A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCE FOR STOPPING HOLES IN SHIPS, BOILERS, AND OTHER VESSELS OR OBJECTS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Wood, of Harwich, in the County
of Essex, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR
APPLIANCE FOR STOPPING HOLES IN SHIPS, BOILERS, AND OTHER VESSELS OR
OBJECTS."
Sealed the 22nd May 1872, and dated the 26th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Wood
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th February 1872.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WOOD, of Harwich, in the County of Essex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCE FOR STOPPING HOLES IN SHIPS, BOILERS, AND OTHER
VESSELS OR OBJECTS," to be as follows:-
Heretofore holes in ships, boilers, and other vessels or objects have
been stopped by means of a plate placed over such hole and drawing it
up or against one side, which I call the inner side, by means of a nut
on a screwed bolt, jointed or otherwise connected to a cross bar, which

page_text: goes across the hole and rests against the other or outer side, the bolt and
cross bar being passed together entirely through the hole from the inside
and the former recovered by means of a line. Now it is evident that
if it is only possible to get at the side which I here call the inner side of
the wall containing the hole which is to be stopped, there will be a
difficulty both in recovering the bolt after having passed it through the
hole, and also in getting the cross bar on the outer side properly adjusted
or placed across the hole, because the operator cannot get at it as here
assumed, and as it happens very frequently with shot or other holes in
ships, boilers, and other vessels or objects. To overcome these difficulties
various means have been adopted in course of years, but have not been
very successful or practical. Now by my Invention these difficulties
are entirely obviated in the following manner :-I take a flat bar of
metal, by preference rounded at one end, in order to make it enter more
readily, and long enough to cross the hole perpendicularly, but not too
large to pass through it horizontally. I form this bar with a slot or slit
to half its length, by which the other half of its length is left propor-
tionately heavier, and I make the slot of sufficient width to admit of a
threaded spindle somewhat longer than the whole bar and working in
the slot, and I joint the head of the spindle to the centre of the bar by
means of a pin or bolt threaded at one end and flush with each side of
the bar. The length of the spindle is increased or decreased as required
by screwed or other joints. I have a screw nut fitting the thread of the
spindle, and having an arm or lever at each side to take hold of.
The mode of using my Invention is as follows:-I first take hold of
the inner end of the spindle, keeping it flush with the bar and push
them horizontally forward as far as the inner end of the bar through the
hole, when the solid or heavy end of the bar then drops by its own
weight, thereby adjusting itself across the outside of the hole; the surplus
length of the spindle is then drawn in. I then take a flat or dished
metal plate of any required shape or size to cover the hole, and pierced
at or near the centre to pass freely over the spindle. place such plate
on to the spindle, following up with the lever screw nut till the plate is
jammed up tight and the leak stopped.
If required I interpose an elastic packing or washer between the plate a

page_text: These apparatus are made of various sizes to suit the purposes for
which they are to be applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John William Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM WOOD, of Harwich, in the County of Essex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John William Wood, Her special
licence that I, the said John William Wood, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John William Wood, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS
OB APPLIANCE FOR STOPPING HOLES IN SHIPS, BOILERS, AND OTHER VESSELS OR
ОBJECTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
William Wood, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Wood, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:
Iontofor holes in chins hailam and athon scola

page_text: been stopped by means of a plate placed over such hole and drawing it
up or against one side, which I call the inner side, by means of a nut
on a screwed bolt jointed or otherwise connected to a cross bar, which
goes across the hole and rests against the other or outer side, the bolt and
cross bar being passed together entirely through the hole from the inside
and the former recovered by means of a line. Now it is evident that if
it is only possible to get at the side which I here call the inner side of
the wall containing the hole which is to be stopped, there will be a
difficulty both in recovering the bolt after having passed it through the
hole, and also in getting the cross bar on the outer side properly adjusted
or placed across the hole, because the operator cannot get at it as here
assumed and as happens very frequently with shot or other holes in
ships, boilers, and other vessels or objects. To overcome these difficulties
various means have been adopted in course of years, but have not been
very successful or practical. Now by my Invention these difficulties
are entirely obviated in the following manner:-I take a flat bar of
metal, by preference rounded at one end, in order to make it enter more
readily, and long enough to cross the hole perpendicularly, but not too
large to pass through it horizontally. I form this bar with a slot or slit
to half its length, by which the other half of its length is left propor-
tionately heavier, and I make the slot of sufficient width to admit of a
threaded spindle somewhat longer than the whole bar and working in
the slot, and I joint the head of the spindle to the centre of the bar by
means of a pin or bolt threaded at one end and flush with each side of
the bar. The length of the spindle is increased or decreased as required
by screwed or other joints. I have a screw nut fitting the thread of the
spindle and having an arm or lever at each side to take hold of.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood I
shall now describe one mode of carrying it into effect by reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a side view of the cross bar A with
its screwed spindle B in the folded up position ready to be inserted
through the hole which is to be stopped. The bar is formed with a slot
to half its length as shewn, whereby the solid end is rendered pro-
portionately heavier as before explained. c is the pin bolt forming the
fulcrum for the screwed spindle or bolt B.

