AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OB MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE SHIFTING OF GRAIN, GUANO, COAL OR OTHER LOOSE CARGOES IN SHIPS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS OB MEANS FOR PREVENTING
THE SHIFTING OF GRAIN, GUANO, COAL OR OTHER LOOSE CARGOES IN SHIPS
"
A communication from abroad by Edgar Howard Farrar of New Orleans,
Louisiana, United States of America, Attorney at Law
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1882.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS
OR MEANS FOR, PREVENTING THE SHIFTING OF GRAIN, GUANO, COAL, OR OTHER
LOOSE CARGOES IN SHIPS [A communication from abroad by Edgar Howard
Farrar of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, Attorney at Law.]
"
This invention relates to an improved method of, and means for, preventing the
shifting of grain guano, coal or material when carried in bulk in sea-going vessels.
The hold in which the said material is stored being, as usual, divided into several
compartments by means of transverse bulk-heads.
The object of the said invention is to provide pressure for compacting and keeping
stable bulks of grain or other material, which is effected by means of flexible
diaphragms or flaps appropriately fastened to the sides of the ship and tightened
upon the mass whose surface has been topped off to a semi-cylindrical shape.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide, along the ship's sides in
each compartment, running fore and aft in horizontal rows about five feet apart, a
series of stout metal hooks placed at distances of about four inches. These hooks
turn downward and may project about two and a half inches from the side of the
vessel, and the number of rows of these hooks will depend entirely upon the depth
of the compartment in which they are located. Where the depth of the hold is
even as great as eighteen feet, two rows of hooks on each side will usually be
anfinient

page_text: The strain upon these books will be considerable, as will hereinafter appear, and
hence I find it preferable to employ metal straps, which are fastened to the sides of
the vessel and extend from the top nearly to the bottom of the compartment, each
strap forming a bed for the shank of one hook of each row on the side on which
the said strap is fixed. These metal straps not only serve to secure the hooks but
also strengthen the sides of the vessel. It will be obvious that the hooks can be
secured to the sides of the vessel in a variety of ways, either permanently or
temporarily, but the method described herein will be found exceedingly effective.
A flexible flap or semi-diaphragm, having an area about equal to half the
horizontal area of the compartment and composed of canvas or other suitable
material, is provided, and, if necessary, can be strengthened by iron ribs, chains, or
hempen or other cords. The semi-diaphragm has along one edge a row of metal
eyes adapted to receive the hooks just described, when hooks and eyes are employed
as a means for connecting the semi-diaphragms to the sides of the vessel; for, in
carrying my invention into practice the object can be attained by employing other
fastening devices for either permanently or temporarily connecting the semi-
diaphragms to the sides of the vessel. At the other edge of the flap or semi-
diaphragm is secured a cylindrical beam or pole of about four inches in diameter
for stiffening the semi-diaphragm at such edge; or other means, which will suitably
stiffen the same, can be employed.
At intervals along this rod or beam are secured strong blocks or casings of wood,
or metal sheaves, the said sheaves being arranged horizontally and in the same
plane as the semi-diaphragm or flap. Each semi-diaphragm or flap is made to
form a horizontal partition for one half of the compartment so that when two of
these semi-diaphragms are connected with the hooks, and their inner stiffened edges
brought towards each other over a tongue or centre piece, a complete horizontal
partition or diaphragm will be formed. If the inner edge of the semi-diaphragm is
stiffened by a beam, the same can be made in several picces, for convenience in
handling, and secured in any suitable manner, iron or wooden bolts, or keys,
being employed for rendering the entire length of the stiffened edge rigid when
required.
If found necessary, the outer edge of each flap where it is connected with the
hooks, can be stiffened in any appropriate manner, as for instance, by having the
eyes made in a bar composed of sections hinged together so as to fold upwards or
downwards, but to be rigid laterally.
When the vessel is to be loaded with grain (for example) these semi-diaphragins
or flaps will be connected with the hooks, or otherwise appropriately fastened to
the sides of the vessel, and rolled up to within, a short distance of the side, say two
and a half feet, and then reefed as is usual in reefing sails. The grain is then
poured into the compartment through the hatchway and piles up on the bottom of
the compartment in a conical-shaped heap. When the edge of this heap of grain
on each side is about one foot above the first row of hooks, it is topped off to a
cylindrical shape, and a tongue or strip of canvas or other material, stiffened with
marginal and transverse ribs or other equivalent means is laid upon the centre of
the heap of grain.
