An Improved Apparatus for Recovering and Raising Wrecks and Sunken Bodies.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Recovering and Raising Wrecks and
Sunken Bodies.
22
I, CLARKE BUTLIN, Ellerslie, Albert Avenue, Anlaby Road, Hull, in the
County of York, Master Mariner, 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: —
It consists in part of two or more U shaped metal caissons Fig. 1 & 2 the
portions of each being made to fit as a mould to receive the stem of a ship in the
one case, and the stern in the other, leaving sufficient space at the bottom of
caissons to allow the keel of a ship to project below the bottom of the said caissons,
thus it becomes unnecessary to secure the caissons beneath the keel of a ship as
heretofore done in raising vessels. The apparatus may be applied to raise sunken
ships in the following manner by means of suitable inlet valves E Fig. 3 & 4
the water spaces of the apparatus are filled, the said water spaces J Fig. 5 being
of such a size as to contain when full no more than sufficient water to fully
immerse the apparatus, the remaining interior portions of the apparatus consisting
of permanent air spaces F Fig. 5 the apparatus being immersed near the position
of the sunken ship are then drawn up close under the stem and stern and extend
along each side of the ship and beneath the bilges the assistance of divers may
be necessary to indicate when the apparatus is in position, the inner ends of
apparatus will then be secured to each other by chains or other suitable fastenings,
a row of eyebolts G1 Fig. 3 & 4 being provided for that purpose the attendant
salvage steamer being fitted with pneumatic pumps a flexible hose from the
said pumps will be connected to air valves C Fig. 3 & 4 and the water forced out of
caissons by air pressure, thereby causing the apparatus to reassert its buoyancy and
thus raise the sunken ship etc. to the surface, the lifting power of the apparatus
may be increased by small auxiliary caissons B1 Fig. 6 to be attached to inner
ends of large caissons, by this means the ship may be surrounded by lifting power.
Air valves D Fig. 3 & 4 are to allow displacement of air when caissons are being
immersed, in the case of a vessel being still afloat and in danger of sinking it will
be only necessary to immerse caissons sufficient to place them under the stem and
stern, subsequently forcing the water out of caissons as before stated, in some cases
a vessel may then proceed under her own steam.
The dotted lines H Fig. 3 & 4 shew the position of internal air pipes connected
at one end to air inlet valves C Fig. 3 & 4 the other end passing through divisional
bulkhead I Fig. 3 & 4 for the purpose of expelling the water from either or both
sides of caissons by means of one flexible tube with air pressure, and to regulate
the flow of air pressure to either or both sides of caissons to prevent listing or
tipping, this may be assisted by providing in the water spaces J Fig. 5 suitable
Derforated limbers or breakwaters.

page_text: 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) The mode of securing this apparatus to wrecks & sunken bodies for the
purpose of raising or supporting them.
(2) The use and application for wreck raising and the like purposes of U shaped
caissons or pontoons open at the bottom to admit of a ships keel projecting below
the bottom of said 'caissons when in position.
(3) The use of caissons or pontoons for wreck raising and the like applicable
without securing to any part of the wreck, but by securing the caissons or pontoons
to each other and so forming a cradle to receive hulls of wrecks and the like.
Dated this 24th day of January 1899.
CLARKE BUTLIN.