Improvements in the Subdivision of Ships and other Vessels into Watertight Compartments.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1836.
Complete Left, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th May, 1887.
RESEDI
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Subdivision of Ships and other Vessels into
Watertight Compartments.
I, ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of Firs Cottage, East Sheen, in the County of Surrey
Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore Ships and other vessels have been divided into watertight compartments
chiefly by means of iron or steel transverse bulkheads rivetted up directly to the sides
and bottom of the vessel.-The consequence is that when the junction of the bulkhead
is either broken through or disturbed in a collision or otherwise, two adjacent com-
partments become filled, and the vessel is frequently sunk by the excessive admission
of water.
Now my invention consists in fitting Ships with screens, or bulkheads, or partial bulk-
heads of manufactured India-rubber so prepared as to be able to withstand the action of
either the atmosphere, or of fresh or salt water, or of bilge water without rapid deteriora-
tion, which screens, bulkheads or partial bulkheads I connect directly to the sides of the
Ship in any suitablo manner, and also to the transverse bulkheads. The connection
with the side is situated at a distance of several feet (by preference from 5 to 15 feet)
from the bulkhead, and the connection with the bulkhead is situated about an equal
distance from the Ship's side. These screens form, with the side and bulkhead,
chambers, or watertight compartments, which, when the junction of the bulkhead
with the Ship's side is injured, prevent the water from filling the adjacent
compartment.
I prefer to make these screens of the elastic material above mentioned, or of some
other flexible and strong material, firstly because such flexible screens are less likely
than metallic ones to injury from blows or other causes of disturbance, which would
interfere with the watertightness of iron or steel screens; and secondly because,
where internal space is valuable, such flexible screens may be so fitted as to be capable
(while rigidly connected to the bulkhead and Ship's side) of being pushed or drawn
aside into the angular space Letween the bulkhead and side, and thus leave the hold or
deck space as unencumbered or nearly so, as if they did not exist.

page_text: I do not confine myself to any dimensions, dispositions, or modes of attachment of
such screens, bulkheads or partial bulkheads, as I hold myself free, in carrying out
my invention to adapt them to the construction and internal arrangements of the
Ships or Vessels to which I apply them, sometimes placing them between decks,
sometimes in the hold, or in hold rooms or compartments or in engine or boiler rooms,
or in Coal bunkers as the case may be ; nor do I confine myself to the use of any
particular material, but my Invention consists generally in fitting at the junctions of
watertight divisions elastic or flexible screens which, on injury taking place at such
Junctions, will come into operation and prevent the water which enters into one com-
partment from flowing into and filling an adjacent compartment.
Dated this Twenty third day of July 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Subdivision of Ships and other Vessels into
Watertight Compartments.
I ANNIE MATILDA WOOD of Firs Cottage East Sheen in the County of Surrey
Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE SUBDIVISION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS INTO WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Heretofore ships and other vessels have been divided into Watertight Compart-
ments chiefly by means of iron or steel transverse bulkheads rivetted up directly to
the sides and bottom of the vessel. The consequence is that when the junction of the
bulkhead is either broken through or disturbed in a collision or otherwise, two adjacent
compartments become filled, and the vessel is frequently sunk by the excessive
admission of water.
Now my invention consists in fitting ships with screens or bulkheads, or partial
bulkheads of manufactured India Rubber so prepared as to be able to withstand the
action of either the atmosphere or of fresh or salt water, or of bilge water without
rapid deterioration, which screens, bulkheads, or partial bulkheads, I connect directly
to the sides of the ship in any suitable manner, and also to the transverse bulkheads.
The connection with the side is situated at a distanco of several feet (by preference
from 5 to 15 feet) from the bulkhead, and the connection with the bulkhead is situated
at about an equal distance from the ship's side. These screens form, with the side and
bulkhead, chambers or watertight compartments, which when the junction of the
bulkhead with the ship's side is injured, prevent the water from filling the adjacent
compartment.
I prefer to make these screens of the elastic material above mentioned, or of some
other flexible and strong material, firstly because such flexible screens are less likely
than metallic ones to injury from blows or other causes of disturbance which would
interfere with the watertightness of iron or steel screens, and secondly because, where
internal space is valuable, such flexible screens may be so fitted as to be capable
(while rigidly connected to the bulkhead and ship's side) of being pushed or drawn
aside into the angular space between the bulkhead and side, and thus leave the hold
or deck space as unencumbered or nearly so, as if they did not exist.
I do not confine myself to any dimensions, dispositions, or modes of attachment of
such screens, bulkheads or partial bulkheads, as I hold myself free in carrying out my
invention to adapt them to the construction and internal arrangements of the ships or
vessels to which I apply them, sometimes placing them between decks, sometimes in
the hold, or in hold rooms or compartments, or in engine or boiler rooms, or in coal
bunkers as the case may be ; nor do I confine myself to the use of any particular
material, but my Invention consists generally in fitting at the junctions of watertight
divisions elastic or flexible screens which, on injury taking place at such junctions,
will come into operation and prevent the water which enters into one compartment
from flowing into and filling an adjacent compartment.

page_text: The accompanying drawings illustrate one method of carrying my Invention into
effect, but there are many other ways of accomplishing the same object as will be
apparent to persons skilled in Naval Construction.
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of a vessel shewing a screen A of manufactured. india
rubber or of some other flexible, strong and suitable material, so prepared as to be
able to withstand the action of either the atmosphere, or of fresh or salt water, or of
bilge water, without rapid deterioration, secured to the side of the vessel by means of
one of the frames or ribs C, the connection being made by a strip or strips D of flat
iron or steel or some other metal worked on the outer surface of the screen A, the
whole being efficiently rivetted together and made thoroughly watertight. It is also
secured to the bulkhead B by means of a strip or strips of metal in a similar manner,
and further secured to the iron deck by means of watertight intercostal plates and
angle bars worked between the beams, and so fitted as to admit of a similar strip of
metal being worked along the lower edges of the intercostal plates, these fittings thus
forming watertight connections along the whole of the edges of the screen A. The
screen A is so fitted as to be capable of being pushed or drawn into the angular space
between the vessel's side and the bulkhead B, and thus leave the hold space practically
unencumbered.
Fig. II. is a longitudinal sectional plan of a vessel's side in its normal condition
showing the screen A secured directly to the bulkhead B and to the vessel's side by
means of the frame C in the manner herein before described. It will be seen that the
screen A forms with the vessel's side and the bulkhead B, a watertight chamber or
compartment, which when the vessel is injured by collision or otherwise at the junction
of the bulkhead and the vessel's side, effectually prevents the water from flowing into
the adjacent compartment E.
Fig. III. is a longitudinal sectional plan of a vessel's side with the screen A fitted as
before described, after the vessel has been injured by collision or otherwise at the
junction of the side and the bulkhead B. The sketch indicates the screen A expanded
by the pressure of the water endeavouring to flow into the adjacent compartment E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not limit my
claims to the precise arrangements and particulars hereinbefore described, as the
same may be varied and extended within the scope and carrying out of my Invention,
but what I claim is
I. The improved subdivision of ships and other vessels into watertight compart-
ments by fitting at the junctions of watertight bulkheads or other divisions, clastic, or
flexible, or other suitable screens, bulkheads, or partial bulkheads, which on injury
taking place at such junctions will prevent the water which enters into one compart-
ment from flowing into and filling an adjacent compartment.
II. The employment of elastic, flexible or other screens, bulkheads or partial bulk-
heads fitted at the junctions of watertight divisions in the manner and for the purposes
herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of Anril 1887