AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO SHIPS AND VESSELS FOR MINIMIZING DAMAGE IN COLLISION
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM PAITFIELD ENGLISH of 180 High Street in the town and county of
the town of Kingston-upon-Hull Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO SHIPS AND VESSELS
FOR MINIMIZING DAMAGE IN COLLISION to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to fit an apparatus that can easily and immediately
be put in position on the bows of ships and vessels to prevent the impact of the
stem of one vessel on the side or elsewhere of another vessel and to ensure that
any impact that ensues shall be that of a broad surface on some part of the hull of
the second vessel above the water line and that therefore especially considering the
straight or upright stem that is now so prevalent the damage produced by the
collision shall be reduced to a minimum and shall not be so fatal as it usually is in
its effects,
To carry out this object I fit an angle iron on each side of the stem of the vessel
reaching a convenient distance down from the top of the stem but terminating well
above the water line and on this double angle iron is fitted a sliding piece of wood
or iron with strong springs preferably somewhat resembling railway carriage
springs inserted between the front of the stem and the sliding piece and secured to
the said sliding piece but bearing against the said front of the stem. On each side
of the sliding piece and well in front of the same is pivotted in any convenient
manner preferably by gudgeons and pintles a strong frame of a semicircular or other
shape which frame is sheathed or fitted in and supported by wood or metal or a
plate may be used instead of a frame supported by timber or other sheathing which
frames or plates so fitted act as buffers. In their retired position when they are not
arranged for use these buffers are turned back alongside each bow and are secured
there in any convenient manner preferably so that they can be instantaneously
released. The line of pivotting aforesaid is preferably inclined forwards at its upper
end so that when the buffers are released they will immeadiately move forwards
into position at right angles or thereabouts to the line of the keel and sliding bolts
fitted on the same can then be drawn across from the one buffer behind the pivot of the

page_text: same till it engages the other buffer and these bolts exactly fit the space behind the
pivots between the line of the buffers when in this position and the sliding piece on
the stem and secure the said buffers firmly in position. Any suitable apparatus or
tackle may be provided to move the buffers backwards or forwards and to actuate
the sliding bolts and to raise or lower the sliding piece on the stem. Thus when
this apparatus is in position in any collision that may occur the blow is given by
the broad surface of these buffers which project before the stem and are above the
water line while the force of the blow itself is in great part absorbed by the springs
behind the sliding piece and the damage resulting from the said collision is reduced
to a minimum.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM PAITFIELD ENGLISH of 180 High Street in the town and county of
the town of Kingston-upon-Hull Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO SHIPS AND VESSELS
FOR MINIMIZING DAMAGE IN COLLISION 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 my invention is to provide and fit an apparatus that can easily and
immediately be put in position on the bows of ships and vessels to prevent the
direct impact of the stem of one vessel on the side or other part of another vessel
and to ensure that any impact that does ensue from the collision of the two vessels
shall be that of a broad surface on some part of the hull of the second vessel above
the water line and not that of the narrow and comparatively sharp knife-like stem
above and below the water line. The effect therefore of this my invention is that
the damage produced by the collision shall be reduced to a minimum and shall not
be so fatal in its effects as is usually the case at the present time especially when
the vessels are built as is now so prevalent with a straight or upright stem.
In order clearly to explain my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed I refer to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation of the bows of a ship or vessel fitted with
my apparatus which is here raised and shewn in its position when not ready for
use. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same with my apparatus lowered and in
position for use. Figure 3 is a plan of the same partly in section and on an enlarged
scale taken at a. b. in Figure 1. Figure 4 on Sheet 2 is a vertical section taken at
c. d. in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a similar vertical section taken at e. f. in Figure 3.
In these two Figures 4 and 5 the buffers hereinafter described are not in the
positions shewn in Figure 3 but are set parallel to the line of view so as to exhibit
a rear elevation thereof. Figure 6 is a side elevation of my apparatus partly in
section and taken at x. z. in Figure 4. The letters refer to the same parts in all
the Figures.
