An Apparatus to be Used in Connection with the Towing and -Anchoring of Ships, the same being Applicable for Trawling and Steering Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: An Apparatus to be Used in Connection with the Towing and
-Anchoring of Ships, the same being Applicable for Trawling
and Steering Purposes.
I, JAMES MHARDY, of Islay Cottage, Dollar, in the County of Clackmannan,
North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
AN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOWING AND ANCHORING
OF SHIPS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE FOR TRAWLING AND STEERING PURPOSES
to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to an apparatus to be used in connection with the
Towing and anchoring of ships, the same being applicable for Trawling and
steering purposes, has for its object to absorb or neutralize irregular or undue
straius given to a hawser or its equivalent, and thereby prevent the breakage
thereof.
In carrying this Invention into practice, a spring or springs either metallic spiral,
steam, air, vacuum or the equivalents thereof are arranged to exert their influence
upon a piston, the rod of which passes outwards from the containing cylinder and
terminates in a loop, hook or its equivalent, the said piston rod being guided at its
outer end in slides or in other convenient manner. A chain, rope or the equivalent
thereof fastened to the piston rod is led forward and may be passed directly around
a fixed sheave or other pulley and may in itself constitute the hawser, which,
under these circumstances, is led backward from the pulley and connected to the
vessel or other body being towed; or the said chain, rope or the equivalent thereof
may be secured upon a drum of less diameter than the sheave pulley with which it
is either directly connected or indirectly through gear wheels. The hawser under
this last construction of apparatus may be secured to and coiled upon the larger
pulley or drum, or to a hook provided upon a portion of chain or rope so secured
to and coiled upon such pulley or drum; or the hawser may be connected directly
to the end of the piston rod without the intervention of pulleys or drums. Air,
spring or other analogous buffers are provided in the cylinder so that in the event
of the hawser breaking from any outside cause, or of any other accident, the sudden
release of the piston and its connected parts may be checked. It is preferred
that air springs be used in the aforesaid apparatus and that the pressure in the
cylinder be automatically regulated by means of a valve, which, when opened by
D
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017

page_text: the pressure within the cylinder, operates a donkey engine which thereupon pumps
air into the said cylinder and forces the piston back into its normal position.
The contained air then also under its norimal pressure or tension, the before
mentioned valve is closed and thus the donkey engine is brought to rest.
Where steam is not available, the pressure in the cylinder may be sustained by
means of pumps operated by a pendulum. This penilulum, which is released in
a manuer analogous to the valve hereinlast referred to, and caught or brought to
rest on the contained air assuming its normal pressure or tension is preferably
suspended between and connected with four pumps situated at right angles to
each other. These pumps are pivoted at their outer ends, their rods being operated
by the pendulum through connecting rods. This latter construction of apparatus
admits of the variations in the length of an anchor cable, when a vessel is anchored
in rough weather, being readily controlled.
The back stroke of the piston may operate a pump for the return of a part of the
air displaced in its forward stroke, or in other words to supply or partially supply
the leakage and thereby sustain the pressure.
A chamber or vessel is, or may be connected by a pipe to the forward end of the
cylinder so as to provide for a greater volume, and therefore a greater elasticity of
air in the apparatus.
When the return of the piston is effected by steam, a valve is arranged in the
inlet or feed pipe to prevent the forcing back of the steam brought to a higher
tension within the cylinder.
In employing this apparatus for the anchoring of vessels, the said apparatus may
be connected with the windlass in such manner that the cables may be drawn or
run out and in through the hawse pipes, and by these means the anchored vessel is
prevented from dragging her anchors.
The hawser employed under the present Invention or the portion of chain er
rope or its equivalent secured to the larger pulley or drum hereinbefore referred to,
is guided between vertical and horizontal rollers and is then passed across the
transverse bridge upon which the said hawser travels or adjusts itself. This bridge
may be provided with a pair of air, steam or other cylinders, the piston rods of
which carry sheave pulleys or their equivalent at the adjacent ends and between
these pulleys the hawser is passed. When by the admission of air, steam or other
medium into the cylinders the piston rods and their pulleys are forced in the same
direction, the hawser is carried between them and thus a vessel otherwise difficult
to stear may, by these means, be caused readily to answer to her helm and be
generally under better control.
