Improved Apparatus for Raising Wrecks and Sunken Vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Raising Wrecks and Sunken Vessels.
I GEORGE ALFRED RUSSELL of 10 Power Street Newport in the County of
Monmouthshire Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The whole object of my invention is to provide a light and portable apparatus,
for raising sunken ships entire, without having to discharge the cargo, if any.
According to my invention 1 propose to construct collapsible atmospheric air
cylinders of various lengths, and circular through cross section, having semi-
circular ends. They are to be built of stout sail cloth or other flexible material,
firmly sewed at the laps, having all seams doubled.
And after having the air pipe connections, frames, and manholes cut and properly
formed the whole is to be given three good coats of elastic copal varnish inside and
outside so as to make them airtight.
A jacket or covering of the same material is to be made the same as the
cylinders, and may be described as an envelope covering the cylinder entire. This
is to be laced with strong hemp rope at each end and bottom.
A strong heavy iron pipe is to be laid in the bottom of this jacket, to which the
shackles, of the steel bar hooks, are to be attached, so that the strains will bear
upon every superficial inch of the cylinder and jacket.
Before the whole is lowered into the water for operations, I propose to give the
jacket a thorough good coating of grease made of Russian tallow and linseed oil.
Divers are to connect the apparatus, to the hull of a sunken vessel externally, by
either of the two following methods :-
Where practicable pass slings under the bottom, these may be of wire or chain,
and connect one or more of the cylinders to each end of the sling, in that case,
rope lashings would be required, to fasten each side together over the disabled
vessel's deck, so as to prevent, one side rising before the other. Or the following
where circumstances will permit small holes say 1" diameter, may be punched or
drilled in the, sunken vessel's side-in iron ships, under the landings of the plates,
sufficiently below the water line, so as to allow the vessel's deck, to rise above
water, allowing for cylinders, ten, twenty, or thirty feet in diameter.
The hooks mentioned, are to be made on the steel bar 2" diameter, and of the
length that may be required.
Wire stays are also to be connected inside the cylinders to prevent bursting from
over pressure or other causes, these are to have shackles and attach to galvanised
eye bolts, about every fathom apart.
Four longitudinal oak frames are to be securely fastened inside the cylinders the
above mentioned eye bolts are to be screwed through these frames and tightened
up, with a nut from the outside; washer plates are to be provided under each of the
eye bolt nuts outside.
Screwed air pipe connections are to be firmly fixed to each end of the cylinders
and bolted through with collar on the outside. All eye bolts, nuts, washer plates,
air pipe connections and collars are to be of galvanised iron, and the whole when
connected to a sunken object, is to be forced with air from powerful blowing fans.
Dated this 10th day of December 1894.

page_text: I GEORGE ALFRED RUSSELL of 10 Power Street Newport in the County of
Monmouthshire, Draughtsman, 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 :-
The whole object, of my invention is to provide a light and portable apparatus,
for raising sunken ships entire, without having to discharge the cargo, if any.
According to my invention I propose to construct collapsible atmospheric air
cylinders, of various lengths, being circular through cross section, with semi-
circular ends.
They are to be built of stout sail cloth or other flexible material, firmly sewed at
the laps, having all seams doubled.
And after having the air pipe connections, frames, and manholes, cut and
properly formed, the whole is to be given three good coats of elastic copal varnish
inside and outside so as to make them airtight.
A jacket or covering of the same material, is to be made the same shape and to
fit over the cylinders, and to be bound with rope on the ends and bottom. This
may be described as an envelope covering the cylinder entire.
In the bottom of this jacket a strong heavy iron pipe is to be laid this pipe is to
be of the various lengths that may be required, according to the length of the
cylinders.
The cylinders being made of canvas with wood frames will not sink; so that the
object of this iron pipe being laid in the bottom of the jacket, is to serve as a load
to sink the cylinders down into deep places in the sea, where they may be operating,
this is also useful to attach the necessary hooks and shackles on.
Divers are to connect the apparatus to a wreck externally by either of the two
following methods:-
Where practicable pass slings under the bottom as in present methods, these may
be of wire or chain and connect one or more of the cylinders to each end of the
sling, in that case rope lashings would be required to fasten each side together over
the disabled vessel's deck to prevent one side rising before the other.
And another method where circumstances would permit small holes, say
1" diameter may be punched or drilled in the sunken vessel's side-in iron ships,
or in wooden ships very strong eye bolts and straps screwed in the side, all holes or
eye bolts must be where possible, sufficiently below the water line, so as to allow
the vessel's deck to rise above water, allowing for cylinders, ten, twenty; and thirty
feet diameter, the lengths of which may be calculated by the amount of tonnage
they may be required to lift.
The remaining particulars describing the nature and-construction of
apparatus is shown by the annexed drawings:-
my
said
Fig. 1. represents the end elevation with the dotted lines showing the doubled
scams and sewing. The jacket A covering the cylinder B, with collar C. of the
air pipe connection D., also arm bolts E, of the internal longitudinal stay. The
internal vertical and horizontal stay bolts F. and washers J project above the face
of the jacket. The pipe or load G being laid in the bottom of the jacket as shown,
is designed so as to have every superficial inch of the cylinder as lifting power,
when immersed in water. This pipe is to be of cast or wrought iron at least
6" diameter with an oak bar rounded so as to fit the hollow of the pipe and give
additional strength. The jacket is to be laced N, with strong hemp rope, on the
bottom under the pipc.

