IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COUNTERACTING SEA MOTION IN PASSENGER AND OTHER VESSELS, AND THEREBY PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wayland Joyce, of Burford, in the County
of Salop, Clerk, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
COUNTERACTING SEA MOTION IN PASSENGER AND OTHER VESSELS, AND THEREBY
PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS."
Sealed the 7th January 1873, and dated the 25th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wayland Joyce
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th October 1872.
I, JAMES WAYLAND JOYCE, of Burford, in the County of Salop,
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR COUNTERACTING SEA MOTION IN PASSENGER AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND THEREBY PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved apparatus
to be used on board ships and vessels, whereby the direct vertical motion
caused by the rising and falling of the waves of the sea
counteracted, and so sea sickness prevented.
can be

page_text: An oblong framework is formed of suitable dimensions and materials,
and placed exactly "amidship," its greater length ranging fore and aft
in the ship or vessel to which it is applied, the upper portion of the
framework being exactly as much above as the lower portion of it is
below the water level line on the ship's side when at rest. The ship or
vessel is suitably constructed to receive the apparatus. The principal
portions of the upper part of the framework consist of two longer
flattened arches of iron or other suitable material almost contiguous,
and extending in a fore and aft direction from the middle of the two
upper ends of the framework respectively, and also of two shorter
flattened arches of like character which extend from the middle of the.
two upper sides of the framework respectively, these last-mentioned two
arches meeting transversely with and conjoined to the two longer arches
above mentioned directly over the centre of the whole apparatus. From
the point of intersection of these arches is suspended by ropes or chains
and pulleys of suitable construction the centre of an oblong platform of
such size as to allow within the framework of the lateral motion of the
platform caused by the heeling of the vessel. These ropes or chains
pass over rollers or friction pulleys on the longer or shorter arches above
mentioned, as may be deemed most convenient, to drums with ratchet
or other suitable and well-known arrangements exterior to the frame-
work, and acted upon by a bydraulic press provided with steam or other
suitable accumulators. By these means the platform may be raised or
lowered vertically at its centre in exact contra motion to the vertical
rising or falling of the waves and ship or vessel at that point, but as the
platform is mainly suspended from its centre in order that it may be
maintained on a dead level it will require to be raised or depressed from
time to time at its fore or aft end respectively to a greater extent than
at its centre, where the least vertical motion occurs. This is effected as
follows: At the middle of each end of the top of the main framework
is an arm working on a pivot between the two longer arches before
mentioned, and capable of being raised or depressed. These arms are
each worked under such arrangements as may be convenient by a
separate hydraulic press which is placed fore and aft, so as to raise or
depress the fore or aft end of the platform in exact proportion to the
rising or falling of the waves and ship at that point. Thus the central
point of suspension is governed by the central press, and the fore and aft
points of suspension by the fore and aft presses respectively, and as all
three presses are governed by a common water level as herein-after

page_text: described, they will maintain the platform continuously on a dead level,
while its suspension from centres in common arcs will maintain it in a
horizontal plane.
The hydraulic presses may be worked either by manual labour, or
be made to work automatically in proportion to the rising and falling
of the waves and ship or vessel. If manual labour be employed the
operator must govern his action by a wave guage. If the presses be
worked automatically the arrangement may be on the following
principle: If a hollow tube or cylinder is placed in a ship or vessel
and opens at its lower extremity into the sea, and at its upper extremity
into the air, the water in the hollow tube will always stand at the sea
dead level, however much the ship or vessel itself may rise or fall by
the action of the waves. In such tubes, when employed for the purposes
of this Invention, are placed hollow iron balls which float on the water,
and are connected by any suitable means with the valves of the
hydraulic presses, as will be well understood, so that when the ship
or vessel falls the platform is raised exactly in proportion and to the
same extent, and when the ship or vessel rises the platform is in like
manner lowered.
.
The apparatus above described is either fixed rigidly in the ship or
vessel, in which case the exterior framework must be as much wider
than the platform included as is needful for allowing for lateral
motion; or, the apparatus is erected on a platform supported in the
hold on a free axle which runs fore and aft, and which is weighted
below. In the latter case the platform would itself counteract all lateral
motion, and the exterior framework need then be only of sufficient
width to receive the platform included in it.
By means of the arrangements above described the platform is always
preserved on a dead level in a horizontal plane, and the vertical and
lateral motion of the ship or vessel being thus counteracted, persons who
wish to avail themselves of the advantages afforded by the apparatus, and
for that purpose place themselves on the platform, will avoid the
suffering arising from sea sickness and other inconveniences ordinarily
attendant upon sea motion. The platform may of course be covered,
and so constructed and filled as to present all the comforts of a cabin or
saloon to the occupants.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Wayland Joyce in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WAYLAND JOYCE, of Burford, in the County of Salop, Clerk, send
greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Wayland Joyce, Her special license
that I, the said James Wayland Joyce, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Wayland Joyce, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR COUNTERACTING SEA MOTION IN PASSENGER AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND THEREBY PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Wayland Joyce, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Wayland Joyce, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
-
My said Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of
certain apparatus for contravening the motion of the sea by means of
water or other levels obtained and applied on shipboard, and maintaining
in the same horizontal plane at all times and in all its parts, both fore

