Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
I, CHARLES HOWE of 134 Kendall Road Colchester Essex Master Mariner do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the kind of apparatus known as life buoys, lines and
drags, (or grapplings) and is designed for handiness and durability, for saving life
from drowning, and recovering persons from under water.
The buoy is made in any suitable shape preferable (cylindrical or spherical)
with one or more air-tight compartments.
I have a tube or inner chamber, through the centre, with a moveable cover at
each end, in the said chamber, I coil the line and drag when not in use.
The buoy is made of any suitable substance, such as sheet copper zinc or other
metal, they may also be made with cork or wood, with metal or wood tube or inner
chamber.
If made of cork or wood the air-tight compartments are dispensed with.
Becketts are attached to said buoy said becketts are made of any suitable
substance preferable of metal chain or bars.
The life line is made of hemp or other suitable substance said line to be tanned
or soaked in oil to preserve said line from dry-rot.
The drag (or grappling) is made of metal with a number of hooks for
recovering persons from the bottom of rivers docks or other accumulations of
water.
Dated this 9th day of May 1893.
CHARLES HOWE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning.
I, CHARLES Howe, of 134, Kendall Road, Colchester, Essex, 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:
This invention relates to the kind of apparatus known as life buoys, lines and
drags (or grapnels), and is designed for handiness and durability for saving life
from drowning and recovering persons from under water.
The buoy is made in any suitable shape, preferably cylindrical or spherical, with
one or more air-tight compartments.
I have a tube or inner chamber through the centre, with a moveable cover at
each end. In said chamber I coil the line and drag when not in use.
The buoy is made of any suitable substance; such as sheet-copper, zinc or other
metal. It may also be made of cork or wood, with metal or wood tube or inner
chamber. If made of cork or wood the air-tight compartments are dispensed
with.
"Becketts are attached to said buoy; said becketts are made of any suitable
substance, preferably of metal chain or bars.
The life line is made of hemp or other suitable substance; said line to be tanned
or soaked in oil to preserve it from dry-rot or other injury.

page_text: The drags or grapnels are made of metal with a number of hooks for
recovering persons from the bottom of rivers, docks, or other accumulations of
water.
I attach the buoy to one end of the line and the drag to the other, so that all
parts of the apparatus are ready for immediate use on going to the rescue of a
person in the water.
The operator will use the apparatus in a manner most suitable to the occasion,
that is to say, if the person is floating the operator will throw the buoy into the
water, retaining hold of the drag; if the person has sunk the buoy will be held by
the operator and the drag used to search the bottom of the water.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts
throughout.
I do not confine myself to the particular scale given in the drawings, which scale
is for a medium sized buoy.
A is the
Fig. 1. is an external view of the apparatus closed up when not in use.
handle by which it may be carried from place to place or hung up; it likewise
provides a ready hand-hold for a person in the water. B is the upper cap on the
end of the tube or inner chamber (K Fig. 4). B¹ are ventilators which, with the
orifice (F) below, allow a current of air to pass through the chamber for
the purpose of preventing the line I (Fig. 2) from being detrimentally acted upon
by the weather.
The end of the chain H (Fig. 4) is secured to the inside of the cap B, which
fits tightly on the end of the tube K so that it will not accidentally come off.
C (Fig. 4) are water-tight compartments in the case of buoys made of metal.
These chambers may be replaced by cork or other light suitable material.
D are eyes for attaching the "becketts" (D') or hand-holds for persons in the
water to grip. Any convenient number of these "becketts" may be attached.
E is a projection to prevent rain-water from running under the lower cap (F)
when the apparatus is hung up exposed to the weather.
F is the lower cap for protecting the lower portion of the line I and drag J (Fig. 2)
when not in use. This cap has to be removed before using the apparatus, and Í
mark it in some conspicuous manner; e.g. I paint or colour it red. It is known as
the "red cap."
F is a rim for attaching the cap F by means of the bayonet-joints (F) and
hubs (F³).
F is a ventilating orifice.
G are the partitions for forming air-tight compartments when the buoy is made
of metal, so that if any part should get an accidental puncture the buoy will
not sink.
Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus with the cap F removed, showing the method
of putting the line (I) and drag (J) into the tube or inner chamber (K) when not
in use.
Fig. 3 shows the cap F removed and the whole apparatus ready for use.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing handle (A), cap (B), air-tight compartments
or floats (C), projection (E), rim (Fi), partitions (G), chain (H), portion of line (I),
drag (J) and tube (K).
Fig. 5 is also a sectional view representing the chain (H), life-line (I) and
drag (J), all stowed away within the buoy.
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 :-
1. A life-buoy with arrangements for stowing a line inside.
2. A life-buoy with arrangements for stowing a line and drag (or grapnel)

page_text: 3. A life-buoy with a tube, or inside chamber, for stowing a line and drag (or
grapnel) as herein, set forth and described.
4. The arrangement of the chain (H) for attaching the line (I) as herein
described and set forth with reference to Fig. 4.
5. The method of putting the line and drag (or grapnel) inside the life-buoy as
herein set forth and described with reference to Figs. 2 and 5.
6. An apparatus for saving life from drowning and recovering persons from
under water consisting of life-buoy, life-line and drag (or grapnel) constructed and
arranged as set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of February 1894.