AN IMPROVED BRAKE OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SPEEDY ARREST OR STOPPAGE OF SHIPS AT SEA
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS ALOYSIUS SEGRAVE, of Mullingar, in the County of Westmeath,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"AN IMPROVED BRAKE OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SPEEDY ARREST
OR STOPPAGE OF SHIPS AT SEA" to be as follows:-
The object of the said Invention is to produce apparatus for the purpose of
facilitating the arrest or stoppage of vessels at sea, and thereby obviating collisions,
or reducing their ill effects. The Invention consists in arranging a number of
blades or flat plates of steel of suitable length, breadth, and thickness, worked on
a pivot passed through the centre of cach blade or plate, so that the said blades
or plates will open out like a star or circular fan. The group of blades or plates
thus formed is fixed in a suitable frame, and the latter is then secured to the stem
of the vessel, so that when the said blades or plates are closed they will all be
parallel to each other, and cause no obstruction to the progress of the vessel.
When the blades or plates are spread out in the star or circular-fan shape they
(by reason of their flat surfaces presented to the action of the water) will act as
a brake, and assist in pulling up the vessel quickly.
The apparatus may be caused to expand or close up by means of a winch to be
operated near the bow of the vessel.
Dated this Fourth day of January 1884.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicant,
10, Leinster Street, Dublin.

page_text: I, THOMAS ALOYSIUS SEGRAVE of Mullingar in the County of Westmeath,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention viz.
AN IMPROVED BRAKE OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SPEEDY
STOPPAGE OF SHIPS AT SEA to be as follows:-
ARREST OR
It consists of a wedge shaped frame to be attached to, or built in with the stem
of the vessel below the water line contained in which frame are a number of flat
bars or blades of steel, run through the centre by a pin or bar on which they can
rotate and when open form a circular fan or star shape presenting a broad front to
the water, and when shut up offers little if any impediment to the speed of the
vessel. The brake to be worked from the bow or other convenient part of the ship
by a lever, wheel, rack or other suitable appliance, worked either by hand or steam
or hydraulic power. In case of steam ships by steam power and worked from the
engine room of the vessel. The blades would revolve round a pin or bar run
through the centre of each and fastened into a spiked wheel round which a chain
would pass up to another wheel or pulley at the prow or on the deck of the vessel,
each end of this chain would be carried on to the engine room and attached to
a rack worked by a pinion or cog connected with a shaft driven by steam and
worked by a back and forward movement so that the fan or star would be opened
and shut from twenty to fifty times in a minute. The blades would be ten or
twelve or more in number the largest blade being about the length equal to half
the draught of water of the vessel to which they would be attached, i. e. if the
usual draught of the vessel is twenty feet the longest blade would be about ten
feet long by twelve to fifteen inches or more wide and two or three inches thick
or other suitable dimensions, the other blades tapering down by a few inches each.
The whole contained in a frame fitted, in case of vessels already in existence,
with wings or flanges to carry out the lines of the ship and so form no impediment
to the sailing or steering of the vessel, and in case of ships not yet built the
apparatus would be incorporated in the stems thereof-The blades would be locked
by a clamp or bolt automatically worked, or other contrivance when shut up in the
frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is- An apparatus consisting of a number of blades of suitable
material pivotted in a frame which offers little resistance to the motion of the
vessel and is attached to the bow under water; said blades being adapted to be
spread out by any suitable mechanism from deck for the purpose of stopping the
vessel's way substantially as described.
Dated thi
1004