Improvements in and Connected with Watertight Doors or Appliances for Closing Bulkheads and Watertight Compart- ments in Sea-going Vessels and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1887
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888
Improvements in and Connected with Watertight
Doors or
Appliances for Closing Bulkheads and Watertight Compart-
ments in Sea-going Vessels and the like.
We, JOHN ROGERSON of Croxdale Hall in the County of Durham, Steel
Manufacturer ALEXANDER DOWNIE of The Ashes House Stanhope in the said
County, Engineer and JOHN ARMSTRONG SNOWDON of Thirwell House, Wolsingham
also in the said County Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the type of doors known as the "Hinged, bulkhead
door." In order that the invention may be clearly understood we will first describe
the doors at present in use in Her Majesty's Warships and the mode of their
manufacture.
Wrought iron bars about one inch thick and five inches wide are cut into four
lengths and welded at the corners to form a frame. It is then made perfectly level
and its edges are planed and clearances cut for a groove to be planed out parallel to
the 4 sides of the frame a double line of narrow strips of iron is next fitted into the
grooves and clearing holes drilled through them, corresponding holes being also
drilled and tapped through the frame to receive the screws to hold the said strips, a
piece of india rubber is fitted in the grooves and the iron strips laid upon it their
edges fitting closely against the edges of the groove leaving an uncovered portion of
rubber in the centre into this an angle bar (which is rivetted to a plate to form the
door) is pressed and makes the watertight connection. The next operation is to drill
holes and fit in brass bushes to pass through both frame and bulkhead in which the
clip handles"
are passed to the end of which on the opposite side of the bulkhead
the handles are secured by a nut screwed on and passing through it, the portions of
the spindle on which the handles are fitted being squared to keep them in their
relative position with the clip handle. The double set of handtes being required
to lock the door on either side of bulkhead. The door has a pair of the male portions
of hinges riveted to it, the frame having the female portion both being connected by
hinge pins. The door frame is secured to the bulkhead by rivets.

page_text: It will be seen from the above description that in the event of a collision, or a ship
in danger of sinking during action, the door must be closed from below, a matter of
difficulty in some cases, as a man has to find his way down below and through
passages to reach certain doors, after which he has to undo the catch for securing
the door when open, then close the door and move each and all of the clip handles
against the door in the locked position.
According to this present invention the door is attached to the lower hinge in
precisely the same manner as in the door herein before described but the upper hingo
couples the door and frame together by means of a shaft which is made square where
it passes through the male hinge and is continued to the deck terminating in a deck
valve.
For the purpose of working the sliding wedge bolts from the deck a hollow shaft is
also run up to the valve terminating a few inches shorter than the first named shaft
will be seen to work inside, the hollow shaft thus requiring but one set of brackets
sockets or whatever fittings may be required to lead the said shafts to the deck,
although in some cases they must be led horizontally for a certain distance to clear
obstacles. Keyed to the hollow shaft is a wheel partly bevel toothed and partly spur
toothed answering the double purpose of working both the vertical and horizontal
spindles at the hinge and top sides of doors which spindles in their turn work the
other spindles at the opposite sides of the door by means of the segment of mitre
wheels. On the spindles are projecting lugs to which the sliding wedge bolts are
fixed by pins. The sliding bolts work in and through brackets which are cast in one
piece with the door frame and serve the double purpose of also carrying the spindles.
A pair of handles is provided on opposite sides of the bulkhead connected by a
spindle carrying segments of mitre wheels for moving the wedge bolts on either side
of bulkhead when it is necessary to open the door from below.
Referring to the deck valve the hollow shaft is a few inches shorter than the solid
shaft for the purpose of connecting a duplex spanner on both shafts at the same time.
The spanner consists of a hollow part to fit. on the hollow shaft and a central part
passing through the hollow part to fit on the solid shaft. Each part of the spanner
has a handle for operating it. The ends of the shafts are made of such a section that
the spanner will only fit them one way this enables it to be utilized as an indicator,
shewing whether the door is open or closed; in addition to this the deck valve
indicates the position of the sliding wedge bolts. It consists of an internal tube
attached to the hollow shaft and passing up to the surface of the deck valve in which
it rotates, it is held in its place by a ring secured to the flange of deck valve. An
arrow or pointer is on the face of this tube. If the outside spanner is placed on the
hollow shaft inside the deck valve and is moved round, the tube with the arrow or
pointer also moves to the word "locked "
"
or "unlocked' as the case may be, of
course to open the door the first thing is to unlock which is already explained is done
by the outer part of the spanner, after which the inner part of the spanner is moved
round which opens the door in whatever direction (right or left) the indicator on
the spanners show. On the top of knob on the part of the spanner for the hollow
shaft is a square projection made to fit the screwed cap on the deck valve in which a
square hole is made, this simple addition to the spanner, answers the purpose of a
spanner to screw in or out the said cap piece in the deck valve.