Date this fruntaanth day of Folmar 1885
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: DI MUITIVATION.
An Apparatus to be Used in Connection with the Towing and
Anchoring of Ships, the same being Applicable for Trawling
and Steering Purposes.
I, JAMES MCHARDY of Islay Cottage, Dollar, in the County of Clackmannan,
North Britain, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
AN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOWING AND ANCHORING OF
SHIPS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE FOR TRAWLING AND STEERING PURPOSES and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention, which relates to an apparatus to be used in connection with the
towing and anchoring of ships, the same being applicable for Trawling and steering
purposes, has for its object to absorb or neutralize irregular or undue strains given
in a hawser or its equivalent, and thereby prevent the breakage thereof.
In carrying my Invention into practice, a spring or springs either metallic spiral,
steam, air, vacuum, separately or combined or the equivalents thereof are arranged
to exert their influence upon a piston, the rod of which passes outwards from the
containing cylinder and terminates in a loop, hook or its equivalent, the said piston
rod being guided at its outer end in slides or in other convenient manner. A chain,
rope or the equivalent thereof fastened to the piston rod, is led forward and may be
passed directly around a fixed sheave or other pulley and may in itself constitute
the hawser, which, under these circumstances, is led backward from the pulley and
connected to the vessel or other body being towed; or the said chain, rope or the
equivalent thereof may be secured upon a drum of less diameter than the sheave
pulley with which it is either directly connected or indirectly through gear wheels.
The hawser under this last construction of apparatus may be secured to and coiled
upon the larger pulley or drum, or to a book provided upon a portion of chain or
rope so secured to and coiled upon such pulley or drum; or the hawser may be
connected directly to the end of the piston rod without the intervention of pulleys
or drums. Air, spring or other analogous buffers are provided in or upon the
cylinder so that in the event of the hawser breaking from any outside cause, or of
any other accident, the sudden release of the piston and its connected parts may be
checked. I prefer that air springs be used in the aforesaid apparatus and that
the pressure in the cylinder be automatically regulated by means of a valve, which,
when opened by the pressure within the cylinder, causes a donkey engine to ba
operated and thereupon pumps air into the said cylinder to establish the required
pressure. The contained air then at or under a pressure or tension insufficient to
keep open the before mentioned valve, the said valve is closed and thus the donkey
engine is brought to rest.
Where steam is not available for the operation of a donkey engine as before
mentioned, the pressure in the cylinder may be sustained by means of pumps
operated by a pendulum. This pendulum, which is released in a manner analogous
to the valve herein last referred to, and caught or brought to rest on the contained
air assuming its pre-determined degree of pressure or tension, is preferably
suspended between and connected with pumps. These pumps are pivoted at their
outer ends, their rods being operated by the pendulum through connecting rods.
This latter construction of apparatus admits of the variations in the length of an
anchor cable, when a vessel is anchored in rough weather, being readily controlled.

page_text: The back stroke of the piston may operate a pump for the return of a part of
the air displaced in its forward stroke, or in other words to supply or partially
supply the leakage and thereby sustain the pressure:
A chamber or vessel is, or may be connected by a pipe to the forward end of the
cylinder so as to provide for a greater volume, and therefore a greater elasticity of
air in the apparatus.
When the return of the piston is effected by steam a valve is arranged in the inlet
or feed pipe to prevent the forcing back of the steam brought to a higher tension
within the cylinder.
In employing this apparatus for the anchoring of vessels, the said apparatus may
be connected with the windlass in such manner that the cables may be drawn or
run out and in through the hawse pipes, and by these means the anchored vessel is
prevented from dragging her anchors.
