Improvements in the Construction of Berths for Ships' Passengers and Stalls for Horses and Cattle.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 23rd Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887
Improvements in the Construction of Berths for Ships' Passengers
and Stalls for Horses and Cattle.
I THOMAS MORTON of Finden Cottage Elms Road Dulwich in the County of
Surrey, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a now plan for constructing berths, portable, simple usable
in ships of different heights of 'tween decks and containing in themselves the materials
to form seats and tables for messing during the day time and also to a portable,
collapsible locker for the use of the occupants part of such improvements being
applicable to the formation of horse and cattle stalls.
These berths I form fore and aft or thwart ship as may be desired in blocks each
block of four single berths having at the outer corners a telescopic stanchion running
from deck to deck and a short stanchion to support the berths at the centre of the
block the parts of said telescopic stanchions being preferably formed of iron tubing, of
such diameter as to slide one in the other or the upper limb of the telescope might be
formed of angle iron or otherwise and secured at bottom and top with flanges screwed
to deck and overhead: this telescopic stanchion I also claim as being applicable to the
fitting of horse and cattle stalls on board ship, with proper fittings to receive the
partitions. Or 1 may form a block of six berths by placing two short stanchions
side by side to act as the inside supports and a telescopic stanchion at each of the
outer corners.
On the lower half of the stanchions, I affix, cast or shrink on a suitable iron boss
provided with slots therein to receive division boards and also holes or dovetails to
receive tie rods for connecting together the stanchions at the ends of the berths said
end rods being the length of the breadth of the berth. The bottoms of said berths I

page_text: form of canvas hoop iron or boards as may be thought most suitable for the trade
engaged in.
The canvas would be made specially in breadths suitable say twenty-two inches with
strong selvedge at edge and the ends would be sewn over a piece of galvanized tube,
said tube being fitted with circular clips to fasten taut on the end irons of the berths.
If hoop iron were used for the bottom of the berth the iron would be secured at each
crossing with rivets, in the usual way, and it would also be secured to an iron rod at
end, and said rod would fasten on the end iron of berth by the aid of hooks as in the
canvas arrangement. With bottoms made of boards there would only be a batten
required at each end, the end resting on end iron of berth and being kept in place by
the batten.
To add to the strength of the berth, the end iron at top of berths would be made so
as to run from one telescopic stanchion to the other and would fit on to the top of the
short stanchion or stanchions and from one short stanchion to the other a rod would
be fixed the lengthway of the berth, said rods and end irons being secured to tops of
short stanchions by means of nuts or otherwise.
The division or parting board between each berth would be clamped at each end
with iron, let in flush and having two holes in outer end of parting board formed
through the iron one half of the parting boards also having a batten nailed on the top
ed go.
I also form for each six sets of berths a locker, and secure it on deck opposite the end
of the berths at a proper distance therefrom the ends of this locker I hinge to the
back thereof and I hinge two doors to the ends and the bottom and top I form to drop
into the square formed when the hinged ends and the back and doors are brought to
a position at right angles to each other. I fasten seat supports to the locker such
supports consisting of a hinged bracket carrying a supporting leg, this locker when
not in use folds into a small compass for stowing but is secured to deck by means of
angle brackets or otherwise when in use and holds utensils etc. for the mess.
During the day time when the berths are not in use the parting boards are
unshipped from the slots in stanchions by simply lifting them out and one end thereof
is laid on the locker and kept in place by a stop. Some of the parting boards are
secured at one end on the seat supports, the inner ends of the boards resting on the
top end iron of the bottom berth, and the two boards used to form the table rest at one
end on a hanging iron fixed to the end iron of top berth and at the other end rest upon
the top of the locker.
I also arrange berths for married people and families on this plan; that is portable
and with telescopic stanchions as follows. I form the stanchions double or forked with
the top or sliding parts meeting so as to form one stanchion. In the space between this
forked stanchion, I run two partitions of corrugated iron, timber or other material,
about 6 feet long and as high as may be convenient; each sliding on or against the
other and being formed at the ends with a supporting angle iron or batten; having at
one end a roller to run on deck and support said partitions and the top of which run
between rails fastened between said stanchions. In the centre of said space I place
bed places on supports similar to those for single persons, except that I have a shutter
hinged to alternate ends of the bed bottom, securing privacy to the occupants
of the berth; this shutter folding down on the bottom of the berth in day time as
heretofore.
