Apparatus for Preventing the Drowning of Persons.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1894—Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by BARON ALEXANDER VON DER Ropp of
4° Artillerie Strasse, Berlin, Germany.]
Apparatus for Preventing the Drowning of Persons.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Experience has, in numberless cases, shewn that apparatus which are intended
for saving persons from drowning must fulfill the following conditions in order that
they may effectually serve for the intended purpose.
1. The apparatus must be sufficiently small and light to enable it to be worn on
the body either underneath the garments, or otherwise, without inconveniencing
the movements of the wearer.
2. The apparatus must operate without requiring the person in danger of
drowning to do anything to it.
3. The apparatus must be capable of operating any number of times.
These conditions are best fulfilled by those life saving apparatus in which, at the
moment of drowning, either by chemical reaction or other means, a bladder is filled
with gas which bladder previously was carried on the person in a folded condition.
None of the known apparatus however combine all the said described
qualifications.
The present invention has for its object to combine all these properties in a
single apparatus, and it consists essentially in causing a glass tube, filled with a
liquefied gas and closed by melting, to be broken by the action of the water upon
a suitable mechanical device, so as to cause the liquid gas to expand in voluminous
gaseous form into the bladder.
The entire apparatus is so constructed that in its folded condition it can be
carried, if necessary, under the clothing of a person and that it is only put in
operation when it is entirely immersed under water.
I will describe the apparatus with reference to the accompanying drawing which
shews one mode of construction thereof in sectional elevation.
A is a cylindrical receptacle of brass or other material.
At its open end k, which, when the apparatus is in position, is preferably
directed downwards, it is provided with a number of circular grooves for attachment
of a caoutchouc bladder.
The vessel A serves to receive the glass tube G filled with a quantity of liquefied
gas, and having a long point reaching down in front of the opening of the branch
tube B projecting from the side of the vessel A.
The branch tube B is closed at its inner end by a plate c, in the middle of which
is a hole having an enlargement on the outer side. A ring 9 having projections is
fitted into the outer end of the branch tube B with a bayonet joint, and carries a
hook f. The hook-shaped striking pin e is free to slide longitudinally in the said
hole of the closing plate c, and it carries at its outer end a conically shaped collar b
which fits the coned enlargement d of the hole of c. A helical spring o tends to

page_text: throw the striking pin inwards when it is released, being made to bear with its one
end against the said collar of the pin and with its other end against the ring g.
The hook shaped outer end of the striking pin can be drawn backwards until it
bears against the hook f of the ring 9, and it is held in this position by a ring p
which is soluble in water, or becomes soft in water, such as a ring of paper. At
its inner end the striking pin carries a cutter head m, which serves to break the
point of the glass tube lying opposite it so as to release the compressed gas confined
therein as soon as the paper ring p has become soft by the entrance of water. The
outer end of the branch tube carries a small side tube h which serves to admit
water to the mechanism, and at its upper side it has a hole i through which the air
can escape. The outer opening of the branch tube B is closed by a suitable
caoutchouc cap K. The swimming bladder is attached with its neck to the grooved
lower end k of the vessel A. To the branch B is fitted a second lateral tube r
which carries a small caoutchouc tube closed by a cock, which serves the purpose
of allowing the floating person to blow air into the bladder in addition to the
expanded gas, should this be necessary.
In order to hold the tube G in its position and thus prevent the possibility of its
becoming broken by any shaking or concussions to which it may be subject, a
ring is introduced into the vessel A which is held in position by means of a cross
piece g and springs s, the piece q being secured by a bayonet joint.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The ring g is fitted into the outer end of the branch B and the striking pin e is
pressed back from the inside until its hook-shaped outer end is in contact with the
hook of the ring 9, whereby the spring o will be put in compression. A paper
ring is then fitted over both hooks, so that the striking pin is held securely in the
cocked position. The branch B is then closed by the caoutchouc cap and a glass
compressed gas cartridge G is introduced into the vessel A and the ring is fitted
tight against it by the aid of the cross piece q and spring s. The swimming
bladder is then fitted over the lower end k of A and is secured tightly thereto.
At the same time the caoutchouc tube with its cock and check valve is attached to
the branch tube r. The apparatus is now ready for use, and can be suitably folded
up and packed, preferably in such manner that the swimming bladder is suspended
downwards, while the vessel A has its closed end directed upward. The only inlet
opening for the water is now through the tube ½, as the opening i of the branch B
is closed by the loosely fitting end of the caoutchouc cap K that closes the
branch B, in such manner that while it prevents the entrance of water, it allows
the escape of air. The opening of the tube is directed downwards in order that
the wearer of the apparatus may be exposed to rain without fear of its penetrating
into the apparatus so as to set it in action. As soon however as the apparatus is
immersed in water so as to be subject to even a very small pressure, the pressure
of the compressed air in the branch will force the end of the cap K away from the
hole i so as to allow the air to escape and thus allow the water to rise through
tube h into the branch, so as to effect the softening of the paper ring p. This, in
tearing, will then free the striking pin which will be thrown forward so as to effect
the breaking of the point of the glass tube by means of its cutter head m, so that
the compressed gas can now expand into the bladder. When the striking pin is
thrown forward its conical collar b fits closely into the conical hole d of the
partition at the inner end of the branch B, and thus prevents the gas from
escaping through the hole.
It will be obvious that the details of the apparatus may be variously modified;
thus instead of arranging the striking pin to be automatically operated by the
action of the water, it might be arranged with a trigger detent to be forced by
hand.
Dated this 2nd day of Anril 1894
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Apparatus for Freventing
1, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
Experience has, in numberless cases, shewn that apparatus which are intended
for saving persons from drowning must fulfill the following conditions in order that
they may effectually serve for the intended purpose.
1. The apparatus must be sufficiently small and light to enable it to be worn on
the body either underneath the garments, or otherwise, without inconveniencing the
movements of the wearer.
2. The apparatus must operate without requiring the person in danger of
drowning to do anything to it.
3. The apparatus must be capable of operating any number of times.
These conditions are best fulfilled by those life saving apparatus in which, at the
moment of drowning, either by chemical reaction or other means, a bladder is filled
with gas which bladder previously was carried on the person in a folded condition.
None of the known apparatus however combine all the said described
qualifications.
The present invention has for its object to combine all these properties in a
single apparatus, and it consists essentially in causing a glass tube, filled with a
liquefied gas and closed by melting, to be broken by the action of the water
upon a suitable mechanical device, so as to cause the liquid gas to expand in
voluminous gaseous form into the bladder.
The entire apparatus is so constructed that in its folded condition it can be
carried, if necessary, under the clothing of a person and that it is only put in
operation when it is entirely immersed under water.
I will describe the apparatus with reference to the accompanying drawing which
shews one mode of construction thereof in sectional elevation.
A is a cylindrical receptacle of brass or other suitable material which carries
two lateral branches provided with a number of grooves.
One of these branches k serves for the attachment of a caoutchouc or other
air tight bladder, while the other n serves for the attachment of an emergency
tube to be presently described. The receptacle A serves for containing a glass
tube G filled with a suitable compressed or liquefied gas, the long drawn out
point of which is bent downwards at the end. The vessel A is closed at one
end and open at the other, where it is provided with an external screw thread.
On this is screwed a cover in which is screwed an angularly bent loop fand in
which cover is also formed a coned hole d through which is passed loosely a
striking pin e that can slide longitudinally.
The striking pin e is bent into hook form at its inner end and has a coned
collar b which fits accurately into the conical hole of the cover v. A spiral spring o
tends to throw the pin inwards when set free.
The hook shaped outer end of the pin can be drawn so far backward as to bear
against the loop f of cover v, and is connected to this by means of a ring p made of
a material, such as paper, that will soften and lose its strength when coming in
contact with water." At its inner end the striking pin carries a ring m which
serves to break the point of the glass tube opposite to it, so as to allow the liquefied

