Method of Applying Oil to the Bottoms of Vessels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of Applying Oil to the Bottoms of Vessels.
I WILLIAM FREEBORN, of Tivoli, in the County of Dutchess and State of New
York, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
A liberal use of crude petroleum, or the light products thereof, applied to all the
immersed portions of a vessel, kills the barnacles or other crustacea and also the
vegetable growths, and causes the whole to fall off. It thus cleans the bottom and
contributes greatly to fast moving by steam or sail.
I provide convenient means for introducing oil below the vessel, and liberating it
there in small streams or jets which rise and apply against the bottom. The coating
of oil spreads and bathes the whole immersed area. The absence of affinity between
water and oil makes such application highly effective.
To attain these ends I introduce a temporary pipe leading from above the water to
the proper depth alongside and under the vessel, with provisions for supplying oil at
the upper and delivering the oil from the lower end into connecting perforated tubes,
or hose of loosely woven fabric, from which it will rise and spread upon the immersed
surface of the vessel.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this Specification and represent what I
consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the hull of a steamship provided with my
invention, a part being broken away to show the interior.
Fig. 2 is an amidship transverse section on a larger scale, showing the same
delivery pipes with a modification in the means of supply.
Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a portion on a still larger scale; and
Fig. 4 is a corresponding section showing a modification.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they appear.
A is the hull of a sea-going vessel. I employ a force-pump B', operated by hand
or by any suitable power, as a small steam-engine. The pump receives its supply
through a valve from a tank C, which latter may be conveniently filled when
required through a pipe C from the upper deck.
I, I are a series of ropes or chains extending across under the vessel, and aiding to
keep in place a perforated pipe J of metal or other suitable material extending
longitudinally of the vessel below her keel. J' is a flexible pipe leading therefrom to
a point above the surface of the water through which crude petroleum or the light
products thereof may be supplied to issue from the perforations or openings and be
distributed under the bottom of the vessel. This apparatus can be used when the
vessel is stationary, either in port or at sea. The apparatus may be introduced under
either end and moved forward and aft as required to distribute the oil under the whole
bottom. This application of the oil is intended more particularly for destroying
barnacles. But it may be also of service in preparing the bottom to induce less
adhesion of the water immediately before going to sea.
The force-pump may be often dispensed with. Oil is lighter than water, but the
difference in gravity is slight, and with the tank C elevated sufficiently, the oil will
have no difficulty in forcing out the water which has previously filled the pipes and
will flow out through the several small apertures b.
The bottoin of the vessel should be previously made as smooth as practicable.
In case that it is desirable that only the sides of the vessel between wind and water

page_text: should be cleaned, the hose should be lowered alongside to a sufficient depth, the
necessary quantity of oil applied, and the hose then shifted its length further forward
or aft, and the application of oil repeated until the entire length of the vessel on both
sides has been treated.
I use the term "oil" to indicate any fluid which will rise through the water and
destroy crustacea, molluscs; grasses fete, attached to a ship's bottom.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. I can increase or diminish the length of the longitudinal
pipe J.
Other cheap fixed oils will serve for this invention, but I propose generally to use
petroleum or the light products thereof. Crude petroleum is very cheap and will serve
efficiently all the uses of this invention. In case the bottom of the vessel is already
foul before its use the petroleum will kill the attached barnacles and grasses, causing
then to be easily detached by the motion of the vessel through the water.
The oil tank may be placed on the upper deck instead of below it. Instead of a
permanent tank the oil may be fed from barrels or other receptacles temporarily
connected with the pipe, as shown in Fig. 2.
It is practicable to supply oil from a point below the water line, as for example, in
the extreme bottom of a deep ship. In such case, the force-pump worked by hand or
by any suitable power will supply the means for raising the oil from the tank to a
proper point above, and from thence it may be let down through the pipes in the same
manner as above described.
Instead of a tight pipe with small perforations, I can employ a hose of loosely
wrought fibre, allowing the oil to exude slowly through the whole substance.
represents such modification.
Fig. 4
Dated this Red dovr of T
1800.
W. FREEBORN.
Per L W
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of Applying Oil to the Bottoms of Vessels.
I, WILLIAM FREEBORN, of Tivoli, in the County of Dutchess and State of New
York, one of the United States of America, 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 :-
A liberal use of crude petroleum, or the light products thereof, applied to all
the immersed portions of a vessel, kills the barnacles or other crustacea, and also
the vegetable growths, and causes the whole to fall off. It thus cleans the bottom
and contributes greatly to fast moving by steam or sail.
I provide convenient. means for introducing oil below the vessel, and liberating
it there in small streams or jets which rise and apply against the bottom. The
coating of oil spreads and bathes the whole immersed area.
The absence of affinity between water and oil makes such application highly
effective.
To attain these ends 1 introduce a temporary pipe leading from above the water
to the proper depth alongside and under the vessel, with provisions for supplying
oil at the upper and delivering the oil from the lower end into connecting
perforated tubes, or hose of loosely woven fabric, from which it will rise and
spread upon the immersed surface of the vessel.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification and which
represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention;
Fig. 1 is a general-side elevation of the hull of a steamship provided with my
invention, a part being broken away to show the interior.
Fig. 2 is an amidship transverse section on a larger scale, showing the same
delivery pipes with a modification in the means of supply.

