Improvements in or relating to Ships' or other Berths.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1889
Improvements in or relating to Ships' or other Berths.
We EDWARD LAWSON of Charlotte Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Bedstead Manufacturer, EDWIN WILLIAM DE RUSETT of Fell Road, Croydon in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, and HENRY LEA of 38 Bennett's Hill Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
In the specification of Letters Patent granted to Edward Lawson and Edwin
William De Rusett No. 3624 of 1882, various arrangements were described whereby
ships or other berths could be folded or turned up out of the way when not in use.
In some of those arrangements the back or inner side of the berth remains at the saine
height above the floor when the berth is turned up as it is when the berth is turned
down, while in the arrangements respectively represented in Figures 8 and 9 of the
drawings forming part of the said specification the said back or inner side descends
while the berth is being turned up.
The first part of our present invention consists of certain arrangements or fittings
whereby the inner side of the berth descends while the berth is being turned up and
whereby the relation between the extent of the descent and the space left for the
bedding and bedclothes between the turned up berth and the bulkhead or back of the
cabin can be regulated.
According to our invention for this purpose each end of the berth turns upon a pin
or gudgeon placed at such a distance below the berth and at such a distance from the
bulkhead as shall produce the results now to be describe:.
Each of the said pins or gudgeons is supported in a socket forming part of a
bracket secured to the bulkhead or to the end of the cabin. The horizontal distance
of the pin or gudgeon from the bulkhead plus its vertical distance below the berth
is the distance that the inner edge of the berth will descend when the berth is turned
up, while the said horizontal distance minus the said vertical distance is the distance
that will be left between the turned up berth, and the bulkhead to receive the bedding.
The latter distance is usually about six inches, while the distance of descent of the

page_text: inner edge of the berth may be nine inches more or less according to circumstances.
By our invention the two distances respectively may be arranged as desired without
the employment of more than one pin or gudgeon at each end of the berth for the
latter to turn upon. The socket for the pin or gudgeon is preferably fitted with a
hinged or sliding piece to cover or enclose the pin; by moving this piece away from
the socket the berth can be unshipped.
The second part of our invention relates to our method of automatically locking
the berth in its turned up position and preventing it from being locked in its turned
down position.
For this purpose we employ a stud pin upon the inner corner of the berth and a
slotted link hinged to the bracket somewhat similar to stud pin band the link shewn
in Figure 8 of the drawings of patent No. 3624 of 1882 already referred to for the
purpose of limiting the movement of the berth both when turned down and when
turned up, but we modify the said link to effect the locking of the berth by widening
the slot at the outer or free end of the link so as to form a notch which when the
berth is turned up engages automatically with the corner stud so as to firmly lock
the berth beyond the possibility of being thrown down by the motion of the vessel or
by the effort of any person clutching at it as in rough weather.
When it is desired to lower the berth the notched link is raised by hand so as to
disengage it from the corner stud. When the berth is turned down there is no
necessity for locking it; on the contrary, locking then is objectionable. To meet this
requirement we provide a thin excentric collar on the outer end of the corner stud so
adjusted that when the berth is turned down the full part of the excentric collar
bears against a suitable projection on the side of the link near its outer end whereby
the notch of the link is prevented engaging with the stud. When however the berth
is turned down the full part of the excentric collar becomes turned away from the
said side projection of the link and the notch of the latter is then free to engage with
the corner stud so as to lock the berth as aforesaid.
When the berth is turned down its weight may be entirely supported by the
gudgeons on which it turns (excepting in some cases where we employ posts or
pillars to support the outer side of the berth in manner such as shown in Figures 13
and 14 of the drawings of patent No. 3624 of 1882) and its inner side is prevented
from tilting by the aforesaid link acting as a tic. We sometimes reduce the strain of
leverage thus brought upon the bracket by extending the bracket in a direction
towards the outer edge of the berth beyond the point at which the gudgeon rests upon
it and placing a buffer or stop upon the upper surface of the extended portion of the
bracket upon which buffer the end bar of the berth frame may rest. The distance
between the inner corner stud pin' and the outer point of support being thus increased
the leverage of the herth frame and the strain upon the brackets is correspondingly
reduced.
We sometimes fit a buffer or stop by preference on the bracket to bear the
pressure which would otherwise come on the links as described.
When we support the inner end of the berth by a stop as just descrihed we omit
the link and substitute a catch to retain the berth when folded at right angles or at
any other suitable angle.