The hawser employed under the present Invention, or the portion of chain or
rope or its equivalent secured to the larger pulley or drum herein before referred to,
is guided between vertical and horizontal rollers and is then passed across the
transverse bridge upon which the said hawser travels or adjusts itself.-This bridge
may be provided with a pair of air, steam or other cylinders, the piston rods of
which carry sheave pulleys or their equivalent at the adjacent ends and between
these pulleys the hawser is passed. When by the admission of air, steam or other
medium into the cylinders the piston rods and their pulleys are forced in the same
direction, the hawser is carried between them and thus a tug otherwise difficult to
steer, may, by these means, be completely under control.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 and 4 are side elevations of certain forms of apparatus
constructed according to my present Invention the latter Figure being drawn to a
reduced scale.
Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus represented at Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevation (drawn to a reduced scale) of apparatus such as
is represented at Figure 1, in combination with mechanism for returning said
apparatus to its normal position and Figure 6, is a detailed view of a valve employed
in connection therewith, the said valve being represented in vertical section.
Figure is a side elevation of another combination of apparatus for a purpose
analogous to that provided for by the apparatus represented at Figure 5.
Figure S is a horizontal section of a part of the same, and Figure 9, is a detailed
view of a detent employed in such combination of apparatus,
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view shewing the means whereby the steering may
be effected by adjusting the position of the hawser and all hereinafter more
particularly described.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
In carrying my present Invention into practice I secure the cylinder",
firmly down upon the deck 7, of the towing or other vessel to which the apparatus
is to be attached. Upon the piston (which is not represented upon the annexed
drawings working within this cylinder a, any suitable description of spring may
exert its influence, such a spring for example as metallic spiral, or a spring
constituted by the elasticity of air or steam. Upon the annexed drawings I have
represented apparatus wherein air and steam are the media by which the necessary
elasticity is attained.
The piston rod e, extends outwards from the cylinder a, through the plate d,
hereinafter described and is secured at its end to the crosshead e, or its equivalent.
This crosshead e, is guided in the slides f, and is formed with the loop or eve g,
(Figures 2 and 3), or, it may be a hook or its equivalent. To the loop g, is attached
the rope h, which is led forward and, as represented at Figure 1 of the annexed
drawings, the said rope may be passed directly around the sheave or other pulley i,
which is supported in the fixed standards. The rope h, under this construction

page_text: may as shewn, then be led backwards past the cylinder a, and connected to the
vessel or other body to be towed by it; or, as represented at Figures 2 and 3, the
said rope h, or the equivalent thereof may be secured and coiled upon the drum,
which is rigidly connected to the larger drum 7, to which the rope m, is secured
and on which it is coiled. The drums k, and 1, are carried on the shaft n, which
is supported in the bearings o, secured to the deck b. The hawser 7, may itself be
fastened and coiled upon the drum 7, or, as shewn at Figures 2 and 3, the said
hawser may be made fast to the swivel hook q, or its equivalent which is secured
to the end of the rope m. In place of being secured to any intermediate pulley or
rope as hereiulast described, the hawser p, may be connected to the loop or eye.
(Figure 3) of the crosshead so as to be acted upon directly by the action of the
spring. Uponthe cylinder cover r, as shewn at Figure 1, 2, and 3 or upon any other
convenient part of the cylinder a. I provide air, spring or other buffers for the
purpose of checking or absorbing the impact of the piston in the event of the said
piston being suddenly released by the breakage of either of the ropes h, and m
or of the hawser p, or from any other outside cause. The buffer I have represented
at Figures 1, 2 and 3 consists of the spiral springs s, which are capable of being
longitudinally compressed upon the bolts t, along which, the plates d. (hereinbefore
referred to) are also capable of sliding.
