IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GUARDING AND PROTECTING SHIPS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Henry Duncan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th February 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY DUNCAN of Coalbrookdale in the County of Salop, Engineer.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GUARDING AND PROTECTING SHIPS."
'My Invention consists mainly as follows, and is for the purpose of going before
ships, guarding and protecting same, to sound or ascertain the depth of water in
the ship's course; also for searching the surface of the sea, in the course of ships;
and for signalling to ships and for reversing the engines of steam ships when any
obstructing obstacle is in the ship's way. The guarding and protecting arrange-
ment, consists of an air tight boat, and two air tight buoys or floats worked in
advance of the ship by hydraulic power. The boat forms the leading portion in
the guarding arrangement, and is of suitable form for being propelled through the
waves by a screw propeller.-The boat is provided with a helm, capable of steering
it in the required direction, and suitably arranged for being worked by hydraulic
pressure, conveyed by tubes from the ship.-The boat is also provided with a pair
of water pressure engines of suitable construction, to work by high pressure water
-conveyed to them from the ship through a flexible tube.-The power required to
propel the boat at the necessary speed is generated in the ship by steam from the
ships' boilers which work a pumping engine or air-compressor, and this power is
conveyed to the boat through a rope or cable consisting of the flexible pressure
tubes, two sets of electric wires; and a surrounding of hemp and wire, the tubes
forming the core or centre portion of this cable, round which the outer strengthening
and protecting cable is plaited.-The outer casing of this cable is made fast to the
ship at one end, and to the boat at the other, and the tubes and electric wires are
carried into the ship and boat, and each used as hereafter described. The high
pressure water, after leaving the hydraulic pumps, and before entering the cable,
has to pass a
cataract," to the piston rod of which is connected arrangements for
reversing the ships engines and also for blowing the steam whistle. When the
pressure of water has forced the cataract's piston to the end of its stroke the ships'
engine reversing gear is in the position proper for going a-head and the whistles'
valve is shut, but should the water pressure be released by the means provided for
this purpose, situated in the advance boat (which would be done should the boat or
if

page_text: its connections, come into contact with any obstructing obstacle lying in the ships
course) the hydraulic cataract would quickly place the reversing gear in the
position proper for going a stern and the ship would be secured from danger the
steam whistle at same time blowing a loud alarm. The water pressure engine
in the advanced boat utilizes the greater portion of the power conveyed from the
ship through the cable; it has cylinders working cranks and drives a screw propeller
of sufficient power to give the boat a speed exceeding that of the ship, and exert
a hauling strain on the connecting table. This engine is preferably arranged to be
lubricated with water at all its wearing parts.
The water pipe in connection with the cable conveying the water pressure to
the engine is fitted with a valve opened by a lever; this valve is for the purpose of
relieving the pipes of the pressure. The lever working the relief valve is connected
to a buffer projecting beyond the front end of the boat and this lever is also
connected to, two anchors, carried by the front part of the boat and hanging in
the water below the depth of the ships' draught. Should the buffer or either of
the anchors come into contact with any ship, coast, rock, or sank-bank in the ships
course the lever would immediately open the relief valve and release the water
pressure, causing the water to flow without resistance into the sea. This release
of pressure would cause the cataract in the ship to reverse the ships engines, and
blow the steam whistle, as before described.
The electric wires passing from the ship through the cable to the boat have their
terminals connected to the lever used for opening the water valve. When the
valve is shut the electric terminals are not in contact with each other, but contact
is made by the motion of the lever, caused by the ships way being obstructed. This
is instantly conveyed to an instrument prepared in the engine room by which
means warning of danger being in the ships course is given.
