Improvements in Ships' Berths.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Berths.
We, CARRON COMPANY, incorporated by Royal Charter, of Carron, in the
County of Stirling, Ironmasters and Founders, and ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of
Dawson Terrace, Carron, in the County of Stirling, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of ships' berths and
to better adapt them to be folded up so as to occupy little space when out of use
and also to provide for conveniently stowing the lee rails and like parts more
especially of lower berths which are commonly used as sofas or lounges during the
day and as sleeping berths during the night.
Under one modification of the improved berth the berth frame is composed of
two end frames or castings which are bound together by tubes or rods forced under
pressure into orifices near the corners the tubes or rods constituting the bottom or.
side rails at front and back of the berth frame, whilst the lee rail is pivoted on the
upper of the front side rails and connected by a link to a pivot pin on one of the
brackets which are attached to the bulkhead to support the berth frame. In
the supporting brackets a slot or groove is formed which enters the bracket at an
inclination at the upper outer end thereof thence extends horizontally to the rear
terminating near to the bulkhead. From a point near its rear end the slot or
groove is carried downwards vertically and closed towards the lower end of the
bracket. On each end frame or casting at the end of the berth frame two projecting
studs or pins are fitted to enter the slot or groove of the corresponding supporting
bracket the pins being passed in through the open upper end of the slot or groove.
When the berth frame is folded down into position for use, one of the studs or pins
at or near the extreme end of each end frame rests at the inner end of the horizontal
portion of the slot or groove and bears against the upper side of the groove whilst
the other pin rests in the groove in proximity to the inclined portion and bears on
the lower side of the groove.
When the berth frame is to be folded up against the
bulkhead it is first drawn slightly forward and is thereby tilted up by the front
studs or pins being drawn up the inclined portions of the grooves in the supporting
brackets, whilst the rear studs or pins enter and drop down into the vertical
portion, the forward studs thereupon passing rearwards into the slot until the studs
are about vertically over each other in which position the berth frame is approximately
vertical and rests securely against the bulkhead. The link connecting the lee rail
to the supporting bracket being turned around a fixed point causes the pivoted lee
rail to swing outwards and upright in line with the berth frame as the latter assumes
the vertical position on the studs dropping into the vertical grooves.
In another modification of the folding up berth the berth frame is carried upon
the supporting brackets at each end by three studs or pins, two at the inner end of
each end frame and one nearer the front. The latter rests, when the berth frame
is in use, in a recess or bearing on the front end of each supporting bracket, and
the lower of the rear studs rests on a snug or spring catch in proximity to the
bulkhead. In folding up the berth frame the spring catch is pressed back or the
frame drawn slightly forward to free the snug and the berth frame tilted on
the forward stud as a centre until the lower rear stud rests on the bottom part of the
bracket when on further tilting the berth frame it turns upon the lower rear stud
until both rear studs rest upon the bottom of the bracket and the berth frame is

page_text: brought to the upright position against the bulkhead. The guiding slots or grooves
are in this case dispensed with.
In the case of berths intended to be convertible for use as sofas or lounges the
lee rail is arranged to fold down and under or over the seat. For this purpose it is
centred so as to swing upon one of the side rails of the berth frame, and it is locked
in position by a catch on it engaging the end frame, the side rails being also when
desired locked together by pins, on end brackets secured on the lower rail, entering
orifices in the upper rail ends.
To provide for the lee rail being fitted at either end of the berth frame it may be
arranged to slide on the side rails from one end to the other or it may be removable
and provided with socket pieces adapted to fit either end, or the lee rail may be
held at the ends by movable pivots and lockings above the side rails. In the
former case the lee rail is carried by bracket pieces formed on it and forked or
slotted to pass over the upper of the side rails along which they may slide the
lower ends of the bracket pieces resting on and engaging with the lower rail. The
bracket pieces are notched or recessed to engage with a catch on a distance piece
fixed to the side rails about mid length of the berth frame the said catch serving to
hold the lee rail at whichever end of the berth it may be fitted; whilst in shifting
the lee rail from one end to the other it is first slightly raised to clear the catch.
