IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PARTS OF SHIPS AND THEIR FURNITURE
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PARTS OF SHIPS AND THEIR
FURNITURE." A communication from abroad by David Huston, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS'
SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PARTS
OF SHIPS AND THEIR FURNITURE" [A communication from abroad by David.
Huston, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates chiefly to a self-levelling sleeping berth for use in ships,
in which berth the bed bottom shall at all times remain in or nearly in a horizontal
plane, independently of the motion of the ship in pitching or rolling, thereby
removing the causes which induce sea sickness, and promoting the ease and comfort
of the occupant of the berth; and the said Invention comprises supporting the
berth-frame on a double swivel or universal joint, which is applied to its underside,
and serves to connect it with the floor beneath or other suitable support, the berth-
frame being provided with a heavy counterpoise weight attached to its underside
for the purpose of steadying it and maintaining it in its proper position, and with
springs arranged in such a manner as to yield when the berth vibrates either on
its longitudinal or transverse axis, and in connection with the counterpoise weight
return it to its normal position when not occupied.
The said Invention also comprises the connecting by suitable wires or cords of a
berth frame supported on a double swivel or universal joint, and provided with a
counterpoise weight and springs, as above described, with a berth frame placed
directly thereover, and suspended from an overhung swinging frame supported on
two series of pivote arranged in lines at right angles to each other, by which
arrangement the upper berth is steadied and controlled in its movements by the
counterpoise weight and springs of the lower berth, whereby the necessity of
heavily weighting the swinging frame from which the upper berth is suspended, as
hitherto required, is entirely avoided.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a casing, in which the
berth is located. The berth is made with a rectangular frame, which has secured
to its underside two metallic bars extending transversely across it, and forming a

page_text: part thereof, and between these bars is pivoted a longitudinal shaft, which is provided
on each side of its centre with a trunnion or gudgeon, these trunnions being sup-
ported in suitable bearings in the side pieces of a stout metal frame which is bolted
securely to the floor of the casing, and by thus pivoting the ends of the said shaft
between the bars, and its centre between the side pieces of the said stout metal frame
in lines at right angles to each other a double swivel or universal joint connection
is thus formed, upon which the berth frame is supported, and which allows it to
vibrate freely on both its longitudinal and transverse axes, so as to preserve its
equilibrium as the ship or vessel pitches or rolls, but prevents it from swinging in a
horizontal plane around a vertical axis, thereby avoiding contact with the sides of
the casing in which the berth is placed. The two side pieces of the frame are
secured firmly together near the top by means of a transverse rod or brace, the
ends of which are provided both on the inner and outer side of the frame with
screw-nuts, by means of which the upper ends of the side pieces may be drawn
together or separated, and held immovably at the required distance apart. Between
projections extending down from the underside of each of the transverse bars at its
centre is bolted or otherwise secured a heavy counterpoise weight, which extends
longitudinally under the centre of the berth, and serves to steady it and maintain it
in its proper position, ample space being afforded between the side pieces of the
aforesaid stout metal frame for the free swinging of the weight.
At the head and at the foot of the berth there is a pair of crossed spiral springs,
one end of each spring being secured to the berth-frame, and the opposite end to
the floor or side of the casing, these springs when thus arranged assisting the afore-
said counterpoise weight to steady the berth and render it less tremulous, and also
to return it to its normal position when not occupied, as a lateral movement in
either direction will cause a tension to be brought upon one spring of each pair,
and a longitudinal movement in either direction will bring a strain upon one pair
or the other of the springs, as the case may be, and in this manner the necessary
stability is given to the berth, while it is nevertheless free to swing and preserve
its equilibrium as the ship or vessel pitches or rolls.
Where it is desired to employ two berths arranged one directly over the other
the lower berth-frame is connected at its corners by means of suitable wire ropes or
cords with the frame of the upper berth, which is suspended by wire ropes or cords
fron a swinging frame pivoted to the opposite ends of a cross piece, the transverse
portion of which is pivoted by means of screws within a U-shaped hanger bolted
firmly to the underside of the top or ceiling of the casing, the pivotal points of the
longitudinal and transverse portions of the said cross-piece being arranged in lines
at right angles to each other, a universal joint being thus formed similar to that
on which the lower berth frame is supported, which permits the said swinging
frame to vibrate freely on both its longitudinal and transverse axes, so as to
preserve its equilibrium as the ship or vessel pitches or rolls, and by thus connecting
the two, that is to say, the upper and lower berth frames together by means of the
said cords the counterpoise weight and springs of the lower berth are utilized for
steadying and controlling the movements of the upper berth, and the necessity of
heavily weighting the swinging frame below the hanger, as heretoforo, which renders
it clumsy and unwieldy, is thus entirely avoided.