9
The third part of our invention relates to a method of supporting the bedding when
the berth is turned up. In the Specification of the said Patent No. 3624 of 1882
lugs Fig. 10 were described for this purpose and the Patentees have used such lugs
ever since for that purpose. Where, however, the axis of the gudgeon is placed
below the berth frame as hereinbefore described the tips of the said lugs are apt to
foul the bulkhead unless additional space be allowed between the back of the berth
frame and the bulkhead, and such additional space is objectionable. We therefore
in this instance omit the said lugs and instead thereof we provide a horizontal strip of
sacking or other suitable flexible material of about 5 inches in width attached at each
end to the upper part of the bracket or to the end of the cabin as the case may be.
The said strip extends from end to end of the inner side of the berth bottom and
rests upon the upper surface thereof and the inner longitudinal edge of the strip

page_text: adjoins the bulkhead. When the mattrass and the bedding are placed in position
they rest upon the bottom of the berth, the said strip intervening. When the berth
is turned up the inner side of the berth descends, but the inner side of the mattrass
and bedding remains supported by the said strip, and are thus prevented from
slipping down as the inner edge of the berth is lowered. When the berth is again
lowered the mattrass and bedding readjust themselves while the ascending inner side
of the berth frame again supports the strip together with the superincumbent
bedding.
The fourth part of our invention relates to a method of supporting the ends of
the berth frame by rolling quadrants attached thereto having teeth formed in their
lower peripheries which teeth engage with corresponding teeth formed in the upper
surface of the brackets upon which the rolling quadrants rest. When the berth is
turned up the inner side thereof descends and the axis of the quadrant at the same
time advances towards the bulkhead by virtue of the successive engagement of the
aforesaid teeth. The quadrant being attached to the end bar of the berth frame the
latter advances along with it until when the berth has been fully turned up, the space
between the berth and the bulkhead has been reduced to the proper amount for
retaining the bedclothes.
J. C. MEW BURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Ships' or other Berths.
We EDWARD LAWSON of Charlotte Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Bedstead Manufacturer, EDWIN WILLIAM DE RUSETT of Fell Road, Croydon in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer and HENRY LEA of 38 Bennett's Hill, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Consulting Engineer, 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:-
In the specification of Letters Patent granted to Edward Lawson and Edwin
William De Rusett, No. 3624 of 1882, various arrangements were described whereby
ships' or other berths could be folded or turned up out of the way when not in use.
In some of those arrangements the back or inner side of the berth remains at the
same height above the floor when the berth is turned up as it is when the berth is
turned down, while in the arrangements respectively represented in Figures 8 and 9
of the drawings forming part of the said Specification the said back or inner side
descends while the berth is being turned up.
The first part of our present invention consists of certain arrangements or fittings
whereby the inner side of the berth descends while the berth is being turned up and
whereby the relation between the extent of the descent and the space left for the
bedding and bedclothes between the turned up berth and the bulkhead or back of the
cabin can be regulated.
According to our invention for this purpose each end of the berth turns upon a
pin or gudgeon placed at such a distance below the berth and at such a distance from
the bulkhead as shall produce the results now to be described.
Each of the said pins or gudgeons is supported in a socket forming part of a
bracket secured to the bulkhead or to the end of the cabin. The horizontal distance
of the pin or gudgeon from the bulkhead plus its vertical distance below the berth
is the distance that the inner edge of the berth will descend when the berth is turned
up, while the said horizontal distance minus the said vertical distance is the distance
that will be left between the turned up berth and the bulkhead to receive the bedding.
The latter distance is usually about six inches, while the distance of descent of the
inner edge of the berth may be nine inches more or less according to circumstances.
By our invention the two distances respectively may be arranged as desired without
the employment of more than one pin or gudgeon at each end of the berth for the
latter to turn upon.
The second part of our invention relates to the method of automatically locking the
berth in its turned up position and preventing it from being locked in its turned
down position.
For this purpose we employ a stud pin upon the inner corner of the berth and a
slotted link hinged to the bracket somewhat similar to stud pin b and the link f
shown in Figure 8 of the drawings of Patent No. 3624 of 1882 already referred to
for the purpose of limiting the movement of the berth both when turned down and

page_text: when turned up, but we modify the said link to effect the locking of the berth by
widening the slot at the outer or free end of the link so as to form a notch, which,
when the berth is turned up, engages automatically with the corner stud so as to
firmly lock the berth beyond the possibility of being thrown down by the motion of
the vessel, or by the effort of any porson clutching at it as in rough weather.
When it is desire to lower the berth the notched link is raised by hand so as to
disengage it from the corner stud. When the berth is turned down there is no
necessity for locking it; on the contrary locking then is objectionable. To meet this
requirement we provide an excentric collar on the outer end of the corner stud so
adjusted that when the berth is turned down the full part of the excentric collar
bears against a suitable projection on the side of the link near its outer end, whereby
the notch of the link is prevented engaging with the stud. When, however, the
berth is turned down, the full part of the excentric collar becomes turned away from
the said side projection of the link, and the notch of the latter is then free to engage
with the corner stud so as to lock the berth as aforesaid.
