NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR $
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Pearson Wylie of London in the County of
Middlesex, but at present residing in Glasgow in the County of Lanark
North Britain for an Invention of 'NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
$6
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Pearson Wylie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1883.
ROBERT PEARSON WYLIE of London in the County of Middlesex but at present
"NEW OR IMPROVED
residing in Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER SUBMERGED STRUCTURES
"
This Invention which relates to new or improved apparatus for raising sunken
vessels or other submerged structures consists of one or more lines of pipe, which
are attached to an air pump and on which lines of pipe there are situated at any
desired intervals and at any required positions elastic or compressible receivers.-
When it is required to raise a sunken ship one or more lines of these pipes so
provided with these receivers is or are lowered into the water and passed to the
interior of the ship.-When placed in position at the interior of the ship, air is
forced by means of the air pump through the main tube or main tubes and such air
escaping thence into the several receivers causes them to expand until a sufficient
amount of water is displaced when the sunken ship floats.-The pipe or pipes as
well as the receivers are made of the requisite strength for the purposes of this
Invention and may be guarded by netting or canvas or other suitable coverings.
Between the main pipe or pipes and each receptacle, valves or stop-cocks are
placed, so that when any receptacle is filled with air it may be disconnected from
the pipe or pipes and retains the air within itself, when another empty receptacle is
enabled to be connected to the opening or branch on the main pipe from which the
filled receptacle had been removed. In this way any number of receptacles may
be filled and detached in like manner. Each receptacle is provided with a safety
valve to prevent it being charged with air above the pressure it will carry with
safety.
Instead of passing the receptacles into the ship they may be attached to a beam
or beams fastened to the ship and acting as one or more levers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Pearson Wylie in the Patent Office on the 27th June
1884.
ROBERT PEARSON WYLIE of London in the County of Middlesex but at present
residing in Glasgow in the County of Lanark North Britain "NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR OTHER SUBMERGED STRUCTURES
و"
My said Invention which relates to new or improved apparatus for raising
sunken vessels or other submerged structures consists of one or more lines of pipe,
which are attached to an air pump and on which lines of pipe there are situated at
any desired intervals and at any required positions elastic or compressible
receives. When it is required to raise a sunken ship one or more lines of these
pipes so provided with these receivers is or are lowered into the water and passed
to the interior of the ship.-When placed in position at the interior of the ship, air
is forced by means of the air pump through the main tube or main tubes and such
air escaping thence into the several receivers causes them to expand until a
sufficient amount of water is displaced when the sunken ship floats.--The pipe or
pipes as well as the receivers are made of the requisite strength for the purposes of
this Invention and may be guarded by netting or canvas or other suitable
coverings.
Between the main pipe or pipes and each receptacle, valves or stopcocks are
placed, so that when any receptacle is filled with air it may be disconnected from
the pipe or pipes and retains the air within itself, when another empty receptacle is
enabled to be connected to the opening or branch on the main pipe from which the
filled receptacle had been removed. In this way any number of receptacles may
be filled and detached in like manner. Each receptacle is provided with a safety
valve to prevent it being charged with air above the pressure it will carry with
safety.
Instead of passing the receptacles into the ship, they may be attached to a beam
or beams fastened to the ship and acting as one or more levers.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the Letters and Figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
Figure 1, represents in part plan and in part elevation a general arrangement of
apparatus constructed according to and constituting my present invention.
Figures 2, to 6, (inclusive) represent portions of apparatus employed in the
operation of my present Improvements and are hereinafter more particularly
described.
Figures 7, and 8, represent the application of my improvements to the raising of
sunken vessels as hereinafter more particularly set forth.