Berths constructed as above described will preserve their equilibrium or balance
and maintain themselves in a horizontal position when occupied independently of
the vessel's motion, thus removing the causes which induce sea sickness, and
promoting the ease and comfort of the occupants.
It is evident that racks for supporting glass-ware, crockery, and the like in
ships' cabins, ships' tables, chairs, settees, and similar articles, also the floors of.the
state rooms, may be constructed in a manner similar to that in which the berths
above described are made without departing from the principle of this Invention.

page_text: around a vertical axis, thereby avoiding contact with the sides of the casing in
which the berth is placed.
The two side pieces of the frame D are secured firmly together near the top
by means of a transverse rod or brace E, the ends of which are provided both on
the inner and outer side of the frame with screw-nuts e, by means of which the
upper ends of the side pieces may be drawn together or separated, and held
immovably at the required distance apart. Between projections f, f, extending
down from the underside of each of the transverse bars a at its centre is bolted or
otherwise secured a heavy counterpoise-weight G, of the form seen in Figure 1, and
which extends longitudinally under the centre of the berth, and serves to steady it
and maintain it in its proper position, ample space being afforded between the side
pieces of the frame D for the free swinging of the said weight G.
At the head and foot of the berth there is a pair of crossed spiral springs H, H,
one end of each spring being secured to the berth-frame, and the opposite end to the
floor or side of the casing A, these springs when thus arranged assisting the
counterpoise-weight G to steady the berth and render it less tremulous, and also to
return it to its normal position when not occupied, as a lateral movement in either
direction will cause a tension to be brought upon one spring of each pair, and a
longitudinal movement in either direction will bring a strain upon one pair or the
other of the springs as the case may be, and in this manner the necessary stability is
given to the berth, while it is nevertheless free to swing and preserve its equilibrium
as the ship or vessel pitches or rolls.
When it is arranged to employ two berths arranged one directly over the other,
as shown in Figure 4, the lower berth-frame B is connected at its corners by means
of suitable wire ropes or cords h with the frame I of the upper berth, which is
suspended by wire ropes or cords k from a swinging frame K pivotted at 1, l, to
the opposite ends of a cross piece L. The transverse portion of this cross piece
is pivotted by means of screws m within a U-shaped hanger M, bolted firmly to
the underside of the top or ceiling of the casing A, the pivotal points of the longi-
tudinal and transverse portions of the said cross piece L being arranged in lines at
right angles to each other, and a universal joint thus formed similar to that on
which the lower berth frame B is supported. This arrangement permits the frame K
to vibrate freely on both its longitudinal and transverse axes, so as to preserve its
equilibrium as the ship or vessel pitches or rolls; and by thus connecting the two
berth frames B, I, together by means of the cords h, the counterpoise-weight G and
springs H of the lower berth are utilized for steadying and controlling the move-
ments of the upper berth, and the necessity for heavily weighting the swinging
frame K below the hanger M, as heretofore, and which renders it clumsy and
unwieldy, is thus entirely avoided.
Berths constructed as above described will preserve their equilibrium or balance,
and maintain themselves in a horizontal position when occupied independently of
the vessel's motion, thus removing the causes which induce sea sickness, and
promoting the ease and comfort of the occupants.
It is evident that racks for supporting glass-ware, crockery, and the like in ships'
cabius, ships' tables, chairs, settees, and similar articles, and also the floors of state
rooms, may be constructed in a manner similar to the berths above described without
departing from the principles of this Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The berth-frame supported upon a double swivel or universal joint con-
sisting essentially of the shaft pivotted to the underside of the berth-frame and to
a stationary frame or part beneath in lines at right angles to each other in
combination with the counterpoise-weight attached to and extending longitudinally
under the centre of the berth-frame and to the springs attached to the berth-frame,
and to the casing, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination with the berth-frame B, supported on a double swivel
or universal joint, and provided with a counterpoise-weight and springs, of an upper
berth-frame I connected with the frame B by means of cords or wires, and
suspending from an overhung swinging frame, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
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In witness whereof, J, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WPORT LAZD