The door frame is preferably made of mild cast steel as also are the hinges and
segment mitre wheels, handles and spanners. The grooves for india rubber will not
require planing as they can be cast in the frame. Instead of a number of holes
through the frame and bulkhead for clip handles, there will be one only through the
bulkhead, the whole of the bolts wheels and spindles can be fitted together in the
workshop in fact both door and frame can be finished complete and made to work
before it is sent on boardship. The door itself will vary little from those at present
The brackets cast in one piece with the door frame carry both the spindles
and the sliding wedge bolts and sliding wedge bolt, which are operated by a pin
between projections on the spindle engaging in a slot in the tails of the wedge bolts.
One line only of holding strips for india rubber is required instead of two.
in use.

page_text: The following are some of the advantages by using the door constructed according
to our invention. It can be placed in positions where neither horizontal or vertical
sliding doors could go and whereby the peculiar construction of the places the
ordinary kind of door has to be placed it can be closed from the Deck.
They would prove of great value to both War and Merchant steamers working
under forced draught, by enabling Engineers to pass through the bulkheads to the
various stokeholds coal bunkers &c. quickly closing the doors without allowing the
air to escape, whereas they would still be able to close them from the deck in cases of
emergency and there will always be the satisfaction to the Officers on deck in
knowing what condition the doors are in down below.
According to a modification of the same kind of door with similar means for
working it from the deck as well as down below, provision is made by means of
brackets to carry both the hollow and solid shafts (passing therethrough) in a
horizontal direction when so required. The internal or solid shaft has its own pair of
small mitre wheels (segment if preferred) and the external or hollow shaft has a pair
of large mitres. Instead of using sliding wedge bolts as hereinbefore described a
combination of clip lever and segment mitre wheels are cast together in one piece
which are secured to the door frame by stud bolts on which they are free to rotate
corresponding segment mitre wheels are secured to the horizontal and vertical
spindles working on each side of the door frame and gearing with the clip wheels.
The brackets for carrying the said spindles are cast in one with it similar to those
herein before described and are preferably of steel. For holding the door against the
bulkhead when open to prevent it swinging about by the motion of the ship, an
arrangement is used which is also workable from the deck as well as below, the action
of which is as follows. A wheel is provided on which is cast a tail piece or lever
connected by a rod to a lever on which is a hooked catch which is free to rise
vertically, but will only fall to a position at right angles to the bulkhead, so that the
door on striking causes it to rise until it passes the hook which then falls by its own
weight and secures the door against the bulkhead. To raise this catch to allow the
door to be closed from the deck the hollow or outside shaft is moved so as to raise
the catch clear of the door. The other spanner being next brought into play closes the
door, at the same time the locking spanner is brought back to its original position
until the door is closed when it is moved round to the "locked" position and the
door is thus made secure.
Both shafts terminate at the door and on deck in a similar manner to that herein-
before described, but another form of indicator may be used wherein the toothed
segment attached at the bottom of the deck valve to the hollow shaft gears with a
pinion the spindle of which is passed through the flange of the deck valve and on the
top of the said spindle is an arrow or pointer.
"
"
"
It is obvious that either of the shafts being moved round the spindle with its arrow
will also move accordingly to the words "locked" or "unlocked" in the one case
and "open or "shut" in the other, as a similar action is produced by similar means
which actuates the arrow pointing to the words "open ог shut." A short length
of shaft is provided for the purpose of making the connection good to enable the
hollow shaft to work the spindles at the hinge side and bottom side of the
door. Two handles (one on each side of the bulkhead) are provided as before
described for the purpose of opening the door below from either side.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Water-tight Doors
or
Appliances for Closing Bulkheads and Water-tight Compart-
ments in Sea-going Vessels and the like.
We, JOHN ROGERSON, of Croxdale Hall, in the County of Durham, Steel Manu-
facturer, ALEXANDER DOWNIE, of "The Ashes House, Stanhope in the said County,
Engineer, and JOHN ARMSTRONG SNOWDON, of Thirwell House, Wolsingham, also
in the said County, 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 :-
This Invention relates to improvements in or connected with water tight doors or
appliances for closing bulkheads and water tight compartments in sea going vessels
and the like such for instance as passages from place to place as a protection against
fire and generally for analogous purposes. It has reference more particularly to the
type of doors known as the "Hinged Bulkhead door" and in order that the Invention
may be clearly understood we will first describe the doors at present in use on Her
Majesty's Warships and the mode of their manufacture.
