Improvements in or relating to Diving Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Diving Apparatus.
JOHN DAY, Boot Factor, 13 High Street Maesteg, GEORGE DAY Mechanical
Engineer 13 High Street Maesteg, and JENKIN JENKINS Licensed Victualler,
Elder Bush Inn, Maesteg, Glamorganshire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :--
The apparatus consists mainly of a cylindrical chamber with flat bottom and oval
top or otherwise. At the bottom is a receptacle of sufficient dimensions to contain
lead ballast to sink the chamber, wh. must be made of sufficient strength to
withstand the weight and pressure of water at whatever depth it may have to be
lowered. The raising & lowering of the apparatus is accomplished by cable
communication with the surface, & ventilation is supplied by two flexible air-pipes-
one to convey pure air & the other to carry off the impure. These air-pipes must
be of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of water without collapsing.
Thus the pressure of air need never exceed 17 lbs. on the sq. in. in the interior
of the chamber, moreover, the pressure of the water will not in any way effect the
inside of the chamber, no matter to whatever depth it may be requisite to
lower it.
In the sides of the chamber are to be placed windows as required and powerful
electric search lights to enable the occupants to see round and about them.
ATTACHMENTS.
To the inside of the chamber are fitted ball-sockets through which levers are
passed and made watertight by means of packing the levers through their balls
sockets have consequently an up, down, & side movements and can also be moved
in and out. At the end of the levers may be attached as required various kinds
of grips shears, drills, hooks &c. which are controlled by the occupants of the
chamber for the purpose of cutting away lashings or making fastenings of sufficient
strength to objects near the chamber for the raising of the same.
It must be further understood that the objects to be recovered are not to be
attached in any way to the chamber, but to cables lowered from above.
N.B. Communication with surface by means of telephone, and exit to chamber
secured by watertight doors.
Dated this 4th day of August 1893.
JOHN DAY.
GEORGE DAY.
JENKIN JENKINS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Diving Apparatus.
We, JOHN DAY, GEORGE DAY, and JENKIN JENKINS of 13 High Street,
Maesteg, in the County of Glamorgan, Wales, 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 diving apparatus whereby operations may be carried
on at much greater depths than is possible with diving dresses and similar

page_text: in which
Figure 1 is a section of a diving apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is a detailed view of the grappling apparatus showing the jaws in their
closed position.
Figure 3 is a view of the grappling jaws open.
Figure 4 is an inverted plan showing the underside of the ballast chamber and
detachable ballast, and
Figure 5 is a section showing the preferred construction of ballast detent or
fastenings.
Figures 2, 3 and 5 are drawn to a larger scale than that to which Figures 1 and 4
are drawn.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
A represents a vessel of any suitable shape, construction and material, preferably
mild steel plates having a flat bottom or otherwise so shaped that if necessary it
may take a firm hold upon the ground and provided with a ballast chamber B in
which may be inserted any suitable form of ballast or heavy material to sink the
chamber. As it is very desirable for the occupants of the vessel to be able to
disconnect the ballast in case of emergency or to facilitate the raising of the
vessel A to the surface, the chamber B may be provided with a door or doors
operated from inside the vessel to allow the escape of the ballast when opened.
Or several ballast chambers having doors controllable from inside the vessel may
be placed about the vessel where required. Perhaps the most efficient plan would
be to have one or more solid iron or lead blocks or plates secured by fastenings
detachable from inside the vessel as hereinafter described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5; in the case of a single plate covering the whole bottom one
or more holes may be formed in it so that it may not obstruct the bottom light or
window.
:
In the arrangement shown in Figure 4 the ballast consists of three heavy metal
blocks viz. a central block S and two outer blocks S. The blocks S¹ when in
their operative position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, are supported on their outer-
edges on bars or beads B' rigidly secured to or formed in part with the adjacent
walls of the chamber B. In this construction of apparatus it is desirable to
strengthen the floor of the diving chamber A. for which purpose we prefer to rivet
or otherwise secure to its underside say four angle iron bars A' which extend
completely across the floor. These bars are arranged at a suitable distance apart
as shown and are provided with advantageously four ballast-securing devices each
of which as shown in Figure 5 consists of a T-shaped key T T₁ which may be
supported at its lower end by means of a centre point T2 which rests in a suitable
recess formed in a transverse bar or bridge-piece A* connecting the two bars A³
at the parts where these ballast retaining devices are arranged. The upper part T
of each key T T is cylindrical except at its upper end T3 which projects into the
interior of the chamber A where it is formed square or otherwise suitably adapted
for being operated by a spanner or wrench. The part T of the key T T is tightly
packed in a stuffing-box U screwed or otherwise suitably secured in the floor A¹
and which in the usual manner is provided with a gland U¹. The bars A' are
provided with slots A' to enable the ends of the part T of the key T T¹ to project
out through them and also to enable the said part T' to be turned inwards so that
its ends may be withdrawn from the outside of the bars A² and moved into the
space between the two said bars A².
