Improvements in Effecting Electrical Communication with Vessels or Buoys at Sea.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Effecting Electrical Communication with Vessels
or Buoys at Sea.
I, GEORGE CHARLES LENNOX LENOX, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
In order to support an electrical cable at sea it is necessary that the moorings
holding it should under all circumstances remain free and entirely independent of
the cable. An obvious difficulty experienced when endeavouring to establish
electrical communication at sea arises from the fact that the cable which conveys
the current sooner or later becomes entangled with its own moorings or those of
the vessel.
According to this invention the electrical cable is brought to a central buoy or
vessel unencumbered with moorings but attached to two or more buoys which carry
the moorings. Each of these buoys is anchored by two chains extending to an
angle of at least 45° apart. To retain the central buoy or vessel which supports
the electric cable in a fixed position at all times of the tide extra weights may be
suspended to the attachments between it and the mcoring buoys. These as the
tide ebbs and flows control any slackness in the attachments which might otherwise
cause them to foul the moorings.
By this arrangement an electric cable may be safely brought to the surface at
sea close to a lightship or other vessel at anchor without danger of fouling the
moorings, and thus under all circumstances the nain line of communication may
be secured.
A vessel anchored by a single chain may at times cover a space of about two or
more cables lengths, but this distance compared with that to the shore is but little
and can be readily dealt with.
A light insulated wire or hand cable may be passed round the hull of the vessel
as she swings to the tide and the electric current be so conveyed from the buoy to
the vessel. The weight of such cable need be so little that one man can easily
handle it and the maximum quantity on board ship will occupy but little space.
The main line being secured the intervening distance becomes of comparatively
secondary importance. Should anything happen to the hand cable it can be easily
adjusted or replaced by those on board ship, whereas should anything happen to
the main cable it is fatal, for a defect in it can only be repaired by the usual
complicated devices required for dealing with submarine telegraph cables.
Dated this 25th day of May 1893.
GEO. C. LENNOX LENOX.
Improvements in Effecting Electrical Communication with vessels
or Buoys at Sea.
I, GEORGE CHARLES LENNOX LENOX, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex,
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:―
In order to support an electrical cable at sea it is necessary that the moorings
holding it should under all circumstances remain free and entirely independent of

page_text: the cable. An obvious difficulty experienced when endeavouring to establish
electrical communication at sea arises from the fact that the cable which conveys
the current sooner or later becomes entangled with its own moorings or those of
the vessel.
According to this invention the electrical cable is brought to a central buoy or
vessel unencumbered with moorings but attached to two or more buoys which carry
the moorings. Each of these buoys is anchored by two chains extending to an
angle of at least 45° apart. To retain the central buoy or vessel which supports
the electric cable in a fixed position at all times of the tide extra weights may be
suspended to the attachments between it and the mooring buoys. These as the
tide ebbs and flows control any slackness in the attachments which might otherwise
cause them to foul the moorings.
By this arrangement an electric cable may be safely brought to the surface at
sea close to a lightship or other vessel at anchor without danger of fouling the
moorings, and thus under all circumstances the main line of communication may
be secured.
A vessel anchored by a single chain may at times cover a space of about two or
more cables lengths, but this distance compared with that to the shore is but little
and can be readily dealt with.
A light insulated wire or hand cable may be passed round the hull of the vessel
as she swings to the tide and the electric current be so conveyed from the buoy to
the vessel. The weight of such cable need be so little that one man can easily
handle it and the maximum quantity on board ship will occupy but little space.
The main line being secured the intervening distance becomes of comparatively
secondary importance. Should anything happen to the hand cable it can be easily
adjusted or replaced by those on board ship, whereas should anything happen to
the main cable it is fatal, for a defect in it can only be repaired by the usual
complicated devices required for dealing with submarine telegraph cables.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
a is the central buoy to which the electric cable 6 is led. As shown the cable b
is a short length connected to a sinker c to which the main cable d is led, this
enables the portion 6 of cable which is most exposed to wear to be readily repaired
but the sinker may be omitted and the cable d led direct to the buoy a. e e are
two buoys secured by moorings ƒ ƒ and g g are chains by which the buoy a is
secured to the buoys e.
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 buoy (to which the electric cable is led) without moorings but connected to
two or more moored buoys substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for effecting electrical communication with vessels or buoys at sea
substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of February 1894.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.