page_text: and aft, and also athwartship, a cabin, a platform for guns, or any
receptacle for cargo, notwithstanding the vertical motion of the vessel
incident to its heaving and pitching, and notwithstanding the lateral
motion thereof incident to rolling.
The objects of my said Invention are effected as herein-after mentioned
alternatively, either first, by support from below, or secondly, by sus-
pension from above, or thirdly, by a combination of support from below,
and of suspension from above, all which powers of support or suspension
or both are applied by hydraulic or other pressure, and respectively
governed as the several cases may require, as herein-after more par-
ticularly mentioned by any two or more of the following methods, and
which for the sake of convenience I have numbered consecutively.
1. By an independent level coincident with the dead sea level obtained
on board from without by means of one or more vertical tubes opening
into the atmosphere above at their upper ends, and at their lower ends
connected with the external water below at the requisite depth beneath
the surface, this connection being capable of being made at pleasure
when the apparatus is put into gear, arrangements being provided for
hoisting the means of connection when in shallow water either alongside
or into the body of the vessel.
2. By interior levels obtained on board the vessel from within by
means of vertical tubes supplied with internal water connection either
fore and aft, or athwartship, or both.
3. By interior levels obtained on board the vessel from within at the
extremities of the arms of beams or levers which are supported on free
axles, and range either fore and aft, or athwartship, or both.
4. By interior levels obtained on board the vessel from within, by any
combinations of the methods numbered 2 and 3.
5. By interior levels obtained on board the vessel from within by
pendulum action.
6. By interior levels obtained on board the vessel from within by
manual action.
7. By levels obtained on board the vessel by a combination of any
or all of the above-mentioned methods, and if necessary aided also by
accumulation.

page_text: In Figure 1 the water level tubes are placed athwartship so as to
shew the arrangements for the contravention of lateral motion, which is
effected as follows:-When the ship has rolled through the angle ✪ the
floats F, F, will be at F', F', which will carry the vertical lever I¹¹ to f,
and at the same time will throw back the upper end of the compound
lever K to f". This again will cause the balanced valves D, D, to open
the port E on the left hand side for ingress, and to close the port E
on the right hand side, at the same time opening for egress the exhaust
pipe H on that side. The water or other power will then be forced into
the cylinder C on the left hand side, causing the piston P. to go in the
direction g', taking also with it the lever L to g". Then if there is no
more rolling in the same direction both valves D, D, will close the
supply and exhaust ports, thereby preventing the piston in the hydraulic
ram from moving in either direction. The reason that the valves D, D,
close the supply as soon as the. rolling ceases is that the levers K, L, are
brought into the same line as the lever I¹¹.
In place of tubes as given in Figure I. a pendulum action may be
substituted with suspension at the meta-centre of the vessel, as it is
manifest by inspection of the Drawing that if the water tubes were
omitted, and if the vertical rods dependent from the horizontal arms of
lever I, I, where attached rigidly to the structure of the ship, then the
simple inversion of the movement above indicated would be secured,
which would equally serve the present purpose.
In Figure 2 the action of the float in the water level tube connected
with the external water is shewn with the arrangement for the contra-
vention of vertical motion.
The same principle of arrangement as before mentioned is applicable
to any position of the presses, whether they are placed horizontally or
vertically, or at any other angle with the horizon, all that is required
for the present purpose is still to place the lever L, as shewn in Figure 2,
at right angles to the hydraulic piston, and to make the float action F
directly actuate the lever I¹¹¹
Having thus shewn the several methods of governing the powers
brought into requisition, I proceed to shew the several methods of
applying them, and as this Invention may be carried out alternatively
either, first, by support from below; secondly, by suspension from
above or thirdly, by a combination of the said two methods, those

