Improvements in Vessels and Attachments thereto.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels and Attachments thereto.
I, ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL, a citizen of the United States of North America,
residing at Duluth, in the County of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, one of the
United States aforesaid, Ship-builder, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The particular class of vessels to which my present invention relates is whale
back vessels and the attachments to vessels which I have invented and which will
be hereinafter described are adapted for use with such vessels, but it is to be
understood that the said attachments to vessels can be used equally well with other
vessels and in other connections, also that the improvements in vessels can be used
with other varieties of vessels.
My present invention may be divided into three heads:
First. An improvement in whale-back vessels or any vessels making use of turrets,
whereby said turrets may be elevated or lowered for any purposes, such as to enable
the vessel to pass under low structures.
Second. An improvement in the hatches of whale-back or similar vessels, whereby
such hatches may be easily moved to and from their positions over the respective
hatch-ways.
Third. An improved dead-light for use on whale-back or other vessels or in other
connections.
My said improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
Referring to Figure 1, which shows a section of the stern portion of a whale-
back barge, A, is the turret, carrying the working deck B. The turret A, is
mounted within a casing C, and suitable means are to be provided to enable the
aft cabin D, to be reached from said turret, such as by doors in said turret and
casing which coincide with each other when the turret is in its normal raised
position. When in its raised position as shown, a considerable portion of the turret
is within the casing C, whereby said turret will be retained in position with sufficient
firmness to withstand the affect of waves, etc. The joint between the turret A,
and the deck of the vessel may be packed in any suitable way to prevent leakage
when waves pass entirely over the deck. Adjacent to the turret A, is suitable
elevating mechanism, such as gear wheels, pawl and ratchet or a hydraulic cylinder.
I have shown in the drawings my preferred form of elevating device. It consists
of a vertical hydraulic cylinder E, mounted beneath the centre of the turret, to
which is secured the piston and piston rod F. The cylinder is connected with the
source of hydraulic power which is controlled by suitable valves in the usual
manner. By means of this mechanism the turret A, and working deck B, may be
raised or lowered to any desired extent and when the turret is depressed to its
greatest extent the working deck B, will rest or will nearly rest on the deck of the
vessel whereby the vessel will be enabled to pass under much lower structures than
is now the case.
It is evident that the general idea of a turret, capable of being raised and
lowered, can be carried out not only in connection with a working deck but may
be employed with a cabin of any length whatever, and in the case of a very long
cabin, any desired number of nioveable turrets may be made use of, adapted to be
simultaneously lowered or elevated.
H, is one of the hatches in the deck of the vessel in Figure 2, I have shown
the particular construction of this hatch, and in Figures 3 and 4, the rollers I have

page_text: designed for moving this hatch. Referring now to Figure 2, a, is the outer plating
of the vessel and b, an angle iron or a liner iron secured to the under side of the
same around the hatch-way so as to strengthen the plating at that point. For a
similar purpose a flat metal strip c, is secured to the upper side of the plating
around the hatch-way. d. is the hatch, which consists preferably of a heavy
rectangular metal plate. This hatch is held in place by a number of screw bolts a¹
passing through the same and engaging with a bushing 6', which is tapped in place
and extends through the three plates a, b, and c. This bushing is made preferably
of brass but it may be made of any other non-corrosive metal, such as galvanized
iron or aluminum. The object of making use of this bushing is to prevent
corrosion or rusting with the screw-bolts a', which can thereby be easily removed
at any time. This bushing is not absolutely necessary and may be left out without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
A rubber packing c is secured to the under side of the hatch by means of a
metal strip, rivetted in place. The said packing rests on the edge of the hatch-
way on the metal strip c, and when the screw bolts a' are tightened up the said
packing will be forced against the metal strip c, thereby forming a perfectly
tight water-joint with the same. By attaching the rubber packing to the under
side of the hatch by means of a metal strip d', it may be quickly replaced when
worn by another.
The hatch d, is provided on its two sides parallel with the longitudinal lines of
the boat with two rectangular holes, (not shown) which are on the outside of the
rubber packing cl and which therefore do not affect the water tight character of
the hatch. e, is a metallic roller of any appropriate construction, provided with a
rectangular shank e¹ which engages with one of the rectangular holes in the hatch.
When it is desired to move the hatch to one side or the other, the screw bolts a
are first removed so as to free the hatch, which is then slightly elevated with a bar
or other mechanical appliance and the shanks e' of the rollers e are inserted in the
rectangular holes. Being thus mounted on the rollers e, the hatch can be easily
moved from its position over the hatch ways and vice versa.
I make use of a
rectangular shank engaging with a similarly shaped hole so that the roller will be
held rigidly in place in order that the hatch will travel true, but other constructions
may be adapted where suitable guides are provided for this purpose.
I may insert
the shanks of the rollers within the screw holes and thus remove the hatch,
without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will be observed that by
firmly bolting a hatch of this improved construction in position over the hatch-
way, it will tend to restore in a great measure the strength sacrificed by the
cutting of the hatch way in the deck, so that the vessel will not be weakened
either fore or aft or athwartships as is the case with hatches which are not
bolted or otherwise firmly secured in place. H' is one of my improved dead-
lights shown in Figure 1 in use with my improved vessel, but adapted for use
on any variety of vessel and in other instances. Referring to Figure 5,
which shows in section an enlarged view of a portion of the plating of a
vessel with my improved dead-lights in position A is the outer plating of
the vessel. Should it be desired to use my dead lights on wooden vessels a corre-
sponding or similar plate is to be placed at the proper points therein for the
reception of the dead lights. The plate A', is provided with a number of circular
openings a*, therein, which may be either cylindrical or flared inwardly. These
openings are for the reception of the dead-lights. Secured to the under side of the
plate A', by means of rivets *, is the plate B', which tends to strengthen the deck
or skin. The heads of the rivets b', should be as prominent as possible, as shown,
so that any object will fall thereon instead of on the glass dead-lights themselves.
The plate B, which is the area of the desired dead-lights, is provided with
.openings c* therein, which coincide with the openings a*, in the plate A. The
openings are flared inwardly as shown and at the upper end thereof are of
smaller diameter than the openings a*, so as thereby to form shoulders d*, on which
the different dead lights rest. These dead-lights consist of the usual bulls-eye or