page_text: or compressed gas in the tube to expand in escaping from the tube, as soon as the
paper ring p has become softened by contact with water.
Over the cover v is fitted a cap 9 which has a small tube h on its lower side
serving to admit water to the apparatus.
The cap g is provided with a hole i through which the air can escape, and which
is protected outside by a small shield i¹.
The swimming bladder terminates in a mouth piece which is secured on the
grooved branch k of the vessel A.
The second branch n has attached to it a flexible tube r, closed by a cock and
check valve, which serves to enable the person carrying the apparatus to blow air
into the bladder in addition to the expanded gas, should this be necessary.
For introducing the glass tube G readily into or for removing it from the
vessel A, the cover is made removeable for example by screwing it on as shewn.
The glass tube G is held in position in any suitable manner such as, for instance,
by a wire loop c fixed to the cover v.
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
The striking pin e is pushed back until its hooked outer end touches the hook f
of the cover, whereby the spring o will be put in compression. A paper ring p
is then fitted over the hook of the striking pin and the hook f, so as to hold the
pin in that position.
The glass tube G is then introduced into the vessel A and the open end of the
latter is closed by the cover v.
The bladder is then fixed to the branch k and the flexible tuber is also fixed on
the branch n, after which the cap g is fitted over the cover v.
The apparatus is then ready for operating and can be suitably packed up in such
manner that the bladder hangs downwards."
The only entrance for the water is the small tube h, so that the person carrying
the apparatus should secure it in such a position that the opening of the tube is
directed downwards, in order that it may be exposed to rain without risking the
entrance thereof into the cap and thus putting the apparatus in action.
As soon, however, as the apparatus is immersed in water this will penetrate
through the tube while the air can escape from the cap through the opening i, so
that the paper ring p in becoming wet and soft, will give way to the pressure of the
spring o, which will throw the striking pin forward and cause it to break, by means
of the ring m, the point of the glass tube. The compressed gas in the latter will
now be free to expand and escape, flowing into the bladder so as to expand it. As
the pin e moves forward, the conical collar 6 fits into the coned hole of the cover v,
and thus prevents the escape of gas through the hole thereof.
It will be obvious that the above described apparatus may be variously modified
as regards the details of construction without departing from the essential feature
of the invention. Thus, instead of constructing the apparatus so as to fracture the
glass tube automatically, the striking pin might be arranged so as to be operated by
hand by means of an external handle.
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. In apparatus for preventing the drowning of persons in which a swimming
bladder is filled with gas after it is immersed in water, the use of an easily
renewable glass vessel or cartridge filled with compressed gas and contained in a
receptacle such as A, in combination with a striking pin that is put in action by
the entrance of water into the apparatus, in such manner as to break the glass
vessel so that its contents can expand into the bladder attached to the receptacle A,
and thus dilate it, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, the use of an emergency
tube such as fitted with a cock or valve, whereby, should the apparatus get out

page_text: of order or become leaky after being put in action, air can be blown into the
bladder, for supplementing, or as a substitute for the gas supply, substantially as
described.
Deted this 15th day of Docombos 1901
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.