The adjacent edges of the weights S S₁ are provided with recesses S³ and S'
the former to allow them to fit over the angle iron bars A' and the latter to admit
of the parts T¹ of the keys T T' engaging with them in the manner shown clearly
in Figure 5.
It will be readily understood that when the keys T T' occupy the positions shown
in Figures 4 and 5 in relation to the weights S S said weights are rigidly secured

page_text: in position and that when the keys T T¹ are turned so that the outer ends of the
parts T¹ thereof become disengaged from the recesses S³ that the weights S S¹
will readily fall out of the chamber B.
If desired the keys T T¹ may be connected together so that at one operation
they may all be simultaneously released; or they may be connected and operated
in pairs.
Eye-bolts or equivalent may be provided on the blocks S S¹ so that, should they
have previously been detached from the diving apparatus, they may, at a subsequent
descent of said diving apparatus, be readily attached to a cable, chain or equivalent
by which to raise them to the surface.
The interior of the vessel A may be supplied with air by a pipe C which
may be carried down inside the chamber if desired or the opening may be made
lower down than is shown in Figure 1; the vitiated air may be withdrawn from
the chamber by the pipe D both pipes being connected with suitable pumping
apparatus upon the vessel conducting the diving operations. These pipes should
be flexible and suitably connected to the vessel and must be so supported or in
themselves sufficiently strong to stand, without collapsing, the pressures to which
they may be subjected, so that the pressure inside the vessel A need not exceed
something like 17 lbs. on the square inch no matter what the pressure outside
may be.
Each of these pipes may be fitted with a suitable valve or cock-
automatic if desired-and controlled from inside the vessel for the purpose of
regulating the air supply or closing the entrance or exit in case of breakage of
the tubes or other emergency.
The chamber is lowered by any suitable rope
The chamber is also
or chain E suitably jointed as at E¹ to the vessel A.
supplied with any convenient arrangement of door or doors by which access may
be had to the interior, the men working this apparatus being inside it so that
the vessel must be sufficiently large to accommodate the men and allow room
for their movements. The vessel A. is provided at any convenient part with any
desired number of windows F through which the occupants of the vessel can see
the outside surroundings and has also suitable electric or other search light
apparatus G by which light may be thrown upon the surrounding objects. The
light apparatus G may be arranged either inside or outside the vessel, but pre-
ferably inside and if electric light be used the wires for supplying the current
may be carried through one of the air pipes or a special conductor may be pro-
vided in connection with the cable E. The light apparatus should be so arranged
that it can be turned where required and there should either be more than one
of these apparatus or it should be capable of being moved from one part of the
vessel to another so as to throw the light wherever required. There should be
at least one window in the bottom or reflectors to enable the occupants to see
below them; a search light must also be in the bottom or so arranged with
reflectors or otherwise as to be capable of casting their light beneath the vessel.
The vessel is provided with any suitable number of grapplers H passing through
ball and socket joints in the wall of the vessel so that by moving the grappler
inside the vessel the outside jaws may be worked as required. The construction of
the grappler may be as follows and will be best understood by reference to
Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The bail and socket joint consists of a suitable
socket I preferably formed in two parts with packing J between them the outer
half being bolted to the wall of the vessel A by the double ended bolts K while the
inner half of the socket I is bolted to the first half by the same bolts K each of
which is screwed and carries a nut at each end as is clearly shown in Figure 2. By
this means the outer half of the socket is firmly bolted to the wall of the chamber
while the inner half is forced tightly upon the packing J thus making a tight joint.
The ball L fits closely in the socket I and with the assistance of the packing J
which by the pressure it sustains is forced tightly upon the ball, makes a tight joint
of the socket. The ball L is hollowed and formed into a stuffing box with a
gland L¹ the end of which may be hexagonal so that it may be screwed up with a
spanner and thus make a water-tight joint around the tube H which forms the body

page_text: of the grappler. I¹ is a winged bolt which may be screwed tightly against or
slightly into the ball L whenever it may be desired to screw or unscrew the
gland L', so as to hold the ball L and gland L' firmly in position during such
adjustment. At its end, outside the vessel, the tube H is screwed or otherwise
securely fastened to the socket H' or the latter may be integral with H which
carries the pivotted grappling jaws M each of which is provided with a projecting
lug M adapted to engage with an annular groove N2 formed in the head N¹ of the
rod N which passes through the grappler body H and at its inner end N³ is screwed
for the reception of the nut O which may be turned by handles O₁; the end N
preferably may have a collar N' secured upon it to prevent the rod N from being
forced too far outwards.
