Improved Means for Covering or Closing Leaks or Damages in Ships or like Vessels.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Covering or Closing Leaks or Damages in Ships
or like Vessels.
I, ANTOINE COLOMES, of St. Etienne, Loire, in the Republic of France, Judge
in the Tribunal of St. Etienne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an automatically operating device
for covering or closing leaks in vessels and consists of a fabric wound upon a
float at the fore end of the vessel which float is kept in contact with the hull,
of the vessel such fabric being capable of unwinding as the vessel moves along;
while the float is kept stationary in the water.
The apparatus consists essentially of a working frame whereby the arrange-
ment is lowered into the sea; two Hoats, and a float guide.
The working frame comprises two similar frames connected by hinges. These
frames are provided with slideways for the floats to slide in, and with rings or
eyes, to guide the ropes used in working the fabric. The working frame is
fastened to the vessel by means of ropes, so as to ensure its stability on the
sea, and, as its object is to immerse the floats in the water, it is provided with
a weight for this purpose.
The floats support the fabric which is rolled thereon and are the means by
which its automatic application is effected. The said floats comprise a very
powerful main float and a secondary float which carries the roll of fabric, the
former float being intended to retain the apparatus in position, should it happen
that, whilst a damaged part or leak situated near the water line is being
repaired, the latter float is, by the rolling of the ship, caused to emerge from
the water. A float carrying slide or carriage slides in the grooves of the frame
and upon the hull of the vessel.
This slide or carriage is provided with a rudder which, as soon as it is opened,
renders such slide or carriage stationary. The carriage is slightly curved, so
that it may readily pass over any inequalities of the hull its sliding motion
being facilitated by runners.
A float-guide serves to maintain the floats on a level with the damaged part,
when such floats are removed or detached from the working of the frame. It
comprises two rods passing under the keel and embracing the hull, so that the
distance at which the floats should stand from each other may be regulated to
accommodate the width of the vessel at the part thereof where such floats are
placed. The floats are secured to the rods after their proper position has been
determined in accordance with the situation of the damage or leak. The said
float guide includes an arrangement for directing or controlling the motion of
the rods, such arrangement consisting of rollers and of an oar or rudder. The
rollers travel along the keel, thereby reducing friction, while the oar or rudder
serves both to facilitate the motion of the rollers and to compel the guide to..
follow accurately every movement of the floats.

page_text: The rods are composed of links enabling them to be folded back upon the
floats.
The operation of the device is as follows:--When damage or leak is discovered
the floats are properly set in relation to the guide rods and placed at the required
distance from the hinge. The frame is then lowered by means of the ropes until
it comes to a level with the damaged part. The guide now engages under the
keel. By this time the frame has performed its office, and it is secured in place
by means of the ropes. Then the rudders of the slides or carriages are opened
which stop the floats whilst the vessel continues in motion. The working rope
of the fabric is allowed to slide until the floats are brought near to the damage
or leakage when the said rope is fastened and the fabric, as it is dragged or
towed along by the ship will unwind and, under the pressure of the water, be
applied to the leak or damaged part.
The double float arrangement has the great advantage of being symmetrical
which ensures stability to the ship and in the event of the hull being pene-
trated right through by a shot or shell both perforations thus produced can
be covered at the same time, and should they not be both in the same plane, the
working ropes of both fabrics need not be fastened at the same time, but each
can be secured when the fabric gets near to the damaged portion on either side.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Covering or Closing Leaks or Damages in Ships
or like Vessels.
I, ANTOINE COLOMES, of St. Etienne, Loire, in the Republic of France, Judge
in the Tribunal of St. Etienne, 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 object of this invention is to provide an automatically operating device
for covering or closing leaks in vessels and consists of a fabric wound upon a
float at the fore part of the vessel, which float is kept in contact with the hull,
of the vessel, such fabric being capable of unwinding as the vessel moves along,
while the float is kept stationary in the water.
The invention will be readily understood from the following description with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the protecting float placed in its frame at the
fore part of the vessel.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Figure
is a sectional plan
of two floats jointly constituting the complete apparatus, each being fitted with
its hinged frame, and the whole arrangement being disposed symmetrically at
the vessels bows the frame in connection with one float, being shewn closed
and that of the other float being shewn open.
Figure 4 shews in front elevation one half of the working frame.
Figure 5 is a section on the line A-A Fig. 4.
Figure 6 illustrates the manner of applying the floats to the fore part of the
vessel, and
Figure 7 represents the mechanism for unwinding the fabric.
The apparatus consists essentially of a working frame whereby the arrange-
ment is lowered into the sea; two floats and a float guide.

