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DIVING APPARATUS. 



In the ordinary Diving Bell the labors of the divers are confined to 

 the spot upon which the bell rests; this greatly confines the sphere of its 

 utility. A diving dress has been invented by Mr. W. H. James, by 

 which he can carry on his operations without the aid of a diving bell or 

 air tube. The apparatus consists of a copper hood or helmet; this may 

 be made of any water-tight material, but thin copper is found to be best 

 adapted for that purpose ; in front is fixed a strong plate of glass, to 

 enable the divers to see the surrounding objects. Inside the helmet is a 

 flexible tube, with a mouth piece at the end, which comes near the 

 diver; through this the air is discharged from his lungs, and passes out 

 by a valve at the top of the helmet. At the lower part of the helmet, 

 and round the breast and shoulders, a water-proof garment is attached to 

 the body of the wearer (this, in Mr. James's apparatus, fits closely to the 

 body, in others it is loose), and made fast by elastic bandages. To 

 secure the diver from being inconvenienced by the pressure of the air 

 within the helmet from becoming too great, a safety valve is added. la 

 the front of the diver's body is a portable vessel, placed round and 

 adapted to the figure of the body; this contains the condensed air, and 

 which is filled by means of a condensing air pump ; it has a series of 

 strong metallic tubes, or of one continuous tube, coiled elliptically round 

 the body, and connected together by bands, to which straps are attached 

 to secure it in its position ; there is a valve opening inwards, through 

 which the air is forced by a pump, until it has acquired the proper 

 density, which will depend on the time it remains underwater ; there is also 

 a tube of india rubber for conveying the air into the helmet by means of 

 a valve, which is entirely under the control of the diver. Nothwith- 

 standing the weight of the apparatus (nearly fifty pounds), the density of 

 the water, in great depths, would render the body of the diver too buoy ant 

 to enable him to keep on his legs and perform his work; in this case it is 

 usual to attach weights capable of easy removal at the pleasure of the 

 diver, who, it is scarcely necessary to say, can rise or sink at pleasure. 



DIVING APPARATUS. A similar Apparatus, but without the weights 

 (in that case unnecessary), might be employed in mines or other places, 

 filled with deleterious gases. Of late years the diving apparatus has 

 been applied by Messrs. Deane, Bush, and others, as a means of fixing 

 either chains suspended from windlasses, placed on lighters above, or 

 else some buoyant body to foundered vessels, for the purpose of 

 raisins; them. 



