Improvements in Hatch Coverings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hatch Coverings.
I, WILLIAM JEFFERSON, of 13 Windsor Terrace, Whitby, in the County of
Yorkshire, Captain in the Merchant Service, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been usual to have hatches made of wood in numerous pieces
according to the size of the hatch combings and covered with tarpaulins those
covers and hatches in heavy seas sometimes get washed off endangering the lives of
crews and passengers and causing loss of the ship.
According to this invention I construct the covering in the following manner :-
On the opposite edges of the combings I hinge flaps or covers, each extending
about a quarter way across the hatch ways. The two side edges of each of these
flaps are turned over on the upper side so as to form grooves or guides to receive a
plate which may be slid outwards so as to form an extension of the said lid or flap.
The parts are so arranged that when these extensions of both of two opposite flaps
are slid forward they meet at the centre of the hatch ways and rest upon a cross
beam provided for their support. Similar cross beams are provided to support
the edges of the flaps themselves, all these beans being removable in the ordinary
manner in order to allow of access to the holds. Similar grooves or guides to
those described are formed along the opposite sides of the hatch combings itself
so that on the sliding plate being slid forward out of the grooves on the flap
they pass under the said grooves on the combings which serve to secure the
flaps down upon the combings by reason of one end of the sliding plate being
still in engagement with the grooves upon the flap. Such a hatch covering may
be covered with tarpaulins in the ordinary manner if its joints are not sufficiently
watertight in themselves.
In loading or unloading a vessel it is sometimes unnecessary to uncover the whole
of the hatchway and by means of the arrangement herein described the sliding
plates may be slid back to uncover the central portion of the hatch way only,
the flaps themselves affording a platform upon which the men may take their
stand. When the whole of the hatch way is uncovered the flaps may be turned
back and rest upon suitable supports so as to form a platform.
Dated this 1st day of March 1893.
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hatch Coverings.
I, William Jefferson, of 13 Windsor Terrace, Whitby, in the County of
Yorkshire, Captain in the Merchant Service, 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:-
Hitherto it has been usual to have hatches made of wood in numerous pieces
according to the size of the hatch combings and covered with tarpaulins. Those
covers and hatches in heavy seas sometimes get washed off endangering the
lives of crews and passengers and causing loss of the ship.

page_text: According to this invention I construct the covering in the following manner :-
On the opposite edges of the combings I hinge flaps or covers, each extending
about a quarter way across the hatch ways. The two side edges of each of
these flaps are turned over, on the upper side so as to form grooves or guides
to receive a plate which may be slid outwards so as to form an extension of the
said lid or flap. The parts are so arranged that when these extensions of both
of two opposite flaps are slid forward they meet at the centre of the hatch ways
and rest upon a cross beam provided for their support. Similar cross beams
are provided to support the edges of the flaps themselves, all these beams being
removable in the ordinary manner in order to allow of access to the hold.
Similar grooves or guides to those described are formed along the opposite sides
of the hatch combings itself so that on the sliding plate being slid forward out
of the grooves on the flap they pass under the said grooves on the combings which
serve to secure the flaps down upon the combings by reason of one end of the
sliding plate being still in engagement with the grooves upon the flap. When the
whole of the hatch way is uncovered the flaps may be turned back and rest upon
.suitable supports so as to form a platform.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings of which
Fig. 1 is a plan showing my improved covering closed, Fig. 2 a similar view
showing the covering partly opened, Fig. 3 a front elevation, Figs. 4 and 5 a
sectional elevation on lines a-b and a-y respectively and Fig. 6 a side elevation.
Hinged to the opposite edges of the combings a are flaps or covers beach
extending about a quarter way across the hatch way when closed and resting upon
removable cross beams or supports c. The two side edges of these flaps or covers b
are grooved for the reception of plates d which may be slid forward when the
flaps are closed and form extensions thereof.
b
These plates when slid forward meet preferably edge to edge and rest upon a
removable cross beam or support e.
Grooves are also formed along the central portion of the hatch combing itself
into which the plates d slide when forced forward thus securing the whole covering
.down upon the combing when closed.
Brackets 9 or other suitable supports are provided for the flaps 6 to rest on when
open and so form platforms.
Such a hatch covering may be covered with tarpaulins in the ordinary manner if
its joints are not sufficiently watertight in themselves.
In loading and unloading a vessel it is sometimes unnecessary to uncover the
whole of the batch way and by means of the arrangement herein described the
sliding plates may be slid back to uncover the central portion of the hatch way
only, the flaps themselves affording a platform upon which the men may take their
stand.
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 :-
A hatch covering, substantially as described and ascertained in the accompanying
drawings.