The bed bottoms in these berths, if formed of iron will be fastened on hooks cast on
each stanchion or otherwise at alternate sides and will in the day time hook up or
otherwise be placed out of the way against opposite sides of sleeping space or other
position.
The messing accommodation I would arrange in a manner similar to that described
for single persons, so far as lockers are concerned but the lockers would be placed if
for seats, at the end of the bed places or amidships for mess utensils I secure one end
of the tables to stanchions at the sides of the ship and I provide the other end with
hinged legs dropping to the decks; each table is in length suitable to the number of
rooms in that particular bay or part of the ship.

page_text: It will be seen from this description that the berths are exceedingly simple, very
portable and from a sanitary point of view are perfect as if canvas bottoms were used,
no bed would be required and the canvas bottom being coated with a non-absorbent
composition can be scrubbed and used voyage after voyage and will still be fresh and
clean. The iron bottoms may be blacked or galvanized and the wood bottoms could be
scrubbed clean or painted and washed if required.
These berths also contain in themselves the necessary fittings for sleeping and
messing the passengers and can be erected and taken down in much less time than
any form of berth and mess table in use at present and being made in simple
form are very strong and will last many years without repairs or alterations.
Dated December 23rd 1886
THOMAS MORTON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.
Improvements in the Construction of Berths for Ships' Passengers
and Stalls for Horses and Cattle.
I, THOMAS MORTON of Finden Cottage Elms Road, Dulwich, in the County of
Surrey, Carpenter do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the drawings hereunto annexed and
to the figures and letters marked thereon that is to say :-
The invention relates to a new plan for constructing berths portable, simple,
usable in ships of different heights of 'tween decks and containing in themselves
the materials to form seats and tables for messing during the day time and also to a
portable collapsible locker for the use of the occupants, part of such improvements
being applicable to the formation of horse and cattle stalls.
Referring to the drawings in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a block of six single berths con-
.structed according to my invention; and showing the partitions in use as a table
and seats; Figure 2 is a back end elevation; Figure 3 is a transverse section of
the two centre berths separately looking from the back end thereof and Figure 4 is u
plan of the entire block corresponding with Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 5 is a back elevation of the collapsible locker; Figure 6 is a front elovation
and Figure 7 is a back elevation of a modified form thereof.
Figure 8 is an end elevation showing a block of two double berths for married
couples Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the stanchions and Figure 10 is
a plan thereof.
Figure 11 is a side view of a horse or cattle stall and Figure 12 is a horizontal
section thereof.
'
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 a represents the berths which may be formed fore
and aft or thwart ship as may be desired in blocks of any desired number each
block having at the outer corners a telescopic stanchion b running from deck to
deck and, where the block consists of two or more pairs of berths, a short stanchion
or stanchions c to support the berths at the centre of the block.
The telescopic stanchions are preferably formed of iron tubing the two parts
being formed of such diameters that the part will slide within the part b or the
upper limb of the telescopic stanchion might be formed of angle iron or otherwise,
but so as to slide within the part b.
The fixed part 6 of the telescopic stanchion is secured in position on the deck by
means of flanges b³, and screws passing through holes formed therein and the sliding
part bis adjusted to the height of 'tween decks and secured in position overhead by
similar means.
On the fixed part of the telescopic stanchion I fix, cast or shrink suitable iron
bosses or fittings 63 provided with slots or grooves 6 therein to receive division
boards a¹ and with holes or sockets 6 to receive the cranked ends of tie rods d d¹ for
connecting together the stanchions 6 at the ends of the berths such tie rods d d' being
the length of the breadth of the berth.
Similar holes or sockets 66 are provided to receive the cranked ends of longitudinal
tie rods e.
The tie rods d at one end of the upper berths are so constructed that the upper
one d¹ may when desired be turned down into the position shown more particularly at
Figure 3 to serve as a support for a table as hereinafter explained.
In this construction the upper one d¹ of the tie rods is formed with descending
legs d passing into similar parts d³ of a tubular frame d' carried by the tie rod d with
capability of revolving thereon.
an
This construction allows of the upper tie rod d¹ being slightly raised and its cranked
ends withdrawn from the sockets after which it may be turned down into the
position shown at Figure 3 with the ends of the tie rod resting in
inverted position within recesses or sockets 6ª carried by the stanchions b, c, thus
forming a hanging iron.
