IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF SLEEPING BERTHS FOR DORMITORIES, SAILING AND STEAM SHIPS, TROOPSHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, THOMAS JOHNSON of the firm of Johnson, Gregson and Currie, Gun Lane Saw
Mills, Limehouse in the County of Middlesex Shipjoiner and Shipwright do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND ARRANGEMENT OF SLEEPING BERTHS FOR DORMITORIES, SAILING AND STEAM
SHIPS, TROOPSHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement; reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters
of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention is an improvement upon one for which Letters Patent dated 8th
October 1874 and numbered 3443 were granted to me for "Improvements in the
Construction and Arrangement of Sleeping Berths on Board Ships" and this my
present Invention has for its object the better arrangement in the construction of
sleeping berths so that greater economy of space is obtained, a more convenient
entrance to the berths is secured and extra mess, locker and dressing space is
provided for the several occupants of the berths, thus affording increased facilities
for the promotion of cleanliness.
Sleeping berths constructed and arranged according to this my Invention are
applicable to dormitories of emigrant depôts, workhouses, troopships, emigrant and
other vessels and all places where it is necessary to berth a large number of persons
in a small area and where a thorough system of ventilation combined with extra
promenade space when the berths are unoccupied is essential to the health of the
occupants.
This my novel arrangement will be found especially advantageous when applied
to emigrant ships by enabling surgeons superintendents to enforce the rules for the
better government of the emigrants, as by this arrangement it is necessary for
them to rise and stow away their beds and clear the decks before the requisite
arrangements for messing can be made, likewise affording free circulation of air
throughout the ship.
Sleeping berths for single persons constructed according to this Invention I make
in the following manner :-
I form them in blocks so as to provide accommodation for eight or more adults ;
each block having a passage right round it from which the occupants have access to
their respective beds. The beds are in two rows one above the other, each row (in
blocks constructed for 8 persons) accommodating four persons.
J

page_text: To form the said block placo four stanchions running from floor to ceiling or
deck to deck, as the case may be, in and to which the berths are fitted in the
manner hereinafter described. To the stanchions on the outer side from the berths
and running lengthwise with said berths I fix lockers Bo constructed as to serve also
as seats if required and to form sides to the lower parts of the berths. Some
distance up on the stanchions I fix longitudinal boards so as to form the sides to
the upper berths.
(
Midway between the two outer stanchions at each end of the block I place
another stanchion which I call the inner stanchion. Affixed to outer stanchions
there are stiles and rails, hinged to these stiles are doors or frames which close upon
the inner stanchions aforesaid thus forming the ends and bottom bearers to the
lower and upper borths.
From end to end of block and connected to the two inner stanchions are two
planks or partitions, one on a level with lower berths and one on a level with upper
berths.
Upon the inside of the outer stanchions are hinged the bottoms of the four
berths, these when let down in position reach the partitions aforesaid and are again
partitioned off for the accommodation of four persons in each row so that eight
adults are berthed in each block. The outer berths are entered from the sides and
the inner ones from the ends of block.
•
Though in this description I have described my sleeping berths as arranged in
blocks to accommodate eight adults I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do
not bind myself to construct berths to hold eight adults only but berths constructed
according to this Invention may be arranged to hold more or less than eight if
necessary.
The mess table I fix upon the two inner stanchions of the block so that it may
slide up and down the said stanchions. When not required it is moved up the
stanchions and kept in position out of the way by means of a bolt or pin. When
required for use the table is let down and kept in position by means again of the
bolt or pin. Pivotted to outer stiles or inner stanchions are folding legs which
when seats are required may be brought down to rest upon the deck and a board
placed across them fitted with pin and chain thus forming a seat. When the said
seats are not required the folding legs may be folded up and turned back upon the
bearing stanchions and the seat can be stowed away.
In the daytime when the berths are not required to be in use the bedding is
folded and strapped to each berth bottom, said berth bottoms being hinged are
turned back to the outer stanchions and the doors or frames opening inwards each
turn back upon the already turned up beds and. are lashed to them keeping all
secure and leaving clear passageways throughout the blocks.
At meal times or when required the tables are brought down from above and
keyed in position, the folding legs aro let down and the seats placed across them
and ample mess accommodation is thus afforded in and upon the same space as
was occupied by the beds.
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully understood reference is
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say :—
Sheet I illustrates my Invention as applied to the accommodation of single
persons,
Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective of a block of berths arranged and ready
for occupants.
Figure 2 is an end view in perspective shewing the beds turned up, doors open,
gangway through and table and seats let down.
Figures 3 and 4 shew my blocks as fitted between decks on board ships.
Figure 3 representing a block as arranged for the day and Figure 4 shewing it as
it appears at night.
The same letters of reference refer to similar parts in all the Figures.

page_text: A A A A are the four corner stanchions in which the berths a are fitted.
bb are the lockers which form the sides of lower berths, c c are the longitudinal
planks forming the sides of upper berths. B B are the inner stanchions. To
these inner stanchions are connected the partitions & and e. C C C C are the
doors at ends of each block.
fis the mess table sliding upon the stanchions B and kept in position by the
bolt or pin g.
h is the folding leg pivotted to the corner stanchions A; i is the seat resting
upon the folding leg hand which may, if desirable, be stowed away when not
required, on table f.
Sheet 2 represents another arrangement of my system of berths, especially
suitable for married persons, and accommodating 8 or 10 adults in a block.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a side elevation of same.
a a are the berth bottoms hinged at b which turn up when not required in the
direction indicated by dotted lines and are held back in position by the doors o
when opened, d are tables sliding upon the stanchions e and may be placed aloft
when not in use, or brought down into position when required fare lockers
forming sides to lower berths which may also be used as seats. Curtains are
placed across the ends and sides of berths so as to form separate dressing rooms.
Those occuping the lower berths enter from the sides and make use of the side
spaces for dressing &c. and those occupying the upper berths make use of the end
spaces and enter said berths from the ends.
Sheet 3 shews another arrangement of my berths applicable to married persons,
and arranged to accommodate 8 or 10 adults; Figure 1 being a plan and Figure
an elevation of same.
According to this arrangement I provide cupboards A at ends of berths affording
greater facilities for storing mess utensils, bags &c. than heretofore.
As in the arrangement shewn on Sheet 2 curtains are placed (shown in dotted
lines) across the ends and sides of berths so as to form separate dressing rooms
a are the berth bottoms arranged in two rows one above the other, hinged at b;
and hinged upon the stiles c are doors & which open inwards and, when the berths
are not required for occupation and are turned up as in my other arrangements,
are lashed to said-berth bottoms and hold all secure leaving a clear passage way
through the block.
The tables are hinged at fand are let down when not required for use, the
table g sliding upon the stanchions h is pushed up above when not required and
kept in position by a bolt or pin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the naturo of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The construction and arrangement of sleeping berths for single persons as
described and set forth.
Second. The general combination of construction and arrangement of. sleeping
berths as heretofore set forth and described.