IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPA- RATUS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Jacques Danduran, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, & 4, South St., Finsbury, London, Civil
T
T
"
Sealed the 8th February 1856, and dated the 17th August 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Jacques Danduran at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th August 1855.
I, JEAN JACQUES DANDURAN, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, & 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING APPA-
RATUS" to be as follows, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to improved apparatus for supplying the diver with
air when under water.
This apparatus is simple in its construction, & consists of a gutta percha or
other flexible pipe or tube, bent in the form of an inverted syphon. Each leg
of the syphon tube near the centre of the head or bend passes through a
small diving bell, covering his head & chest, to. which it is secured. Inside the
bell is a flexible indian-rubber tube attached to the gutta percha tube, & which
is provided with a mouth-piece of a suitable form, by which the diver breathes
the air, pure air descending in one leg, & the impure or vitiated air ascending
the other through the ventilator. Cups are formed in the tube for the purpose
of catching or retaining water or condensed vapour. Suitable straps, chains,

page_text: &c. are attached from the bottom of the bell to the diver for the purpose of
supporting him. The bell is provided with a piece of glass to allow the diver
The whole is supported by a rope or other means.
Another modification for temporary purposes, where the diver is but a short
time in the water, consists of a similar flexible inverted syphon tube, for the
purpose of supplying air, attached to a wooden or other frame for supporting
the diver to whom it is secured by straps passing under his arms, or other
means, & by chains or straps to his feet.
Another modification of my diving apparatus consists in the employment of
a diving bell, of metal or other substance, capable of containing one or more
persons, & which covers the whole of the body. It is constructed in a
similar manner to the former, the tube passing through its upper part, & which
supplies the diver with air. A frame or platform is attached to the interior
for the purpose of supporting the diver, who in each case may be provided
with waterproof clothing if necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Jacques Danduran in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
JACQUES DANDURAN, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France,
and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Jean Jacques Danduran, Her special license, full power, that I, the said Jean
Jacques Danduran, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Jean Jacques Danduran, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DIVING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Jean Jacques Danduran, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same

page_text: to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Jacques Danduran, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to: say:
This Invention consists in improved apparatus or means for supplying. the
diver with air when under water, at the same time allowing freedom of action.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents the application of the improved appa-
ratus; Figure 2 is a view of the same apparatus applied to a diving bell
capable of holding one or more persons; Figures 3 and 4 are modifications of
the apparatus, intended for temporary purposes, when the diver is but a short
time under water. A, A, Figure 1, is a small diving bell, composed of copper
or other suitable material, intended to cover and protect the upper part of the
body; it is provided with a small glass window, in order that the diver may
see his way. Instead of a plain glass window, a circular convex lens B may be
substituted, as shown in Figure 1, which lens is moveable.. It enables the
diver to see much farther. The bell is suspended by a rope C; attached to a
ring D on the top of the bell. The diver is supplied with air when under
water by the tube E, composed of gutta percha or other flexible material, bent.
in the form of an inverted syphon, the two legs of which are above the water;
it is fixed at the part F by a suitable joint to a bent metal tube G, which enters
the interior of the bell and projects out on the opposite side; the joints are
made perfectly water-tight. Small cups H are fixed to the tube for the pur-
pose of holding water or condensed vapour formed in the tube, which can be
removed by unscrewing or removing the cups, which are under the control of
the diver. This metal tube is formed with an oval mouth-piece at the centre,
through which the diver breathes the air, which descends pure in one leg,
whilst the impure air which he exhales ascends the other, being thus regulated
by a ventilator placed at one extremity of the syphon. That part of the tube
in the interior of the bell marked I, I, may be composed of a flexible material,
being firmly secured by joints to the metal tube, before mentioned. To the
bottom of the bell are secured small chains or leathern straps I', which pass
under his body, and are furnished at the bottom with stirrups in which he
places liis feet, in this manner giving support to the body. J, J, Figure 2,
represents the large diving bell, capable of accommodating one or more persons;
it is composed of metal like the other, being similar in its construction; it is
supplied with air by the syphon tube E. The diver inhales the air through

page_text: the small flexible pipe K. A frame L is fixed at the bottom to suitable
brackets for supporting the diver. For circumstances demanding immediate
action for a short period under water, the arrangement shewn in Figures 3 and 4
is suitable. The same flexible air syphon tube is made use of, to which, in
addition, the wooden frame M is attached. This frame is intended to support
the diver, being attached to his body by straps N. Chains or straps O are
also fixed to it, and to his feet for giving further support.
Figure 4 is another modification of the apparatus. To each end of the
gutta percha tubing E is firmly secured by joints P, the bent metal tube Q,
furnished with a mouth-piece R in the centre, through which the diver breathes.
A strong leathern or other strap S is suspended to the bottom of the tube.
To this strap is fixed the metal guide T, having a hole in the middle, through
which passes the metal slide U. This slide is bent at the bottom, so as to form
a seat for the diver, who regulates the height of it by the pins and holes V.
The diver is further supported by a chain W, fixed to the syphon tube. The
diver before descending into the water is provided with suitable waterproof
clothing if necessary.
The abovo arrangements of apparatus are simple in their construction, and
are adapted for use in submarine works, coral and other fisheries; also in
examining salvages, foundations for bridges; also for discovering and stopping
leaks in vessels.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,-
First, the construction and employment of a flexible inverted syphon tube
for diving purposes, which tube when passing through the interior of a diving
bell can be made of metal or of a flexible material, as herein described, and
referred to in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, the employment of a ventilator placed at one extremity of the
syphon tube, for the purpose of carrying off the vitiated air exhaled by the
diver, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Jacques Danduran, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. J. DANDURAN. (L.S.)