The bottoms a² of the berths a are formed of canvas, hoop iron, or boards or slats
or otherwise as may be thought most suitable for the trade engaged in but in the
drawings I have represented them as formed of canvas.
The canvas which would be preferably made separately in breadths of a suitable
size say for example twenty two inches with strong selvedge at edge at the ends is
sewn over a length of galvanized iron tube a³ such tube being fitted with circular
clips or hooks a to take on to the tie rods d of the berths and hold the canvas taut.
If hoop iron were employed for the bottoms of the berths it would be arranged in
lattice form and would be tied at each crossing by means of rivets in the usual way it
would be secured at each end to an iron rod which would be provided with clips or
hooks as in the canvas bottom.
With bottoms made of boards, the ends of the boards would rest upon the tie rods d
and any enway movement would be prevented by means of transverse battens on the
.underside of the boards.
To add to the strength of the berths an end iron might be made to run from one
telescopic stanchion to the other at the top of the berths such iron being secured to
the top or tops of the short stanchion or stanchions, and from one short stanchion to
another the lengthway of the berth a tie rod might be fixed such end irons and tie
rods being secured in position by means of screws and nuts or otherwise, but I have

page_text: not thought it necessary to show this arrangement in the drawings as such will be
readily understood.
The division or parting board between each berth is preferably clamped or bound at
each end with iron let in flush in order to strengthen it and it is provided at one
end with a hole or holes formed through the iron for the purpose hereinafter
explained.
Some of the parting boards serve for the table and are formed with a batten or
ledge a along one edge in order to prevent any articles placed thereon slipping off.
Every six or other given number of berths are provided with a locker such as that
shewn at Figures 5, 6 and 7 so constructed that when in position for use it holds the
necessary utensils for the mess and when not required for use it is capable of being
folded into a very small compass for transport.
The locker is secured to the deck opposite the ends of the berths and at a proper
distance therefrom by means of brackets or feet carried thereby through which screws
are driven. The ends or sides f of this locker are hinged to the back thereof and
the two doors ƒ³ are hinged to the sides or ends f. Tie pieces f³ fit on to the
spindles of the hinges at the top and bottom of the locker at the front thereof in
order to tie the sides or ends together at their front edge and to form abutments for
the doors to close against.
The deck may serve for the bottom of the locker or a separate bottom may be
loosely placed therein and the top and a shelf may rest upon ledges f* carried by the
ends or sides and thus serve to retain the parts at right angles to each other and
thereby keep the locker in shape.
Each locker is fitted with seat supports formed (according to the arrangement
shown at Figures 5 & 6) of two brackets provided with supporting legs and hinged
to and capable of folding flat against the back thereof out of the way as shewn by
dotted lines at Figure 4. The arm of the bracket is fitted with a stud f6 corre-
sponding with a stud carried by the rod d¹ of the lower berth which passes into a
hole formed in one end of the division or parting board a¹ so that when a division or
parting board is placed in position to form a seat one end thereof rests upon the tie
rod and is steadied by the stud do and the other end rests upon the arm of the
bracket and is steadied by the stud f.
In the modification represented at Figure 7 the arm of the brackets instead of
being hinged to the back of the locker is arranged to slide into and out of position
for use within or between suitable guides carried by the back fl of the locker. In
this case the steady stud f is dispensed with and a stop or notch is formed on or in
the parting board a', in order to give the required steadiness.
During the day time when the berths are not in use the parting boards a¹ aro
unshipped from the slots in the stanchions b by simply lifting them out and two of
them are arranged with one end resting on the top of the locker (as shown in
Figure 1) and the other end resting on the hanging iron or rail d' of the berths
suitable stops or battens being employed to prevent end way movement thereto.
Others of the parting boards a are arranged to form seats as herein before
described.
At Figures S. 9 and 10 1 have shown a group of double berths arranged for married
couples and families.
According to this arrangement I form the fixed parts of the stanchions 6 double or
forked for the greater part of their length but at their upper parts the two limbs meet
and form one stanchion which receives the moveable or adjustable part b².
In the space between the two limbs of this forked stanchion I run two partitions of
corrugated iron (or it might be timber or other suitable material) a', about 6 feet
long and as high as may be necessary each sliding on or against the other. These
partitions a' slide in troughs or guide rails as at top and bottoin and are each formed
at one end with a supporting angle iron or batten a carrying at the lower end
thereof a roller as to run on deck and support said partitions a¹ when run out as shown
at Figure 10.