page_text: For the first method of effecting the purposes of this Invention by
support from below I construct the apparatus as follows :—
1. A cavity or well of suitable size and shape is provided in the vessel,
and sinks below the deck to the depth required.
2. Within the cavity is constructed a framework of circular, oval, or
other convenient form, consisting of two parts or. sections herein-after
called section A. and section B. respectively.
3. For counteracting the heaving and pitching or vertical motions of
the vessel there are fixed in her structure one or more hydraulic presses
acting vertically on section A. of the framework, and these presses are
so arranged as to give it isochronous and equivalent contra-motions to
the vertical motions of the vessel. They are governed by balanced
valves automatically actuated by a float action or actions rising and
falling in a vertical tube or tubes, as shewn in Figure 2 of the annexed
Drawings, and herein-before described. These tubes open into the
atmosphere above, and are connected with the sea below at a requisite
depth beneath the surface (as before mentioned), whereby an external
dead sea level is obtained within on shipboard, or these presses are
governed, as the case may require, by any of the methods for obtaining
levels herein-before mentioned, or by any combination thereof.
4. For counteracting the rolling or lateral motions of the vessel there
are constructed in section A of the framework before mentioned free
bearings fore and aft. In these bearings work gudgeons or axles secured
to section B. of the framework, which will thus by its own gravitation
contravene the lateral motions of the vessel, and these lateral contra-
motions of section B consequent on its own gravitation are made
moreover rigidly isochronous with and equivalent to the rolling of the
vessel, and meanwhile insensible to any disturbance from external causes
(as for instance the shifting of superincumbent weight) by means of an
hydraulic press or presses. These constructed in section A. act on
section B. of the framework, and are governed by balanced valves
automatically actuated by a float action or actions rising and falling in a
a vertical tube or tubes where an interior level is laterally maintained
within on shipboard by means of athwartship water connection, and is

page_text: applied, as shewn in Figure I. of the annexed Drawings, and as described
above; or these presses are governed, as the case may require, by any of
the other methods herein-before described, or by any combination thereof.
5. To section B. of the framework a cabin, platform for guns, or other
receptacle for cargo is rigidly secured in case the arrangement for
the vertical movements of section A. should carry the fore and aft axial
bearings for section B. at all times in a plane parallel to the horizon.
But in case the vertical movements of section A. should not be so
arranged, then for counteracting the vertical inequalities fore and aft
resulting from the longitudinal dimensions of the supported body, the
cabin, platform, or receptacle instead of being rigidly secured to
section B works on free bearings in section B on axles athwartships,
and its vertical contra-motions on such athwartship axial bearings are
made rigidly isochronous with and equivalent to the heaving and
pitching of the vessel, and meanwhile insensible to any external causes
(as for instance the shifting of superincumbent weight) by an arrange-
ment simply transverse to that specified in the last section.
second method of electing the purposes of this invention
by suspension from above I construct the apparatus as follows:-
1. As in this previous case a cavity or well of suitable size and shape is
provided in the vessel, and sinks below the deck to the depth required.
2. In this cavity is fixed rigidly a framework of suitable shape and
material, which is erected to the height required.
3. Over the framework and connected with it are constructed inter-
secting ribs or arches of the number required, which are furnished with
friction rollers and multiplying pulleys connected with rods, chains,
arms, levers, or such other well-known contrivances, as may be needful
for hoisting purposes.
4. In connection with the last-mentioned appliances works the
suspending power which is actuated by one or more hydraulic presses
acting vertically. These pressss are so arranged as to give an isochronous
and equivalent contra-motion to the vertical motions of the vessel, and
they are governed by balanced valves automatically actuated by a float
action or actions rising and falling in a vertical tube or tubes, as shewn
in Figure 2 of the annexed Drawings, and herein-before described.