The first or lower flaps or semi-diaphragms are then unreefed and brought down
upon the grain and upon the said tongue or strip, which, being located centrally upon
the mass of grain, will close such space as will exist between the inner edges of
the flaps. This tongue or centre piece, as well as the curtains hereinafter described,
may however, be dispensed with in the lower and middle diaphragms and be used
only in connection with the top diaphragms. The two flaps are drawn toward
each other, as tightly as possible, by the application of force in a plane tangentia!
to the cylindrical surface of the mass of grain, along the line of contact of the inner
edge of each flap. For example, I form through the deck, in front and rear of the
bulk-head stanchions of each compartment, a round hole for the tightening rope to
pass through. Corresponding with each set of flaps and on each stanchion, on a
level with the top of each section of grain are arranged pulleys around which the

page_text: tightening rope is passed. The said rope is also passed around the sheaves at the
inner edges of the flaps or semi-diaphragms, and carried up through the holes in
the deck to a capstan or other device, for tightening up the rope, and thereby
drawing the inner edges of the flaps together and compressing the grain.
In case there are centre stanchions within the compartment two ropes can be
used, in a similar manner, in lieu of one. In such case the number of holes through
the deck, and of blocks and sheaves on the end stanchions would be doubled,
while similar blocks and sheaves would be placed on each side of the centre
stanchions.
It will be understood that a variety of devices could be employed for the purpose
of drawing these semi-diaphragms taut upon the grain, but if those hereindescribed
are used the rope can be fastened, at the point of greatest strain, by a pair of jaws
connected with the stanchions just above the block or sheave.
The rope passes
between these jaws and can be secured by clamping the binged jaw to the jaw
that is fixed to the stanchion, by means of a set-screw. Any other form of clamp
or fastening device can however, be employed for such purpose. When the rope
is thus fastened, the ends above the deck can be released and allowed to drop down
through the holes in the same, so as to leave the said holes free for the ropes of the
next upper flaps or semi-diaphragms, where two or more sets of such flaps are used.
To prevent the compressed grain from escaping up between the outer side edges
of the flaps and the sides of the vessel, I provide curtains, which are fastened to the
diaphragin a few inches on either the inside or the outside of the eyes, and which
constitute vertical flaps at the sides of the said semi-diaphragms. The mass of
grain within the compartment presses these curtains tightly against the sides of
the vessel, and holds the same in place. In addition to these side curtains I provide
end curtains, each composed of a strip of canvas or other material, of proper size and
shape for closing up the spaces between the end edges of the semi-diaphragms and
the bulk-heads. These pieces of canvas, which can be designated as the head and
foot pieces, are placed over each bulk-head, their lower edges being about a foot and
a half below the surface of the mass of grain, and their upper edges extending about
the same distance above.
When the grain is topped off preparatory to bringing over the top flaps, these
upper projecting edges of the head and foot pieces will be turned down over the
grain, so that they will be covered by the main flaps or semi-diaphragms and thus
a tight joint made.
The centre tongue or strip will have openings for the centre stanchions (when
centre stanchions are employed in the construction of the vessel) the tongue being
formed with slits leading from one edge to the said openings so that it can be
adjusted in place by spreading the edges of the slits apart for the passage of the
stanchions.
After the first or lower set of flaps has been drawn over the grain, and secured,
grain can be again poured down through the hatchway, and after a sufficient
quantity has accumulated upon the said flaps, the grain can be topped off and the
next upper set of flaps drawn over the grain and secured. The ends of the ropes,
by means of which the top semi-diaphragms are tightened, can be kept on deck,
around a capstan, drum, or other device, arranged for that purpose, so that if the
cargo shakes down, a further and constant strain may be put upon the ropes, and
the top diaphragm kept always perfectly rigid.
To obviate the difficulty of the cargo shaking down so much that the top flaps
would meet, or be drawn up against the centre stanchions, and thereby prevent
any further and desired strain from being placed upon them, the flaps should be
provided with means for taking a reef in them. One set of flaps might be used
but a number of sets are desirable so as to effectively hold down the mass of grain
and prevent it from shifting. By this means the compartment is divided into a
number of large bags, so to speak, the lower one having for five of its sides the
rigid bottom and sides of the ship, and the bulk heads and for its last and upper
side a tightly drawn diaphragm.

