IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-LEVELLING SLEEPING BERTHS FOR SHIPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-LEVELLING SLEEPING BERTHS
FOR SHIPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES"
A communication to him from abroad by Joseph Henry Milligan,
of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION "left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1882.
-
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-
LEVELLING SLEEPING BERTHS FOR SHIPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," [A communication to him from abroad by
Joseph Henry Milligan, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mechanic.]
This invention relates chiefly to improvements in self-levelling sleeping berths
for ships, parts of which improvements are applicable for other purposes.
According to the said Invention a berth is pivotted or hung upon bearings at its
sides in a frame that is also pivotted at its ends upon the frame work of the vessel,
or the partition of the state room, all as hereinafter described; and the said invention
has for one of its objects to increase the strength and delicacy of action of the said
bearings, the working parts of which are wholly enclosed and protected in the
wood-work of the berth..
By means of the improved construction herein-described space is greatly
economized, it being possible to use in a state room of ordinary size a self-levelling
berth of nearly the same size as the ordinary fixed berth.
The swinging movement of the bunk or berth proper, and of its supported
pivotted frame, is limited in either direction by elastic cushioned stops, the
amount of such movement permitted being proportioned to the size of the
D

page_text: vessel and sufficient to compensate for the greatest pitching or rolling movement
that will occur. The said bunk or berth is supported by bearings at its sides and
has a longitudinal rocking movement in its supporting frame, the sides of which
nre close to those of the said berth, which is provided with steadying guide-arms
or levers working in suitable guide-ways in the ends of the said frame which 5
extend above the ends of the berth proper and are hung upon bearings, the axis of
novement of which is considerably above the main portion of the berth and frame.
A leaf or board, jointed to the head and foot piece of the berth proper, rests against
the end portions of its supporting frame and is provided with friction rollers which
run upon the said end portions as the berth rocks in its frame, the said board thus 1
covering the space between the said berth and frame and preventing the clothing
from being caught therein.
The frame of the berth proper consists of two angle pieces, preferably of cast iron,
extending along the bottom at each side of the berth and connected by cross-
beams at their ends, the said frame is, mounted upon bearings which are supported
upon the side pieces of the berth-supporting frame at a point that will be beneath
the centre of gravity. of an occupant of average size and build. The side and
end pieces forming the bunk or berth are fixed upon the frame work, and the bottom
may be an elastic wire fabric stretched between the angle-piece of the frame.
The bunk is suitably ballasted to bring its centre of gravity, either with or
without the additional weight of the occupant, beneath the axis of its bearings
when it is horizontal, the said bearings permitting it to retain this position during
the pitching movement of the ship and of the berth-supporting frame connected
therewith.
The end pieces of the berth-supporting frame extend upward above the main
body of the bunk, and are hung upon bearings which permit the said frame to
hang vertically during the rolling movement of the vessel. The said end pieces
are provided with guide ways to receive steadying arms or levers which are
pivotted upon the ends of a longitudinal beam fixed upon the bottom of the bunk,
the said arms or levers prevent any lateral movement of the bunk and relieve
the berth-bearing of any twisting strain. The said arms are provided with friction
rollers to render their movement easier and prevent jarring.
The end pieces of the bunk are provided with leaves hinged thereto and provided
with rollers working on the end pieces of the berth-supporting frame, as the bunk
rocks on its bearings, to compensate for the pitching of the ship. The said leaves
cover the joint between the end of the bunk and the end of the supporting frame
and prevent the contents of the said bunk from rubbing against the said supporting
frame or being caught between it and the bunk.
In order to retain the bunk steady until the occupant has placed himself 'therein,
it may be provided with a bolt operated by a knob to engage with the end piece
of the berth-supporting frame, and thus prevent the independent movement of the
said bunk until the said bolt is withdrawn.