page_text: Fig. 2 is the cross section of the cylinder B. without the jacket covering..the
collar C. also an internal view of the air pipe D. the stay bolts F. and washer
plates J. showing through with the longitudinal frames H. these are to, be fastened
to the skin of the cylinders with, galvanised screws and washers, having vertical
and horizontal internal wire stays O. attached, these stays may be of 21 wire rope.
with suitable shackles attached to connect internally as shown. These are arranged
so as to prevent bursting from over pressure and other causes.
Fig. 3 is the longitudinal section with jacket A attached, showing the notches.
cut out for projections of all bolts and air pipe connections, also the entire section
of the cylinder B. with collars C. and air pipes D. also arın bolts and nuts E.
together with longitudinal stay M attached.
The vertical stays O. also shown. These are to be about every fathom apart,
having suitable bolts and nuts F. and washer plates J, these plates are to be about
6" x 6"x". The pipe G shown as laid in the bottom of the jacket, to which the
connecting hooks and shackles, are to be attached where the notches L are cut out
for this purpose. The dotted lines at each end represent the external edge of the
jacket.
Fig. 4. is the elevation of the apparatus entire, showing position of the jacket A
covering the cylinder B. with collars C. at each end. In the case of small
cylinders, one collar and inlet for air will be sufficient. The air pipes D connected
and internal longitudinal stay arm bolts, at each end, and notches showing on the
top and side for the internal eye bolts F. and washer plates J which project through
the jacket.
The pipe G is also shown in position, having hooks and shackles K attached,
these hooks and shackles are to be made of steel and of the size that may be
required, the hook is to be formed on the bar which is to be only four or five fect
long, and connected so as to allow the disabled vessel's deck to rise above water.
The shackles are to be placed on the pipe, where the notches L are cut to
receive them.
Proper thimbles are to be inserted on the bottom edge of the jacket for the
rope lacing N to reeve through, so that the jacket can be detached when not
in use.
The dotted lines represent seams and sewing.
All eye bolts, nuts, washer plates, air pipe connections collars, screws and in fact
all ironwork must be galvanised.
The external face of the jacket before being lowered into the water is to be
coated with grease made of Russian tallow and linseed oil.
The whole to be made in a careful manner and as nearly airtight as possible.
And when all the required cylinders are securely attached to a sunken object, they
are to be forced with atmospheric air by means of powerful steam blowing fans and
all as nearly as possible at the same time, so by this means obtain the necessary
equilibrium.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A air cylinder as herein before described made of canvas or other flexible
material, and coated with varnish inside and outside.
7
2nd. A air cylinder having internal longitudinal frames, with internal vertical,.
horizontal, and longitudinal wire stays.
3rd. A air cylinder having an outer or lifting jacket in the bottom. of which is
inserted a strong heavy iron pipe, which is to serve as a load for sinking, and also
for connecting the hooks and shackles thereon.
4th. A air cylinder having a jacket with a greased external surface.
5th. A air cylinder with jacket and load pipe, having the connecting hooks
formed on the solid bars.
6th. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the apparatus

page_text: entire, as herein before described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings and'
constituting a collapsible air cylinder, capable of raising heavy objects, from great.
depths to the surface of the water.
Dated this 9th day of February 1895.
GEORGE ALFRED RUSSELL.