IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DECK HOUSES OF SHIPS AND IN THEIR ATTACHMENT, TO THE SHIP, WHEREBY THEY MAY BE READILY DETACHED, AND BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE SAVING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ARCHIBALD BARCLAY BOLT, of Frank Place, North Shields, in the County of
Northumberland, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DECK HOUSES OF SHIPS AND IN
THEIR ATTACHMENT, TO THE SHIP, WHEREBY THEY MAY BE READILY DETACHED,
AND BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE SAVING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
" to be as
follows:-
My invention consists in constructing deck-houses of steam or other ships in
Buch a manner that, when detached from the deck, they become floating vessels
quite seaworthy and capable of being navigated, and in attaching such deck houses
to the ship so that, whilst under ordinary conditions they are practically equally
a part of her structure as if constructed in the ordinary way, they may in case of
emergency be readily detached by simple mechanical means.
My invention is applicable to all ships but is specially designed for large ocean
or other steamers carrying passengers.
The deck house is constructed in the ordinary manner (preferably with rounded.
corners) of frames and plates (usually covered with wood) with windows or side
lights and with access, from the top only, but being furnished, in addition to sides,
ends and top or deck with a flat bottom, it forms a perfectly water-tight vessel
independent of the ship. The flat bottom of the deck house does not rest on the
deck, but upon longitudinal timbers or iron girders about 6 to 8 ins deep, which
provide a space sufficient to receive the working mechanism for detaching, and the
underside of bottom of deck house is provided with longitudinal angle irons which
steady it sidewise upon these timbers or girders and form "keelsons" when it
is afloat.
With a view to the emergency of the deck house being available as a self-
contained floating vessel I prefer to arrange it internally with the berths against
the sides of saloon in centre and the seats at sides, the space under them
forming water ballast tanks which may be filled with fresh water beforehand or
into which the sea water may flow through holes, when the deck house is afloat, :
and steady it by increasing, its immersion. The framework of the central saloon
and of berths will also stiffen the floor and deck, between which it will extend, and
LD Ch

page_text: pillars or stanchions, which would in any case be fitted to support the deck, will
further stiffen the structure against upward or downward collapse by the force of
the sea
The top deck may be fitted with air boxes, forming seats along sides and
ends, which will increase the stability when afloat and prevent danger of the house
capsizing in leaving the ship in an inclined position. The awning "boom" may be
used as a mast and the canvas may be so made as to be divided and forin sails,
rigging being supplied by the awning ropes or chains.
To attach the house to the ship and to detach it therefrom I propose to adopt
the following appliances which I consider simple and efficient, but I do not confine
myself to details which as to the operating gear, may be modified without deviating
from the principal features. To the deck of ship (preferably upon each deck beam)
along lines of sides and ends of the house are rivetted strong brackets or "cleats,"
of wrought iron cast steel or other material in the jaws of each of which works a
sliding bolt one end of which is jointed to the shorter arm of a lever of the first
order working parallel with deck on a fulcrum firmly bolted to the deck, the
longer arm of the lever projecting toward centre of ship. The ends of the longer
arms of all the levers along sides and ends of deck house are connected by rods,
"bell-cranks," cords or chains and pulleys, so that they move simultaneously. At
points on the deck house, corresponding with the brackets or "cleats" on deck, and
firmly rivetted to the bottom or sides (or both) projecting downward, are strong
square bars, of forged iron cast steal or other material each having a " notch" cut
in one-side into which the sliding bolts shoot thus locking and securing the sides
and ends of deck house to ship. The ends of the sliding bolts are slightly tapered
preferably on their lower sides which shape acts like a wedgo when entering the
"notches" and also reduces their friction when required to be withdrawn.
The whole of the lovers, locking bolts, "notched bars," connecting rods, chains
or cords and pulleys along sides and ends of deck house are accessible for
examination, cleaning and oiling from the deck, being placed in the space between
deck and bottom of deck house, which is closed by covering boards secured to the
deck house and to the deck in such a manner as to detach and float away when
the deck house leaves the sinking ship. The companion-ladders from deck to top
of house are also so attached as to rendily detach from the deck-house when it is
afloat thus leaving it clear of all impediment.
For the final release of the deck house from the sinking ship I propose to fit n
"master bolt" to be withdrawn by a cord chain or other gear by the captain or
officer in charge at the last moment.
The levers which withdraw the main locking bolts may be operated by any
suitable mechanism but I propose to operate them, as a convenient, arrangement by
winch gear worked by handles or by a hand wheel (like a steering wheel) and
acting on a vertical spindle connected, by means of a detaching clutch, to a chain
drum fixed on ships deck below on which the chain or cord is so coiled that
whichever way the wheel is turned the bolts will be withdrawn.