When the berth is turned down its weight may be entirely supported by the
gudgeons on which it turns (excepting in some cases where we employ posts or
pillars to support the outer side of the herth in manner such as shown in Figures 13
and 14 of the drawings of Patent No. 3624 of 1882) and its inner side is prevented
from tilting by the aforesaid link acting as a tie.
We sometimes reduce the strain
of leverage thus brought upon the bracket by extending the bracket in a direction
towards the outer edge of the berth beyond the point at which the gudgeon rests upon
it, and placing a buffer or stop upon the upper surface of the extended portion of
the bracket, upon which buffer the end bar of the berth frame may rest. The
distance between the inner corner stud pin and the outer point of support being thus
increased the leverage of the berth frame and the strain upon the brackets is
correspondingly reduced.
The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate our invention :-
Figure 1 is an end clevation and Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of one end of a
turn up berth in which our improvements are embodied; they show the herth when
turned down for use. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the said berth when folded or
turned up out of the way.
A is the bar forming one end of the berth frame which extends in the direction
of the arrow in Figure 1 to the full width thereof. There is a similar bar at the
other end of the berth, B is a bracket, a portion B1 B2 B3 B4 of which is broken away
to let the other parts be more clearly seen.
The bracket B is bolted to the bulkhead CC. The bracket extends outwards as
far as the boss D which has a hole or socket formed in it in which turns the pin E¹
of the small bracket E attached to the berth frame by bolts or rivets E. The berth
frame A turns up or down upon the pins E¹ (one at each end of the berth) as a
fulcrum or axis. A' is the chill or corner of the berth frame uniting the end bar A
with the back bar A2 of the berth frame. When the berth is turned down as in
Figure 1, the upper surface of the corner A' comes in contact with the stop B' of the
bracket whereby the berth is prevented from tilting. A is a pin fixed in the
corner A¹ and passing through the slot F of the link F. The link F is hinged upon
the pin B which is fixed to the bracket B. At the upper end of the link a short
slot F is formed at right angles to the principal slot F and upon the face of the
link is a small projection F³ which in Figures 1 and 2 is seen to be in contact with
the excentric G, which is firmly attached to the outer end.of the pin A³ whereby the
short slot F of the link F is prevented from engaging with the pin A³ and whereby
the berth is therefore prevented from becoming locked when turned down.
When the berth is turned up the pin A³ travels in a circular path as far as A³ in
Figure 3, traversing meanwhile the principal slot in the link F which latter turns
upon the pin B and follows a circular path until it assumes the position shown in
Figure 3. In this position the excentric G has become turned away from the pro-
jection F and the link is now at liberty to descend in the direction of the arrow H
until the short transverse slot F2 engages with the pin A³ and locks the berth in its

page_text: turned up position. It will be seen that in its turned up position the berth frame
is within the distance a-c of the bulkhead, which distance is a suitable one for
retaining the bedding. The distance a-c Figure 3 can be arranged as may be
required by making the distance d-e, Figure 1, such that when subtracted froin the
distance fg the remainder is the required distance a-c.
When the berth is turned down its weight may be entirely supported by the
gudgeons E, its inner side being prevented from tilting either by the link F acting
as a tie, see Figures 1 and 4, or by the corner A¹ coming into contact with the stop BB
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a part end elevation and Figure 5 is a part plan of a turn up berth
constructed so as to have an outer support in addition to that afforded by the gudgeon
on which the berth turns. K is the said outer support formed by extending the
bracket B as shown. L is a pad piece bolted or rivetted to the end bar A of the berth
frame. Between K and L may be inserted a rubber buffer K¹ if desired. In
Figure 4 the pin A³ is placed somewhat lower than in Figure 1. The link F is
thereby somewhat shortened, but its action is the same as that of the link shown in
Figure 1. Both of the extreme positions of the link are shown in full lines in
Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim in respect of ships' or other berths is:—
1. Mounting a turn-up berth upon pins or gudgeons supported at such a distance
below the berth and at such a distance from the bulkhead that when the berth is being
turned up its inner sido descends and sufficient space for the bedding and bedclothes
is left between the turned up berth and the bulkhead, substantially as set forth.
2. The means or arrangement, substantially as described, for locking a berth in
its turned up position while avoiding its being locked in the turned down or normal
position.
3. The combination with the gudgeons or pins upon which the berth turns and
which support or partly support same when in the turned down position, of supports
consisting of extensions of the brackets on which the berth turns, the end bars of the
berth resting upon such extensions, substantially as set forth.
4. Constructing or fitting turn-up berths as hereinbefore described and represented
in the annexed drawings.
1
10:1
T
1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.