AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND MEANS FOR CLOSING AND FASTENING THE PORT LIGHTS OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st April 1867.-A communication from abroad by Edward Seymour
Hidden, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND MEANS FOR CLOSING AND FASTENING THE PORT
LIGHTS OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," a communication, to be as follows:―
The said Invention relates to a novel device for more effectually and readily
elosing the port lights and other ventilating apertures of a ship, steamboat,
or other vessel, and consists in the combination with a swinging frame or
cover of an arm or lever hinged or jointed to the fixed plate or frame of the
port, and provided with a cam and screw, which can be caused by the adjust-
ment of the hinged lever to press the swinging frame closely in contact with
the fixed frame and keep the port perfectly closed, or can be drawn aside to
release the said swinging frame when it is desired to open the port. The
swinging frame or cover, which is constructed of brass or other suitable metal
and of a circular form, is usually provided with a disc or plate of glass; the
said frame is strongly hinged or jointed to the fixed metal plate or frame
through which the port or aperture is formed, and which is secured in the
side or other portion of a vessel; the said plate is preferably constructed
with a projecting faced ring or collar, against whose surface the inner face of

page_text: the swinging frame fits when the port is closed. India-rubber or other
yielding substance may be interposed between the two metal surfaces to make
the joint between them more perfect. The arm or lever which carries the
cam and screw is constructed of brass or other suitable metal, and is jointed
or hinged to a boss or projection on the fixed plate or frame in the proper
position to take hold upon the projecting lug, which is advantageously formed
at the opposite side of the frame or cover to the hinge or fulcrum of the
same; the said arm or lever for convenience may be constructed in the form
of a strap or fork, and of such a width as to pass freely over the projecting
lug on the swinging frame when adjusted to close the port. The cam is
formed on or otherwise securely attached to the inside of the strap; the said
cam is so formed and arranged that it will pass readily over the end of the
projecting lug on the swinging frame, and will press the latter closely in
contact with the faced ring on the fixed plate, or with the rubber lining of the
same. The cam is formed with an aperture through its centre, through which
the point of the screw extends to the lug of the swinging frame or cover,
which may be formed with a countersunk recess to correspond with the point
of the screw; the latter is fitted to work through the top of the jointed strap
or fork, and is provided with a washer or collar which prevents its being
improperly removed from the strap; the said screw is extended at its upper
end and provided with a cross bar which forms a convenient handle for
operating both the cam and screw. Under ordinary circumstances the cam
alone will be found sufficient to secure the swinging frame or cover of the
port; the said cam is readily forced over the projecting lug by turning the
jointed lever on its fulcrum, and if found necessary the screw can also be
readily brought to bear upon the frame by simply turning the handle formed
on the extended portion of the said screw.