Improvements in Hatches for Ships and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898 .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hatches for Ships and the like.
We, JAMES KENNY, Mariner, of 28, Station Road, and FRANCIS GILL, Engineer,
of 16, Fourth Street, Palmer's Buildings, both in Wallsend, in the County of
Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to hatches for ships and the like.
Hitherto it has been customary to employ wooden covers to close the hatchways
of ships and supplementul coverings of tarpaulin to ensure watertightness.
This arrangement has many disadvantages, and to remedy them it has been pro-
posed to substitute metal for the wood covers by connecting a series of plates
together, the joints being specially formed to prevent leakage of water without
the aid of a tarpaulin. Such a construction, however, is defective, since it is
impossible to obtain perfect freedom from leakage, while efficient ventilation is
only obtained with great difficulty.
Our invention has referenco to the latter type of cover, and has for its object to
provide a cover which will maintain water and air tightness, and will readily
admit of efficient ventilation, and displacement and replacement, when required.
To this end, we construct a hatch of steel or other similar material, and of any
convenient transverse section, by casting, pressing or any other ordinary process
of manufacture, and we prefer to make it in one piece, but when the size of hatoh-
way requires, we employ two or more parts suitably secured together.
About the margins of the hatch we form grooves or channels to receive a pack-
ing material, such as india rubber, so that when the hatch is arranged over the
hatchway, the upper edge of the coaming plate and the coaming, which we secure
at the inner side thereof, abut against the packing, thus forming a tight joint.
The packing may be arranged about the coaming and the hatch margins designed
to abut thereon, but we prefer the former disposition as there is no chance of the
packing being damaged when loading and unloading.
To provide for ventilation without removing the hatch, we cut openings therein
adapted to be controlled by any appropriate kind of ventilator, which may be
readily opened and closed to maintain tightness.
For securing the hatch in position, we may apply any suitable design of fasten-
ings, such as swing bolts mounted on the coaming plate and arranged to engage
lugs on the hatch, while to effect its displacement from and replacement on the
hatchway, we fit handles or the like, the number of which and the fastenings
being dependent upon the dimensions of the hatch.
By the use of our invention, it will be seen that ease of manipulation, perfect
tightness at the juncture of the hatchway and its cover and more efficient ventila-
tion are obtained, none of these advantages being present in the usual types of
hatches.
Dosad this 1nd day of Amil 1907

page_text: Improvements in ratones for snips and the like.
We, JAMES KENNY, Mariner, of 28, Station Road, and FRANCIS GILL, Engineer,
of 16, Fourth Street, Palmer's Buildings, both in Wallsend, in the County of
Northumberland, 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 :-
Our invention relates to hatches for ships and the like.
Hitherto it has been customary to employ wooden covers to close the hatchways
of ships and supplemental coverings of tarpaulin to ensure watertightness.
This arrangement has many disadvantages and to remedy them it has been pro-
posed to substitute, for the wood cover, a metal cover consisting of a series of
plates connected together by specially formed joints designed to prevent leakage
of water thereat without the use of a tarpaulin.
Such a construction, however, is defective because it is impossible to obtain
perfect freedom from leakage while efficient ventilation is only obtained with great
difficulty.
Our invention refers to the latter type of cover and has for its object to provide
a hatch or cover that will maintain, in conjunction with the hatchway, water and
air tightness and which will also readily admit of efficient ventilation when
required and expeditious displacement from and replacement in position.
To this end we construct a metallic hatch in which we cut ventilating openings
adapted to be controlled by appropriate means and arrange at the juncture of the
hatch and hatchway a packing material in such manner that it intervenes there-
between to procure a tight joint when the hatch is secured in proper position over
the hatchway.
The packing may be india rubber or other suitable material and it may be fixed
at either the lower margins of the hatch or the upper margins of the hatchway,
both arrangements being illustrated in the accompanying drawings to which we
will now refer in full explanation of our improvements.
Figure 1 is a plan of the underside of a hatch fitted with packing material and
Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line r-r showing the hatch
secured in position on a hatchway.
Figure 3 is a plan representing the packing applied to a hatchway designed to
be closed by several hatches or covers and Figure 4 is a slightly enlarged trans-
verse section of same on the line Y--Y.
A is the hatchway built up as usual and a its coaming on the coaming plate a¹
B is a hatch and C is the packing material.
We form the hatch B of any desired shape in cross section, curved or flat us
shown respectively in Figures 2 and 4, preferring the first, however, for lightness
and strength. We produce it in steel or other similar material by casting, pressing
or other ordinary process of manufacture and prefer to make it as far as practicable
in ono piece, but when the size of hatchway necessitates, we construct it in two or
more parts rivetted together or otherwise suitably connected to secure tightness.
If required, it may be strengthened by angle bars as exemplified at bbb in
Figures 1 and 2 or, as will be obvious, by corrugations.
As before stated the packing material C may be disposed in two ways. Accord-
ing to the method shown in Figures 1 and 2, we furnish and fittingly secure at
the lower edges or margins of the hatch B a channelled or grooved bar or piece D
of steel or like material whose function is to receive the packing material C inserted
therein and retained there by compression simply, or by the aid of cement, or by
making the groove wedge-shaped Thus, on the hatch B being placed and