page_text: These tubes open into the atmosphere above, and are connected with the
sea below at a requisite depth beneath the surface (as before described),
whereby an external sea dead level is obtained within on shipboard, or
these presses are governed, as the case may require, by any of the
methods before described for obtaining levels on shipboard, or by any
combination of them. By the method first above particularly described
exact contra-motions are affected inversely isochronous with and equi-
valent to the vertical motions of the vessel caused by her heaving and
pitching.
5. To the suspending power before mentioned there is attached within
the framework a cabin, platform for guns, or other receptacle for cargo
by suitable means, which will there maintain itself by the action of
the hydraulic presses, as mentioned in the last section, in a horizontal
plane fore and aft, notwithstanding the vertical motions of the vessel
caused by heaving and pitching, and will also maintain itself by the
laws of gravitation in the same horizontal plane athwartship, notwith-
standing the lateral motions of the vessel caused by rolling.
6. For counteracting the oscillation of the suspended body numerous
guide ropes are attached. These passing over friction pulleys inserted
in the framework maintain counterbalances, which being disposed so
as to countervail the influences of intersecting waves of motion set
up on shipboard, and also to forbid the coincidence of rythmical periods
of motion ensure steadiness. These counterbalances moreover may be
utilized to relieve the weight to be raised by the presses, if desired.
7. For maintaining (if required) the centre of gravity in the vessel,
should that be displaced by any lateral sway of the suspended body,
ballast trucks may be provided traversing from starboard to larboard,
and contrariwise in exact contra-motion to the rolling of the vessel.
They may be worked automatically by an arrangement similar to that
detailed in Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, and described above.
"

page_text: 2. In this cavity is constructed a platform working on free bearings
fore and aft, which will thus by its own gravitation contravene the
rolling or lateral motions of the vessel, and these lateral contra-motions
of the platform are made moreover rigidly isochronous with and
equivalent to the rolling of the vessel, and meanwhile insensible to
any disturbance from external causes by the same automatic arrange-
ments as before detailed for that purpose under method 1, section 4,
and as shewn in Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, or by other means.
3. On the platform last mentioned is erected a framework with all
appliances as herein-before described in method 2, sections 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
By the means above mentioned a cabin or platform for guns, or any
receptacle for cargo may be maintained on shipboard at all times and
in all its parts in the same horizontal plane both fore and aft, and
also athwartship, and thus sea sickness may be averted, an uniformly
level platform provided for marine artillery, or a receptacle insensible to
sea motion secured for such cargo as may be liable to injury from the
same.
It is manifest (in any case when it may not be deemed expedient to
obtain within the vessel an independent sea dead level by means of
connection with the external water) that by the application of the
internal water levels only as above described, if maintained both fore
and aft and also athwartship, all vertical motions save only such as
occurs at the athwartship central axis of the ship may be counteracted,
and also all lateral motion whatsoever.
I am aware that Inventions have been previously proposed for con-
travening vertical motion, and also for contravening lateral motion
separately but not cumulatively on shipboard. Moreover in such
Inventions no provision has ever been suggested for obtaining an
independent water level coincident with the exterior sea dead level by
means of connection with the water external to the ship (which is a
matter essential to the perfection of the present Invention), neither
has any provision been made in such Inventions for automatic action
to be applied for the purposes contemplated, as is herein-before set
forth.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be carried out, I obscrve

page_text: in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
First. The combination and arrangement of the apparatus herein-
before described for contravening at one and the same time both the
vertical and the lateral motions on shipboard, that is to say, for making
the contra-motions of a cabin, platform for guns, or receptacle for cargo
isochronous with and equivalent to the vertical motions of the vessel
caused by heaving and pitching, and also at the same time isochronous
with and equivalent to her lateral motions caused by rolling.
Secondly. The application on shipboard as herein-before described
for the purposes aforesaid or for others, of an independent water level
coincident with the dead sea level obtained on board from without by
means of one or more vertical tubes opening into the atmosphere above
at their upper ends, and at their lower ends connected with the external
water below at a requisite depth beneath the surface thereof.
Thirdly. The automatic arrangements as herein-before set forth and
described for applying any water or other levels or other powers on
shipboard to hydraulic presses or other engines for the purposes
aforesaid.
And fourthly. The automatic arrangements herein-before described as
applicable to any other purposes whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wayland Joyce, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
JAMES WAYLAND JOYCE. (L.S.)