page_text: The working frame B comprises two similar frames C connected by hinges a
(Figures 1,4 and 5). These frames are provided with slide-ways b, for the
Hoats to slide in, and with rings or eyes, to guide the ropes used in working the
fabric. The working frame is fastened to the vessel by means of ropes, so as
to ensure its stability on the sea, and, as its object is to immerse the floats in the
water, it is provided with a weight e for this purpose.
The floats support the fabric which is rolled thereon and are the means by
which its automatic application is effected. The said floats comprise a very
powerful main float f, and a secondary float g, which carries the roll of fabric
the former float being intended to retain the apparatus in position, should it
happen that, whilst a damaged part or leak situated near the water line is being
repaired, the latter float is, by the rolling of the ship, caused to emerge from
the water; D (Figure 3) are float carrying slides or carriages adapted to slide
in the grooves of the frame, and upon the hull of the vessel.
This slide or carriage is provided with a frame h which, as soon as it is opened,
renders such slide or carriage stationary. In reality, it is the ship's hull which
slides against the carriage, which is slightly curved, so that it may readily pass
over any inequalities of the hull, its sliding motion being facilitated by runners.
A float-guide E serves to maintain the floats on a level with the damaged
part, when such floats are removed or detached from the working frame. It
comprises two rods passing under the keel and embracing the hull; they are
hinged together so that the distance at which the floats should stand from each
other may be regulated to accommodate the width of the vessel at the part
thereof where such floats are placed. The floats are secured to the rods after
their proper position has been determined in accordance with the situation of
the damage or leak. The said float guide includes an arrangement for directing
or controlling the motion of the rods, such arrangement consisting of rollers K
and of a frame m. The rollers K travel along the keel, thereby reducing friction,
while, the frame m serves both to facilitate the motion of the rollers and to
compel the guide to follow accurately every movement of the floats.
The rods are composed of links enabling them to be folded back upon the
floats.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
When a damage or leak is discovered the floats are properly set in relation
to the guide rods and placed at the required distance from the keel. The
frame B is then lowered by means of the ropes d until it comes to a level with
the damaged part. The guide now engages under the keel. By this time the
frame has performed its office, and it is secured in place by means of the ropes d.
Then the frames of the slides or carriages 1) are opened which stop the floats
whilst the vessel continues in motion. The working rope of the fabric is
allowed to slide until the floats are brought near to the damage or leak, when
the said rope is fastened and the fabric, as it is dragged or towed along by the
ship, will unwind and, under the pressure of the water, be applied to the leak
or damaged part.
The double float arrangement has the great advantage of being symmetrical,
which ensures stability to the ship, and in the event of the hull being pene-
trated right through by a shot or shell, both perforations thus produced can,
by the device described, be covered at the same time, and should they not be
both in the same plane, the working ropes of both fabrics need not be fastened
at the same time, but each can be secured when the fabric gets near the damaged
portion on either side.
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:
A device for covering leakages or damages in vessels the said device con-
sisting of an arrangement of floats such as f and y with a fabric wound upon

page_text: one of such floats and provided with means by which they can be lowered into
the water to the level of the damaged part by means of a frame B and maintained
at such level upon the rod i of a float guide E travelling by means of runners
along the keel of the vessel and then rendered stationary in the water by frames
such as hinged to the float arrangement and by frame as m secured to the
guide so that as the motion of the vessel continues the fabric unwinds when a
rope connected with the fabric is secured; it being retained in a horizontal
position by rings or eyes on the frame.
Dated this 28th day of July 1900
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.