page_text: and
lens portion ex, and the conical deflecting stem f, depending therefrom. The
diameter of each of these deflecting stems, at its widest portion, which is the top,.
corresponds to the smallest diameter of the openings ex, so that when the dead-lights.
are in position as shown, the said conical deflecting stems will fit snugly therein,.
with the bottom of the lens portion of each dead-light resting on the shoulder d*,.
before referred to. When the dead-lights are thus placed in position in the
openings a*, they will be securely held therein by means of suitable cement
by making the lens portion of each dead-light at an angle to the sides of the
opening a*, they will be prevented from working loose, as will be understood.
Cx, is the interior wood-work or wainscoting of the boat. This wainscoting is.
provided with a window D*, therein, opposite to the dead-light and in this opening
may be placed an ordinary glass pane El, held in place by beads F¹. By means of.
suitable wooden pieces or frames G, I form a small insulated air chamber H',.
between the dead light and the glass E¹. By making use of the insulating chamber
the warm air of the interior of the boat is kept from coming in contact with the
dead-lights, thereby preventing condensation and should there be any condensation:
on the glass E, the large area thereof compared with the area of the dead-lights is
so great as not to interfere with the proper deflection of the light. By making
use of the conical depending portions of each dead-light, the. light in passing
through the same will be deflected in all directions, so as to greatly facilitate the
proper lighting of the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a vessel, one or more vertically moveable turrets extending up through
the deck thereof and a superstructure, such as a working deck or cabin, mounted
on said turret or turrets, whereby, when the turret or turrets is or are lowered, the
vessel will be enabled to pass under much lower objects than is now the case, as.
pointed out in the Specification.
2. In a vessel, one or more turrets extending up through the deck thereof,.
mechanism situated adjacent to said turret or turrets for raising and lowering the
same, and a superstructure, such as a working deck or cabin, mounted on said
turret or turrets, substantially as herein described.
3. In a vessel one or more hatches therefor, provided with openings therein for
the reception of the shanks of removable rollers, whereby the said hatch may be
moved to one side or the other.
4. In a vessel, a hatch therefor, made of a single plate of metal and having
openings therein for the reception of the shanks of removable rollers.
5. In a vessel, a hatch therefor, having a rubber packing secured to its under
side all around and adjacent to the edges thereof, and openings in said hatch for
the reception of the shanks of removable rollers, substantially as set forth.
6. In a vessel, a hatchway cut in the plating thereof, an angle iron or flat liner
iron around said hatch way; a hatch having a packing secured to the under side of
the same all around; openings in said hatch between said packing and the edges of
the hatch and screw bolts in said openings and engaging through said plating and
angle iron, substantially as set forth.
7. In a vessel, a hatch-way cut in the plating thereof, an angle iron or flat liner-
iron around said hatch way and below the same; a strip around said hatch-way
and above the same, bushings tapped through said plating, iron and strip, and a.
hatch having a packing secured to the under side thereof all around; openings in.
said hatch between said packing and the edges thereof, and screw bolts in said.
openings and engaging with said bushings, substantially as set forth.
8. An improved dead-light, as shown in Figure 5, consisting of a plate A¹,.
having openings therein, the plate B', having flared openings corresponding to the
openings in the plate A', but of smaller diameter at their upper ends than the said
openings in the plate A¹, so as to form shoulders d*, and dead lights resting on said.

page_text: shoulders and held in place in the openings in the plate A', by means of cement
and entirely above the plate B¹, substantially as set forth.
9. An improved dead light for use on vessels, consisting of the plate A', having
openings therein, the plate B', secured thereto and having openings corresponding
to those in the plate A', but of smaller diameter at their upper ends so as to form
shoulders d*, dead lights resting on said shoulders and held in position in the
openings in the plate A¹, by cement entirely above the plate B, and an insulating
chamber H', beneath said dead lights for the purpose mentioned substantially as set
forth.
10. An improved dead-light for use on vessels the combination of the plate A',
having openings therein, the plate B', secured thereto by means of rivets, the heads.
of which extend on the outside of the vessel so as to protect the dead-lights, said
plate B', being provided with flared openings corresponding with openings in the
plate A¹, but of smaller diameter at their upper ends so as to form shoulders d*,
and dead lights resting on said shoulders entirely above the plate B¹, and held in
place by cement, substantially as set forth.
11. An improved dead-light for vessels, the combination of the plate A', having
openings therein; the plate B', secured thereto by means of rivets and provided
with openings corresponding with openings in the plate A', but of smaller diameter
at their upper ends so as to form shoulders d*, dead-lights resting on said shoulders
and held in place by cement, the wall or wainscoting CX, of the vessel and the
glass pane E, in said wainscoting, substantially as set forth.
Dated the Ninth day of February 1894.
ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.