Dated this 30th day of October 1895.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
2 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants
We, CARRON COMPANY, incorporated by Royal Charter, of Carron, in the
County of Stirling, Ironmasters and Founders, and ALEXANDER ROBERTSON,
of Dawson Terrace, Carron, in the County of Stirling, Engineer, 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:―
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of ships' berths and
to better adapt them to be folded up so as to occupy little space when out of use
and also to provide for conveniently stowing the lee rails and like parts more
especially of lower berths which are commonly used as sofas or lounges during the
day and as sleeping berths during the night.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a berth frame shewing a modification of the
invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same shewing the berth frame folded
down for use, and Fig. 3 is a similar view shewing the berth frame folded up out
of use.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified arrangement in which the front rails are
adapted to be folded and stowed under the frame to permit of the use of the berth
frame as a sofa or lounge.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation and Fig. 6 a cross section of the front rails of a
modified arrangement.
Figure 7 is another modification, the dotted lines shewing the position occupied
when the berth frame is folded down, and Fig. 8 a like view of still another
modification.
The improved berth frame is composed of two end frames or castings A, A,
which are bound together by tubes or rods B, B¹, forced under pressure into
orifices near the corners, the tubes or rods B, B¹, constituting the bottom or

page_text: side rails at front and back of the berth frame, whilst the lee rail C is pivoted'
on the upper B¹ of the front side rails and though not so shown may be connected
by a link to a pivot pin on one of the brackets E which are attached to the
bulkhead F to support the berth frame. In the supporting brackets E of the
modification shown at Figures 1, 2 and 3 a slot or groove e, e', is formed which
enters the bracket at au inclination at the upper outer end thereof thence extends
horizontally at e to the rear terminating near to the bulkhead. From a point near
its rear end the slot or groove is carried downwards vertically at e¹ and closed
towards the lower end of the bracket. On each end frame or casting A. at the
end of the berth frame two projecting studs or pins g, gl, are fitted to enter the
slot or groove e, e', of the corresponding supporting bracket the pins being passed
in through the open upper end of the slot or groove at e². When the berth frame is
folded down into position for use as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, one of the studs
or pins g at or near the extreme end of each end frame rests at the inner end of
the horizontal portion e of the slot or groove and bears against the upper side of
the groove whilst the other pin g rests in the groove in proximity to the inclined
portion e² and bears on the lower side of the groove. When the berth frame is to
be folded up against the bulkhead as shewn at Figure 3, it is first drawn slightly
forward and is thereby tilted up by the front studs or pins 9 being drawn up the
inclined portions e² of the grooves in the supporting brackets E, whilst the rear
studs or pins 9¹ enter and drop down into the vertical portion e', the forward
studs 9 thereupon passing rearwards into the slot e until the studs are about
vertically over each other in which position the berth frame is approximately
vertical and rests securely against the bulkhead.
In the berth frame shewn at Figures 1, 2 and 3 the lee rail C is adapted to
swing and to be folded down on the upper side rail B¹ as a centre, for which
purpose the lee rail is carried by bracket pieces K. formed on it and formed with
slots k through which the upper side rail B¹ passes the bracket piece K being
forked at their lower ends at k¹ to engage the lower side rail B.
When the lee
rail is to be folded over it is first raised to disengage the forked ends k¹ from the
rail B, the slots k permitting of this movement, and the lee rail is then free to
swing on the rail B₁ as a centre.
In the case of berths intended to be convertible for use as sofas or lounges the
lee rail and with it the upper front rail is arranged to fold down and under or over
the seat. For this purpose the upper rail B₁ carrying the lee rail C is centred so
as to swing upon the lower side rails B of the berth frame. The lee rail C and
front rail B¹ are locked in position either in the manner shewn at Fig. 4 in which
the end of the lower member of the lee rail C engages a bracket I fitted on the
bottom rail B and the bracket I is locked by a projecting stud i on it entering a
recess in the end frame A said recess being covered by a swivelling thumb piece ¿¹
having a notch in it to permit of disengaging the bracket I on turning the thumb
piece with the notch in line with the stud i; or as shown at Figs. 5 and 6 by
means of a pin J passed through the end bracket A and entering the orifice in
the end of the upper rail B1, the two rails being locked together by the connecting
bracket I.