page_text: The mathematical figure of this upper side is such that its shape cannot be
changed except by a further compression of the mass or a lengthening of the
perimeter. In addition to this, the strain of the tightly drawn diaphragm is
reinforced by the superincumbent weight and pressure of the two
divisions.
upper
The same remarks will apply to the middle and to the upper division, the only
difference as to the upper division being, that the constant strain that can be put
upon the latter, as before described, takes the place of the weight, and pressure of a
superincumbent mass.
By making the flexible diaphragms of sufficient strength (and they can be
made like a piece of chain mail if necessary) coal can be securely held down in the
hold of a vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS
"
OR MEANS FOR, PREVENTING THE SHIFTING OF GRAIN, GUANO, COAL OR OTHER LOOSE
CARGOES IN SHIPS A communication from abroad by Edgar Howard Farrar,
of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, Attorney at Law
This invention relates to an improved method of, and means for, preventing the
shifting of guano, coal, or other material when carried in bulk in sea-going vessels.
The hold of the vessel in which the said material is stored is, as usual, divided into
several compartments by means of transverse bulkheads.
The object of the said invention is to provide pressure, for compacting and
keeping stable, bulks of grain or other material which object is effected by means
of flexible diaphragms or flaps, appropriately fastened to the sides of the ship and
tightened upon the mass of material whose surface has been topped off to a semi-
cylindrical or curved shape.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of the hull of a vessel with the flexible flaps or
diaphragms rolled up.
Figure 2 is a similar view but with the flexible flaps unrolled, and having their
inner edges drawn toward each other.
Figure 3 is a plan of one of the flexible flaps, and a portion of the opposite flap,
and illustrates the manner in which the said flaps are drawn together.
Figure 4 is a tongue or strip that is placed in the space between the inner edgos
of the flaps.
Figure 5 illustrates one of the foot or head curtains or pieces for preventing the
escape of grain between the bulkhead and the end edges of the flaps.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the sheaves connected with the
stiffening bar of a flap or diaphragm.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the deck, and shows in elevation two
stanchions and the tightening rope.
Figure 8. represents one of the clamps for securing the tightening rope.
Figure 9 is a side view of a part of the inner side of the vessel, and shows the
metal strips and the rows of hooks.
Figure 10 is a side view, and a perspective view of one of the said metal strips
with its hooks.
Figure 11 is a transverse section of a portion of the vessel and a flexible flap or
diaphragm and shows one of the curtains that are employed, for preventing the
escape of grain through the space between the outer edges of the flaps, and the sides
of the vessel.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the hull of a vessel and B one of the compartments of the hold. As each
compartment is provided with the same devices for holding down the grain a
description of the said devices in connection with one compartment will serve
for all.
In carrying the said Invention into practico I provide, along the ship's sides in
ench compartment, running fore and aft in horizontal rows, about five feet apart, a
series of stout metal hooks C placed at distances of about four inches apart These
hooks turn downward and project about two and a half inches from the sides of
the vessel. The number of rows of these hooks will depend entirely upon the
depth of the compartment in which they are located; where the depth of the hold

page_text: is even as great as eighteen feet, two rows of hooks on each side will usually be
sufficient.
The strain upon these hooks is considerable and hence I find it preferable to
employ metal straps C which are fastened to the sides of the vessel, and extend
from the top to, or nearly to, the bottom of the compartment; each strap forms &
bed for the shank of one hook of each row, on the side on which the said strap is
fixed. These metal straps not only serve to secure the hooks but also strengthen
the sides of the vessel. It is obvious that the hooks can be secured to the sides of
the vessel in a variety of ways either permanently or temporarily, but the method
herein described will be found exceedingly effective.
A flexible flap or diaphragm D has an area, equal to about half the horizontal
area of the compartment and is composed of canvas or other suitable material; if
necessary the said flap can be strengthened by iron ribs, chains, or hempen or other
cords d. A diaphragm has along one edge a row of metal eyes d³, adapted to
receive the hooks C (if hooks and eyes are employed); but in carrying this
invention into practice other fastening devices may be used for either permanently
or temporarily connecting the diaphragms to the sides of the vessel. At the other
edge of the flap or diaphragm is secured a beam or pole d³ of about four inches in
diameter; or other suitable means may be employed for stiffening the diaphragm
at such edge.
