IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS AND VESSELS, TO AVOID OR REDUCE THE EFFECT OF COLLISIONS, AND TO FACILITATE STEERING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pastor Perez de la Sala, of Bond Count Chambers, Wal-
brook, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS
AND VESSELS, TO AVOID OR REDUCE THE EFFECT OF COLLISIONS, AND TO
FACILITATE STEERING"
Sealed the 31d July 1877, and dated the 8th February 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pastor Perez de la Sala at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1877
PASTOR PEREZ DE LA SALA, of Bond Court Chambers, Walbrook, in the City
of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS AND VESSELS, TO AVOID OR REDUCE THE
EFFECT OF COLLISIONS, AND TO FACILITATE STEERING"
This Invention has for its object Improvements in ships and vessels, to avoid or
reduce the effect of collisions, and to facilitate steering For this purpose I apply
to the prow or for waid part of the stem of a vessel sliding plates oi shields which
stand out on either side of the stem approximately at 1ight angles to it These
shields can be slidden either upwards or downwards in guides upon the stem so as
When both shields
to be either lifted clear of the water or lowered down into it
are lowered they serve to quickly arest the forward movement of the vessel and
thus greatly diminish the risk of collision with other vessels, or even in the event of
a collision they will matenally diminish the amount of damage that would other-
wise be done to the vessel iun into When one of the shields only is lowered tho
vessel will be caused to turn to port or starboard according to whichever shield 15
lowered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Pastor Perez de la Sala in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
August 1877
PASTOR PEREZ DE LA SALA, of Bond Court Chambers, Walbrook, in the City
of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS AND VESSELS, TO AVOID OR REDUCE THE
EFFECT OF COLLISIONS, AND TO FACILITATE STEERING,"

page_text: My Invention consists in applying to ships and vessels fin plates which can be
caused to project from their sides below the water line, as herein-after described, so
as to obtain the saine power of control as is exercised by the fins of fishos either to
arrest speed or facilitate steering
In the Diawings hereunto annexed, I have shown three different ways of con-
structing the apparatus The apparatus may be applied in the most convenient
part of a vessel, according to the vessel's lines of construction
In the arrangement shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3, the fin plates when out of use
are above the water line and lie close up to the side of the vessel in recesses formed
to receive them At then forward ends they have a vertical rod passing down
When turned outwards so
through them, and they are free to turn on this rod
that they stand at right angles to the keel or the cabouts, they can be allowed to
descend between strong guides so as to come below the water lino, at the same
time that the guides give support to them and keep them projecting outwards from
the vessel
Figure 1 shows a side view of the fore part of a vessel with a fin projecting from
at below the water line, as above described Figure 2 shows a similar side view
with the fin raised and turned into the ecoss formed to receive it in the vessel's side
Figure 3 shows a plan view of the fore part of the vessel, in this Figure the fins on
the two opposite sides of the vessel are both shown standing out at right angles to
the keel or thereabouts
Each fin A has a wire rope or chain B attached to it which is led over guides to
As each fin 18
a winch H, so that the fins may be raised by turning the winch
aised to its highest position it becomes clutched to a pinion C which is at the top
of the guide rod D upon which the pins slide E is a rack gearing with the
pinion C, this rack can be moved to and fro by a lever handle F. When the fin
has been raised and brought into gear with the pinion C, the lever handle F 18
moved forwards and the fin is thereby turned and caused to lie close to the sides of
the vessel Gare the strong vertical guides between which the fins descend when
they are standing out from the vessel's side, a horizontal section of these guides 18
shown at Fig 4 When both fins are lowered they quickly arrest the forward
movement of tho vessel and thus greatly diminish the risk of collision with other
vessels. When one only of the fins is lowered it causes the vessel to turn either to
poit or starboard, according to whichever fin is lowered The fins may, if preferred,
be curved slightly forwards in place of backwards as shew in the Drawing.
Figure 5 shows a modified arrangement of the apparatus
In this arrangement
the vertical guide rods D in place of being cucular in cross section so that the fins
may tuin freely around them, are of a square or oval or other section and have a
spiral twist from one end of them to the other, so that whenever the fins are allowed
to descend they gradually turn outwards away from the side of the vessel until they
come to then lowest position, they then stand outwards at right angles to the keel
or thereabouts
Figures 6 show another arrangement of fin apparatus, in this arrangement the
fins A are mounted at their centres upon vertical axes, and recessed chambers auc
formed in the sides of the vessel to allow of the fins being carried sound with their
axis whenever the axis is revolved When in their central position the fins he
flush with the side of the vessel, but as in the arrangements previously described
they can be utilized either for steering or for arresting velocity by turning their
axes so as to cause them to stand outwards at any angle thereto, or the steering
may be effected by causing one or other of them to revolve rapidly, or both to
revolve in the same direction If both plates are caused to rotate rapidly at the
same time in opposite directions they will act as a powerful forward or backward
propelling agent, so combining all the functions attached to the natatory pectoral
and vential fins of fishes The fins or plates may vary in size and shape to suit
the form and bulk of vessel, they may also be worked either by hand or steam
power, as convenient, according to the class of vessel in which they are used
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing

page_text: the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the preciso
details of the apparatus shown in the Diawings, but that I claim the combined
arrangements, substantially as herein described, for anesting the speed or facilitating
the steeing of ships and vessels
In witness whereof, I, the said Pastor Perez de la Sala, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
PASTOR PEREZ DE LA SALA. (LS)