The bearings of the bunk and its supporting frame are both constructed upon
the same principle, each being composed of two portions; one connected with the
moving part and the other with its supporting frame work, the part connected
with the side of the bunk and the end portion of its supporting frame are similar,
and are termed the moving portion of the bearing, while the parts connected with
the side portion of the berth-supporting frame and with the partition wall of the
state rooin correspond, and are called the fixed portion of the bearing. The said
fixed portion of the bearing consists of a circular disc serving as a stop to limit the
movement of the other portion of the bearing which consists of a cylindrical
bearing surface concentric with the periphery of the said disc and resting upon
friction rollers therein. The said fixed portion of the bearing is also provided with
laterally projecting friction rollers which engage with a plane bearing surface of
the movable, portion of the bearing and receive the longitudinal pressure of the
berth-supporting frame when in an inclined position. The friction rollers in the
fixed portion of the bearing are adapted to receive the entire weight supported by
}

page_text: the bearing, but in order to give greater steadiness of movement and, to afford
security to the berth in case one of the said rollers should break or otherwise
become inoperative, the said fixed portion of the bearing is chambered around its
centre and provided with a series of internal rollers supporting a sleeve or nipple.
In the bearing between the berth-supporting frame and the end of the state room,
a pivot fixed to the end of the said frame enters the said sleeve or nipple so that if
the friction rollers become inoperative the frame will remain supported by the said
pivot upon the rollers and the internal surface of the chamber in the fixed portion
of the bearing. In the bearing at the side of the bunk, another pivot is fixed to
the side portion of the berth-supporting frame, and the nipple or sleeve is a portion
of the movable bearing fixed to the bunk proper, and bears upon the rollers and
chamber in the fixed portion, thus affording a secondary bearing for the bunk.
The latter pivot serves to steady the berth bearing and hold the two portions.
thereof in the proper relative position.
The lower part of the movable portion of the bearing is chambered to receive a
stop arm on the fixed portion, and to engage with it at the end of the maximum
movement required for the bearing in order to prevent the berth from being
overturned or yielding too much when a person is getting in or out.
A cushion of soft india-rubber or other yielding material is interposed between
the two portions of the bearing to cause it to stop without shock, and a similar
cushion may be placed at the end of either the guide way or stop-lever to prevent
concussion in the longitudinal rocking of the bunk.
Arranged at either end of the berth and attached, to the walls of the state room
a bracket, each of the said brackets being provided with a coiled spring acting
against the under side of the berth, the object of the said springs being to neutralize
the effects of the pitching or vertical movements of the berth, preferably however
these springs are attached respectively to the upper ends of the stop levers or arms,
one end of the spring being secured to the arm and its opposite end to any
convenient support.
A double berth may be constructed upon the same principle as that hereinbefore
described, the bearings being made somewhat stronger in order to enable them to
support the additional weight.
It will be obvious that the anti-friction device hereinbefore described may be.
employed in various other positions to which it is adapted, where it is desirable to
overcome friction, such as for instance in the construction of weighing scales and
the like.

page_text: 4
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the
9th April 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-
LEVELLING SLEEPING BERTHS FOR SHIPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication to me from abroad by
Joseph Henry Milligan, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mechanic.
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in self-levelling sleeping berths
for ships, parts of which improvements are applicable for other purposes.
According to the said Invention a berth is pivotted or hung upon bearings at its
sides in a frame which is also pivotted at its ends upon the frame-work of the
vessel or the partition of the state room, all as hereinafter described, and the said
Invention has for one of its objects to increase the strength and delicacy of action
of the said bearings, the working parts of which aro wholly enclosed and protected
in the wood-work of the berth.
By means of the improved construction hereinafter described space is greatly
economized, it being possible to use in a state-room of ordinary size a self-levelling
berth of nearly the same size as the ordinary fixed berth.
The swinging movement of the bunk or berth proper and of its supported
pivotted frame is limited in either direction by elastic cushioned stops, the amount
of such movement permitted being proportioned to the size of the vessel and
sufficient to compensate for the greatest pitching or rolling movement that will
occur. The said bunk or berth is supported by bearings at its sides, and has 'a
longitudinal rocking movement.in its supporting frame, the sides of which are close
to those of the said berth, which is provided with steadying guide arms or levers
working in suitable guide-ways in the ends of the said frame which extend above
the ends of the berth proper and are hung upon bearings, the axis of movement of
which is considerably above the main portion of the berth and frame. A-leaf or
board jointed to the head and foot piece of the berth proper rests against the end
portions of its supporting frame and is provided with friction rollers which run upon
the said end portions as the berth rocks in its frame, the said board thus covering
the space between the said berth and frame and preventing the clothing from being
caught therein.
In the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of a berth constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2, is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 3, is a detail view showing the pivotted bearing of the berth supporting
frame.
Figure 4 is a similar detail view of the bearing of the berth proper in its frame.
Figure 5. is a vertical section of the berth and frame through the axis of the said
bearing.
The frame of the borth proper consistsof two angle pieces a (Figure 5) preferably
of cast iron, extending along the bottom at each side of the berth and connected by
cross beams a¹ at their ends the said frame is mounted upon bearings b hereinafter
described which are supported upon the side pieces c of the berthi supporting frame
at a point that will be beneath the centre of gravity when the said berth contains
an occupant of average size and build. The side and end pieces a, a³ forming the
bunk or berth are fixed upon this frame work, and the bottom a Figure 5 may be
an elastic wire fabric stretched between the frame pieces a. a

page_text: The bunk is suitably ballasted to bring its centre of gravity (either with or
without the additional weight of the occupant) beneath the axis of the bearing b
when it is horizontal, the said bearing permitting the berth to retain this position
during the pitching movement of the ship and the supporting frame connected
therewith.
The end pieces of the berth supporting frame extend upward above the main
body of the bunk, and are hung upon bearings d which permit the said frame to
bang vertically during the rolling movement of the vessel. The said end pieces are
provided with guide, ways e to receive steadying arms or levers fpivotted upon the
ends of a longitudinal beam f fixed upon the bottom of the bunk, the said arms f
prevent any lateral movement of the bunk and relieve the bearing b of all twisting
strain. The arms fare provided with friction rollers få to render their movement
easier and prevent jarring.
The end pieces a³ of the bunk are provided with leaves g hinged at 2 and having
rollers g¹ working on the end pieces of the berth supporting frame as the bunk
rocks on its bearings b to compensate for the pitching of the ship. The leaves g
cover the joint between the. end as of the bunk and the end of the frame c¹ and
prevent the contents of the bunk from rubbing against the said supporting frame
or being caught between it and the bunk.
In order to retain the bunk in position until the occupant has got therein it may
be provided with a bolt h (see Figure 1) operated by a knob i for engaging with
the end piece c' of the berth supporting frame; and thus prevent the independent
movement of the said bunk until the said bolt is withdrawn by a movement of the
knob to the position shown in dotted lines.
The bearings band d of the bunk and its supporting frame are both constructed
upon the same principle, each being composed of two portions one connected with
the moving part and the other with its supporting frame, the part connected with.
the side a² of the bunk and the end portion c¹ of its supporting frame are similar
and are termed the moving portion of the bearing, while the parts connected with
the side portion c of the berth supporting frame and with the partition wall of the
state room correspond and are called the fixed portion of the bearing.
The fixed portion of the bearing.consists of a circular disc k serving as a stop to
limit the movement of the other portion of the bearing which consists of a cylindrical
bearing surface 1 concentric with the periphery of the disc k and resting upon
friction rollers. m therein. The fixed portion is also provided with laterally
projecting friction rollers n which engage with a plane bearing surface l' figure 2
of the movable portion of the bearing, and receive the longitudinal pressure of the
berth supporting frame when in an inclined position.
The friction rollers m are adapted to receive the entire weight supported by the
bearing but in order to give greater steadiness of movement and to afford security
to the berth in case one of the said rollers should break or otherwise become
inoperative the fixed portion k of the bearing is chambered around its centre as
shown at 3 and provided with a series of internal rollers o supporting a sleeve or
nipple p.
In the bearing d between the berth supporting frame and the end of the state
room a pivot piece fixed to the end c' of the said frame enters the nipple p as
shown in Figure 2 so that if the friction rollers m become inoperative the frame
will remain supported by the pivot upon the rollers o and internal surface of the
chamber 3 in the portion of the bearing. In the bearing at the side of the bunk
another pivot piece is fixed to the side portion c of the berth supporting frame
and the nipple or sleeve p is formed as a portion of the movable bearing fixed to
the bunk proper and bears upon the rollers and chamber in the fixed portion k, thus
affording a secondary bearing for the bunk.
The pivot serves to steady the bearing b and hold the two portions thereof in
the proper relative position, and both pivot pieces r, 1 may have their bases
ornamented this being the only portion of the bearing that is not enclosed.
The lower part of the movable portion of the bearing is chambered to receive the

page_text: stop arm on the fixed portion and to engage with it at the end of the maximum
movement required for the bearing, in order to prevent the berth from being
overturned or yielding too much when a person is getting in or out.