page_text: bolt B, and being formed with handles to take hold of and readily obtain
the required purchase.
Figure 4 shews the Invention as applied to stopping a hole in the
side of a ship, e being the inner plate, dished or otherwise, for covering
the hole on the inner side of the vessel. Between the plate e and the
ship's side the former is faced with a layer or layers fof felt or other
yielding material. In the event of the hole being near a projection on
the ship's side, I place a ferrule or hollow boss of suitable depth or
length between the nut d and the plate e and the ship's side, so as to
get room to turn the nut by its handles or spokes. If the hole be
situated at such an acute angle with projections so that there is not
room to work the nut spokes even with a ferrule or boss as just described,
then I use a common nut and ratchet spanner, a piece of iron being cut
out of the required size and pierced for the screw bolt to pass through.
The pin bolt c being formed with an ordinary countersunk head as
shown, can easily be taken out by means of an ordinary screwdriver in
order to fit any required size, length, or description of screw spindle or
bolt to the cross bar.
The mode of using my Invention is as follows:-I first take hold of
the inner end of the screwed spindle or bolt B, keeping it flush with the
bar A, and push them horizontally forward as far as the inner end of
the bar through the hole when the solid or heavy end of the bar A then
drops by its own weight, thereby adjusting itself across the outside of
the hole; the surplus length of the spindle B is then drawn in. I then
take the flat or dished metal plate e of any required shape or size to
cover the hole, and pierced at or near the centre to pass freely over the
spindle. I place such plate e on to the screwed spindle or bolt B, fol-
lowing up with the lever screw nut d till the plate e is jammed up tight
and the leak stopped.
If required I interpose an elastic packing or washer f between the
plate and the inner side of the ship, or a bag filled with oakum or other
yielding material with a hole pierced through it.
These apparatus are made of various sizes to suit the purposes for
which they are to be applied.
And having now described the nature of this my Invention, I declare
that I am well aware that a cross bar with a screwed bolt or spindle
jointed to it at or near its middle in combination with a dished or other

page_text: shaped plate have been used many years for stopping holes in ships and
other vessels and objects, and I therefore lay no claim to such combi-
nation; but what I do claim is,—
Firstly. The application of a cross bar slotted to or about to half its
length, or in such manner that one end of the same is heavier than the 5
other in combination with a jointed screwed spindle or bolt and nut,
with spokes or handles, and a plate dished or otherwise, all substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
Secondly. The combination of the jointed screwed spindle or bolt, and
the nut with spokes or handles, and other appliances for the purposes 1
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Wood, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the vear
JOHN W. WOOD. (L.S.)

page_text: In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to JOHN WILLIAM WOOD, of Harwich,
in the County of Essex, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCE FOR STOPPING HOLES IN SHIPS, BOILERS, AND
OTHER VESSELS OR OBJECTS," bearing date the 26th February 1872,
No. 600.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered by the said John William Wood pursuant to the Statutes in that case
made and provided.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN WILLIAM
WOOD, of Harwich, in the County of Essex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty by Her Letters Patent dated the said 26th
February 1872, did grant unto me, the said John William Wood, the sole privilege
to make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, the said Invention for the term
of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent :
And whereas in pursuance of a condition in the said Letters Patent contained, I,
the said John William Wood, by a Specification or instrument in writing made
under my hand and seal, bearing date the 10th of August 1872, did particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and did cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office on or about the 23rd of August 1872:
And whereas since the filing of my said Specification doubts have arisen as to
the novelty of the combination of parts specified in the second claim of my said
Specification, when applied for the purposes set forth.
And whereas I, for the reason aforesaid, am desirous, by and with the leave of
Her Majesty's Solicitor-General, to disclaim the said combination of parts when so
applied, and for this purpose to make the following alterations, vizt. :-On page 6 of
my printed Specification to strike out the second claim, that is, the words forming
the 9th, 10th, and 11th line, and also to strike out the word "firstly," line 4,
page 6.
And my said Specification, when altered and disclaimed, reads as follows:-
"Heretofore holes in ships, boilers, and other vessels or objects, have been stopped
by means of a plate placed over such hole and drawing it up or against one side,
гл