In the bed space I arrange beds similar to those herein before described for single

page_text: persons except that I employ a single shutter a hinged to alternate ends of the bed
bottoms or (as shown) to the tie rods d' thereby securing privacy to the occupants of
the berths. This shutter is capable of folding down on to the bottom of the berth in
the day time as heretofore but when the berth is occupied it is raised into the
position shown in Figures 8 and 9 and there retained by turn buttons 67 carried by
the stanchions b.
.
The bed bottoms in these berths if formed of iron will be fastened on hooks cast on
each stanchion or otherwise at alternate sides and will in the day time be hooked up
or otherwise be placed out of the way against opposite sides of the sleeping space or
in other position.
The messing accommodation I would arrange in a manner similar to that described
for single persons but if ordinary small lockers were employed the lockers would be
placed at the end of the bed places and used as seats or if the large collapsible
lockers hereinbefore described were employed they would be placed amidships for
containing mess utensils.
The tables are supported at one end by means of stanchions at the sides of the ship
and at the other end by means of hinged legs dropping to the decks, each table is in
length suitable to the number of rooms or herths in that particular bay or part of
the ship.
I have not thought it necessary to give drawings of these last foregoing arrange-
ments of lockers and tables as they form no part of my present invention.
It will be seen from this description that the berths are exceedingly simple very
portable and from a sanitary point of view are perfect as if canvas bottoms were used
no bed would be required and the canvas bottom being coated with a non absorbent
composition could be scrubbed and used voyage after voyage and would still be fresh
and clean.
The iron bottoms may be blackened or galvanized and the wood bottoms could be
scrubbed clean or painted and washed if required.
These berths also contain in themselves the necessary fittings for sleeping and
messing the passengers and can be erected and taken down in much less time than
any form of berth and messtable in use at present and being made in simple form
are very strong and will last many years without repairs or alterations. .
In the horse or cattle pen or stall represented at Figures 11 and 12 I employ
a similar form of stranchion to that described with respect to the single berths. The
division or parting boards a' are received into slots or grooves 6* formed by means of
iron plates cast into holes formed in the stanchion b or otherwise and a breast rail d at
the front end and a haunch rail d at the back end of the stall are received into similar
but shorter fittings or sockets ³ formed on the stanchions b at right angles to the
fittings 6*.
A manger 6x is carried by the fittings or it might be by the breast rail.
By these means I obtain a substantial horse or cattle pen or stall which is easily and
quickly erected and removed and which when so removed occupies very little space in
transport.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1. The improvements in the construction of berths for ship's passengers and stalls
for horses and cattle substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In the construction of ships berths or stalls for horses and cattle the employment
of telescopic stanchions bb in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. In the construction of ships' berths or stalls for horses and cattle the employment
of telescopic stanchions 6 provided with slots recesses or sockets 6 and 6" to receive
division boards and tie rods in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
4. In the construction of berths for ships passengers the employment of telescopic
stanchions bbprovided with. slots recesses or sockets * 6° 6° division boards a². tie

page_text: rods d d descending legs d² tubular parts d³ d' forming a hanging iron tie rod e and
bed bottoms a in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
5. In the construction of berths for ships passengers the employment of telescopic
stanchions 66 provided with slots, recesses or sockets 6 division boards a' tie
rods dd descending legs d², tubular parts d³, d forming a hanging iron tie rod e and
hed bottoms a in combination with a collapsible locker of the character represented
at Figures 5, 6 and 7 all in manner substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
6. In the construction of berths for ships' passengers the employment of forked
telescopic stanchions provided with slots recesses or sockets b tie rods d d¹
and e sliding division walls a folding shutters a' and bed bottoms a' in manner
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
7. In the construction of berths for ship's passengers the employment of focked
telescopic stanchions b¹ provided with slots recesses or sockets & tie rods d d¹
and e sliding division walls a fitted with a supporting angle iron or batten a carrying
roller a and sliding in guide rails or troughs a folding shutters a and bed bottoms a².
in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
8. In the construction of stalls or pens for horses or cattle the employment of
telescopic stanchions 66 provided with slots recesses or sockets 665, division walls a¹
and breast and haunch rails d in manner substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
DL: D.1
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