US1089617A - Life-saving buoy. - Google Patents

Description

J. B. ADAMS.

LIFE SAVING BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.12.

Patented Mar. 10,1914

ML www@ @www M COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Col, WASHINGTON, D. c4

'ilNTED STATES PATENT OFFXCE.

JOI-IN BALDWIN ADAMS, OF CHRIS'ICI-IURCH, NEW ZEALAND.

LIFE-SAVING BUOY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J o1-Ii\T BALDWIN ADAMS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 308 Armagh street, Christchurch, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Buoys, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a life-saving buoy or fioat for use in saving people from drowning. Hitherto these have generally been made of cork. The weight of cork however, is such, that, to provide a float capable of efficiently supporting several persons, necessitates somewhat bulky and cumbersome construction, while, owing to the high price of cork such construction would be expensive. Apart from. this however the buoyancy depends upon the cellular structure of cork and experience has shown that in the course of time, and under the conditions to which such devices are subjected, deterioration of the cork takes place which results in the loss of such cellular structure, and consequently, of its buoyant properties. Hitherto it has been proposed, as a substitute for cork, to employ a padding of some light fibrous material inclosed in a water-proof envelop. Such construction however, although providing greater buoyancy bulk-for-bulk than cork and at a considerably lower cost, has proved unsatisfactory owing to the lack of rigidity in consequence of which such construction is liable to flexing under the strain that would be thrown upon it with the result that an injury to the envelop would occur and so impair the waterproof properties of the latter.

The objects of the present invention are therefore, firstly to provide a construction which will combine the qualities of great buoyancy and inexpensiveness of inanufacture with such rigidity and imperviousness to water as to render it capable of use eniciently under the required conditions; secondly, to provide a device capable of use on ship-board, or by life-saving corps at the seaside, adapted to be conveniently towed out by one or more swimmers through surf breakers or a rough sea to the aid of any person in need of assist-ance and to provide an efficient means whereon such rescued persons may be supported and conveyed to safety; thirdly, to provide a unit which may be conveniently handled and thrown into the water where it may be assembled with other Specification of Letters Patent.l

Application led December 12, 1913.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

serial No. 896,180.

similar units so as to provide a pont-oon or raft which will serve to supplement the accommodation of the ships boats.

In order that the nature of the invention and its construction may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which z- Figure l.- is a view of the buoy as a whole, Fig. 2.- is a longitudinal section of the same showing its construction. Fig. 3.- illustrates in perspective the framework employed for strengthening the buoy, and, Fig. lwillustrates the buoy when being towed out by swimmers to render assistance.

The buoy is made of suitable size and approximately of torpedo-shape, being virtually cylindrical in form and tapering to a cone-point at each end. It is formed (as shown in Fig. 2) by means of a metallic rod or rod of other rigid material l. Surround ing the said rod l is arranged a padding 2 of kapoc or other light material which is hermetically inclosed by means of a waterproof envelop 3 of thin prepared canvas. The said construction is arranged within a closely fitting framework of ceel-basket formation as shown in Fig. 8, of metal or other suitable material and comprising a combination of longitudinal members or staves 4: and circumferential members or ribs 5. Surrounding the said framework is a water-proof envelop 6 of thick prepared canvas which in turn in inclosed within an outer water-proof cover 7 also of thick canvas to which is applied a sufficient number of paint layers to render it impervious to the action of water.

By the above described construction it will be seen that the outer skin 7 will, if intact, serve to protect the whole of the interior from contact with the water. In the event of failure of such outer skin, however, due to mechanical injury as might be occasioned by contact with sharp objects or due to rotting of the fabric in consequence of continual exposure to the sun or repeated contact with water or moisture, the water after passing through the skin 7 would come in contactwith the inner skin 6 and which would effectually serve to protect the interior. Again in the event of both the skins 6 and 7 being penetrated as might take place in the event of the buoy being dashed violent-ly against wreckage or projecting points of rock, the water would still be prevented from contact with the padding 2 by the innermost envelop 3,7while the damaged skins 6 and 7 although rendered non-waterproof would, by reasonof the 'fact that they Varev supported by the aforesaid framework, stillY serve to afford protection to the envelop 3 from mechanical linjury and thusenable the buoy to continue its function.

The construction of the framework is such that although as a whole the structure will eHectual-ly resist any tendency on the part ofv thel buoy to flexing under a strain, yet the individualmembers of which it is con- Y stituted -will be suficient-ly springy to withstand an impact without danger of breakage' or buckling. By 4this construction'also the combined action of the rod l and the framework will serve to maintain the padding 2- in shape and position and thus prevent any undue strain from being'thrown upon'the envelops 3, 6 and 7. f

VThe buoy may be'provided with the lifelines or loops of rope 8 for use in clinging n to such buoy and which may be provided the extremities of the uoy, to one of which traces ll maybe attached to enable suoli buoy to be towed out to the person in need of assistance, while to the ring or other means at the opposite end of such buoy, a

line` l2 may be attached for the purpose of hauling such buoy with the succored persons back to safety. A pocket 13 `may also be provided to hold any stimulants or appliances likely to be required in rendering first aid. To cause it to float' with the desired sidenormally upward, the buoy may be suitably weighted.

Qn4 account of its particular shapeL the buoy may be towed through the water with a minimum of resist-ance and through surfbreakers or a rough sea without danger of drowning any persons clinging or attached thereto, while such shape also affords a maXimum of strength t0 the construction.

In cases of shipwreck a number of such buoys vmay be `thrown into the water where they may be assembled in groups as required andA secured together side by sideso as to provide rafts for the purposevof receiving and conveying passengers to safety.

I claim- A device ofthe class described compris ing in combination a rod surrounded by a padding vof light fibrous material7 a thin water-proof envelop hermetically inclosing said padding, and circumferential members inclosing said envelop, and one lor more outer protecting water-proof skinsV inclosing said construction, substantially as set forth.

In testimonyv whereof I have signed my name Ato this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN BALDWIN ADAMS.

TWitnesses n CYRIL CARLYN CoATEs, SIDNEY JAMES VRELEAVEN.

Go'pielof this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of'Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

a framework of longitudinal z

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