On the stem A of the vessel I fit a Tee piece B with a double web which Tee
piece B is firmly secured to the said stem A by bolts or otherwise or may form part
of the same and is preferably so formed that a backing C of wood or india rubber
or other suitable material can be inserted therein between the face of the said Tee
piece B and the front edge of the said stem A. as shewn in Figure 3. This Tee
piece B reaches down from the top of the stem A. or thereabouts a convenient
distance but terminates well above the water line D. On the Tee piece B is fitted
the sliding block E which is preferably formed by a strong metal casing and inside
the same are a series of alternate or other vertical layers or strips or blocks of
metal F and india rubber wood or other suitable material G which are not secured
therein but are only placed in the casing and as the top and bottom of the said
block E are not entirely closed but are only partially solid as shown at E¹ in

page_text: Figure 6 the said layers or strips or blocks F and G are prevented from falling
thereout by forming one or more of the strips of metal F to overlap or underlap the
partial top and bottom El as shewn at F in this Figure. Thus according to this
method of construction which I consider extremely suitable for my purposes when
any pressure comes on the front face of the block E the casing thereof can be
forced back and all the resistance will be supplied by the material inside the same
whereby the said casing will be preserved from damage and to allow of still freer
action I can also if and when I should so desire leave a small vertical part of the
space inside the said casing empty and unoccupied as shewn in Figures 3 and 6.
On each side of the front face of the block E is pivotted in any convenient manner
but preferably by the gudgeons and pintles H a strong frame or plate K which may
be made of any convenient size and shape and constructed and put together in and
by any suitable manner and method. For general use I prefer these frames or
plates K to be of a somewhat semicircular shape as shewn in the drawings and
these two frames or plates K constitute and are my buffer. On the rear sides of
the frames or plates K are formed corresponding horizontal and parallel ribs webs or
flanges L and bolts M are made capable of sliding in and between the same which
bolts M are connected together at their extremities by the rods N in an alternate
manner so that the bolts M¹ and M³ and so on belong to one of the frames or
plates K and the bolts M³ and M' and so on belong to the other frame or plate K.
These bolts M of which there may be any desirable number are made of such a
breadth as to fit but not too tightly the space between the frames or plates K and
the front face of the block E when the said frames or plates K are moved into
position at right angles or thereabouts to the line of the keel of the vessel in which
position the lateral vertical edges of the said frames or plates K meet or nearly
meet in the central vertical line of the said vessel and a little play can conveniently
be given to the gudgeons and pintles H to allow the said bolts M to sustain all or
most of the pressure and the said bolts M are made rather shorter than the breadth
of the buffer when the said frames or plates K. are in this position as aforesaid.
In a convenient position on each side of the sliding block E preferably just above
the level of the upper bolt M belonging to that side and near the rear edge of the
said block E is hinged or pivotted a shutter or pusher P and a lead or pulley Q is
secured on each side of the said block E near the front edge and at the top thereof
and another lead or pulley R is secured also on each side of the said block E and near
the front edge thereof but on a level or thereabouts with the middle of the rod N
that connects the bolts M belonging to one side together and a wire or other rope
or chain S is led through the upper lead thence through a lead or pulley T on
the front side of the free end of the pusher P and through the lower lead R the
end being secured to the middle of the said rod N. The other end of this rope or
chain S is secured above to a fixed point on any suitable part of the vessel and the
said rope or chain S must be of the proper length in each case to effect the action
hereinafter described. Any convenient davit V or other usual apparatus can bo
fitted above from which the rope chain or tackle W would support and raise and
lower this my apparatus and the said rope chain or tackling W would preferably be
led to the. bridge of the vessel or to any other position as may be required where a
man is always on the look out or on watch and the ropes or chains S can also
conveniently be secured to the head of the said davit V.