This gear will be conveniently placed at one end on top of deck house and will
bo covered in and locked. I propose by means of this winch gear acting upon rods,
'chains or cords and pulleys to cause the same action which withdraws the bolts to
draw up simultaneously the whole of the water-tight shutters of the windows the
sides and ends of the deck house being thus made secure and seaworthy.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Deck Houses of Ships,
and in their Attachment to the Ship, whereby they may
ha Da1:1-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ARCHIBALD BARCLAY BOLT of Frank Place, North Shields in the County of
Northumberland Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DECK HOUSES OF SHIPS AND IN
THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THE SHIP, WHEREBY THEY MAY BE READILY DETACHED
AND BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE SAVING. OF LIFE AND PROPERTY " to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention consists in constructing deck houses of steam or other ships in such
a manner that, when detached from the deck, they become floating vessels quite
seaworthy and capable of being navigated and in attaching such deck houses to
the ship so that whilst under ordinary conditions they are practically equally a
part of her structure as if .constructed in the ordinary way, they may in case of
emergency be readily detached by simple mechanical means.
My invention is applicable to all ships but is specially designed for large ocean
or other steamers carrying passengers:
The deck house is constructed in the ordinary manner (preferably with rounded
corners) of frames and plates (usually covered with wood) with windows or side
lights and with access from the top only, but being furnished in addition to sides
ends and top or deck with a flat bottom, it forms a perfectly water tight vessel
independent of the ship. The flat bottom of the deck house does not rest on the
deck, but upon longitudinal timbers or iron. girders 6 to 8 inches deep which
provide a space sufficient to receive the working mechanism for detaching and the
underside of bottom of deck house is provided with longitudinal angle irons which
steady it sidewise upon these timbers or girders and form "keelsons" when it is
afloat.
With a view to the emergency of the deck house being available as a self-
contained floating vessel I prefer to arrange it internally with the berths against
the sides of saloon in centre and the seats at sides, the space under them forming
water ballast tanks which may be filled with fresh water before hand or into
which the sea water may flow through holes, when the deck house is afloat, and
steady it by increasing its immersion. The framework of the central saloon and
of berths will also stiffen the floor and deck, between which it will extend,
and pillars or stanchions, which would in any case be fitted to support the deck
will further stiffen the structure against upward or downward collapse by the force
of the sea.
The top deck may be fitted with air boxes, forming seats along sides
and ends which will increase the stability when afloat and prevent danger of the
house capsizing in leaving the ship in an inclined position.
The awning "boom" may be used, as a mast and the canvas may be so made
as to be divided and form sails rigging being supplied by the awning ropes or
chains.

page_text: To attach the house to the ship and to detach it therefrom I propose to adopt
the following appliances which I consider simple and efficient, but I do not confine
myself to details which as to the operating gear, may be modified without
deviating from the principal features. To the deck of ship (preferably upon each
deck beam) along lines of sides and ends of the house are rivetted strong brackets
or "cleats" of wrought iron cast steel or other material in the jaws of each of
which works a sliding bolt one end of which is jointed to the shorter arm of a lever
of the first order working parallel with deck on a fulcrum firmly bolted to the
deck, the longer arm of the lever projecting toward centre of ship. The ends of the
longer arms of all the levers along sides and ends of deck house are connected by
rods "bell-cranks" cords or chains and pulleys, so that they move simultaneously.
At points in the deck house corresponding with the brackets or "cleats" on deck,
and firmly rivetted to the bottom or sides (or both) projecting downward, are
strong square bars, of forged iron, cast steel or other material each having a
"notch
cut in one side into which the sliding bolts shoot thus locking and
securing the sides and ends of deck house to ship the ends of the bolts are slightly
tapered on their sides which shape acts like a wedge when entering the notches and
also reduces their friction when required to be withdrawn.
The whole of the levers, locking bolts, "notched bars" connecting rods, chains
or cords and pulleys along sides and ends of dock house are accessible for exami-
nation, cleaning and oiling from the deck, being placed in the space between deck
and bottom of deck house which is closed by covering boards secured to the deck
house and to the deck in such a manner as to detach and float away when the
deck house leaves the sinking ship. The companion ladders from deck to top of
house are also so attached as to readily detach from the deck house when it is afloat
thus leaving it clear of all impediment.
For the final release of the deck house from the sinking ship I propose to fit a
"master bolt" to be withdrawn by a cord chain or other gear by the captain or
officer in charge at the lost moment.
The lovers which withdraw the main locking bolts may be operated by any
suitable mechanism but I propose to operate them, as a convenient arrangement by
winch gear worked by handles or by a hand wheel (like a steering wheel) and
acting on a vertical spindle connected, by means of a detaching clutch to a chain.
drum fixed on ships deck below, on which the chain or cord is so coiled that which-
ever way the wheel is turned the bolt will be withdrawn.
+
This gear will be conveniently placed at one end on top of deck house and will
be covered in and locked. I propose by means of this winch gear acting upon rods
chains or cords and pulleys, to cause the same action which withdraws the bolts to
draw up simultaneously the whole of the water-tight shutters of the windows the
sides and ends of the deck house being.thus made secure and seaworthy.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

page_text: On Figures 1 and 2. 1. 1. 1 are keelsons of iron or timber built upon ship's deck.
upon which the floor of Saloon 'rests being itself formed with keelsons 2. 2. 2 on
each side of.fore and aft centre line the outside keelsons fitting against those on
deck to secure the Saloon athwartship.
