig. 2 sheet 2, or receptacle containing
a substance detonating on concussion. A cock or pin, p fig. 2 sheet 2, actuated by a
spring, s fig. 2 sheet 2, is released on the contact with the bottom of a projecting
buffer, b fig. 2 sheet 2, attached to a trigger, t fig. 2 sheet 2, exploding the sinker in
a manner somewhat similar to that in which a firearm is discharged by the depression
of a trigger. If desired to render such arrangement safe in handling I provide a stop
or catch which hinders the motion of the buffer till a certain external pressure due to
the head of water acts upon the apparatus. Thus the travel of the arm or shank, n
figs. 3 and 4 sheet 2, carrying the buffer, figs. 3 and 4, through a collar, c figs. 3
and 4, may be opposed by a projecting stud, s figs. and 4, attached to a flexible
metallic box, q fig. 4, or flexible bag containing air, or to a piston, p fig. 3, fitting
air-tight in a cylinder, n fig. 3, the stud being only withdrawn on the partial collapse
of such air receptacle.
3. On the release of the trigger as above, (2), in place of detonating by concussion
a detonating substance the explosion may be effected by the breaking of a small vessel
containing sulphuric acid (or other suitable chemical) contained in a cartridge holding
a deflagrating substance to be acted on by the sulphuric acid in the ordinary manner.
(4.) The release of the trigger in both the above (2) and (3) may be effected indirectly
by the opening of a stopcock, s fig. 5 sheet 2, or the piercing of a diaphragm, & fig. 6
sheet 2, on the contact of the sinker with the bottom, thus permitting the water
pressure to act upon a collapsable receptacle which in collapsing releases the pin, p
figs. 2 and 6, sheet 2, urged by a spring, s figs. 2 and 6, to impinge upon a
detonating substance, o fig. 2, or fracture a thin vessel containing sulphuric acid
securing deflagration as before described. Or I may directly use the water pressure
to drive a piston, p fig. 7 sheet 3, violently forward or violently collapse a flexible
receptacle, q fig. 8 sheet 3, armed with a projecting pin, n fig. 8, which on impact
with a detonating substance or by the breaking of a vessel containing sulphuric acid
secures the explosion of the cartridge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:―
(1) A method of effecting soundings of the depth of the sea by the use of a sinker
or sounder not attached to a sounding line, and carrying an explosive substance,
which on the sinker attaining the bottom of the sea is exploded.
(2) The combination of such a sinker with galvanic elements for securing the
explosion of the sinker by means of an electric current.
(3) The combination of such a sinker with detonating or deflagrating substances
to be exploded on contact of the sinker with the bottom and so effect the explosion
of the sinker.
(4) The combination of a sinker armed with detonating or deflagrating materials
with a pin or cock urged by a spring to be released on contact with the bottom and
so effect the explosion of the sinker.

page_text: (5) The combination of such pin or cock as in claim (4) with a safety catch guarding
against the release of the pin or cock and withdrawn by the action of the pressure
of the water.
(6) The combination of a sinker armed with detonating or deflagrating materials
with a pin or cock urged by a spring and to be released when acted upon by the
pressure of the water, together with a stopcock, valve, or flangible diaphragm serving
to admit the water pressure on the contact of the sinker with the bottom.
(7) The combination of a sinker armed with detonating or deflagrating materials
with a pin or moveable part to be actuated by the water pressure so as to effect
detonation or deflagration together with a stopcock or other suitable means of
admitting the water pressure on contact of the sinker with the bottom.