An important part in this guarding arrangement is the advanced boats' steering
gear. This steering gear consists of a hydraulic cylinder fitted with pistons joined
by a rack. This rack gears into a toothed wheel fitted on the upper end of the
helin shaft. The cylinder is supplied with ports leading from the centre to each
end, and these ports are in connection with the water power in the ship being
continued by flexible tubes through the cable.-These steering tubes, after passing
into the ship, are carried preferably to a three ported slide valve chest with centre
discharge port and outer ports in connection with the tubes.-This chest is fitted
with a slide valve worked by a steering wheel by means of which the valve can
be moved to the right or left; which movement will cause the water flowing
through a pipe into the chest from the ships hydraulic engine to flow through the
right or left tube to the right or left end of the steering cylinder in the advanced
boat, and this pressure will force the piston in the required direction which will
give motion by the rack to the toothed wheel on the helin shaft, and turn the helm;
by which means the helm can be "ported" or "starboarded" and the steering
strait forward is effected by the slide valve in the ship overlapping the ports on
both sides and thereby preventing motion in the steering cylinder in either
direction. The helm in the advanced boat is thus made to act in strict obedience
to the small steering wheel in the ship.
The tubes enter the ship at the side of the latter preferably near the stern end
and are carried to the cataract and steering arrangement respectively. The cable
containing the tubes and electric wires is carried along the ships side and passing
through the water is connected to the said boat in advance of the ship.
The slide valve chest and valve for steering the boat are placed near the front part
of the ship and worked by a small steering wheel as described. Facing the man
working this steering wheel is placed an indicating dial graduated and properly
figured. The dials finger is worked by the cable and is for the purpose of showing
the position of the advanced boat. Motion is given to this finger in following
manner:-
A rod supported and guided passes out through the ships side from the indicating
finger and through the water tight stuffing box is connected to an eye through

page_text: which the cable is passed. Should the advanced boat be steered to the right or
left of the ships course by keeping the left or right port open too long time the
cable following the direction of the boat and being kept in line by the tight
hauling strain will be carried further from or nearer to the ships side taking
the rod with it while its inner end is connected to near the bottom of the pivoted
indicating finger. The cable will cause the finger to point on the graduated arc
of a circle, the position of the cable outside the ship and through the position of
the line cable indicates the locality of the advanced boat. The man using the
steering wheel and watching the effect of its movement on the indicating arrange-
ment facing him will possess the means of causing the finger to maintain its
vertical position which is the position showing the boat to be in line with the
ships course and should the boat be steered to the right or left of the course the
finger will point the fact out which the attendant can correct with the steering
wheel.
In the event of danger arising from the ship coming in collison with other
ships in foggy or hazey weather the two floats before nained would be connected
to the boat in the following manner.
Two lines or ropes made of light material that will float on the water and
each line armed at distances of a few yards with light steel hooks would be made
fast to the relief valve lever in the advanced boat which valve is held closed by
a strong spring on the lever. To the opposite end of each line, the boat, liko
float is attached which latter is of suitable steering form and is supplied with
a fixed helm set in proper position to cause the one float to steer far off from
the ship to the right side and the other to keep at equal distance from the
ships side on the left both floats being hauled by the advanced boat.
Should a ship be discerned through the fog and cross either of these armed lines
the hooks would immediately take hold of the ships keel and as this would at onco
open the pressure valve and release the water and also bring into contact the
electric terminals the guarded ships engine would be automatically reversed the
steam whistle blown, and the prescence of the second ship indicater in the engine
room.
If prefered the propeller in the advanced boat and also the steering gear may bo
worked by electricity sent from the ship through the cable to the respective
machinery arranged for the two purposes.
By the use of this hydraulic and electric guarding arrangement the danger of
the collision of ships may be greatly lessened or wholly removed while the power
expanded in working the guarding arrangement will be in part given back and
received by the ship as hauling strain to help the ship in its course.
This guarding and protecting arrangement may be fitted to both sides of ships, or
if prefered may be worked from the deck.
When the advanced boat and its attachments are not required, same can readily
be hoisted out of the water and carried by the ship and be lowered into the water
again when required.
The advanced boat may be steered in line with the ships course automatically by
the finger of the indicator acting on the slide valve in the same manner that the
steering wheel will, but by steam pressure applied to move the valve instead of the
steering wheel moving it.