An Improved Method of Operating Water-tight Doors of Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Operating Water-tight Doors of Ships.
THOMAS EDWIN BICKLE Great Western Docks Plymouth Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of operating the water tight doors
of ships whereby the doors may be operated simultaneously or singly. To
accomplish this according to my invention I employ a pneumatic or atmospheric
system. The water tight doors are provided with cylinders fitted with pistons,
the movement of the said pistons operating the doors. This movement is effected
by creating a difference of pressure on the opposite sides of the pistons. The
doors are opened & remain in this position as long as the difference of pressure
is maintained.. When equilibrium is restored either accidentally or intentionally
the doors close by gravity or assisted by air pressure on the piston. The
operating pressure may be obtained by creating a vacuum or by the use of
compressed air.
Dated this 18th day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Operating Water-tight Doors of Ships.
THOMAS EDWIN BICKLE of the Great Western Docks Plymouth in the County
of Devon Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of opening and closing the water
tight doors of ships, whereby the doors may be operated simultaneously throughout
the ship, or singly as may be required. To accomplish this according to my
invention, I employ a pneumatic or atmospheric system in place of screw or rack
gears now applied to each single watertight door. According to my improved
method, each door is provided with a suitable cylinder, having piston and rod
attachments. This piston is actuated by atmospheric or paeumatic pressure. The
door is opened by creating a difference of pressure on the opposite sides of the
piston, and remains open as long as this difference of pressure is maintained.
When equilibrium of pressure is restored either intentionally or accidentally the
doors close by gravity, or may be assisted by suitable spring attachments.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same, by the aid of the accompanying drawing in which :-
A represents a portion of an air pipe system connected to an air pump, which
may be located in any part of the ship.
B is the pneumatic cylinder, fitted with piston and piston rod with connection to
the water tight door C.
C is the water tight door.
D is a valve or cock for regulating the speed of operating the door, by throttling
the egress or ingress of atmospheric air to the cylinder B-an alarm whistle might
also be attached to this cock if desired.
E is a valve or cock for controlling the communication between cylinder B and
air pipe system A. This cock is also arranged for making a connection between
Die R37

page_text: the atmospheric air and cylinder B, and at same time cutting off communication
between air pipe system A and cylinder B.
The action of the apparatus is as follows-
By means of an air pump, vacuum is created in the pipe system A. The
atmospheric air passing through cock D, acting on the piston in cylinder B,
opens the door C, and the door C is held in this position as long as a sufficient
difference of pressure is maintained on the opposite sides of the piston.
When it is desired to close the doors in a ship simultaneously, the vacuum is
destroyed by the admission of atmospheric air to pipe system A. When it is
desired to close the doors singly, this can be accomplished by cutting off connection
hetween cylinder B and air pipes A, and admitting atmospheric air into cylinder B
by means of valve E.
It is evident that the same system may be employed by using compressed air in
place of vacuum, by a simple modification of the attachment of the air pipes to
the operating cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. An improved method of operating water tight doors of ships, consisting of
a pneumatic or atmospheric system substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 17th (Seventeenth) day of August 1894.
THOMAS E. BICKLE.