AN IMPROVED " SKEP OR CRADLE FOR THE CONVEYANCE, AND THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS LOADING AND DISCHARGING VESSELS AFLOAT, OF PATENT FUEL OR OTHER MERCHANDISE
Year: 1884

page_text: We, GEORGE WILLIAMS PENN of Holmdale, Roath Cardiff, in the County of
Glamorgan, Civil Engineer, and JOHN GARDINER PENN of 126 Britannia Buildings,
Cardiff, aforesaid, Merchant, do hereby, declare the nature of the said invention
for "AN IMPROVED
" SKEP OR CRADLE FOR THE CONVEYANCE, AND THE MORE
EXPEDITIOUS LOADING AND DISCHARGING VESSELS AFLOAT, OF PATENT FUEL OR
OTHER MERCHANDISE," to be as follows:-
л
This invention consists in the employment of a skeleton iron "skep" or cradle
for the reception of blocks of patent fuel or other merchandise. The blocks are
regularly piled or stacked on the base or platform of the said "skep" or cradle over
which, when filled, is placed a skeleton frame which is made secure to the base or
platform of the "skep" or cradle by passing the lower ends of the supporting rods
through holes in the base of the "skep" or cradle. The ends are made with
shaped heads and pass through elongated or oblong slots. The rods after passing
through are turned partially around in order to bring the 1 shaped heads of the
rods across the short way of the oblong. holes in the base or platform. These rods
are actuated by means of a series of levers or cams worked at the top of the "skep'
by means of a hand lever which, when moved, simultaneously works or turns all the
supporting rods; thus making the base secure to the upper part of the cradle or
skep." For conveyance to and rapid loading of ships the system preferably
adopted is to arrange a number of the bases or platforms of the "skeps" or cradles,
while empty, in barges or lighters and, thereafter, pile the blocks of fuel or other
merchandise on them, which, when alongside ship, and hoisted from the barges or
lighters and, with their contents, placed in the ship's hold and discharged. The
bases or platforms are then returned for re-loading. The contents are thus conveyed
to their destination with a reduced percentage of breakage.
"
The bases or platforms of the "skeps" or cradles are, as before mentioned, capable
of being detached from the bodies so that the latter may, if desired be withdrawn
after the contents and bottom have been deposited on board.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: "
An Improved "Skep" or Cradle for the Conveyance, and the
-
more Expeditious Loading and Discharging Vessels Afloat, of
We, GEORGE WILLIAMS PENN, of, Holmdale, Roath, Cardiff, in the County of
Glamorgan, Civil Engineer, and JOHN GARDINER PENN, of 126, Britannia Buildings,
Cardiff, aforesaid, Merchant, do, hereby declare the nature of our said invention
for "AN IMPROVED "SKEP" OR CRADLE FOR THE CONVEYANCE, AND THE MORE
EXPEDITIOUS LOADING AND DISCHARGING VESSELS AFLOAT, OF PATENT FUEL AND
OTHER MERCHANDISE," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention consists in the employment of a skeleton iron "skep" or cradle
for the reception of blocks of patent fuel or of other merchandise.
The blocks of patent fuel or other merchandise are regularly piled or stacked on
the base or platform of the "skep" or cradle over which, when filled, is placed a
skeleton frame which is made secure to the base or platform of the "skep" or cradle
by passing the lower ends of the supporting rods through and partially turning
them in holes or slots in the base of the "skep" or cradle. The lower ends of the
said supporting rods are made with 1 shaped heads which are inserted in elongated
or oblong slots formed for their reception in the, base or platform of the ".
"skep."
After insertion of the 1 shaped heads the rods are turned partially round in order
to bring the long way of the 1 shaped heads across the short way of the slots.
The rods are actuated by means of a series of levers worked from the top of tho
"skep" or cradle through the medium of a hand lever or bar which, when moved,
works or turns simultaneously all the supporting rods, thus securely connecting the
base and superstructure.
Aud in order that our said invention may be properly understood, we now
proceed to further describe the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings and the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig 1 represents a side elevation of the "skep or cradle as designed, for con-
veyance of patent fuel or other merchandise, in accordance with our said invention.
Fig 2 illustrates, in plan, the arrangement of the levers, by the actuation of which,
in the proper direction, the body of the "skep" or cradle may be connected to or
disconnected from the base or platform. Fig: 3 represents a plan of the crosshead
or top frame of the "skep." Fig: 4 is a plan of the top of the "skep," and Fig: 5
represents a plan of frame work of the base or platform which can either be made
completely covered in or in ribs.
Upon the base or platform a the patent fuel or other merchandise is regularly
or evenly piled or stacked. The upper part of the "skep" is lowered thereon by
a chain or rope attached to the ring or eye b which surmounts the.structure.
The supporting rods c are provided at their lower ends with 1 shaped heads
which are inserted in elongated or oblong slots d, Fig: 5, formed for their reception
in the base or platform a. The rods c are connected towards their upper ends by
the levers e e¹ to a disc fcapable of being rotated on its centre by means of the

page_text: levers h. h which when moved to either extreme end of slot as shewn on figure 4,
will lock and prevent further movement of Rods c..
By turning the said disc in the requisite direction the rods c are simultaneously
actuated and caused to move round to bring the long way of the _ shaped heads
across the short way of the slots d in which they are, as aforesaid, inserted.
The base or platform a is thus secured to the upper part of the cradle or "skep."
The crosshead g is secured in position on the rods c by the nuts h¹ at each corner.
For conveyance to and rapid loading of ships, the system preferably adopted
under this invention is to arrange any desired number of the bases or platforms of
'skeps" or cradles, while empty, in barges or lighters and thereafter pile the blocks.
of fuel or other merchandise upon the said bases or platforms.
$6
When the lighters or barges are brought alongside ship, the piles or stacks of
merchandise are, by means of the attached superstructure, placed in 'the ship's hold
and discharged. The bases or platforms are then returned for reloading. The bases
or platforms of the "skeps" or cradles may, if desired, remain on board ship with
their loads after withdrawal of the bodies.
"
By the employment of "skeps or cradles constructed as above described,
merchandise may be conveyed with a reduced proportion of breakage.
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
The employment, for the conveyance and shipment of patent fuel or other
merchandise, of the improved "skep" or cradle composed of the slotted base or
platform a, and of the supporting rods c having their lower ends 1 shaped, and the
crosshead g constituting the body or superstructure, the said body being capable at
will of detachment from or attachment to the base or platform by means of the
levers e, el actuated to turn the rods c accordingly, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown on the annexed sheet of drawings.
Dated this 6th day of February 188k