US387933A - Means for buoying up vessels - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. n. T. TRAVIS.

MEANS FDR BUOYING UP VESSELS.

No. 387,933. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UEEicE.

\VILLIAM D. T. TRAVIS, OF BURLINGTON, NFAV JERSEY.

MEANS FOR BUOYING UP VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,933, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed March 29, 1688.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itkno-wn that l, \VILLIAM D. T. Tnnvrs, of Burlington, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means of Buoying Up Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in means of buoying up vessels to prevent them from sinking, which consists, in general, of a system of collapsible buoys attached to the vessel and connected with a compressed air or other gas supply on the vessel, whereby they may be inflated when needed.

The object of my improvement is to provide for the ready adjustment of the buoys for use, for their secure and safe support when so adjusted, and for their ready return to an inactive position when not needed; and to this end the invention consists of a novel construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as distinctly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of avessel provided with my improved buoying devices in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, part being broken out. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the buoying devices arranged for use on one side of the vessel, and folded up on the other side thereof.

Along either side of the vessel A,which may be of any description, are arranged series of outside collapsible buoys, B, of rubber or kindred material, which are connected by fleXible branch pipes Oto a common main pipe, D, running along, and, by preference, permanently attached to, the corresponding side of the vessels deck. Other series of similar collapsible buoys, E, are preferably also arranged interiorly along either side of the vessel, and are all connected by branch pipesFand to corresponding main pipes G. The main pipes G and D are all connected to acornmon receiver, H, which it is preferred to supply with air under pressure by means of an air-pump, I, connected thereto by a pipe, J.

Serial No. 209,735. (Nonn.1lcl.l

The air-pump i. may be arranged to be operated by a steam or olher motor, K, which, further, may be connected with, so as to operate, a \vater'f'orce pump, L, for use in extinguishing fires or for other purposes.

All the pipes G, D, and J, leading into the receiver 11, are provided there-at with valves Min such a manner that the distribution of the compressed air may be controlled by a single person, so as to inflate such of the series of buoys as may be desired; and, in addition, each branch pipe 0 in communication with an outside buoy, 5,is provided with a valve, N, so that in case of disabling injury to said buoy it maybe quickly cut oif from the main circuit and the efficiency of the remaining buoys thus be unimpaired.

Over each outside buoy, B, is arranged and to it attached a curved cap,O,which is hinged to the side of the vesscl,so that it can be swung down to cover, protect, and support the buoy when the latter is inflated, or folded against the vessels side,so as to protect the buoy when the same is collapsed.

Two or more bars, I, are pivotaily con* nected to the outer part of each cap 0, and swinging abutments Q, adapted to engage and hold the free ends of the bars, are attached to the outside of the vessel near the deck in such a manner that the bars can be conveniently arranged to hold the cap, and hence the buoy, firmly in a working position, as shown at the right of Fig. 3.

A. curved shield, R, attached to and adapted to cover and protect the under side of each buoy when inflated, is hinged to each cap 0, and is connected to the same by a chain, S, so that the buoy will be completely inclosed and protected from possible rupture when inflated, and that when the buoy is emptied and the cap folded against the vessel, as before described, the collapsed buoy will be closely embraced between the cap and the shield folded thereupon, as shown at the left of Fig. 3.

The caps or shields over the buoys may be conveniently utilized for the support of oilcans or feeders to calm. the waves and more certainly prevent injury to the buoys.

Any suitable tackle may be employed for raising and lowering the cap and shield from the deck, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a vessel, of a collapsible gas-buoy arranged on the outside of the vessel, a folding cap adapted to cover the top of the buoy, and a folding shield to protect the under side of the buoy, the said cap and shield being attached to the vessel, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a vessel and a collapsible buoy arranged on the outside of the same, of a pointed protector for the buoy hinged to the vessel, and a brace hinged to the protector and adapted to engage an abutment on the vessel, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. A protector for collapsible buoys for vessels, consisting of a cap-plate adapted to be hinged to the vessel, and a shield or bottom plate hinged to the cap-plate and having its free end connected to said cap by a flexible connection, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a vessel and a collapsible gas-buoy connected to the sazne, of a buoy-covering cap hinged to the vessel, a buoy-shield hinged to the cap, a flexible connection between the cap and shield, and means for adjusting and supporting the cap and shield, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a vessel, of a curved cap and shield connected to the vessel and adapted to fold together and to embrace a collapsible buoy, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM I). T. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. HENRY, JULIA O. SMITIL

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