Upon the inner end of the grappler body H are handles H which as shown in
Figure 2 may with advantage be screwed upon H and locked thereon by the long
nut P also screwed on to the inner end of Hand leaving a hollow space or stuffing-
box P in which suitable packing may be placed so as to make a water-tight joint
around the rod N. A hexagonal collar P2 may be formed upon the nut P which is
reduced and extended at P³ where a collar or ring Q is fixed upon it by screws Q¹
or other suitable means. The boss or nut of the handles O is recessed so as to fit
over the collar Q and is then connected by screws R¹ or other suitable means with
a collar R which may be placed upon the extension 13 before the collar Q is fixed.
By this means the nut O when turned by the handles O' will turn round upon the
nut P so as to force the rod N inwards or outwards as required. When the rod is
pulled inwards as far as it will go the jaws M will be closed as shown in Figure 2
by reason of the head N' acting upon the lugs M' of the jaws; when the rod N is
forced outwards to its extreme limit the jaws M are wide open as shown in
Figure 3. To prevent the rod N from turning round independently of the grappler
body H any convenient device may be employed such as a feather upon the rod
working in the nut P or the head N¹ being arranged so as to engage with one or
both of the jaws M. The operation of the grappler is as follows:-By the
handles H the tube H can be pulled in or out or turned round its axis as required
while by the ball and socket-joint the handles can be caused to describe a circle or
any other required figure so that the jaws can be moved about in any required
direction in order to engage with the object outside the vessel A which it is
required to grasp. This object would generally be a chain, cable or the like to be
secured to the sunken vessel or other object to be raised, the vessel A. not being
intended to receive objects from the outside when beneath the water but merely to
enable the divers to reach objects at great depths below the surface and to secure
cables or the like to them by which the objects may afterwards be raised. As
already explained the jaws M can be opened or closed by means of the handles O'
as required, and a firm grip of the jaws can be secured by applying sufficient
pressure to the handles O
Several grapplers H may be placed at suitable intervals around the vessel and if
desired at different heights; if the vessel be a large one the grapplers can either be
of considerable length or in a smaller vessel they may be of reduced length and will
then not interfere with each other. Or again, while one grappler is in use the
others may be forced outwards to their greatest extent so as not to be in the way.
Or again, the grapplers which are not required may when the apparatus is above
water be removed from their sockets and the holes plugged up and made water-
tight by means of the gland L. Communication may be established with the
attendant vessel by any convenient means preferably by telephone.
•
Instead of the grappling jaws described the grappler or the body H thereof may
be fitted on its outer end with any suitable form of grips, shears, drills, hooks, or
other apparatus required any of which may be operated by suitable mechanism
from inside the vessel. Thus shears may be operated substantially in the same
manner as the grappler jaws; drills may be operated by connecting them to the
spindle N and revolving that by any suitable apparatus inside the chamber. Other
apparatus may be operated in the manner found most convenient.

page_text: Although the vessel A B in Figure 4 is shown to be of rectangular form in
horizontal section it will readily be understood that it may be cylindrical or of
other form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A diving apparatus consisting of a vessel entirely enclosed so that the water
has no access to it and the pressure of the air inside the vessel will not be dependent
upon the depth below the surface of the water.
2. The combination with a diving apparatus of a device for gripping cutting
drilling or otherwise operating on surrounding objects consisting of a tube or body
such as H having manipulating handles a rod such as N N¹ passing through it a
nut such as OO for operating the rod longitudinally within and independently of
the tube or body and jaws shears drill or other tools attached to H or N
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a diving apparatus and a device such as claimed in
Claim 2 of a ball and socket joint such as L I the socket being secured to the
diving vessel and the ball movable within it being provided with a gland and
stuffing box substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete grappling
device substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In a diving apparatus the combination with an entirely enclosed vessel such
as A of ballast which may be released or detached by means operated at the interior
of the vessel substantially as described.
6. In a diving apparatus the combination with ballast consisting of blocks such
as S S¹ S³ of keys such as T T' substantially as described and illustrated in
Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination with a diving apparatus of ballast and ballast detaching
devices substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1893.