IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS'-BERTHS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIPS'-BERTHS." A communication from abroad by Theodor Otto Ludwig
Schrader, of New York, in the County and State of New York, United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS'-BERTHS." A communication
from abroad by Theodor Otto Ludwig Schrader, of New York, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is, first, to provide means for preventing the oscillation
of suspending or pivoted ships' berths when such oscillation should at any time not
be desired by the occupant of the berth; secondly, to provide means for protecting
the body of the occupant, particularly when asleep, from becoming injured by
contact with the opposite sides of the oscillating berth and cabin wall; and thirdly,
to provide an artificial ceiling which will keep the ceiling to the cabin out of sight
of the occupant of the berth.
In many instances oscillating berths are desirable to prevent sea sickness, and to
prevent that violent vibration to which the body of the occupant is otherwise
exposed during the pitching or rolling of the vessel, or both. Yet frequently,
especially when the movement of the ship is not violent, the oscillation of the berth
is not desired, and to this end I provide, as the first part of the Invention, a series
of automatically acting locks or bolts, by means of which the berth itself may be
securely locked and also the frame within which the berth is suspended. This
locking mechanism constitutes the first part of this Invention, and is composed
either of bolts that are actuated by springs and shot into suitable sockets for
holding the oscillating frames properly locked, or of tilting benches or plates which
are by spring power brought in contact with the oscillating frames to prevent their
movement, or of other equivalent automatic locking dovices having the same object
in view. I desire it to be particularly understood that although I have shown this
Invention in the accompanying Drawing to be applied to a hanging kind of
Oscillating berth, it is applicable to all kinds' of berths, even such which are
Paine G21

page_text: oscillating only in one direction, or such which are set into circular frames, of the
kind for example as that set forth in prior Letters Patent issued to Lorentz Albert
Groth, No. 3603, of 1879.
Secondly. The Invention consists in supplying one side of the oscillating berth
with a screen or shield which is held taut by suitable springs or weights, and which
joins the motion of the berth so as always to be opposite the wall of the cabin, and
prevent the hands or limbs of the occupant of the berth from becoming wedged in
between the oscillating berth and the cabin wall. I regard this part of the
Invention to be of great importance and applicable to all oscillating berths, for the
reason that the objection to such berths has always been the danger of injuring 1
persons or things by having them wedged in between the movable berth and the
immovable cabin wall.
Finally. The Invention consists in supplying the berth with a hood which
partakes of the movements of the berth, and prevents the eye of the occupant
becoming confused and irritated by observing the ceiling of the cabin itself. In 1
many instances sea sickness appears to be principally due to the dizzying effect
which the entire system of the passenger receives from observing with the eyes the
constant change of position of the surfaces of a rocking or pitching ship. In order
to counteract this effect, I provide a ceiling which to the occupant of the berth
shall not have any apparent motion, and to this end have applied a hood to the 5
projecting head piece of the berth, as hereinafter more fully described. The
Invention also consists of further details of improvement hereinafter more clearly
pointed out.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view partly in section
of a berth of this construction; Figure 2, an end view partly in section thereof;
Figure 3, an outer side view of one of the locking bolts; Figures 4 and 5 are sectional
views of the supporting pivots in the cabin walls.
The letter A represents the fixed framework of the cabin. Within the same is
hung on side pivots a, a, the frame B which carries the oscillating berth C, which
berth is hung on pivots b, b, in the ends of the hanging frame B, so that on the
pivots a, a; and b, b, the berth is capable of vibrating in two directions, lengthways
and crossways. This mode of hanging the berth I do not here claim, nor do I
confine the Invention to a berth so hung, as all the features of the improvements
are applicable to berths hung only on end pivots b or otherwise. D, D, are bolts
for locking the berth C to the frame B, or if desired, directly to the frame A. These
bolts are propelled into their sockets by suitable springs d, and are, when not to be
effective, held open by suitable cords or wires e, which are preferably united to a
ring or handle that is slipped over a pin g. When the bolts are to be locked, it
is only necessary to slip the handle or ring f off the pin g. The springs & are
thereby made effective and shoot the bolts into their proper sockets as soon as they
are, by the proper adjustment of the berth, brought in line with them. In order to
prevent the disengagement of the bolts from their sockets at a time when the berth
is locked and the ship out of plumb, and to avoid the violent throwing of the
suddenly released berth into a pendulum motion, which would be injurious to the
passenger and to the framework of the ship and berth, I prefer to construct the
bolt in manner shown in Figure 3, viz., to provide it with two springs, a stronger
locking spring d, and a weaker unlocking spring h. By pulling on the clevis j by
the corde the spring d is contracted, and the spring has then, provided the berth
is level, just power enough to pull the bolt out of its socket. But as long as the
berth is inclined and bears with its weight on one side of the bolt, the spring h has
not sufficient power to pull the bolt out of the socket, thus ensuring the desideratun
that the berth cannot be unlocked unless it is in a level position in a level
ship.
It will be perceived that a similar system of bolts may be provided for locking
the frame B to the frame A, and that the bolts D instead of being longitudinally
placed, as shown in Figure 1, inay be placed crossways, all of which I wish to have
embraced in this Patent. In lieu of the bolts for locking the frame B, I have shown

