AN IMPROVED BEDSTEAD CHIEFLY FOR USE ON BOARD SHIP
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P. Thompson
& Boult, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED BEDSTEAD
CHIEFLY FOR USE ON BOARD SHIP A communication from François Lebacq
"
a person resident at Bruxelles in the binedom of Rolmium
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1882.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W P. Thompson & Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, "AN IMPROVED BEDSTEAD, CHIEFLY FOR USE ON BOARD SHIP [A' com-
munication from François Lebacq a person resident at Bruxelles in the kingdom
of Belgium.]
This invention relates to an improved bedstead chiefly for use on board ship.
This bedstead is so constructed that whatever the motion of the ship carriage or
vehicle on which the same may be used, the top will yet remain in a constant
position.
A bedstead embodying this invention is constructed substantially as follows:-
There is a base consisting of a frame or casing of approximately quadrangular
shape the heads or ends being curved and preferably made of cast metal. In this
works a second frame of somewhat similar form and carries a third frame likewise,
with curved heads; this last is upholstered.
In the base of the first frame are two bearing blocks placed centrally in its
length On the bearing blocks work rollers made say of iron covered with India
rubber and provided with movable sliding guides..
Friction rollers are provided between the first and second frames.
The third frame has journals or pivots working in bearings, in the ends of the
second frame-Between the ends of the first and second frames movable rollers
LD C

page_text: work, suitable sliding guides being provided for the same and working in apertures
in the said two frames.
There are also hinged supports or blocks fitted with rollers and supporting the
third frame in which there is a frame fitted with straps.
By suitable bands a counter-weight is hung in a convenient position on the
third frame.
The construction of the whole is such, that the two inner frames swing, within
certain limits in the outer one, the counter-weight rendering the motion more
smooth, and allowing the bed on the top of the structure to be kept in an inclined
position if required.
By suitable devices the swinging of the parts can be prevented and the whole
may then serve as a sofa, if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of, the firm of W P Thompson & Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex
Engineer "AN IMPROVED BEDSTEAD, CHIEFLY FOR USE ON BOARD SHIP" A com-
munication from François Lebacq a person resident at Bruxelles, in the kingdom
of Belgium
This invention relates to a ships berth which is so constructed that the part
on which the occupant thereof reposes does not participate in the rolling and
pitching motion of the vessel but remains always in a horizontal position by
reason of such construction the occupant of the berth will be less liable to be
attacked by seasickness or will altogether escape the same
The construction is also applicable to seats or couches for use in ambulance
wagons railway carriages, and for similar purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the annexed drawings Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of this berth
with all its parts in their place
Figure 2 is a transverse section
Figure 3 is an exterior longitudinal elevation of the casing or box C.
Figure 4 represents an exterior transverse view of the box C
Figures 5 and 6 show the box B in longitudinal section (Figure 5 and cross
section Figure 6)
Figures 7 and 8 represent the box A in section Figure 7 longitudinally and
Figure 8 transversely.
.
Figure 9 is an outside view of one of the lateral Walls of box A
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the entire counterweight X provided with the
bands x and x¹
Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the arrangement and operation of the
hinged supports U and U¹ by which the movement can be stopped.
In the said drawings A is the bottom box or case having curved cast iron
heads or ends.
B is the moveable intermediary box with curved cast iron heads or ends
C is the upper movable cushioned or stuffed frame with curved cast iron heads
or ends
S. S are supporting blocks or bottom pieces of the casing A
.tt t² t³ rails for the metallic friction rollers G G¹.
Ġ G' central metallic grooved friction rollers provided with movable sliding.
guides and with rails t t¹ t² t³
g. g. g. 93. friction rollers fixed on the sides of the box or case B and serving to
prevent friction between the longitudinal sides of the cases A and B.
T and T moveable sliding guides for the central rollers G and G¹.
c and c¹ journals fixed to the ends of the case C and working in bearings c² and c³
arranged on the top of the ends of the case B.
HH' Rollers which work between the ends of the cases A and B.
J and J¹ spring plates fixed to the ends of the box A and serving as the working
surface for the rollers H H of case B
U and U¹ hinged supports or stop blocks
V moveable frame fitted with straps or bands
X cast iron counterweight
xx¹ straps or bands supporting the counterweight, fixed to the outer sides of
case.C.