The medium of which I prefer to constitute the springs used in the cylinders a
is air, aud at Figures 5 and 6 of the annexed drawings. I have represented
apparatus by which the pressure in the said cylinders is to be regulated. With
reference more particularly to Figure 5, the cylinder a, is connected by the pipe u,
to the steam valve, which is in that said Figure indicated at A. This valve as
represented at Figure 6 contains the piston e, upon which, the pressure, generated
in the cylinder 7, and communicated through the pipe, tends to force it
downward against the action of the spring we, and thereby lower the valve r,
from off its seat and open or make communication between the passages . and
thereof. The pressure at which the valve r, is moved off its seat is adjustable by
means of the nut a', by turning which the compression of the spring . may be
increased or decreased. The valve A, (Figure 5) is connected to the pipe 61, which
leads from the steam boiler (not represented upon the annexed drawings) to the
donkey engine B. Upon the opening of the valve A in the manner hereinbefore
described steam is admitted to and operates the donkey engine B, and thereby
causes air to be forced through the air-vessel e', and along the pipe ', to the front
of the piston in the cylinder -The piston is in this manner forced back into its
normal position and, supposing the "load" then upon the said piston insufficient to
draw it forward and maintain the air at the pressure necessary to keep open the
valve A, the said valve closes and thus the donkey engine is brought to rest.
Where steam is not available for the operation of a donkey engine in the manner
herein last described, the pressure in the cylinder a, may be sustained by the
apparatus represented at Figure 7. The pipe . is connected at e (Figure 9) te
the cylinder f³, and the pressure generated in the cylinder a, (Figure 7) tends to
force down the piston, and with it the detent fl. against the pressure of the
spring g'. The pressure at which the detent f. is moved downwards may he
varied in a manner similar to that herein before described with reference to
Figure 6 that is to say by the nut a¹.
The detent f. when depressed as hereinlast described releases the pendulum ',
Figure which is suspended by an universal joint from the underside of the
deck, or other bracket or fixed part of the vessel. The pendulum rod i, has
pivoted to it the connecting rods of the four pumps, which are arranged
around the said pendulum rod, and situated at right angles to each other.
These pumps ¹, as represented in the horizontal section at Figure S, are pivoted
at their outer ends to the rigid brackets /, and their outlets, which are provided
with flexible tubes m', (Figure 7) or their equivalents and with valves to prevent
the return of any air to the said pumps are (as indicated by the dotted lines at
Figure 8) all connected to one common pipe d', which communicates, through the

page_text: air vessel ¹, with the front end of the cylinder a. After the detent f', has been
released from the point n', (Figure 7) of the pendulum h', the said pendulum
assumes its vertical position and in doing so operates the plungers of the pumps k
which, by virtue of the motion of the vessel have been and continue to be moved
out of their horizontal position. The operation of the pumps, continues so long
as the pendulum , and pendulum rod, remain released, that is to say so long as
the detent f, remains depressed, but after the desired pressure is established, that
is to say, after the piston in the cylinder, has been forced into its normal position
and the pressure in the said cylinder is insufficient to retain the detent f, in its
depressed condition, the said detent is pressed upward by the action of the
spring, and catching the point n', (Figure 7) in its passage beneath the
pendulum, renders the pumps k, inoperative.
This latter construction of pendulum-operated mechanism admits of the variations
in the length of an anchor cable, when a vessel is anchored in rough weather,
being controlled automatically. As an example of such an application of my
Invention I have at Figure 7 represented the hereinbefore described apparatus as
connected by the rope . to the windlass c. By these means the anchor chain or
cable, which is represented at Figure by the dotted lines o, may be drawn or
run out and in through the hawser pipes, and correspondingly up or down through
the deck b. from and to the chain locker, and in this manner the anchored vessel
is prevented from dragging her anchors.
The employment of the air-vessels c. (Figures 5 and 6) provides for a greater
volume and therefore a greater elasticity of the air within the cylinder and
consequently increases the range of the apparatus generally.
When steam is employed as the medium by which the spring in the cylinder.
is constituted, the said cylinder is of greater dimensions. At Figure of the
annexed drawings, I have represented such a construction of apparatus.-The
forward end of the cylinder a, is connected by the pipe directly to the steam
boiler which is not represented upon the annexed drawings.
In this pipe, there is fitted a valve 7. so constructed as to close only when
the pressure in the cylinder a, is greater than that in the boiler with which it is
connected. The pipe, and cocks s', are provided to draw off from the cylinder
the water of condensation accumulating therein.
