An Improved Automatic Ships' Freeing Port.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Ships' Freeing Port.
I NICOL ARTHUR, 25 Cambridge Gardens, Edinburgh, Midlothian, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of improvements upon devices at present in use, for freeing
water from ships decks. The apparatus in the form of doors fitted at the bulwarks,
are made to swing horizontally by being attached, or, pivoted at their sides by pintles
rivetted to the doors & working in bearings, fitted to a strong frame on bulwarks,
in the same manner as an ordinary dressing glass. The pintles being above the
centre of the door, it remains closed untill the pressure of water forces the lower part
outwards, and, thus clears the deck.
To prevent these doors opening when the ship is rolling, a weight is attached to the
top edge by wire rope & small pulleys or, by a spring, so as to counterbalance this
tendency and, avoid water being shipped by these doors.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Ships' Freeing Port.
I, NICOL ARTHUR 25 Cambridge Gardens, Leith Midlothian, Shipbuilder, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus at present in use for freeing
water from the decks of vessels, fitted with bulwarks. The improvements are designed
particularly to overcome the liability of shipping water by the port openings in the
bulwarks.
To obtain this result I pivot, or, hung the door from a point in a line drawn at an
angle of 45° from the vertical centre line of the door, therefore the centre of gravity
is below, and, outside the axis on which the door works.
By this means the door remains closed until there is a pressure of water on the
inside of the bulwarks which forces the door open, and allows the water to pass
through the opening until the deck is "freed," when the door will again close, as
represented under one modification in front elevation Figure 1, in vertical section
Figure 2, of the annexed drawings the improved apparatus comprises a framing E,
rivetted to the bulwark F, on the port door L is rivetted a angle K, to which is
attached by bolts the pins working into bushed bearings D. The top edge of the door
is bevelled and butts against the bulwark plating F. The door can only open in on
direction, as shown by dotted lines A, B, Figure 2, the bottom part of framing G
projects over the opening and thus prevents the door coming within the line of
bulwarks at that part.
In operation when a pressure of water is brought to hear from the outside of the
ship on to the door it remains closed, as the greatest area of the doors surface is below
the axis on which it moves when the pressure is from the inside, or, deck the lower
part is forced open outwards until the centre of gravity C, Figure 2. can assert its
position.
Having now perticularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved

page_text: automactic ships freeing port, fitted as shown in bulwarks substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, and 2, of the annexed drawings.
2. The attaching the pins to cross angle by bolts, thus making the door portable.
3. Placing the axis of the door at an angle of 45° from the centre of gravity of the
door, and for the purpose set forth and shown in. Figure 2, of the annexed drawings.
Dated 15th day of July 1890.
NICOL ARTHUR.