IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BERTHS AND OTHER ARTICLES ON BOARD SHIP TO RETAIN THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION
Year: 1880

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE
APPLIED TO BERTHS AND OTHER ARTICLES ON BOARD SHIP TO RETAIN THEM
IN A LEVEL POSITION." A communication from abroad by John Calvin
Thompson, of Roslyn, Queen's County, in the State of New York, in the
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BERTHS AND
OTHER ARTICLES ON BOARD SHIP TO RETAIN THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION."
A communication from abroad by John Calvin Thompson, of Roslyn, Queen's
County, in the State of New York, in the United States of America.
The present Invention consists of improvements on an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said John Calvin Thompson dated April 28,
1877, No. 1658.
In carrying the present Invention into effect each berth or other article on ship
board which it is desired to retain in a level position notwithstanding the pitching
and rolling of the vessel, is, as described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters
Patent, mounted upon axes or centres of motion in a frame, which is itself mounted
upon axes or centres of motion at right angles to the aforesaid axes or centres of
motion, in a somewhat similar manner to the gymballing of a compass or
chronometer.
The berths or other articles are also, as described in the aforesaid Specification,
connected together in series by means of links, connecting rods, or other suitable
means, so that whatever angle to the vessel any one of such articles may assume
all the others of such articles in the same series shall be compelled to assume the
same angle, and such articles are also connected in a series to controlling or

page_text: governing weights, one for the pitch the other for the roll, suspended on centres of
motion in such a manner as to retain the various articles in a horizontal or level
position notwithstanding the rolling or pitching motion of the vessel containing
them.
Instead, however, of causing the controlling or governing weights to give motion
to the berths or other articles in the manner described in the aforesaid Specification,
whereby it was possible for motion to be transmitted back from the berths to the
controlling weight or weights, according to the present Invention the controlling
weights are so connected with the berths or other articles that motion can only bo
transmitted in the one direction, that is to say, the controlling weights can transmit
their motion to the berths, but the latter cannot transmit motion back to the
weights; by these means the berths are retained rigidly in a horizontal or level
position, and cannot be tilted by any person getting into or out of the same. One
method by which this improvement is effected is as follows:-Each of the controlling
or governing weights is fixed to the lower end of a pendulous lever, the upper end
of which has fixed or formed thereon a toothed segment which takes into and gives
rotary motion to a pinion fixed or formed on the axis of a worm which takes into
a segment of a worm wheel formed or fixed on one end of a lever, the other end of
which gives motion to a rod or rods, from which motion is transmitted to the berths
by any suitable connections.
The method preferred to be adopted, and which forms part of the present
Invention, is as follows:-
The pendulous weight controlling the berths for the pitching motion necessarily
vibrates in a direction fore and aft of the vessel, it however gives motion end wise
to a "pitch rod" extending in a direction athwart ship; this "pitch rod" is by
links and levers caused to give motion end wise to another rod running in a
direction fore and aft under each row of berths controlled by such weight; this
latter rod has connected to it a series of flexible belts or straps, which thence pass
under rollers placed directly under centre of roll of the berths, whence they rise
and are each connected to each end of a berth. Thus as the "pitch rod" running
under each row of berths is moved endwise the berths of that row are turned on
their axes in their frames so as to retain them in a level position.
The pendulous weight controlling the berths for the rolling motion necessarily
vibrates in a direction athwart ship, and it gives motion to a "roll rod" running in
a direction.fore and aft under each row of berths controlled by such weight. This
"roll rod" is connected by crank levers to vertical slides or rods, each of which is
connected to a pair of berths by a link pivotted at each end to the swinging frame
of the berth on one side of the centre of motion thereof.
The ends of the berths are formed to curves struck from the centres on which
they swing, and the front and back of the frames carrying the berths are formed
also to curves struck from the centres on which they swing.
A bed plate is attached to the bottom of each berth, and to such bed plate are.
fixed inverted bed springs, the ends of which are connected by cross bars to receivo
berth slats for mattrass or bed.
At the front bottom edge of each of the lower berths and to the deck is fixed a
piece of netting or other flexible material to prevent obstructions being placed
under the berth, and thereby prevent interference with the free movement of the
⚫berths.
I would here remark that the "roll" and " pitch" rods in lieu of passing
underneath the rows of berths may be placed overhead, when suitable modifications
would require to be made in the connections, as will be readily understood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lettors Patent filed
"
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th December 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO BERTHS AND
OTHER ARTICLES ON BOARD SHIP TO RETAIN THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION."
(A communication from abroad by John Calvin Thompson, of Roslyn, Queen's
County, in the State of New York, in the United States of America).
The present Invention consists of improvements on an Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said John Calvin Thompson dated April 28th,
1877, No. 1658.
In carrying the present Invention into effect each borth or other article on ship
board which it is desired to retain in a level position notwithstanding the pitching
and rolling of the vessel, is, as described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters
Patent, mounted upon axes or centres of motion in a frame which is itself mounted
upon axes or centres of motion at right angles to the aforesaid axes or centres of
motion in a somewhat similar manner to the gymballing of a compass or
chronometer.
The berths or other articles are also, as described' in the aforesaid Spécification,
connected together in series by means of links, connecting rods, or other suitable
means, so that whatever angle to the vessel any one of such articles may assume
all the others of such articles in the same series shall be compelled to assume the
same angle, and such articles are also connected in a series to controlling or
governing weights, one for the pitch and the other for the roll, suspended on centres
of motion in such a manner as to retain the various articles in a horizontal or
level position notwithstanding the rolling or pitching notion of the vessel containing
them.
Instead, however, of causing the controlling or governing weights to give motion
to the berths or other articles in the manner described in the aforesaid Specification,
whereby it was possible for motion to be transmitted back from the berths to the
controlling weight or weights, according to the present Invention the controlling
weights are so connected with the berths or other articles that motion can only
be transmitted in the one direction, that is to say, the controlling weights can
transmit their motion to the berths, but the latter cannot transmit motion back to
the weights; by these means the berths are retained rigidly in a horizontal or
level position, and cannot be tilted by any person getting into or out of the same,
which was a very serious annoyance inseparable from the apparatus beretofore in
use.
One method by which this improvement is effected is as follows:-Each of
the controlling or governing weights is fixed to the lower end of a pendulous lever,
the upper end of which has fixed or formed thereon a toothed segment which takes
into and gives rotary motion to a pinion fixed or formed on the axis of a worm.
which takes into a segment of a worm wheel formed or fixed on one end of a lever,
the other end of which gives motion to a rod or rods from which motion is
transmitted to the berths by any suitable connections.
The method preferred to be adopted, and which forms part of the present
Invention, is as follows:-
The pendulous weight controlling the berths for the pitching motion necessarily
vibrates in a direction fore and aft of the vessel; it however gives motion endwise
to a "pitch rod" extending in a direction athwart ship; this "pitch rod" is by
links and levers caused to give motion endwise to another rod running in a direction
fore and aft under each row of berths controlled by such weight; this latter rod