The method of using and the action of this my apparatus as herein before described
is as follows. When the apparatus is not required it is raised up the stem as high
as may be needed and the bolts M are drawn out on each side as shewn in Figure 4
when the frames or plates K can be and are turned back alongside each bow as
shewn in Figures 1 and 3 and can be there secured by any usual or convenient
appliances that will automatically release and disengage themselves. The rope W by
which the apparatus is supported is as is aforesaid led to any position where a man
is on watch and when any danger of collision appears this man will immediately let
go this rope or lower away this apparatus and the act of so lowering away will bring
the buffer into position for use and secure it therein as shewn in Figures 2 and 5
4

page_text: in the following manner. As the block E is being lowered a strain will come on the
ropes S which will at the first cause the pushers P to move forward and by pressing
against the rear sides of the frames or plates K the said pushers P will cause the
said frames or plates K also to move forward until they are at right angles or
thereabouts to the line of the keel of the vessel and as the said block E is still
being lowered the said ropes S will next draw in the bolts M to which respectively
they are secured through the rods N until by the time the said block E has reached
the bottom of the Tee piece B on which it slides where and in which position a
stop can conveniently be formed as shewn in the drawings the said bolts M are
entirely and properly drawn across and are in the position as shewn in Figure 5
thus rendering the whole central part of the buffer a solid mass.
Thus when the collision occurs the blow is given by the broad surface of this
buffer on the other vessel and above the water line as the said buffer projects
forward before the stem while the force of the blow is in great measure" absorbed
first by the material inside the sliding block and then by the material if any inside
the Tee piece on the stem and also above the water line as is desired. By this
apparatus therefore the damage if any resulting from the collision is reduced to a
minimum and while the said apparatus is not at all in the way or productive of
any harm when not required or in use it can immediately and at a moment's
notice be placed in position for use by the man on watch simply letting go a rope.
It is obvious also that any usual or convenient appliances can be used if necessary
to prevent the apparatus sliding down into position too suddenly or quickly by
checking the overhauling of the supporting rope or tackle and any standing or fixed
preventer can be fitted to sustain the weight of the apparatus when in its lower
position as herein before described.
I have thus described and have shewn in the drawings what I consider to be
most suitable and convenient and effective shapes and forms of this my apparatus
and of the several parts thereof and also most efficient and desirable details and
methods of constructing and fitting the same but I would have it clearly understood
and indeed it is sufficiently obvious that I do in no wise limit myself thereto for
the said apparatus and the several parts thereof may be made of such shapes and
forms and such details and methods may be observed and followed in constructing
and fitting the same as I may deem desirable or convenient or preferable in each
particular case. For instance I can use two angle irons instead of the before
mentioned Tee piece or I can make the sliding block to travel in a vertical groove
therein instead of sliding round the said Tee piece. I can also use springs instead
of the layers or strips or blocks of metal or india rubber or wood or other material
aforesaid either in the Tee piece or in the sliding block as may be desirable or I
can make a receptacle inside the sliding block and use a water or air or other
cushion or in any other usual or convenient manner I can fit the sliding block and
the Tee piece to absorb as aforesaid in great measure the force of the blow, I can
also face or sheathe the plates or frames which together form and constitute the
buffer by india rubber or wood or metal or any other material that I may prefer so
as to make the said buffer thicker and thus cause it to project still further before the
stein and also to preserve the same from damage.
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
1. The apparatus for minimizing damage in collisions between ships and vessels
consisting of a transverse buffer supported by and on a block which block slides
up and down the stein of the vessel substantially as hereinbefore described and set
forth and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. The block within which is a concussion absorbing apparatus sliding on or in
a groove in a Tee piece or a double angle iron secured on the stem of a vessel
substantially as herein before described and set forth;

page_text: 3. The buffer made in two parts each part being pivotted on the sliding block
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
4. The method of securing the two parts of the buffer in position by the bolts M
sliding in and between the ribs L on the rear sides of the said two parts K
substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
5. The method or manner of actuating and bringing the two pivotted parts into
position to act as a buffer and of securing the same therein the said method or
manner being the use of the pushers P the leads QT and R and the ropes or
chains S the upper ends of which are secured to fixed points above while the lower
*ends are secured to the rods N connecting the sliding bolts M the whole being
combined and arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
set forth.