Improvements in and connected with the Coaling of Ships.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Coaling of Ships.
I, THOMAS BLISSET, of 29, Lister Street, West Hartlepool, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the coaling of ships and has for its object to provide
a means whereby the usual coaling hatchways in the main deck may be dispensed
with and the coal be delivered into the bunkers from the side of the ship thereby
securing economy in space and obviating disturbance of the main deck during
the coaling operations.
According to my invention, I provide, it may be just above, or on a level with
the lower leck or the deck above the coal bunkers, an opening in the side of the
ship adapted to be closed by a suitable door when desired, which door when
fully opened in conjunction with an adjustable sliding part serves as a shoot
for discharging ashes from the ship. This door is also adapted when raised
to a suitable angle and in conjunction with side flaps adjacently arranged, to
form a coal shoot directing the coal through a suitable opening in the deck
above which it is fitted or it may be by an auxiliary shoot to the coal bunkers
beneath.
I may arrange one such opening and shoot for each bunker or one for two
or more bunkers, and auxiliary guiding shoots may be provided, this of course
being determined by the construction of the vessel to which the invention is fitted.
In one such arrangement as above described the door of the opening in the
side of the ship is hinged at its lower part and may be provided with means for
securing a watertight joint when closed; it is adapted to open outwardly and
hang downwards; within the opening on either side is arranged a partition or flap
which may be fixed or movable and arranged with a guide for receiving a sliding
base or side adapted when in position to form with the two sides a shoot for the
discharge of ashes from the ship.
The said outer door is arranged to be raised and supported at a suitable angle
by a pair of side flaps hinged to the outer side of the opening and provided with
means such as hooks, chains or catches for connecting with and supporting the
door. The sliding ash shoot is adapted to be slidden in its guides and raised
or removed, its supporting sides or flaps then also serving as part of the coal shoot
together with the cover door or flap of the opening in the deck which communicates
with the coal bunkers; this opening is adjacently arranged and its cover adapted
to open upwardly at or about the same angle as the outer door, the said cover
of the deck opening is supported in position by hooks, catches, or other means
of attachment to the inner side flaps between which it is arranged to fit.
I may in some cases arrange the side flaps or parts of the shoot in one with
the door and adapted to move therewith and the movable floor or side of the ash
shoot may be arranged to fold back upon the top of the inner part of the shoot
to prevent access of coal dust to the lower deck, or other covering means may be

page_text: provided. I may also so arrange the parts that the sliding or moving of the
ash shoot or outer door into position shall serve to adjust the other parts of the
shoot in proper position for coaling or discharge of ashes as the case may be.
It will be seen that by this invention the coaling of a ship may be accomplished
without disturbance of the main deck and the same aperture or opening as is used
for coaling may be used for discharging ashes from the stoke hole, which ashes
are brought to the shoot in the usual way by a crane or lift working in the
ventilating shaft or otherwise conveniently.
Dated this 15th day of October 1897
Improvements in and connected with the Coaling of Ships.
I, THOMAS BLISSET, of 29, Lister Street, West Hartlepool, in the County of
Durham, 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:--
My invention relates to the coaling of ships and has for its object to provide
a means whereby the usual coaling hatchways in the main deck may be dispensed
with and the coal be delivered into the bunkers from the side of the ship thereby
securing economy in space and obviating disturbance of the main deck during
the coaling operations.
According to my invention, I provide, it may be just above, or on a level with
the lower deck or the deck above the coal bunkers, an opening in the side of the
ship adapted to be closed by a suitable door when desired, which door when
fully opened in conjunction with an adjustable sliding or hinged part serves as a shoot
for discharging ashes from the ship. This door is also adapted when raised
to a suitable angle and in conjunction with side flaps adjacently arranged, to
form a coal shoot directing the coal through a suitable opening in the deck
above which it is fitted or it may be by an auxiliary shoot to the coal bunkers
beneath.
I may arrange one such opening and shoot for each bunker or one for two
or more bunkers, and auxiliary guiding shoots may be provided, this of course
being determined by the construction of the vessel to which the invention is fitted.
I will now describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings
in which on Sheet 1, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and elevation of a
coaling and ash shoot the parts being in position for discharging ashes. Figs. 3
and 4 are similar views showing the parts in position for coading and Fig. 5
shows the parts in closed position. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 on Sheet 2 are
respectively the same views as the figures in Sheet 1 but showing a modified
construction and arrangement of the parts. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view
showing the connection by an auxiliary shoot to the coal bunkers in the lower
part of the vessel.
Refering to the first sheet, A is the side of the vessel and B the lower or other
deck to which the apparatus is fitted. I) is the outer door in the side of the ship
adapted to be watertight when closed. The door 1) is hinged as at d and is
provided with side flaps f, these flaps may if desired be secured or hinged to the
side of the vessel or to the inner side of the door opening D¹ instead of the door D
as shown.
A slide S is arranged to slide in guides such as sin side supports or
casings C. His a hatchway opening in the deck B having a watertight door 5