In the apparatus constructed according to this Invention and as represented at
Figure 1, there is, or are, provided one, two or more lines a, of internally wired
flexible pipe connected to an air pump or pumps b, of suitable construction.-This
pipe a, is provided with outlets c.-These outlets c, are so formed that a number of
branch pipes d, may be taken therefrom, and when not required for the branch
pipes d, the said outlets may be shut by stop-cocks or plugs d-The branch pipes d,
are provided with the stop-cocks e, and they may either be connected directly with
the elastic or compressible receivers or air-bags f, or they may be connected by the
further lengths g, of flexible pipe to other expanding bags f, which are situated at
more remote parts.-These lengths g, of pipe may be connected together by means

page_text: of the union joints or couplings h, or by any other suitable means, and they may
be provided with stop-cocks at any part of their lengths as may be found
necessary. The expanding air-bags f, which may be formed of waterproof cloth or
other suitable material, are provided with the outlets i at the bottom of the said
bags. These outlets i, are formed of short pipes and are provided with valves j,
opening outwardly, or the said valves j, may be dispensed with, under which
circumstances the area of the outlet is reduced by means of a perforated nozzle or
by any other suitable means.-The line or lines a, of flexible pipe connected directly
with the air pump or pumps b, is or are provided with the three way cock or
cocks k, of any suitable construction.
In applying my present invention to the raising of sunken vessels, the expanding
air-bags f, when emptied or in a collapsed condition, are as represented at Figure 7,
placed inside of the sunken vessel, that is to say, into any part of the said vessel
wherein the air bags f, may be fully expanded after being properly secured in
position by suitable means.-The required number of these bags f, having been
distributed according as the dimensions or weight of the sunken vessel requires, the
air pump or pumps b, is or are operated so that the said bags, through the flexible
connections therewith are dilated by air blown in at the top expanding them
within the vessel at the same time expelling from the said bags through the
perforated nozzle, or open bottom, the water, that is or may be therein.-The air
pump or pumps is or are operated until such time as the bags f, are expanded to
the required extent, when the water within the sunken vessel having been replaced
by air the said vessel is raised to the surface of the water.
A sunken vessel may also be raised by applying my present invention in the
manner represented at Figure 8.-By the means shewn at this Figure, the air
bags f, when in a collapsed condition, are placed within the casings represented on
an enlarged scale at Figures 2, and 3, of the accompanying Drawings.-These
casings which may be of canvas as represented, or of rope netting, are provided
with the bands k₁, carrying the metal eyelets l, and at the upper part of the said
casings, openings are formed for the passage therethrough of the inlet pipes d,
or g. Suitable rope slings or metal cradles (Figures 4, to 6,) having been placed
at suitable intervals under the keel of the vessel, the required number of bags f,
are connected therewith either directly by the rings m, of the cradles or of the rope
slings or indirectly by further rope or other connections therewith.-When these
bags f, have all been secured in their proper position, the air pump is operated
until such time as the said bags f, are expanded to the required extent, when by
this means the sunken vessel is raised to the surface of the water.-The three-way
cock k, hereinbefore referred to, is situated adjacent to the air pump b, for the
purpose of allowing the air to escape from the bags f, thereby giving power to raise
or lower the vessel or bags as required.
The receivers or expanding air-bags f, may further be provided with safety
valves to prevent them being charged with air above the pressure they will carry
with safety.
Instead of placing the receivers or air bags f, in the interior or at the exterior of
sunken vessels, the said air bags may be attached to a beam or beams fastened to
the ship and acting as one or more levers.
It is to be understood that when the air-bags f, have been expanded, either
when employed internally or externally, that such bags may be disconnected from
the air pump b, at the branches d, and suitably closed by cocks or valves and that
by these means further bags may be connected at the said branch pipes d, with
the air pump. It is further to be understood that, for raising any sunken vessel, I
may employ bags situated either internally or externally, as herein before set forth
or I may employ bags situated both internally and externally upon the same
vessel.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode or manner, in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect I desire it to be understood in conclusion

page_text: that I make no general claim to the use of bags for raising sunken vessels, but
what I do consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
For raising sunken vessels or other submerged structures, the apparatus
consisting of the flexible pipes a, d, and g, outlet pieces c, stop-cocks e, receivers or
air bags. f, into which air is forced at the top and expelled at the bottom, union
joints h, outlets i, with or without the valves j, and their attachments all operating
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth or the mechanical
equivalents of all or any of the said parts.
In Witness Whereof I the said Robert Pearson Wylie have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-third day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four.
ROBERT. PEARSON WYLIE (L.S.)