page_text: Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a portion on a still larger
scale;
and
Fig. 4 is a corresponding section showing a modification.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they appear.
A is the hull of a sea-going vessel. I employ a force-pump B₁ operated by hand
or by any suitable power as a small steam engine. The pump receives its supply
through a valve C₁ from a tank which latter may be conveniently filled when
required through a pipe C from the upper deck.
I, I, are a series of ropes or chains extending across under the vessel, and aiding to
keep in place a perforated pipe J of metal or other suitable material extending
longitudinally of the vessel below her keel. J' is a flexible pipe leading therefrom to
a point above the surface of the water through which crude petroleum or the light
products thereof may be supplied to issue from the perforations or openings and be
distributed under the bottom of the vessel. This apparatus can be used when the
vessel is stationary, either in port or at sea. The apparatus may be introduced under
either end and moved forward and aft as required to distribute the oil under the
whole bottom. This application of the oil is intended more particularly for destroying
barnacles. But it may also be of service in preparing the bottom to induce less
adhesion of the water immediately before going to sea.
The force-pump may be often dispensed with. Oil is lighter than water, but the
difference in gravity is slight, and with the tank C elevated sufficiently, the oil will
have no difficulty in forcing out the water which has previously filled the pipes and
will flow out through the several small apertures b.
The bottom of the vessel should be previously made as smooth as practicable.
In case that it is desirable that only the sides of the vessel between wind and water
should be cleaned, the hose should be lowered alongside to a sufficient depth, the
necessary quantity of oil applied, and the hose then shifted its length further forward
or aft, and the application of oil repeated until the entire length of the vessel on both
sides has been treated.
I use the term "oil" to indicate any fluid which will rise through the water and
destroy crustacea, molluscs, grasses, etc. attached to a ship's bottom.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. I can increase or diminish the length of the longitudinal
pipe J.
Other cheap fixed oils will serve for this invention, but I propose generally to use
petroleum or the light products thereof. Crude petroleum is very cheap, and will serve
efficiently all the uses of this invention. In case the bottom of the vessel is already
foul before its use the petroleum will kill the attached barnacles and grasses, causing
them to be easily detached by the motion of the vessel through the water.
The oil tank may be placed on the upper deck instead of below it. Instead of a
permanent tank the oil may be fed from barrels or other receptacles temporarily
connected with the pipe, as shown in Fig. 2.
It is practicable to supply oil from a point below the water line, as for example,
in the extreme bottom of a deep ship. In such case, the force-pump worked by hand
or by any suitable power will supply the means for raising the oil from the tank to a
proper point above, and from thence it may be let down through the pipes in the same
manner as above described.
Instead of a tight pipe with small perforations I can employ a hose of loosely
wrought fibre, allowing the oil to exude slowly through the whole substance. Fig. 4
represents such modification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The herein described method of applying oil to the bottom of a vessel by discharging

page_text: the oil below the same through a tube or tubes, or through hose composed of loosely
woven fabric, such tube or tubes or hose being temporarily suspended and held in
position for a sufficient time to discharge the necessary quantity of oil to treat a
portion of the bottom, and then moving the tube, or tubes, or hose, to treat another
portion substantially as described for the purposes specified.
Dated the 11th day of July 1890
W. FREEBORN.
By L. W., per F. B.