page_text: or cover H' hinged at h and adapted to open upwardly; suitable connecting
chains such as N N or other equivalent means are provided for operating the
doors and shoot.
It will be seen that the door D) is arranged to open outwardly and hang down-
wards as in Fig. 1and form with the two sides C and sliding base S a shoot for
discharging ashes from the ship as shown in Fig. 1. The door I is arranged
to be raised and supported at suitable angle as shown in Fig. 3 by chains or
the like N, or it may be supported by a pair of side flaps similar to f hinged
to the outer side of the opening and provided with hooks, catches and the like or
the flaps themselves may be fixed to the door itself as shown in the drawing at f.
(The sliding ash shoot S is adapted to be slidden in its guides s and. raised or
removed, it is shown in the drawing with a hinged portions so that its larger
part may be folded over upon the sides C as shown at Fig. 3 thereby forming a
cover to the shoot together with the hatchway door H¹ when the latter is open for
coaling purposes. The hatchway opening H is adjacently arranged as shown,
the cover H opening upwardly from the coal bunkers K and secured at or about
the same angle as the door D, the said cover H¹ is supported by hooks, catches,
chains or the like as at h¹.
Referring to Sheet 2 where a modified construction and arrangement of parts
is shown the outer door is arranged as before but the hatchway door H' is adapted
to be raised to or normally rest at an angle as shown in Fig. 6 and form the
base of the ash shoot the slide S being dispensed with, in the same manner the
hatchway door H¹ which may have the side flaps f, f attached thereto as shown
is also adapted to be turned upwards and outwards through the opening D¹ forming
with its sides f a shoot for coaling purposes the hatchway opening H being then
open to the coal bunkers K see Fig. 8. The casing C which may be curved as
shown is provided with a hinged cover C adapted to be closed during coaling
operations so as to keep the coal dust from access to the lower deck or adjacent
part of the vessel. Figs. 5 and 10 show, the parts in closed position the door D
being operated by chains N or the like which may be passed through small
apertures as o in the side of the ship and in or on the outer side of the openings
suitable antifriction pulleys o may be provided.
In Fig. 10 the hatchway door H₁ is shown in raised position supported by
flaps fresting on a flange or the like f¹ and the coal in the bunkers K may De
filled up in the space between the door H¹ and deck B or the door H¹ may be
arranged to fit down on or be level with the deck when the space in the casing
may be employed for storage purposes.
Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the connection of an auxiliary shoot X
to the coal bunkers K, the arrangement as stated being determined by the con-
struction of the ship and the auxiliary shoot X may be fixed or removable as
required.
It will be seen that by this invention the coaling of a ship may be accomplished
without disturbance of the main deck and the same aperture or opening as is used
for coaling may be used for discharging ashes from the stoke hole, which ashes
are brought to the shoot in the usual way by a crane or lift working in the
ventilating shaft or otherwise conveniently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in, what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1-The method of coaling ships consisting in delivering the coal to the bunkers
through openings or doorways in the side of the ship below the level of the main
deck said openings being connected to the bunkers by means of shoots or shoots
and enclosed doors or hatchways in the deck or decks above the bunkers sub-
stantially as herein before set forth.
2-For coaling ships the use of watertight doorways in the side of the ship
below the level of the main deck, said doorways being adapted to form when open

page_text: and in conjunction with hatchway openings in the adjacent deck or decks below
an enclosed shoot to the coal bunkers, the said doorways being also adapted to
form with an adjustable slide or hatchway door a shoot for the discharge of ashes
when not in use for coaling purposes substantially as set forth.
3-The combination with an opening or doorway in the side of the ship below
the level of the main deck, of a hatchway opening in the deck or decks adjacent
or beneath said hatchway having a hinged or adjustable door such as H with
said flaps and enclosing casing C all arranged and adapted for operation sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4 The combination of parts forming a coaling or a coaling and ash shoot all
arranged and adapted for use and operation substantially as described and as
shown on Sheet 1 of the drawings.
5 The combination of parts forming a coaling or a coaling and ash shoot all
arranged and adapted for use and operation substantially as described and as
shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings.