IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS AND SIDES OF SHIPS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE COVERING OF HOLES OR FRACTURES CAUSED BY COLLISIONS OR OTHERWISE IN SHIPS' BOTTOMS."
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Studdy, of Waddeton Court, in the County of
Devon, Gentleman, Commodore Royal Dart Yacht Club, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS AND SIDES OF
SHIPS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE COVERING OF HOLES OR FRACTURES CAUSED
BY COLLISIONS OR OTHERWISE IN SHIPS' BOTTOMS."
Sealed the 25th November 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 16th May 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Studdy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1879.
"
HENRY STUDDY, of Waddeton Court, in the County of Devon, Gentleman,
Commodore Royal Dart Yacht Club. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING
THE BOTTOMS AND SIDES OF SHIPS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE COVERING OF
HOLES OR FRACTURES CAUSED BY COLLISIONS OR OTHERWISE IN SHIPS' BOTTOMS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for facilitating the cleaning
of the bottoms and sides of ships and the adjustment of mats, sails; or the like for
covering holes or fractures caused by collisions or otherwise in ships' bottoms, and
is chiefly designed to further improve the cleaning apparatus described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the 24th March, A.D. 1877, No. 1170;
the present improvements being also applicable in place of a part of the apparatus
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the 19th June, A.D.
1877, No. 2380.
With regard to the cleaning of the sides and bottoms of ships I have found in
practice that in the case of flat-bottomed ships and ships provided with "bilge"
pieces that considerable advantage would be obtained by providing two frames or
blocks to guide and support the ropes carrying the brushes in place of the one
trough or frame described in the first of the two above named former Specifications
as partially enclosing the keel, these two frames or blocks being made capable of
adjustment to any part of the ship's surface.
According to the present Invention I provide two frames or blocks, each of
which is much smaller than the aforesaid trough, and is furnished with rollers so
fitted that the said frames or blocks may be readily moved from place to place on
the ship's side or bottom, as desired. Other rollers are also furnished in the said

page_text: frames, which rollers serve to carry the rope to which the brush or brushes are
attached. Other ropes are firmly attached to each side of both of the said frames
or blocks, the free ends of these ropes being carried to the deck; these last named
ropes are so arranged that the sides and bottom of the ship are completely encircled
thereby (excepting the portions of the surface occupied by the frames or blocks
themselves), the rope attached to one side of each frame or block going up one side
of the ship and the rope attached to the other side of each frame or block going
up the other side of the ship, the free ends meeting on deck, and being secured
there in any convenient manner. It will thus be seen that by manipulating the
ropes on deck both frames or blocks' may be quickly adjusted to any portion of the
ship's sides or bottom. Each frame or block has its own ropes, and may be thereby
adjusted independently of the other. In operating both of the said frames or
blocks are lowered over the side and adjusted in convenient positions opposite to
each other, leaving a space between them in the direction of the ship's length:
The securing ropes are fastened on deck, so that the said frames are kept tightly
pressed to that portion of the ship's side or bottom where they have been adjusted,
and the intervening space between these two frames is the portion of the ship's
Burface which is first to be cleaned. The actual cleaning is then effected by
hauling backwards and forwards the rope carrying the brush or brushes or other
appliance, this rope passing over rollers in the said frames or blocks in the direction
of the length of the ship and over the bow and stern thereof. The brush or brushes
will be attached to that part of this rope which travels to and fro in the space
between the two frames or blocks. It will be seen that the scrubbing or brushing is
effected in a longitudinal direction, the two blocks or frames serving as firm
supports for the rope, which is hauled to and fro in the operation.
As soon as one portion of the ship's surface has been cleaned, the aforesaid
securing ropes are unfastened on deck, the frames or blocks are re-adjusted to
enclose another portion, and the scrubbing or brushing is re-commenced. In this
manner the whole of the ship's sides and bottom may be expeditiously cleaned, as
the said frames or blocks can be readily moved from one position to another what-
ever may be the configuration of the ship's surface under water.
#
This method will be found very advantageous when dealing with ships having
flat bottoms or bilge" pieces, and may in some cases be preferred with vessels
having keels and without "bilge" pieces in place of the frame or trough designed
to partially enclose and roll over the keel as described in the first of the two former
Specifications above named.
It will be obvious that the said frames or blocks may also be advantageously
employed for supporting and expeditiously adjusting a sail, mat, or similar article
over a fracture made in the side or bottom of a ship by a collision or otherwise.
The blocks or frames being attached by ropes or otherwise to the sail or similar
article the whole may be quickly lowered by means of the securing ropes, and
secured firmly in position. The sail or mat may be provided with two rollers (one
on each side), which would run over the sides of the ship, keeping the sail or mat
free of the splinters.
The said frame or blocks being, as herein before mentioned, much smaller than the
aforesaid fraine or trough designed to run upon the keel, are more convenient to
handle and occupy a much smaller space when stowed away.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Studdy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th November
1879.
HENRY STUDDY, of Waddeton Court, in the County of Devon, Gentleman,
Commodore Royal Dart Yacht Club. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING
THE BOTTOMS AND SIDES OF SHIPS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE COVERING OF
HOLES OR FRACTURES CAUSED BY COLLISIONS OR OTHERWISE IN SHIPS' BOTTOMS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for facilitating the cleaning
of the bottoms and sides or hulls of ships and the covering of holes or fractures caused
therein by collisions or otherwise, and is chiefly designed to further improve the
Inventions described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me
the 24th day of March, A.D. 1877, No. 1170, and the 19th day of June, A.D. 1877,
No. 2380. With regard to the cleaning of the sides and bottoms of ships I havo
found in practice that in the case of flat bottomed ships and ships having "bilge
pieces, that considerable advantage would be gained by providing two frames or
blocks to guide and support the ropes carrying the brush or brushes in place of the
one trough or frame described in the said former Specification, these two frames or
blocks being capable of ready adjustment to any part of the ship's surface.
33
The said frames or blocks are also equally advantageous for the purpose of
carrying and supporting the ropes to which a mat, sail, or the like is affixed for
covering a fracture in the hull of a ship.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a side view of the hull of a ship with my improved apparatus applied
thereto, and in position for the operation of cleaning.
. Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the blocks in combination with a mat or
covering apparatus, which is in position to be drawn over a hole or fracture in the
side of the ship.
Figures 3 and 4 are detached views of the said mat or covering apparatus, shewing
the same rolled up and unrolled.
A, A, represent the two frames or blocks, each of which is much smaller than the
frame or trough described in the first of the said former Specifications; these blocks
are provided with rollers a, so fitted that the blocks may be readily moved from
place to place on the ship's side or bottom as desired. Rollers b are also provided
in or upon the blocks A, and are designed as supports to the rope c, to which the
brush or brushes & or other suitable articles are attached. Other ropes e are firmly
attached to the top and bottom of the blocks A, as shewn, and extend to the deck,
one rope of each block passing from the top of the block up the same side of the
ship to the deck, and the other rope passing from the bottom of the block around
the bottom of the ship and up the other side to the deck. The two free ends of
the ropes e from each block A are secured on deck in any suitable manner, so that
they may be conveniently handled. It will thus be seen that by manipulating
these ropes on deck the blocks A may be quickly adjusted to any portion of the
ship's sides or bottom. Each frame or block A has its own ropes e, and may
thereby be adjusted independently of the other.
The blocks A are of a convenient size to be stowed away on board, and together
with the brush and ropes take up very little space.
I find in practice that a con-
venient size for each block is three feet square.
The brush & may be made with a rigid. or flexible back, and is shewn in the
Drawing with the back made in sections, this construction being designed to enable
the brush to conform to the shape of the ship's surface.
When it is desired to commence the cleaning operations the blocks A, carrying
the brush d and rope c are lowered over the side of the ship by means of the
ropes c. The blocks A are provided with weights to ensure their ready descent