Wrought iron bars about one inch thick and five inches wide are cut into 4 lengths
and welded at the corners to form a frame. This frame is then made perfectly
level and the edges are planed and a groove is planed out parallel to the 4 sides of the
frame in the bottom of which groove is placed a layer of india rubber. Strips of iron
are next fitted into the grooves having holes drilled through them, corresponding to
holes drilled and tapped through the frame to receive screws to hold the said strips
in position. The iron strips are laid upon the india rubber with their edges fitting
closely against the edges of the groove, leaving a space between so as to leave
uncovered a portion of the rubber in the centre, onto which uncovered part the angle
bar which is rivetted to a plate forming the door, is pressed, so as to make a water-
tight connection. Holes are drilled through both the frame and the bulkhead to
receive brass bushes through which are passed the spindles of clip handles to the end
of which spindles on the opposite side of the bulkhead the handles are secured by nuts,
the portions of the spindles on which the handles are fitted being squared to keep
them in their relative position. The double set of handles are required to lock the
door on either side of the bulkhead. The door has the male portions of hinges
riveted to it, the frame having the female portions of the said hinges, the male and
female portions being connected together by hinge pins. The door frame is secured
to the bulkhead by rivets.
In the event of a collision or of a ship being in danger of sinking during action,
the doors herein before described must be closed for which purpose it is necessary for
a man to go below which is a matter of considerable difficulty in some cases as a man
has to find his way down below and through passages to reach certain doors, after
which in order to close the doors he is required first to undo the catches which secure

page_text: the doors in their open position then to close the doors and move each and all of the
clip handles into the locked position.
This Invention has for its object to remedy these objections by providing means
whereby the doors may be opened and closed from the deck or other convenient place.
We will describe the Invention with reference to the accompanying drawing as applied
to a water tight door for ships from which its analogous applications will also be
understood.
Figure 1 is a front view of an arrangement or construction according to this
Invention. Figure 2 is a plan. Figure 3 a side elevation. Figure 4 a section on
the line A B Figure 1-Figure 5 is a section on the line C D Figure 1 and Figure 6
is an end view shewing a similar device to that shown on Figure 5 but on the other
side of the door.
Figures 7 to 15 represent details hereinafter described and the remaining Figures
shew a modification also hereinafter described.
In carrying out our Invention the door A may be attached at the lower part to the
frame B by means of the hinge D as at present, but according to our invention the
upper part of the door is connected to the frame by means of a hinge E the pin of
which is made square at the part which enters the male portion of the hinge carried
on the door A, but is cylindrical at the part or parts which enter the female portion
of the hinge carried on the frame B. This hinge pin is formed on the lower end of
a shaft F which extends upwards to the deck where it enters a deck valve G shewn in
vertical section in Figure 7 and in plan in Figure 8.
Surrounding the shaft F and extending from a short distance above the door A into
the deck valve G and to within a few inches of the top end of the shaft F, is a tube
or hollow shaft F¹. The two shafts thus arranged require only one set of brackets,
sockets, or fittings to support them whether they lead vertically direct to the deck or
are required to be led in other directions to clear obstacles. To the lower end of the
hollow shaft F is keyed a wheel J a portion of which is provided with bevel teeth
constituting a mitre segment j another portion having spur teeth constituting a spur
segment The mitre segment j gears with a corresponding segment k keyed on a
horizontal shaft K¹ mounted in bearings a above the door whilst the spur segment
gears with a corresponding segment fast on the upper end of a vertical shaft K
mounted in bearings a at the hinged side of the door, on the opposite side of which
door is mounted in bearings another vertical shaft K" having keyed on its upper end
a mitre segment k³ in gear with a corresponding segment fast on the horizontal
shaft K¹. On the lower end of the shaft K is keyed a mitre segment * gearing with
a corresponding segment fast on a horizontal shaft K arranged beneath the
door A. The vertical shaft K" is also provided at its lower end with a mitre
segment of which gears with a corresponding segment o³ fast on a short spindle o²
passing through the bulkhead and fitted at each end with a handle o o* by means of
which handles the shafts and gearing hereinbefore described may be operated for the
purpose of opening or closing and unlocking or locking the door from either side of
the bulkhead.