page_text: fastened over the hatchway A as in Figure 2, the coaming and the upper edge of
plate a abut against the packing C whereby an absolutely tight joint is obtained.
In this case the coaming a is attached to the inner side of the plate a', which is
very convenient as space is saved, though, of course, it may be fixed on the outside
08 usual.
The other mode of arranging the packing C is represented in Figures 3 and
which show a hatchway A intended to be closed by six hatches, three of which,
B, B, B, are in position in Figure 3 while the other three are removed. The con-
struction at the hatchway may be of any description to obtain the requisite support
for the hatches and provide for the necessary stability; in the figures we illustrate
the use of transverse supports E and F and longitudinal supports G, H and J, the
latter being joined to the former at the meeting points and the whole fixed to the
adjacent coaming plate a' by angles. To the outside of each coaming plate a
and to both sides of the supports E, F, G, H, and J we rivet or secure a bar, such
as K, to form with the said parts a groove or channel for the reception and reton-
tion of the packing C as before, and when the hatch B is arranged and fastened
over the space it has to cover its depending margins abut on the packing, as will
be seen on the right hand side of Figure 4 whereby water and air are effectually
provented from passing the juncture.
In this example it will be observed that the bar K on the coaming plate a¹ also
serves as tho coaming to the hatchway A.
These two dispositions of the packing C are equally efficient for attaining our
object at the junction hatchway A and the hatch B, but we recommend that
described in reference to Figures 1 and 2 because there is no liability of the
packing being displaced or damaged during loading and unloading which might
happen in the adoption of the other plan, though, by either, the essential of tight-
ness is obtained thereby rendering a supplemental covering with its accompanying
disadvantages unnecessary and therefore making it possible to cover and uncover
a hatchway very quickly.
It is often desired to provide ventilation at a hatchway, the practice, in the usual
hatch arrangements, being to remove the hatch wholly or partially from its normal
position which is very inconvenient for it entails a large amount of time and labour,
but according to our improvements we obviate such by furnishing the hatch with
For the purpose
handy means to effect the object in a sufficient and ready manner.
we cut in the hatch B an opening or hole L and surround it with a throat piece
fixed to the material of the hatch. The upper portion of the throat is shaped to
form a seat for, and is covered and uncovered by, a mushroom valve M provided
with an operating part and a threaded stem m which is carried in a cross bar
or nut forming part of the hatch material in the opening L. Consequently
when the valve M is screwed off its seat on the throat piece 7, which is easily done
by the part m, communication between the hold and the external atmosphere is
established thus obtaining ventilation without in any way disturbing the con-
nection between the hatch B and the hatchway A. The valve M is closed by the
reverse operation, and should it be considered advisable, packing may be inter-
posed at the valve seat to maintain a tight joint.
A further benefit is supplied by the hole L in the event of a fire breaking out in
the hold since it affords an adequate inlet for water or other extinguisher with
a minimum entry for air.
We wish it to be understood that other ordinary means may be employed for
opening and closing communication at the hole L in place of those explained which
are only given by way of illustration.
The hatch B is secured on the hatchway A in any suitable way and though we
illustrate two types of fastening devices we lay no claim to them, merely describing
them as answering the purpose satisfactorily.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 we pivot on the coaming
plates a' a' swing bolts N N, fitting each with an arm n for operating it to engage

page_text: and disengage a corresponding lug n on the hatch B to accomplish the connection
and disconnection of the latter at the hatchway A.
The other form is shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein it will be seen that we
extend the transverse supports E and F beyond the top of the hatches B B for a
short distance and also provide a corresponding extension on the bar K at each
end of the hatchway A. In the extensions we make holes P I' large enough to
enable a batten to be passed through them to secure and release the adjacent
hatches B B and also receive a wedge to fasten the hatten >> therein.
Handles or eye bolts R are attached to the hatch B to facilitate its movement,
the number of which as well as the tastening devices and the number and sizo of
the ventilating openings being determined by the dimensions of the hutchway.
It is sometimes useful to obtain an entrance to a hatchway without removing tho
hatch, hence we provide, as shown at S in Figure 3, a manhole fitted in the common
way.
We have explained the application of our improvements to the hatchways of
ships, to which they are specially directed, but it will be understood that they may
be applied, as will be evident without further description, to the hatchways of
analogous containers, such as storage tanks and the like.
By the adoption of our improvements it will be rendered possible not only to
make the covering and uncovering of a hatchway more easy of accomplishment
but also to maintain a perfectly tight joint at a hatchway and its cover or hatches
with the ability to procure efficient ventilation when required in a ready manner,
none of these advantages being present in the usual types of hatches and
hatchways.
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. The improvements in batches for ships and the like comprising the com-
bination of a metallic hatch, an opening or holes in said hatch provided with con-
trolling means, and a packing material at the juncture of the hatch and hatchi-
way, all arranged and adapted for use substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a metallic hatch, provided with an opening or holes
adapted to be covered and uncovered by a valve or valves or equivalently, of pack-
ing material that is received and retained in a channel or groove at its lower
margins, the whole being constructed and arranged for use substantially a
described in reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination of a metallic hatch, provided with an opening or holes con-
trolled by a valve or valves or equivalently, with a hatchway having packing
material received and retained in a groove or channel at its upper margins, the
whole being constructed and adapted for use substantially as described and shown
in Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings.
4. The use in combination with metallic hatches, provided with ventilating
openings or not, of packing material arranged between the hatch and hatchway
at their juncture, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.