page_text: has connected to it a series of flexible belts or straps, which thenco pass under
rollers placed directly under centre of roll of the berths, whence they rise and are
cach connected to each end of a berth. Thus as the "pitch rod" running under
each row of berths is moved end wise the berths of that row are turned on their
axes in their frames so as to retain them in a level position.
This
The pendulous weight controlling the berths for the rolling motion necessarily
vibrates in a direction athwart ship, and it gives motion to a "roll rod" running in
a direction fore and aft,under each row of berths controlled by such weight.
"roll rod" is connected by crank levers to vertical slides or rods, each of which is
connected to a pair of berths by a link pivotted at each end to the swinging frame
of the berth on one side of the centre of motion thereof.
The ends of the berths are formed to curves struck from the centres on which
they swing, and the front and back of the frames carrying the berths are formed
also to curves struck from the centres on which they swing.
A bed plate is attached to the bottom of each berth, and to such bed plate are
fixed inverted bed springs, the ends of which are connected by cross bars to receive
berth slats for mattress or bed.
At the front bottom edge of each of the lower berths and to the deck is fixed a
piece of netting or other flexible material to prevent obstructions being placed
under the berth, and thereby prevent interference with the free movement of the
berths.
I would hero remark that the "roll" and "pitch" rods in lieu of passing
underneath the rows of berths may be placed overhead, when suitable modifications
would require to be made in the connections, as will be readily understood.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3
is an end elevation of series of ships' berths showing the Invention applied
thereto.
"
A, A, represent the berths or "pitch frames," and B, B, the "roll frames'
suspending the berths or "pitch frames" from either side in the centre of the
direction of their length at a, and such frames B, B, are carried or supported in the
bulkheads or partitions by axes of motion at b formed of angular edged carriers,
or by axes working in friction rollers, or by other equivalent mechanical
contrivances.
The berths or "pitch frames" A, A, are controlled by the pendulous weight Y
to counteract the pitching motion of the vessel, and the "roll frames" B, B,
are controlled by the pendulous weight Z to counteract the rolling motion of the
vessel.
The following are the means preferred to be employed for connecting the
woight Y with the berths or "pitch frames" A, A, and the weight Z with the
"roll frames" B, B.
The controlling or governing weight Y is fixed to the lower end of a pendulous
lever c, whose upper end has fixed or formed thereon a toothed segment c', which
takes into and gives rotary motion to a pinion d' fixed or formed on the axis of a
worm d which takes into a segment of a worm wheel e¹ formed or fixed on one end
of a lever e, the other end of which gives motion to a rod or rods from which
motion is transmitted to the berths or pitch frames" A, A, by any suitable
connections.
"
The method, however, which it is preferred to adopt, and which forms part of the
present Invention, is as follows:-
The pendulous weight Y controlling the berths or "pitch frames" A, A, for the