At suitable intervals along sides and ends of the saloon strong brackets or
cleats 3, 3, 3, are rivetted to deck in the jaws of which work locking wedge shaped
bolts 4, 4, 4, attached to the shorter arms of levers of the first order 5, 5, 5, the
fulcrums of which are firmly secured to deck-The longer arms of these levers are
all connected together by bars 6, 6, running fore and aft on each side and attached
to the end levers by cords or chains 7 so that one movement will simultaneously
insert or withdraw all the locking bolts 4, 4, 4, through the jaws of brackets or
cleats 3,13, 3. The bottom of saloon along both sides and ends at intervals corre-
sponding with the brackets or cleats 3, 3, 3, has rivetted to it strong bars 8, 8,
projecting down to deck each formed with.a notch to receive the end of one of the
locking bolts 4, 4, which when inserted at each point along sides and ends of
saloon secure it as firmly to the deck as if it formed part of the ship which it
really does in its normal condition. Along the sides and ends of the saloon are
constructed tanks 9, 9, fitted with sluices and valves for the inlet and outlet of
water when required the object of which tanks is to ballast and steady the saloon
when afloat by filling them with water which when available may be fresh water
for the shipwrecked crew and passengers. Air boxes 10, 10, forming seats may.
also be constructed on top deck of saloon to increase the buoyancy and prevent
capsizing when afloat.
The access to saloon from deck is by means of an accommodation ladder at one
end not shewn and from saloon deck to saloon by a companion staircase also not
shewn.
The saloon deck is shewn covered with an awning supported on a boom which
in shipwreck may form a mast the canvas of awning making into a sail. The
sides and ends of the saloon are fitted with sliding windows-12 similar to those of
railway carriages and each secured by a sliding wood or iron shutter which can be
made water tight when the saloon has to be detached from sinking ship.
The mechanism which effects this detaching by withdrawing the locking bolts
4, 4, out of the notches in bars 8, 8, is shewn by Figures 4, 5 and 6 and consists of
a hand wheel 13 on end of a spindle 14 which carries a bevil wheel.15 working
into a larger bevil wheel 16 on top of a vertical spindle 17 on lower end of which
is a spur pinion 18 working into a spur wheel 19 on a second spindle 20 the lower
end of which working through a water tight stuffing box in floor of saloon is fitted
with a clutch 21 under the floor of saloon fitting into a corresponding clutch 22
on a vertical rope or chain barrel 23 supported on deck. Upon this barrel the ends
of the cords or chains 7 attached to connecting bars 6, 6, of levers 5, 5, 5, are made
fast so that whichever way it is revolved it will wind them on and operate the
levers so as to draw out the locking bolt 4 which with the brackets or cleats 3 the
notched bars 8 the levers 5, 5, and the connecting bar 6 are shewn more clearly in
elevation and plan by Figures 4 and 5.
In order to prevent accidental or mischevious detaching by withdrawal of the
locking bolts a master bolt is used which is under the control of the captain or
officer in charge and until this master bolt is released by their action it is
impossible to withdraw the locking bolts. This master bolt is shewn on Figure 1
and in detail on Figures 7, 8 and 9.
The ends of cords or chains 24 which are attached at each side to the long arm
of one of the levers 5 and thence by the cord or chain 7 and by the connecting
bar 6 to the whole series of levers have each a loop 25 on it which loops pass over
pins forming the vertical arms of a tumbling piece 26 working in a frame 27 fixed
to floor of saloon and in which frame slides the master bolt 28 which when in
position shewn by Figure 7 holds down and locks the tumbler 26 thus preventing
the locking bolts being withdrawn by revolving the rope or chain barrel 23 by
+

page_text: means of the hand wheel 13 but when the master bolt 28 is withdrawn by the
hand line 28 the tumbler 26 falling over releases the loop of cord or chain 24 when
the hand wheel being turned revolves the barrel winds on the cords 7 and by the
connecting bar and lovers withdraws all the locking bolts simultaneously detaching
the saloon from the ship.
This position of the apparatus is shewn by one portion of Figure 1.
The same action which withdraws the locking bolts is made to draw up all the
water tight shutters 29 of the windows 12 (see Figure 3) by cords or chains 30
leading from each shuttor by guide pullies to a rope or chain sheave which may be
arranged on a suitable part of the main winch gear say on the vertical spindle 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is
First The general arrangement and construction of a deck, house which will be
perfectly seaworthy when left afloat by the foundering of the ship substantially as
described and shewn by specification and drawings.
Second. The means by which a deck house so constructed, or other form of deck
house, can be securely attached to deck of ship in such a manner as to allow it to
be quickly and safely detached in the event of shipwreck substantially as shewn
and described.