At intervals along this rod or beam are secured strong blocks or casings of wood,
or metal sheaves E, the said sheaves being arranged horizontally and in the same
plane as the diaphragm or flap. Each diaphragm or flap is constructed to form a
horizontal partition for one half of the compartment, so that, when two of these
diaphragms are connected with the hooks, and their inner stiffened edges are
brought towards each other over the tongue or centre piece F, a horizontal partition
will be formed. When the inner edge of a diaphragm is stiffened by a beam, the
same can be made in several pieces, for convenience in handling, and secured in
any suitable manner by iron or wooden bolts or keys for rendering the entire length
of the stiffened edge rigid when required.
If found necessary, the outer edge of each flap, where it is connected with the
hooks, can be stiffened in any appropriate manner, as for instance, by having the
eyes made in a bar composed of sections binged together, so as to fold upwards or
downwards, but to be rigid laterally.
When a vessel is to be loaded with grain (for example) the diaphragms or flaps
are connected with the hooks or other appropriate fastenings to the sides of the
vessel, and rolled up to within a short distance of the side, say two and a half feet,
as shown in Figure 1, and then reefed, as is usual in reefing sails, Grain is then
poured into the compartment through the hatchway e, and piles up on the bottom
of the said compartment in a heap. When the edges of this heap of grain on each
side are about one foot above the first row of hooks, the said head is topped off to
a curved shape, and a tongue or centre piece F of canvas or other suitable material,
and stiffened with marginal and transverse ribs f or other equivalent means, is
laid longitudinally upon the centre of the heap of grain. The first or lower flaps
or diaphragms are then unreefed, and brought down upon the grain, and upon
the said tongue or strip, which, being located centrally upon the mass of grain
will close such space as will exist, between the inner edges of the flaps. This
tongue or centre piece, as well as the curtains hereinafter described, may however,
be dispensed with in connection with the lower and middle diaphragms, and be
used only in connection with the top diaphragm. The two flaps are drawn toward
each other as tightly as possible, by the application of force in a plane tangential
to the curved surface of the mass of grain, along the line of contact of the inner
edge of each flap. For example, I form through the deck G in front and rear of
the bulkhead stanchions g of each compartment, a round hole g³ for the tightening
rope to pass through. Corresponding with each set of flaps, and on each stanchion
on a level with the top of each section of grain are arranged pulleys H, over which
the tightening rope I is passed. The said rope is also passed around the sheaves E

page_text: at the inner edges of the flaps or diaphragms, and carried up through the holes in
the deck to a capstan, or other device for tightening up the rope, and thereby
drawing the inner edges of the flaps together and compressing the grain.
In case there are centre stanchions K within the compartment as indicated in
Figure 4, two ropes can be used in lieu of one. In such case the number of holes
through the deck, and of blocks and sheaves on the end stanchions would be
doubled, while similar blocks and sheaves would be placed on each side of the
centre stanchions.
It will be understood that a variety of devices could be employed for the
purpose of drawing these diaphragms taut upon the grain, but if those herein
described are used, the rope can be fastened, at the point of greatest strain by, a
pair of jaws L. Figure 8 connected with the stanchion just above the block, or
sheave. The rope passes between these jaws and is secured by clamping the
hinged jaw to the jaw that is fixed to the stanchion, by means of a set screw l.
Any other form of clamp or fastening device can, however, be employed for such
purpose. When the rope is thus fastened, the ends above the deck can be released,
and allowed to drop down through the holes in the same, so as to leave the said
holes free for the ropes of the next upper flaps or diaphragms when two or more
sets of such flaps are used. To prevent the compressed grain from escaping
between the outer edges of the flaps and the sides of the vessel, I provide
curtains M which are fastened to the diaphragm on either the inside or the outside
of the eyes, and which constitute vertical flaps at the sides of said diaphragms
as shewn in Figure 11. The mass of grain within the compartment presses
these
curtains tightly against the sides of the vessel, and holds the same in place. In
addition to these side curtains I provide end curtains N each composed of a strip of
canvas or other suitable material, of proper size and shape, for closing up the spaces
between the end edges of the diaphragms and the bulkheads. These pieces of
canvas, which can be designated as the head and foot pieces are placed over each
bulkhead, their lower edges being about a foot and a half below the surface of the
mass of grain and their upper edges extending about the same distance above.