page_text: .
OPERATION
This ships berth as will be seen consists therefore of the following
1) A fixed rectangular case or box A serving as the base being open at top and
bottom having sides, of wood and ends of cast iron the latter slightly curved each
side having bottom pieces S and S₁ of hard wood and also semi circular rails.
2) A movable intermediary case B the ends of which are inclined and curved
parallel or concentric with the ends of the box or case A; whatever the position
which the case A assumes in a longitudinal direction that is to say during the
pitching, the case B because of its weight and its special shape always maintains
its horizontal position.
This movement of the one case within the other is produced by means of the two
channelled friction rollers G G' placed between the rails of the bottom pieces S
and S¹ and by the rollers g and g¹ placed on the lower sides of the case B and the
rollers H and H' placed between the ends of the cases A and B-The rollers G
and G¹ are guided by the movable sliding guides T and T':
The rollers ggg g³ provided at the corners of the case B prevent friction
between the sides of the cases A and B.
+
3) A third upper stuffed case C provided with a counterweight ✗ and bearing
on the upper part of its ends pivots or journals c and c¹ turning in bearings or
apertures c c fixed on the top of the inclined ends of the movable case B.
By reason of this arrangement the rolling can not alter the horizontal position of
the case C. which has to receive the frame V fitted with bands or straps which
carries the mattress and other bedding.
The hinged stopping supports which may however be dispensed with if desired
can prevent all the above described movements..
The arrangement and operation of the case B in the case A serve to prevent the
inclination of the bed produced by the pitching that is to say in the direction of its
length.
The arrangement and operation of the case C in the case B serve to prevent the
inclination of the bed produced by the rolling viz in the direction of its width
from port to starboard.
. By reason of this double movement the bed properly so called always maintains
a horizontal position
By these arrangements taken as a whole the following results are obtained
a) A perfect, steady, and regular operation of the cases C and B by the
arrangement of the rollers H and H together with the spring plates J J₁ the
central friction roller G and G₁ and of their sliding, guides T and T and by
the special form of the heads or ends and the guiding rollers g g¹g² g³ of the
case B.
b) The movement of the cases C and B can be instantaneously and entirely
stopped and the bed thus transformed into a sofa by using the hinged supporting
stops and also by reason of the special construction of the frame fitted with straps
and carrying the mattress.
c) By means of the counterweight fixed on the upper case C its too sudden
motion can be prevented and the case be maintained in its horizontal position.
This counterweight can, by the slot and bolt arrangement shown in figure 10 be
brought nearer to the head-end or the foot end-As a rule the counterweight is
required more towards the foot end.
To render, the operation of the two cases clearer, the operation of each of the
principal parts which assist in the same will be specially described.

page_text: left and from-left to right. This movement is produced by the displacement of the
case B which rests on the said friction rollers in the direction of its length. They
are moreover guided between the bottom pieces S and S¹ and the lower part of the
side of the case B by rails t t¹ t2t3 semicircular in section which enter into the
groove or channel provided in the rollers G and G. The sliding guides T and T' are
placed in a vertical position when the case B is in a horizontal position; they are
connected to the bottom pieces S. & S¹ and to the inner sides of case B. Their
friction is to guide the central friction rollers which re-establish the equilibrium
which is broken by the shifting of the centre of gravity in consequence of the
swinging of the case B.
•
The rollers H and H¹ are of iron and provided with a sheath or covering of
india rubber and fixed by their two ends in the bearings fitted on the outer sides
of the case B
.
Spring plates J J₁ attached to the upper part of the interior of the ends of the
case A serve as working surfaces for the rollers H H', that is to say the said
rollers are always in contact with these spring plates when they are moving, thus
almost entirely suppressing the friction which would to a greater or less extent be
produced on a rigid surface. The rollers HH' have for their function to
facilitate the regular swinging motion of the case A and thus aid by the joint
action of the central rollers G G' to maintain the case in its horizontal position.
OPERATION OF THE HINGED SUPPORTING STOPS
The hinged supporting stops (Figure 11) consist of two double blocks having
rollers at their upper part connected with one another by two rods fixed nearly at
the centre and in the thickness of the wood all clearly shown in Figure 11 The
lower part of the double block U is fitted with an iron rod the two ends whereof
are squared off so as to receive a crank handle, This iron rod has a journal at
each end which rotates in a bearing provided in the sides of the case A.
The lower part of the double block U is attached by hinges to a bottom piece
fixed on the sides of the case A These two double blocks occupy a horizontal
position lying in the bottom of the case A When the cases B and C. begin to
operate and it is desired to stop their action it is sufficient to turn the crank handle
when the two double blocks U and U₁ rise and assume the vertical position shown
in the drawings; the case B then bears upon recesses provided at a suitable height
in the two double blocks, the case C bears on the upper part of the double blocks
and the frame V is raised by two cross-bars or boards which becomes jammed under
it and which rests upon the rollers fixed to the upper part of the double blocks
From this operation it results that the cases B and C are rendered fixed and the
frame V being raised the mattress which it carries comes flush with the hand
rails thus, transforming the bed into a sofa These stopping supports may however
be dispensed with

page_text: L
slide admitting of its being shifted forward or backward as may be necessary as
already explained.
This counterweight has for its functions to facilitate the re-establishment of the
centre of gravity of the cases B and C displaced by the weight of the body of the
person occupying the berth
This berth can be constructed of wood iron or other suitable material, and its
shape and dimensions may be modified as occasion may require. It can be applied
to ships and generally to all means of locomotion such as ambulances railway
carriages and cetera The central friction rollers G and G₁ and the moveable rollers H
and H can be made of wood iron or other suitable material and may be covered.
with india rubber or other suitable material if desired their number may be
increased
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to me. by my foreign correspondent I wish
it to be understood that what I claim and desire to protect under the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is
First The cases A B and C and frame V combined and operating substantially
in the manner and for the purposes set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings
Second The cases A B and C and frame V of the special form substantially as
described and illustrated.
1
Third The rollers G and G¹ movable sliding guides or brackets T and T¹ and
rails tttt constructed combined and operating substantially as described and
shown
Fourth-The rollers g g¹ g² g³ and H and H' in combination with case B
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth The combination of rollers Hand H¹ and spring plates J J substan-
tially as set forth.
Sixth The hinged or jointed stop-supports U U₁ provided with rollers
connected by rods and capable of being laid down out of the way or raised up by
a winch handle whereby the automatic action of the whole apparatus is stopped
substantially as described and shown.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my
hand and seal the ninth day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
רכז.
T PATTE
Gal