The side rails B, B1, being thus bound together they form a strong girder like
frame, which when folded down in making up a sofa or lounge will amply bear any
load to which they are subjected.
To provide for the lee rail C being fitted at either end of the berth frame it may
be arranged to slide on the front side rails B, B', from one end to the other or it
may be removable and provided with socket pieces adapted to fit either end, or the
lee rail may be held at the ends by movable locking pieces above the side rails.
In the former case and as shewn at Figs. 1 to 6 the lee rail is carried by bracket
pieces K formed on it and forked or slotted to pass over the upper front side
rail B¹ along which they may slide, the lower forked ends of the bracket pieces K
resting on and engaging with the lower rail B. As shewn at Fig. 5 the bracket
pieces K may be notched or recessed at k² to engage with a catch on a distance

page_text: or centre piece L fixed to the side rails B, B¹, about mid length of the berth
frame, the said catch serving to hold the lee rail at whichever end of the berth it
may be fitted; whilst in shifting the lee rail from one end to the other it is first
slightly raised to clear the catch; or as shewn at Fig. 4 the lee rail may be
held in position at either end by swinging hook catches P secured on the front
rail B.
In the modification of the folding up berth, shewn at Figure 7, the berth frame
is carried upon the supporting brackets E at each end and by three studs or
pins g, g, g, two g¹, 9, at the inner end of each end frame and one 9 nearer
the front. The latter rests, when the berth frame is in use, in a recess or bearing e
on the front end of each supporting bracket E, and the lower g² of the rear studs
In folding up
rests on a snug H.or spring catch in proximity to the bulkhead F.
the berth frame the spring catch when provided is pressed back or the berth frame
drawn slightly forward to free the snug H and the berth frame tilted on the
forward stud g as a centre until the lower rear stud 9² rests on the bottom part
of the bracket when on further tilting the berth frame it turns upon the lower rear
stud until both rear studs rest upon a bearing at E¹ on the bottom of the bracket
and the berth frame is brought to the upright position against the bulkhead as
shewn by dotted lines. The guiding slots or grooves are in this case dispensed
with.
In the modification shewn at Figure 8 the berth frame is fitted to swing or fold
upon a link M at either end pivoted at m on supporting brackets E the other end of
the link being pivoted in a forked bearing m¹ on the under side of the berth frame,
whilst at the inner end of the berth frame a pin or stud N is guided in a vertical
slot O in the supporting brackets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A ship's berth constructed of end frames or castings, each in a piece, bound
together by tubes or rods constituting the bottom or side rails and supported by
means of pins or studs resting in guide grooves or bearings in end brackets and
permitting of the folding of the berths substantially as described.
2. In a ship's berth the arrangement of guide grooves or slots in the supporting
end brackets in combination with pins or studs on the berth frame whereby the
berth frame is guided when folding up or down and is supported in either position
substantially as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed
drawings.
3. In a ship's berth the combination of the berth frame having studs or pins
'arranged as described in the end frames, with supporting brackets having
bearings adapted to permit of folding up and down the berth frame and supporting
it in either position substantially as described with reference to Figure 7 of the
annexed drawings.
4. In a ship's berth the arrangement and combination of devices for locking or
securing together the side rails and for securing the lee rail thereon so as to
permit of the folding of the lee rail alone or in conjunction with the upper side
rail substantially as described.
5. In a ship's berth the combination with the lee rail of slotted and forked
brackets adapted to engage the upper and lower front rails of the frame and to be
locked at either end thereof substantially as described.
114
1مم
T 1
1000
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants.