Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 16th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th Sept., 1887.
JOHN HAIGH SMITH 144 Portland Street Southport in the County of Lancaster
(Mechanician) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention for purposes of instantaneously and effectually stopping
breaches in ships caused by collision stranding on rocks or from penetration of
projectiles from guns or other accidents whereby a breach is made in the hull of
the ships. The apparatus for purpose aforesaid is so constructed as to be easily and
readily applied and of sufficient flexibility and adhesiveness as to adapt itself
to the configuration of the hull where the breach is made and of sufficient rigidity to
resist the pressure of the water until the ship can be taken into port and properly
repaired.
The apparatus is constructed of a series of blocks of woods the sides of which are
made hexagonal or are connected by india rubber of sufficient strength to resist the
pressure of the water in addition to the india rubber connectors, a net of chain
connects the wood blocks to each other, and at predetermined distances apart on the
chain bosses are formed each boss having a screwed thread formed therein. The
hexagonal or other shaped wood blocks are varied in length forming when put together
a concavo convex plate in thickness the blocks in the centre being longer than those at
the outside. The length and breadth of the plate being made in various sizes and
shapes to suit any description of breach.
Each wood block is made concave at the end coming in contact with the ships side
to receive an india rubber concavo convex plate and the outer end of the wood blocks
are made convex and are covered with a sheet of india rubber or other like flexible
material the sides of the whole structure is covered with an angle plate of india rubber
-one flange being secured to the edge of the breach plate or ship's patch the other
flange laps on the side of the ship when the breach plate is put in position to cover a
[Di 19

page_text: breach. When a breach requires covering the plate is placed outside the vessel in
position, one or more slotted cross bars or plates are placed inside the vessel, and bolts
are screwed into the screwed holes in the chain the latter shewing their position
through the breach, the head of the bolts coming in contact with the slotted bar draws
the plate against the side of the vessel and by the inherent adhesiveness, pressure of
water, and form of the plate, makes a perfectly water tight joint.
The moment the plate is lowered and placed over the breach the adhesive inherent
nature of the plate itself is sufficient to make a water tight joint. The inside bar or
bars with the bolts are for making the joint doubly secure.
Dated this 20th day of September 1886.
JAMES EDWARD CARTER,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN HAIGH SMITH, by calling, Mechanician & Engineer, 144 Portland Street,
Southport, in the County of Lancaster, 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 :—
The object of my invention for purposes of instantaneously & effectually stopping
breaches in ships caused by collision, stranding on rocks, or the destruction of ships'
hatchways, or from the penetration of projectiles from guns, or by any other accident
or cause whereby a breach is made in the hull, or into side or sides, or into the deck or
decks of any ship. The apparatus for the purpose aforesaid is so constructed as to be
easily & readily applied & of sufficient flexibility & self adhesiveness as to adapt
itself to the configuration of the hull, & side or sides, & deck or decks of any ship
wherein the breach has been effected; & also the apparatus is made of sufficient
rigidity to resist the pressure of the sea or other water until the breached ship can be
taken into port & properly repaired.
The apparatus in question is constructed of a series of oblong Blocks of hard wood
shaped hexagonally (see Fig. D on drawings No. 2 & 4) or may be shaped round,
three-sided, four-sided, five-sided or any other geometrical shape, & are connected to
each other principally by curb chains made of suitable metal; which curb-chains run in
slots or grooves cut into the collar of each & every outer brass boss A (see Fig. A-
drawings No. 1, 2 & 3) made for the reception of the aforesaid curb-chains, which
curb-chains are secured down by screws let into grooves of the collar of the bosses A,
& the copulatory-curb chain aforesaid acts in the double function of at once attaching
the hard wood block (denoted by D in drawing attached) firmly together & side by
side & at the same time acting as hinges, thus imparting the desired flexibility, so that
the Ship's Breach Patch as a whole would bend to fit the contour of any ship's side,
bull or deck.
Secondly, the Blocks are also connected by rubber spring ties, which aforesaid
spring ties act as spiral springs & are secured into cone shaped holes in the Blocks;
so that when the blocks are jammed together the rubber spring ties are forced further
into the holes & any surplus of rubber finds its way into the counter-sunk rim round
the holes. These aforesaid spring ties acting as spiral springs cause the blocks (D) to
stand apart at their apex, so that the Ship's Breach Patch will possess the necessary

page_text: radius of arc to fit (when applied) to the contour of any ship's hull, side or sides,
deck or decks belonging thereto.
The blocks D are also provided with hard wood or copper dowells (see Fig. D¹)
fixed into each & every block & there are in number three or more of the aforesaid
dowells fixed into each & every block & also three or more corresponding holes
designed to receive other three or more dowells aforesaid from the surrounding blocks;
thus these serve to give further cohesion to the Ship's Breach Patch as a whole & also
form a perfectly safe & compact mass, capable of resisting any pressure that it may
be subjected to. The hexagonal or other geometrically shaped Blocks are alike in
length or may be varied in length to suit different types of ships. The blocks when
put together form a concavo-convex plate in thickness equal to the length of the
blocks. The breath of the plates being predetermined by the Ship's Breach Patches
being furnished to ship-owners & others in complete sets varying in size of area from
one foot to twenty or in such sizes as may from time to time be deemed, convenient ;
& the length is also predetermined by the depth of the ships side for which the Ship's
Breach Patch is ordered. Each wood block is made concave at the base which comes
in contact with the ship's side.
The outer Brass Boss A (see Fig. A) is let into the wood blocks as illustrated in
the section of Blocks on drawing (No. 2) upon inside; the lower portion of the outer
Brass Boss A is formed & threaded for receiving a second inner Boss B which is
screwed into the said outer Brass Boss A. The upper portion of Boss A, say its
entire length is formed into a Brass Bolt (see Fig. A drawings 1. 2 & 4) which runs
through the block & is secured by a brass nut (see Fig. A¹ drawings 1 & 2) which fits
into a counter-sunk hole in the blocks D.
This brass nut A' is circular on plan & is provided with keyholes so that it may be
screwed into & level with the surface of the apex of the wood blocks D.
The base of this Boss is circular on plan & concave in section. It is on this outer
Boss A that the metal chains (Fig. A drawings 2 & 3) are sunk into slots or grooves
which are cut in the collar thereof and are secured by screws (see Fig. A³
drawings 2 & 3). The chains, slots & screws (Fig. A*) are on the base of this
boss A & are equally divided on all six or more or less sides so that the blocks may be
secured firmly to each other without limit in numbers & yet be conformable to any
shape & size.
The Boss B is formed to fit or screw into the Boss A (see Fig. A & B drawings 1.
& 2) & is in turn threaded inside to receive a rod of steel or a rod made of other
suitable metal (see Fig. C drawings 2, 3, 4 & 5) & the Boss B also serves to secure
firmly the rubber sheeting which renders the whole completely water-tight & the base
of this boss is round in plan (see Fig. B--drawing 3) & also concave in section to the
same as Boss A & is also provided with two keyholes for the purpose of screwing it
firmly into its position in Boss A. The upper portion or edge of Boss is formed into
a rim or ridge which bites into the rubber when it is screwed home, thus preventing
the rubber sheeting from dragging from the centre.
The bolt (Fig. C-drawings 1, 2, 3 & 5) is in two parts or segments which are
connected by a Ball-joint (this ball-joint) is not claimed at all) see Fig. C₁ drawing
No. 1. The main part of the upper portion or portions of the said bolt is screwed
into the Boss B, is of steel or other suitable metal. The top of the aforesaid bolt C
is also screwed into the Boss A (see drawing 2) which gives additional strength to the
Boss B in relation to its connection with Boss A by relieving it to a certain degree
of a portion of any lateral strain which it may be subjected to during the time it is
serving its part in the Ship's Breach Patch. The lower portion of the aforesaid bolt C
is formed with a cup (see Fig. C³ drawing No. 1) & is made of brass or other suitable
metal & the upper portion of cup is formed with a thread so that the collar (see
Fig. C drawing No. 1) on the upper portion may be screwed over it. The upper
portion of bolt terminates with a ball (see Fig. C₁ drawing 1) & a collar threaded to
fit the top of the cup on lower portion of bolt is slipped over the bolt till it rests on
the ball when the cup can be screwed to its place & the upper portion of aforesaid bolt
is also provided with a brass nut which is provided with a pin which runs through a

page_text: hole formed through the nut & bolt & when the nut is screwed down to its place the
pin is passed through & secures the nut to the bolt; the use of this will be seen as it
enables the upper portion of bolt to be firmly screwed into the Bosses B & A with
a wrench acting on the nut which could not be done otherwise were the nut simply
screwed on the bolt & not fastened with the pin; the ball joint in the bolt acting in
conjunction with the brass ball-boss in the right-angle clamp-cramp on drawing No. 5
(which will be herein after explained) enables the Ship's Breach Patch to be put over
the breach to fit the configuration of the ship no matter at what angle the plates of
the ship have been stoven in.
On reference to the bolt C in drawing 1 it will be seen that the joint can be worked
at any angle necessary. The Blocks aforesaid being connected together in the manner"
herein afore described by the copulatory curb-chain & the rubber spring ties. The
rubber sheeting is next placed in position when the Ship's Breach Patch is in course
of construction. This sheeting is varied in thickness according to the size of the
Patch required & is provided with holes corresponding in position to the holes in the
aforesaid Blocks & of a sufficient size to admit of the Boss B being screwed into its
place, which being done firmly secures the rubber sheeting by the same operation
into its place & causes the surface of rubber thereby to partake of the shape which
characterizes the base of the Blocks, viz. where the blocks are concave the Boss B
renders the rubber concave too & where the rubber passes over the edge of each block
then it will be rendered convex (see Fig. E drawing No. 2). The Boss B when
screwed down into position is exactly even with the surface of the rubber adjacent to
it, the ridge on the underside of Boss B biting into the rubber & thus preventing
it from being moved from the position assigned to it & and also preventing any
water which may find its way to the outside of the rubber from penetrating to the
inside. Also on the inner surface of the aforesaid rubber plate, layer, or sheet at
the rubber plates extreme edge, will have attached to it a flexible rubber pipe
capable of sufficient inflatation with air so that by this arrangement it will make
water-tight any remaining crevices that may be caused by reason of the overlapping
of the ship's plates by applying an air pump thereto.
In the case where a ship has been breached & it is desired to make the breach
good, a Ship's Breach Patch as herein afore described is cast over-board length-
wise directly opposite the breach & suspended by ropes to gunnel rail attached to
the copulatory curb-chain affixed to the extreme upper & outer edge placed there
for that purpose, when the Patch's weight, combined with the inflowing volume of
water would be sufficient to force the Ship's Breach Patch into position ready for
auxiliary appliances being applied as herein described. In order, however, to prevent
the Ship's Breach Patch moving a rope is passed under the breached ship's
keel & braced tight against the Ship's Breach Patch temporarily until the right-
angle clamp-cramp can be applied as herein described for permanently securing the
Patch fast to the ship's side. The composite right-angle clamp-cramps are provided
(see drawing No. 5) made of Iron or other suitable metal & are formed in a manner
which admits of one portion of the right-angle clamp-cramp being screwed firmly to
the broken or breached plates, while the other half is a reversed right angle, namely,
the flat of the portion which contains the adjustable Boss, (see Fig. E drawing No. 5)
is exactly the reverse to the flat of the portion containing the screw. The clamp portion
denoted as section on the line B B is provided with serrated grooves for the trunnions
or axles of the adjustable ball-boss E to work (see sectional plan of clamp Fig: a.)
also section on line A. A, so that this admits of the adjustable ball-boss being moved
either backwards or forwards to suit the position required in fixing the Ship's Breach
Patch. The cramp portion is provided with a screw similar to that which is used for
any ordinary vice as regards the size & direction of the thread & like the ordinary
vice it is also fitted with a sliding handle bar, which is necessary to give the leverage
requisite to fix the cramp firmly to the ships breached plates & further the outside
plate of cramp is wrought as in Drawing denoted as sectional plan of clamp together
with certain abutments (see Fig. 6 drawing 5) the tops of which are serrated with
teeth in order to secure additional hold upon the ship's plates.

page_text: The adjustable ball-boss is of brass or other suitable metal & is also provided with
axles or trunnions (see Fig. E¹) which fit in the serrated grooves designed for that
purpose. This adjustable boss aforesaid is also provided with a shaft of suitable
length extending from the inner surface of the adjustable Boss & it is put in position
for securing the Ship's Breach Patch, through which shaft the lower or unthreaded
portion of the Bolt C passes. The Bolt Cis then secured at the top of the shaft by
means of an ordinary nut, so that the Ball-boss acting in conjunction with the bolt to
which is affixed the Ball-joint renders it completely practicable to fix the Patch to the
ship's breach to follow the lines of the hull, no matter to what angle in reference to
ship's side the plates are stoven in & to which the clamp-cramps are affixed. This
auxiliary appliance of clamp-cramp may be applied in an indefinite number.
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHIP'S BREACH PATCH.
It would have been applied to the breach made, thus:-The Patch would
have been cast over-board length-wise directly opposite the breach, & would
be suspended by ropes attached to the copulatory curb-chains & made fast to
the gunwale (or gunnel) rail of breached ship with india rubber plate E
making contact with the sea-water first; but in consequence of the weight of
the D blocks, the Patch gradually sinks to a point, when it is caught by the inflowing
current of water, of the breach & driven against the parts of the ships side or skin
remaining intact & surrounding the breach; a flat rope is passed under the breached
ship's keel & braced tight against the Ship's Breach Patch at its middle so as to
prevent its moving until the auxiliary appliance can be applied & also as a further aid
to that end, the surface of rubber plate, layer, or sheeting is corrugated or concaveo-
convex, so as to act in some degree as a sucker (after the same principle as those lads
play with in lifting flat stones) against the ship's side & would hold the patch to its
place until clamped fast by C bolts screwed into the hole of inner bush B with hand
or wrench & through the rocking or swinging brass clamp-cramp ball-boss denoted by
the letter E. These composite right-angle clamp-cramps have by this time been
cramped on to the breached metal skin plates of the ship by the screws of each clamp-
cramp denoted by the figure 5 in drawing attached, which skin plates of the said ship
being breached cut or riven asunder, will be more or less at right angles with the
ship's side, thus admitting of the bolts C being passed through the holes of the swing-
boss denoted by finger E & screwed into such holes of the inner bush B as may & will
be in sight when the Patch is in position, in making good the breach in the said ship.
On the inner surface of the aforesaid rubber plate or sheeting E, at the extreme edge
the rubber sheeting will have attached to it a flexible india rubber pipe capable of
sufficient inflatation with air, so that by this arrangement the aforesaid flexible rubber
air pipe or tube will make water-tight any remaining crevices that may be caused by
reason of the over-lapping of the ship's plate by applying an air pump thereto.
The C bolts are chased from end to end & can be made in sets of various lengths with
nuts made to fit, so that the nuts can be readily run on the bolts C with the hand
from one end to the other when required. These bolts when in position will have
their respective nuts run or screwed up against the top of the swinging boss E so
that it matters little at what angle the clamp bears to the stoven in or breach cut
metal skin plates of the ship, the bolts C will always be at right angles to the ship's
side.
In the case of the Ship's Breach Patch being applied to breaches made into the
sides, hull or decks of Wooden Ships, pieces of timber are used in place of & instead
of the aforesaid right-angle clamp-cramps in the following manner:- the pieces of
timber or planks of timber will have holes bored into their flat sides of a size suitable
to allow the aforesaid bolt C to be passed through the aforesaid holes & also the afore-
said holes will be at distances from one another corresponding to the distance of holes
in the inner Bosses B when the Ship's Breach Patch is fully constructed; & these
aforesaid holed pieces of timber will be used to span the inside of the breaches of
Wooden Ships aforesaid against which the nuts of Bolts C will be braced or screwod

page_text: tight when the bolts C are in their respective positions in the very manner as herein
afore described in relation to the application of the Ship's Breach Patch to iron or
other metal breached ships.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
& in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare,
(1.) I claim as novel the general construction herein employed of the whole of the
Ship's Breach Patch & also, the auxiliary appliances employed to affix the Ship's
Breach Patch to any ship, be the ship or ships made of wood or metal.
(2.) I claim as novel the method herein afore specified of employing the Blocks D
aforesaid (made of hard-wood or of any other suitable material) in the construction
of the aforesaid Ship's Breach Patch, so that when blocks D are in the position
assigned to them in the "Patch's" construction the aforesaid blocks D act as one, if
not the chief auxiliary agent for resisting the external pressure of the sea or other
water when the Ship's Breach Patch is. being applied to any breach made or caused in
any ship's hull, side or sides, deck or decks.
(3.) I claim as a feature of novelty the configuration herein afore specified of the
surface of the rubber plate E aforesaid when in the position assigned to it (rubber
plate E) in forming in part the construction of the aforesaid Ship's Breach Patch, so
that surface of rubber plate aforesaid being corrugated concaveo-convex will prevent
the aforesaid Blocks D from rocking or wobbling upon the (somewhat) convex
surface of any hull, side or sides, deck or decks of any Ship when the Ship's
Breach Patch is being applied to any breach made or caused in any ship's hull, side or
sides, deck or decks.
(4.) I claim as novel the method herein afore specified of employing the aforesaid
Hexible rubber air tube or pipe attached to & skirting the extreme edge of the surface
of the aforesaid rubber plate E, so as to act in function of a cushion-join by being in
part or wholly inflated with air (by application of an air-pump or like appliance)
when the Ship's Breach Patch is or has been placed in position over a breach made or
caused in any ship's hull, side or side, deck or decks, so that the aforesaid flexible
rubber air tube or pipe will make (when inflated with air) watertight any remaining
crevices that may be caused by reason of the overlapping of the breached-ship's plates
or from any other cause whereby the general surface of the breached ship's hull, side.
or sides, deck or decks are rendered uneven.
(5.) I claim as novel the method herein employed & afore described of resisting
the external pressure of the sea or other water upon breaches made or caused in any
ship's deck, hull or side (carrying these said patches) namely;-by means & method
of employing copulatory curb-chain, (or other suitable chain other than curb-chain
aforesaid,) A to connect the block D into one compact whole.
(6.) I claim as novel the method herein specified & employed of attaching
& securing the rubber plate, or layer, or sheeting E to the blocks D by the means
of the threaded bosses B being passed through the punched holes in rubber plate,
or layer, or sheeting E & into the bosses A, thus preventing sea or other water
from entering through any breach caused or made into any ship's side, hull or deck.
(7.) I claim as novel the method herein specified of employing dowells D' as
adding further coherence to the Ship's Breach Patch as a whole by causing each
& every block D by its dowells D₁ to rest upon its neighbouring or surrounding
Blocks D.
(8.) I claim as novel the method herein specified of employing the rubber spring-
ties as spiral springs & causing all the blocks D to stand apart at their apex
thus imparting to the Ship's Breach Patch as a whole the necessary self-adjustable
radius of arc so as to fit the contour of any ship's hull, side or sides, deck or decks.
(9.) I claim as novel the method & construction herein specified of employing

page_text: the bosses A & B so that the Ship's Breach Patch can be secured to the breached
ship's hull side or sides, deck or decks (as required) internally by means of the
bolts being screwed (at will) into the bosses B & also secured by the aforesaid right
angle clamp-cramps.
10.) I claim as novel the construction & method of employing the right angle
clamp-cramps & more especially the rocking or swinging adjustable ball-boss E (see
drawing 5) & also the serrated grooves designed to receive the axles of the same so
that the aforesaid nut of the bolt C will have an even & equal bearing upon the apex
of swinging or rocking ball-boss E when in use, no matter at what angle the metal
skin-plates are stove in of any breached ship or ships.