LIFE BUOY. 379 



SELF-INFLATING WAGON FLOATS. 



The cylinders for these floats are made in every particular 

 like the pontoons last described, and may be considered an im- 

 provement upon the wagon float invented by Col. Staunton, 

 described page . So far as the security of the floats against 

 collapsing, and the faciHty of inflating them are concerned, they 

 are unquestionably an improvement. The method of attaching 

 them for supporting the wagons is the same as with the plain 

 cylinder. 



SELF-INFLATING BALSORS AND LIFE-SPARS. 



They are made in every respect like the self-inflating pontoons 

 and other self-inflating articles, in which the compartments are 

 prevented from collapsing by sheets of caoutchouc whalebone 

 board cemented between them, each compartment being inflated 

 by a separate tube. They are, however, made of smaller dimen- 

 sions, or from eight to twelve inches diameter and from twelve 

 to twenty feet in length. They are designed to be used as life- 

 spars, or to be fastened upon boats to prevent them from 

 swamping. 



LIFE BUOY. 



See Chapter XI. 



