Patent GB-191219192-A (GB)
Title: Improved Apparatus Controlling the Closing of all Bulkhead and like Doors in Ships, from a Distance.
Inventor: GIBBONS WILLIAM GREGORY
IPC: B63B19/00
Filed: 1912-08-22
Granted: 1913-11-24
Abstract: 19,192. Gibbons, W. G., and Blake, F. J. Aug. 22. Operating and controlling doors hydraulically and by floats.-Relates to operating-mechanism for ships' bulkhead and like doors of the kind that are adapted to close by gravity when a clutch or other disconnectible element in the operating-gear is released, and consists in improved means for simultaneously or separately releasing the disconnectible elements bv hydraulic power controlled from a distant point. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the door A is raised by rack-and-pinion gear A1, A2, operated by band or power from worm gearing A4 through a clutch A3, and is normally held in the open position by the engagement of the parts A5, A6 of the clutch under the action of a spring B1 connected to a bell-crank B. The clutch is released by a small hydraulic ram B4, the piston-rod of which is also connected by a rod B3 to the bell-crank. The rams B4 are connected by pipes B5 to a port C in a large cylinder C1 at the bridge or other distant point. Each pipe B5 is provided with a cock so that any number of the clutches may be simultaneously released. The system is supplied with fluid from a container C3 through a valve D, which is closed by a spring when the ram C2 of the cylinder C1 moves inwards and is opened, when the ram moves outwards, by the engagement of a tappet D2 on the ram with the valve-rod D1. The ram C2 is moved inwards by an electrically-driven worm D3 engaging a worm nut on a screwed shaft E abutting against the end of the ram-rod E1, and is withdrawn by running back the shaft E and operating hand gear E5, E3 engaging a rack on the ram-rod, or the shaft E and ram-rod may be connected so that the motor operates the plunger in both directions. For a small system the band gear only may be provided. Several alternative methods of actuating the ram C2 are described. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ram C2 is moved inwards by springs H3, H4 arranged between a fixed abutment H6 and a movable abutment H5 carrying a cylinder H2, in which works a plunger H1 on the ram-rod H. The springs H3, H4 are separated by a guiding-cylinder H7 and are normally held compressed by two pairs of toggle-levers J5, J6, one pair at each side of the ram cylinder. The levers J5 are pivoted to the cylinder, and the levers J6 to vertical rods J1 connected to the abutment H5 and at their lower ends to plungers working in cataract cylinders J3. The toggles are held in locking position by spring tappets K engaging tailpieces J9 on the levers J6 and are broken to allow the springs to operate the ram C2 by cams K2 operated by a hand-lever K4. The parts are returned to normal position by hand gear E5 acting through a clutch G6. In another form, the ram-rod is connected to and operated by the piston-rod of a steam-engine, the regulating-valve of which is so arranged that in its mid-position both ends of the cylinder are open to exhaust to enable the ram to be actuated by the hand gear. In another form in which the ram is electrically operated, the ram, at the end of its stroke, engages a spring- controlled rod connected to a switch so that the motor is stopped. In another form, the inner end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe with a cylinder containing a plunger, which is raised when the pressure in the ram cylinder becomes excessive and operates a switch cutting off the current to the motor. The clutch A3 may also be released on the rise of water in the bilge by a float connected to a rod B2 attached to the bell-crank B and the fall of the door may be checked by cataract cylinders.