CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND KEELS, AND WINDLASSES FOR OPERATING THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henri Adrien Bonneville at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1876. A communication
from abroad by James C. Seymour, residing at New York, United States of
America.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 6, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CLEANSING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND KEELS, AND WINDLASSES FOR OPERATING THE
SAME." A communication from abroad by James C. Seymour, residing at New York,
United States of America.
The Invention consists of three parts, the first of which is in the nature of an
improvement in apparatus for cleansing ships' bottoms, and consists in the supporting
frame of the scrapers for scraping the keels of ships constructed with hinge joints
and curved stop plates. Also fixed scrapers fitted to the top surface of the upper
frame. Also tubular and adjustable spring arms with sheaves. Also in combination
with the adjustable spring arms, blocks, and sheaves fixed to the under side of the
frame.
That part of the apparatus known as the keel scrapers, is designed to remove
from the keels of the vessels the accumulated foulness. These scrapers are jointed,
and they are affixed to supporting frames. To the upper side of upper beam
scrapers are firmly affixed at right angles to said beams.
supporting these scrapers is constructed in two or more sections.
The framework
The lower beains
of each section are joined together by knuckle or hinge joints, and the upper beams
are united by curved stop plates. To each of the upper frames of each section, and
near their ends, diagonal arms are firmly secured. These arins are tubular, and
into cach of them is placed a spring and also a plunger, the outer end of the plunger
being provided with a head into which is fitted a sheave. To the under side of the
lower frames of each section are secured blocks near the ends of the beams.
The second part of the Invention is also in the nature of an improvement in
apparatus for cleansing ships' bottoms, and consists in providing the frames to
which are secured the scrapers for cleansing vessels' bottoms with buoys or floats,
so that by their buoyancy the scrapers are kept in contact with the sides of the
ship. Also in joining the several scraper frames together by means of ball-and-
socket joints.

page_text: The supporting framework has scrapers and brushes secured to one of its sides,
and also rollers. To the side of these frames opposite to that on which the scrapers
are secured are fastened floats or buoys. These floats or buoys may be made of any
suitable material, but preferably of inflated india-rubber, and they may be secured
to each frame or otherwise, as may be found expedient. To one side of each frame
are connected the corresponding portions of a ball-and-socket joint.
The third part of the Invention is in the nature of an improvement in windlasses,
more particularly designed for operating the apparatus for cleansing ships' bottoms,
and consists in a windlass constructed with devices whereby the said windlass is
thrown in and out of gear automatically. The said windlass is provided with a
gear wheel secured to a central shaft, and at the head of a drun. Fastened to a
supporting frame and immediately above the drum is an operating shaft. This
operating shaft has secured to it a small gear wheel, which will mesh into the
gears of the wheel secured to the central shaft. Also bearing upon the operating
shaft is one end of a lever which is pivoted to a bearing secured to the frame. The
other end of this lever has a small friction wheel secured to it. Also secured to
the frame is a gear wheel having two cams fixed to its face. This gear wheel
meshes into another small gear wheel, which is on a shaft immediately below it.
To the outer end of this shaft is fitted a second gear wheel which meshes into a
third gear wheel, which is secured to the main or central shaft of the windlass.