page_text: .
to the required position, which in commencing will be close to the keel when
operating upon ships having keels. The said blocks are adjusted opposite to each
other, leaving a space between them in the direction of the ship's length, as shewn.
The ropes e are then fastened upon deck, so that the blocks A are kept tightly
pressed to that portion of the ship's side or bottom to which they have been
adjusted, and the intervening space between these two blocks A is the portion of
the ship's surface which is first to be cleaned. The brush & is secured to the rope c,
as shewn, and the cleaning of the ship is effected by hauling backwards and
forwards this rope, thus causing the brush to scrub the surface of the ship. The
rope c passes upward along the side of the ship through the hawse pipes fore and
aft, as shewn, to the deck where it is operated, rollers being provided in the said
hawse pipes to facilitate the motion of the rope. Although the rope c is shewn as
passing through the hawse pipes, it may be carried to the deck in any other
suitable manner, and may be operated on the upper or lower deck, but I prefer the
latter. This rope may, in some instances if desirable, be operated from boats placed
in any convenient position.
As soon as one portion of the ship's surface has been cleaned the ropes e are
unfastened on deck, the blocks A are re-adjusted to enclose another portion, and
the scrubbing or brushing is re-commenced. In this manner the whole of a ship's
sides and bottom may be expeditiously cleaned, as the blocks A can be readily
moved from one portion to another whatever may be the configuration of the ship's
surface under water.
"
The above described improved apparatus will be found very advantageous when
dealing with ships having flat bottoms and those having bilge "pieces, and may
in some cases be preferred with ships having keels and not "bilge" pieces in place
of the frame or trough designed to partially enclose and roll over the keel, as
described in the first of my said former Specifications.
Although I have shewn the blocks A. and brush & placed for cleaning the ship
in a longitudinal direction, the said blocks may if desired be placed one above the
other, and the brush may be caused to travel up and down in a vertical direction.
Referring to that part of my present improvements relating to the covering of
fractures to keep out the water in case of accident, the blocks and ropes as herein-
before described are employed; but instead of a brush I attach to the rope ca mat
or covering apparatus designed to cover the fracture. For this purpose I prefer
to employ a piece of suitable material g (which may be sail-cloth) attached to two
rollers h, h, so that the said mat or apparatus may be rolled up and stowed away
conveniently when not in use, and will be always ready in any case of emergency.
At each end of the two rollers / I provide a small roller i, the latter facilitating the
hauling of the mat over the ship's surface to the required position.
It will be readily understood that the said mat or sail with its rollers when
attached to the rope c may be quickly lowered over the ship's side with the
blocks A, and the latter being secured by means of the ropes e the mat or covering
apparatus may be drawn to any position, and the hole or fracture will be covered
and the entrance of water will be prevented until the fracture can be repaired.
Although I prefer to employ a covering apparatus constructed as shewn in the
Drawing, it will be understood that a sail or any suitable article that may be at
hand when a collision occurs may be employed in connection with the block and
ropes.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The apparatus, consisting of adjustable blocks or frames, provided with
ropes, and combined with one or more brushes or other suitable devices for cleaning
the outer surface of the hull of a ship, as above set forth.
Second. In combination with the adjustable blocks or frames and the ropes a
mat, sail, or other similar device suitable for covering holes or apertures caused
in the hull of a ship by collision or otherwise, as and for the purpose above
described.

page_text: Third. An apparatus for covering a fracture caused by collision or otherwise in
the hull of a ship, consisting of a piece of sail-cloth or other suitable material pro-
vided with a roller at each end, the said rollers being each furnished with small
rollers to facilitate the movement of the covering apparatus over the ship's surface,
as above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Studdy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.