As shewn in dotted lines at Figures 2 and 3 of the aunexed drawings, the
rope m, or it may be the hawser, is guided between the vertical rollers t', and
upon the horizontal roller w, which said rollers are supported in the frame or
casting, which is secured firmly to the vessel b. The rope m, or its equivalent
is passed through the aperture in the block which is capable of sliding along the
rail, secured to the bridge, and in this manner dispenses with the rubbing
and chafing to which the hawser has hitherto been subjected in travelling across
and adjusting itself unprotected upon the said bridge . By altering the relative
position of the hawser upon the bridge, it is well understood how the steering
of the vessel is readily controlled. At Figure 10 of the annexed drawings I have
diagrammatically represented means such as may be employed to effect this
steering. The block el, has secured to either side a rope or chain as represented
by the dotted lines y'. The chain y, which is otherwise endless, is passed partly
around the pulleys, and conducted to the steering gear which may be situated at
any convenient part of the vessel. This steering gear as shewn at Figure 10,
consists of a cylinder 2, with a piston rod 62, passing out from the two ends
thereof. The outer ends of the piston rod or rods, are, by ropes or the equivalent
thereof connected to the drums, in a manner similar to that herein before
described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings. The
drums, are secured to and rotate as one with the larger pulleys, which are
so formed as to transmit motion to the rope or chain y. The cylinder 2, is con-
nected by the pipe e², to the steam boiler and is provided with a valve f, which
may be operated by a stop cock and which admits steam to one or other side of the
piston at pleasure.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be perfomed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. For the purposes of controlling or compensating the shocks or irregular
strains to which a hawser, anchor cable and analogous ropes or fastenings are
subjected, a cylinder a, on the piston of which a metallic spiral spring or a spring
constituted by the elasticity of a vacuum or partial vacuum, or of air, steam or the
equivalent thereof or any combination of the same exerts its influence all sub-
stantially as and operating in the manner herein before set forth with reference to
the annexed drawings.
Second. The arrangement and combination of mechanism whereby the valve
(Figure 6) is moved off its seat at the time when the pressure in the cylinder,
exceeds that to which the maintaining close of the said valver, has been previously
adjusted and the admitting steam to and consequent operating of the donkey
engine A thereby all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth
with reference more particularly to Figures 5 and 6 of the annexed drawings.
Third. The arrangement and combination of mechanism whereby the detent f¹,
(Figures 7 and 9) releases the pendulum 4', at the time when the pressure in the
cylinder, exceeds that to which the maintaining in its operative position of the
said detent f, has been previously adjusted and thereby causing the operation of
the pumps k. all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth with
reference more particularly to Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the annexed drawings or the
mechanical equivalents of all or any of the parts thereof.
Fourth. The cylinder, (Figure 4) connected direct to a steam boiler and
provided with the valve , which is only capable of being closed when the
pressure of steam in the cylinder exceeds the pressure in the boiler all substantially
as and operating in the manner herein before set forth with reference to Figure 4 of
the annexed drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement in combination with the cylinder a, of the pulley i,
wherefrom the hawser h, may be connected direct to a vessel being towed all
substantially as and operating in the manner herein before set forth with reference
to Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
Sixth. The arrangement in combination with the cylinder, of the drum k, and
larger pulley or drum, wherefrom the rope m, is passed between and over the
rollers, and, respectively and through the block e, which is capable of sliding
longitudinally upon the bridge, all substantially as and operating in the manner
hereinbefore set forth with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings
or the mechanical equivalents of all or any of the parts thereof.
Seventh. The arrangement in combination with the cylinder of the capstan 6,
all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth with reference more
particularly to Figure 7 of the annexed drawings.
Eighth. The arrangement and combination of mechanism whereby the position
of the block e. (Figures 3 and 10) and rope h. m, or p, may be altered and governed
according to the direction or course in which it is desired to steer the vessel all
substantially as and operating in the manner herein before set forth with reference
more particularly to Figure 10 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this fourteenth day of November 1885.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Applicant's Agents,