page_text: pitching motion necessarily vibrates in a direction fore and aft of the vessel, and
through the lever e gives motion to a rod f moving in suitable guides in a direction
athwartship; this rod fis by links g' and crank levers g caused to give motion
end wise to pitch rods "h, each of which runs in a direction fore and aft under
each row of berths controlled by such weight; each of these rods h has connected
to it a series of flexible belts or straps i, which thence pass under rollers j placed
directly under the centre of roll of the berths, whence they rise and are each connected
to each end of a berth or "
pitch frame" A.
The rollers are mounted in bearings fixed to the deck. Thus as the pitch
rod running under each row of berths is moved endwise the berths or "pitch
frames" A, A, of that row are turned on their axes a in their "roll frames" B, B,
so as to counteract the pitching motion of the vessel.
When two rows of berths are placed one over the other the motion of the lower
row of berths or "pitch frames "A, A, is, as shown in the Drawings, communicated
to the upper row by means of flexible belts or straps k.
The weight Z controlling the berths for the rolling motion necessarily vibrates
in a direction athwartship; it is fixed to the lower end of a pendulous lever whose
upper end has fixed or formed thereon a toothed segment which takes into and
gives rotary motion to'a pinion m' fixed or formed on the axis of a worm m which
takes into the segment of a worm wheel n¹ formed or fixed on one end of a lever n,
the other end of which is connected by a link o to one or more "roll rods " P
running in a direction foro and aft under each row of berths controlled by such
weight.
Each of these "roll rods" is connected by crank lovers q to vertical slides or
rods, each of which is connected to a pair of berths by a link s pivotted at each
end to the "roll frame" B of the berth on one side of the centre of motion
thereof.
The ends of the berths or "pitch frames" A, A, are formed to curves struck
from the centres a, on which they swing, and the front and back of the "roll
frames" B, B, are also formed to curves struck from the centres b. on which they
swing. By this mode of construction the berths can be built in a smaller space than
when built square as heretofore.
A bed plate a¹ is attached to the bottom of each berth or pitch frame" A, and
to such bed plate a¹ are fixed inverted bed springs a², the ends of which are
connected by or support cross bars a³ to receive berth slats for mattress or bed; the
cross bars a³ are connected together by longitudinal bars a to retain them in proper
position.
At the front lower edge of each of the "roll frames" of the lower berths and to
the deck is fixed a piece of netting or other flexible material t to prevent
obstructions being placed under the berths, and thereby prevent interference with
the free movement of the berths in relation to the vessel.
I would here remark that the "roll" and " pitch rods" in lieu of passing
underneath the rows of berths may be placed overhead, in which case suitable
modifications would require to be made in the connections, as will be readily
understood.
I would also remark that the proportions of the various parts must be so regulated
that the "pitch" and "roll frames" A, B, shall be caused to assume a similar angle
in relation to the vessel to that of the pendulous weighted levers c, l, and I would
further remark that equivalent mechanical contrivances may be employed in lieu
of the worms and segmental worm wheels, so long as the motion of the pendulous
weights can freely be transmitted to the " pitch" and "roll frames" A and B
whilst motion cannot be transmitted back from the latter to the pendulous
weights.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. Controlling the pitch and roll frames A, B, of berths or other articles on
board ship by means of pendulous weights Y, Z, acting on "pitch" and "roll

page_text: rods"
h, p, through the intervention of levers c, l, toothed segments c¹, 1,
pinions d', m¹, worms d, m, segmental worm wheels e¹, n', and levers e, n, or their
equivalents, so that motion can be communicated from the controlling pendulous.
weights to the berths to retain the latter in a horizontal position notwithstanding
the pitching and rolling of the vessel, whilst motion cannot be given back from
the berths to the controlling weights, all substantially as herein shown and
described.
Second. Communicating motion to the "pitch" and "roll frames" A, B, from
the controlling pendulous weights Y, Z, through the intervention of worms d, m,
and worm wheels c', n', or their equivalents, substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
Third. Connecting the berths or "pitch frames" A with the "pitch rods", by
means of flexible belts or straps i passing under rollers j, in manner substantially
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Fourth. Connecting the roll rods 2 by levers 7 to slides 7, giving motion to
links s, cach of which is connected to a pair of "roll frames" B, B, in manner
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Fifth. The combination of a bed plate a', inverted bed springs a², and cross
bars as for supporting berth slats, substantially as herein shown and described.
Sixth. Forming the ends of the "pitch boxes" A, A, and the front and back of
the roll boxes" B, B, curved, as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
"
Seventh. Attaching to front lower edge of each of the " roll frames" B of the
lower berths and to the deck a piece of netting or other flexible material for the
purpose herein described.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.