page_text: a pair of pirotted plates E, E, which are held in upright position under the ends of
the frame B by suitable springs i or weights, and thus hold the frame B rigid.
Suitable cords or wires k, k, connect with the plates E and serve to throw them
down whenever it is desired to unlock the frame B, but when these cords, which
likewise may connect with the ring f (or with a separate ring), are released, the
springs i or their equivalents will throw the plates E, E, into the upright position
as soon as the frame B is placed level to permit their attaining that position. It
will thus be seen that by providing an automatic locking apparatus the passenger
is relieved from all labor as to the locking or unlocking of the berth, excepting that
of pulling or releasing the bolts or their equivalents.
F is a screen or sheet of canvas, or a thin board or wire structure which is hinged
or jointed to one side of the berth, being the side that is opposite the entrance;
said screen is as long as the berth, and is always held distended by means of suitable
springs or weights 1, L. This screen being connected with said springs or weights
by suitable cords m, m, or directly if desired, and being thereby always held taut,
will follow the vibrating movements or oscillations of the berth, swinging upwards
with it and downwards with it and interposing constantly a partition between the
berth and the walls of the cabin, so that the hands or limbs of the passenger cannot
be injured by becoming wedged between the side of the oscillating berth and the
adjoining side of the cabin wall, and so also that property in like manner may be
protected from injury. It is of course desirable to raise the ends of the berth for
the like purpose, and I have therefore shown the berth to be made with properly
projecting head and foot pieces n and o. I desire it again to be distinctly understood
that I do not limit the Invention, as far as regards the use of said spring or distended
screen, to any berth of peculiar construction, or to a berth hung in any peculiar
way, us this feature of the Invention is applicable to all oscillating ships' berths
whatsoever. It will be observed that the projecting end pieces n and o serve also
to prevent the distending screen F from being folded upon the occupant of the
berth, the upper bar or end of the screen projecting for this purpose beyond the
inner faces of said end pieces, so that if for example tho berth should be swung into
a nearly upright position towards the wall of the cabin near which the screen is
placed, the screen will still adapt itself to the contour of the head and foot pieces,
and be held at a distance from the passenger. As the springs 1, 1, connect with the
screen which is at one side only of the berth, and to the extent of their power
counteract the proper poise of the berth, I may in many instances deem it advisable
to apply opposing springs p (Figure 2) to the berth, so that between the springs
1, 1, and p the berth will he properly balanced. But instead of said springs p
suitable weights or a suitable additional weight on the face portion of the berth
may be used.
In order to prevent, as already stated, the feeling of dizzyness which is created
by observing the constantly moving ceiling of the cabin, I provide the berth with
a folding hood or top G which, similar to a carriage top, may be applied near to the
head of the berth, as indicated in Figure 1, so that it can be folded forward or
contracted in suitable manner. But instead of constructing it with hinged bows, as
shown in the Drawing, 1 may make it so that it is capable of swinging sideways, or
otherwise construct it convenient for application. substantially in the manner
stated.
Having now described the principal features of the Invention, and the manner
of applying them, I desire to have it understood that the Invention is not limited
to any peculiar construction of said devices, nor to the specific manner of using
shown, as many equivalent methods could be contrived having the same objects in
view, which of course would be varied in their form, and frequently also in their
operation, when applied to berths of peculiar construction. I therefore wish to be
fully protected in the use of the Invention when applied in any form to any
vibrating berth. As regards the hood, I do not even limit its use to a vibrating
berth, as it may be of assistance and usefulness when applied to berths that are
rigidly secured in cabins.

page_text: A further improvement is shown in the detail, Figures 4 and 5, and has reference
to the construction of the pivots on which the berth is hung, seeking to provide for
the shrinkage or dislocation of the parts, and yet to keep the berth properly on its
pivots. One pivot is fixed to its wall 8, but the other pivot t is attached to a
cylindrical shank u which is fitted into a tubular socket w that is let into the wall
of the ship. The tube is preferably passed entirely through the wall of the ship,
and is closed at the opposite end by a suitable cap y, and a rubber or other buffer
or cushion is placed between the shank u and the cap y. Thus even though the
parts give, and though the walls of the cabin should slightly separate or approach each
other under the strain to which the ship is exposed, the sliding pivot t will still
retain its relative position with reference to the hangers on the berth, and thus
prevent the undue strain at the pivots, and likewise a positive disengagement of
the berth from its pivots.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The combination of a vibrating or oscillating ship's berth with automatic
locking bolts or appliances for securing it rigidly in the surrounding framework,
substantially as described.
2nd. The combination of the vibrating frame B in a ship's berth with the folding
plates E, E, for action, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination of the bolts D for locking the ship's berth with the spring &
and with pulling appliances E, f, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the locking bolt D with the stronger spring & and
lighter spring, and with the ship's berth which it is to lock, and the unlocking of
which it is to prevent except on a level ship, substantially as described.
5th. The combination of the receiving pin 9 on the berth with the spring bolts
or locking plates for holding the berth rigid, substantially as described.
6th. An oscillating ship's berth provided with a protecting screen F, substantially
as described.
7th. The combination of the ship's berth and protecting screen F with the
distending springs l, l, or their equivalent, substantially as described.
8th. The combination of the ship's berth and its protecting screen F with the
distending springs 1, 1, and counterbalancing springs p, p, or their respective
equivalents, substantially as herein shown and described.
9th. The combination of the distending screen F with a ship's berth, and
with the raised head and foot pieces n and o, substantially as shown and
described.
10tb. A ship's berth combined with a folding hood G or its equivalent,
substantially as herein shown and described.
11th. The sliding pivot t having shank u, and fitted into the wall of the vessel,
substantially as described.
12th. The combination of the sliding pivot t with the embracing tube w that is
passed through the wall of the vessel, substantially as described.
13th. The cap y combined with the tube w and sliding pivot, as described.
14th. The combination of the cap y and cushion or buffer with the sliding
pivot t, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.