When the grain is topped off preparatory to bringing over the flaps, these upper
projecting edges of the head and foot pieces will be turned down over the grain
so that they will be covered by the main flaps or diaphragms, and thus make a
tight joint.
The centre tongue or strip shown in Figure 4 has openings for the centre
stanchions (when centre stanchions are employed in the construction of the vessel)
the tongue being formed with slits m leading from one edge to the said openings,
so that it can be adjusted in place by spreading the edges of the slits apart for the
admission of the stanchions.
After the first or lower set of flaps has been drawn over the grain and secured,
grain can be again poured down through the hatchway, and after a sufficient
quantity has accumulated upon the said taps the heap can be topped off and the
next upper set of flaps drawn over and secured. The ends of the ropes, by means
of which the top diaphragms are tightened can be kept on deck, around a capstan
drum or other device, arranged for that purpose so that if the cargo shakes down a
further and constant strain may be put upon the ropes, and the top diaphragm be
thus kept always perfectly rigid.
To obviate the difficulty of the cargo shaking down so much that the top flaps
would meet or be drawn up against the centre stanchions, and thereby prevent
any further and desired strain from being placed upon them, the flaps should be
provided with means for taking a reef in them, In Figure 2 the position of the
flaps after the ship is loaded is illustrated. One set of flaps might be used, but a
number of sets are desirable so as to effectively hold down the mass of grain and
prevent it from shifting. By these means the compartment is divided into a
number of large bags so to speak, the lower one having for five of its sides, the
rigid bottom and sides of the ship, and the bulkheads, and for its last and upper
side a tightly drawn diaphragın.

page_text: .
The form of this upper side is such, that it cannot be changed except by a further
compression of the mass or by a lengthening of the perimeter. In addition to this,
the strain of the tightly drawn diaphragm is reinforced by the superincumbent
weight and pressure of the two upper divisions. The same remarks will apply to
the middle and to the upper division, the only difference as to the upper division
being that the constant strain that can be put upon the latter, as before described,
takes the place of the weight and pressure of a superincumbent mass.
By making the flexible diaphragms of sufficient strength (and they can be made
like a piece of chain-mail, if necessary) coal can be securely held down in the hold
of a vessel.
Having thus fully described the said invention as cominunicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First-The method of packing and preventing the shifting of bulks of grain,
guano, or other substances in a ship, consisting in pressing and holding down the
grain or other articles in successive layers, by stretching flexible diaphragms upon
the layers as they are formed.
Second-The combination, with a ship, of the flexible flaps or diaphragms
connected with the sides of the ship's hold, and means for drawing the said
diaphragms together so as to form a series of horizontal partitions, for pressing
upon, and holding down, the grain or other articles to be transported, substantially
as described.
Third-The combination of the horizontal rows of hooks secured to the inner
side of the vessel, with the flexible diaphragms adapted to be connected with the
said hooks, substantially as described.
Fourth: The combination, with the flaps arranged for forming horizontal
partitions in the ship's hold, of the side curtains adapted to prevent the escape
of grain between the outer edges of the flaps and the sides of the vessel, substan-
tially as described.
Fifth-The combination, with the flaps or diaphragms arranged for forming
horizontal partitions in the ship's hold, of the strip F, adapted to close the space
between the inner edges of the diaphragms, substantially as described.
Sixth The combination, with the diaphragms arranged for forming
horizontal partitions in a ship's hold, of the head and foot strips N, substantially as
described.
Seventh-The combination, with the flaps or diaphragms D adapted to be
connected to the sides of the ship's hold and having the stiffening rod d³, of
the sheave E, the pulleys upon the stanchions, and the tightening rope passing
over the sheaves and pulleys and up through the deck, substantially as
described.
Eighth The combination, with the flexible flaps and the rope arranged to
tighten the flaps within a ship's hold, of the clamp for securing the rope after it
has been tightened, substantially as described.
Ninth The combination, with the metal strips secured to the sides of the hold
of a vessel and provided with hooks, of the flexible diaphragms adapted to be
attached to the said hooks, and devices for drawing the inner edges of the said
diaphragms together, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventh day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.