A cushion of soft india-rubber or other yielding material is interposed between
the two portions of the bearing to cause it to stop without shock and a similar
cushion may be placed at the end of the guide way e or the stop lever f to prevent
concussion in the longitudinal rocking of the bunk.
Arranged at either end of the berth and attached to the walls of the state room,
is a bracket, as shown in Figure 2, each of the said brackets being provided with
a coiled spring wacting against the under side of the berth f the object of the
springs being to neutralize the effects of the "pitching" or vertical movements of
the berth preferably however, these springs are attached respectively to the upper
ends of the armsf (one end of the spring being secured to the arm and its opposite
end to any convenient support in which position they act to perform the same
functions as when mounted on brackets x.
A double berth may be constructed upon the same principle as that hereinbefore
described the bearings being made somewhat stronger in order to enable them to
support the additional weight.
It will be obvious that the anti-friction device hereinbefore described and shown
in Figure 3 and consisting principally of the pivot piece 7 tlio sleeve p the rollers o
and the disc provided with the chamber 3 may be employed in various other
positions to which it is adapted, where it is desirable to overcome friction, such as
for instance in the construction of weighing scales and the like I therefore do not
confine myself to its use in the construction of ships berths.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim..
First In a ship's berth the bunk or berth proper pivotted or hung upon bearings
at its sides and having its supporting frame mounted upon bearings at its ends and
provided with guide ways, in combination with the guide arms or levers pivotted
at the ends of the said bunk and working in the said guides to relieve the bunk
bearings of lateral strain, substantially as described.
Second. The bunk or berth and guide levers pivotted thereto and provided with
friction rollers at their ends, in combination with the bunk-supporting frame having
guide ways to receive the said guide levers, substantially as described.
Third The swinging-bunk supporting frame and the bunk pivotted therein, in
combination with their pivotted bearings of which the portion connected with the.
supporting frame-work consists of a disc provided with a series of radially and
laterally projecting friction rollers, and with a stop arm, and the co-operating
portion connected with the supported bunk or frame having cylindrical and plane
bearing surfaces and a chambered portion provided with yielding cushions for
receiving the said stop arm and by engagement therewith limiting the movement of
the bearing, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Fourth The combination with the framework or partition wall of a state room,
and the bearing disc mounted thereon having a cylindrical chamber provided with
friction rollers and a nipple or sleeve supported thereby, of the bunk-supporting
frame and the co-operating portion of the bearing having a primary bearing on the
said rollers in the periphery of the bearing disc and a pivot piece entering the said
nipple, and thus affording a secondary bearing upon the rollers in the said chamber
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth The berth-supporting frame and the bunk pivotted therein, in combination
with leaves or boards g hinged at the ends of the said bunk and resting against
the ends of its supporting frame, substantially as, and for the purpose described.
Sixth The swinging berth-supporting frame and the bunk pivotted therein, in
combination with bearings therefor, each bearing consisting of a disc provided with
a series of friction-rollers extending radially therefrom, and another series projecting

page_text: laterally, and a co-operating portion having cylindrical and plane bearing surfaces
to engage with the said series of rollers respectively, substantially as described.
Seventh The combination of the fixed portion of the bearing consisting of a disc
provided with radially and laterally projecting friction-rollers and a stop arm, with
the movable portion having a cylindrical and plane bearing surface and chambered
portion to receive the said stop arm and engaging with it at the end of a definite
amount of movement, and the yielding cushions interposed between the engaging
portions of the said stop arm and bearing substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Eighth. The bearing disc provided with friction-rollers in its periphery and a
central cylindrical chamber provided with rollers and a nipple or sleeve supported
thereon, in combination with the co-operating portion of the bearing having a
primary bearing on the said nipple, and a pivot piece entering the said nipple,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth The improved anti-friction device herein before described and consisting
of the pivot piece or journal r, the sleeve p the rollers o and a disc or plate k, or its
equivalent provided with the chamber 3, for receiving the rollers, all combined and
arranged to operate substantially as specified.
Tenth The springs, w, w, (mounted either on the brackets, x, x, or attached to
the arms, f,) for neutralizing or relieving the effects caused by the pitching or
vertical movements of the berth, substantially as set forth
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventh day of April in the year of our. Lord' one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.