page_text: which I call the inner side, by means of a nut on a screwed bolt jointed or other-
wise connected to a cross bar which goes across the hole and rests against the other
or outer side, the bolt and cross bar being passed together entirely through the hole
from the inside and the former recovered by means of a line. Now it is evident that
if it is only possible to get at the side which I here call the inner side of the wall,
containing the hole which is to be stopped, there will be a difficulty both in
recovering the bolt after having passed it through the hole and also in getting the
cross bar on the outer side properly adjusted or placed across the hole, because the
operator cannot get at it, as here assumed, and as happens very frequently with
shot or other holes in ships, boilers, and other vessels or objects. To overcome
these difficulties various means have been adopted in course of years, but have not
been very successful or practical. Now by my Invention these difficulties are
entirely obviated, in the following manner:-I take a flat bar of metal by pre-
ference rounded at one end in order to make it enter more readily and long enough
to cross the hole perpendiculary, but not too large to pass through it horizontally.
I form this bar with a slot or slot to half its length, by which the other half of its
length is left proportionately heavier, and I make the slot of sufficient width to
admit of a threaded spindle somewhat longer than the whole bar and working in
the slot, and I joint the head of the spindle to the centre of the bar by means of a
pin or bolt threaded at one end and flush with each side of the bar. The length of 1
the spindle is increased or decreased as required by screwed or other joints. I have
a screw nut fitting the thread of the spindle and having an arm or lever at each
side to take hold of.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood I shall
now describe one mode of carrying it into effect by reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a side view of the cross bar A, with its screw
spindle B in the folded up position ready to be inserted through the hole which
is to be stopped. The bar is formed with a slot to half its length, as shewn,
whereby the solid end is rendered proportionately heavier as before explained; c is
the pin bolt, forming the fulcrum for the screwed spindle or bolt B.
Figure 3 is a side view of the nut ₫ fitting the screwed spindle or bolt B,
and being formed with handles to take hold of and readily obtain the required
purchase.
Figure 4 shews the Invention as applied to stopping a hole in the side of a ship;
e being the inner plate, dished or otherwise for covering the hole on the inner side
of the vessel. Between the plate e and the ship's side the former is faced with a
layer or layers f of felt or other yielding material. In the event of the hole being
near a projection on the ship's side I place a ferrule or hollow boss of suitable depth
or length between the nut d and the plate e and the ship's side, so as to get room
to turn the nut by its handles or spokes. If the hole be situated at such an acute
angle with projections so that there is not room to work the nut spokes even with
a ferrule or boss as just described then I use a common nut and ratchet spanner,
a piece of iron being cut out of the required size and pierced for the screw bolt to
pass through. The pin bolt c being formed with an ordinary countersunk head,
as shewn, can easily be taken out by means of an ordinary screwdriver in order
to fit any required size, length, or description of screw spindle or bolt to the
cross bar.
The mode of using my Invention is as follows :-I first take hold of the inner
end of the screwed spindle or bolt B, keeping it flush with the bar A, and push
them horizontally forward as far as the inner end of the bar through the hole, when
the solid or heavy end of the bar A then drops by its own weight, thereby adjusting
itself across the outside of the hole; the surplus length of the spindle B is then
drawn in. I then take the flat or dished metal plate e, of any required shape or
size, to cover the hole and pierced at or near the centre to pass freely over the
spindle. I place such plate e on to the screwed spindle or bolt B, following up
with the lever screw nut till the plate e is jammed up tight and the leak stopped.

page_text: If required I interpose an elastic packing or washer f between the plate and the
inner side of the ship, or a bag filled with oakun, or other yielding inaterial with
a hole pierced through it. These apparatus are made of various sizes to suit the
purposes for which they are to be applied.
And having now described the nature of this my Invention, I declare that I am
well aware that a cross bar with a screwed bolt or spindle jointed to it at or near
its middle in combination with a dished or other shaped plate, have been used
many years for stopping holes in ships and other vessels and objects, and I therefore
lay no claim to such combination; but what I do claim is the application of a cross
bar slotted to or about to half its length, or in such manner that one end of the
same is heavier than the other, in combination with a jointed screwed spindle or
bolt and nut with spokes or handles and a plate dished or otherwise, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth."
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
HARDINGE GIFFARD.
Solicitor-General.