The shafts K K K K in addition to the bearings a are also supported by
bifurcated brackets N N N" N¹¹ attached to or formed in one with the frame B, one
of these brackets is shewn separately in Figures 14 and 15. On the shafts K K¹
KK are lugs ll arranged in pairs each pair of lugs being embraced by the arms
of the brackets N N N N and between each pair of lugs is secured by means of
a pin h (Fig. 15) a wedge shaped bolt H (shewn separately in Figure 13). These
bolts work in and through openings or passages in the brackets N N N N as
clearly shown in Figure 15 and are caused by the turning of the spindles K in one
direction, to engage the door A so as to hold it securely in its closed position. The
hollow shaft F1 as hereinbefore described does not extend so far into the deck valve G
as does the shaft F thereby allowing of the shafts being operated from the deck by
means of a duplex key or spanner shown separately in Figures 9 10 and 11. This
spanner consists of a hollow part q to fit on the hollow shaft F' and a central part q²
passing through the hollow part q to fit on to the solid shaft F. Each part of the

page_text: spanner has a handle (93 and 9') for operating it. The ends of the shafts F F¹ are
preferably made of such a section that the spanner will only fit them one way which
enables the said spanner to be utilized as an indicator for showing whether the door
is opened or closed. In addition to this the deck valve G can be utilized to indicate
the position of the sliding wedge bolts H for which purpose the valve is provided
with an internal tube or cup 9 attached to the hollow shaft F¹ and passing up to the
surface of the deck valve cup 9 and held in place by a ring 97 secured to the flange
of the deck valve cup 9. Arrows or pointers may be marked on the edge of the
cup gas shown in Figure 8 to indicate the direction of turning for locking and
unlocking. When the outside spanner q is placed on the top of the hollow shaft Fi
and partially rotated by the handle q³ the tube or hollow shaft F1 and the cap 9 also
rotate and a pointer thereon or on the part 7 of the spanner as shewn at in Fig. 10
will move towards or away from the word "locked" ог unlocked as the case
may be.
q
"
"
Of course to open the door the first thing is to unlock it by withdrawing the bolts H
from engagement with the said door which disengagement is effected by turning the
handle of the outer part 9 of the spanner in the direction in which the pointer on
the spanner or on the cup g³ will point towards the word "unlocked" on the outer
cup g of the deck valve whereby the hollow shaft F will be partially turned and thus
impart through the gearing herein before described a partial rotation to the whole
of the shafts K K K K¹¹ and thereby withdraw the bolts H which are attached
thereto by the pins h passing through the lugs ll on the shafts and through slots h¹
in the tails of the said bolts. The handle 9 of the inner part q³ of the spanner Qis
then turned in the direction to cause the pointer q³ thereon to move towards the word
open" marked on the outer part 9 of the spanner, thereby partially rotating the
shaft F and thus through the square part thereof, which is in the male portion of
the hinge E effecting the opening of the door. The deck valve G is provided with a
screwed cap or cover go to prevent the entrance of dirt and the spanner Q has a
projection g made to fit a square hole g in the said cover for the purpose of screwing
and unscrewing the same when required.
"
The door frame B, the hinges D and E, segment mitre wheels, handles and the key
or spanner, hereinbefore described are preferably made of mild cast steel and the
grooves in the frame B for the reception of india rubber can be cast in the frame and
will not require planing. The india rubber may be retained in the groove by means
of one strip of metal instead of two as heretofore. Instead of providing a number of
holes through the frame and bulk head for the reception of clip handles as heretofore
there will be one hole only through the bulkhead for the reception of the spindle o'
carrying the handles o o* as hereinbefore described. The door and frame can be
finished and fitted with the bolts segments of wheels, and spindles and made to work
in the workshop before being fixed in position on board ship.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 hereinbefore
described illustrating a modification in the construction and arrangement of the
fastening device.
Figure 19 shews an arrangement for carrying both the hollow shaft F¹ and
the solid shaft F (passing therethrough) in a horizontal direction when so required.
Figure 20 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of deck valve. Figure 21 is a
plan of the said valve and Figure 22 is a plan view of one of the locking bolts or clip
levers for securing the door.
Instead of the sliding wedge bolts H hereinbefore described for securing the door
clip levers H having segment mitre wheels cast in one therewith are secured to the
door frame by stud bolts on which studs the combined mitre wheels or segments *
and levers H are free to turn. Similar mitre wheels or segments secured to the
horizontal and vertical spindles K K K K gear with the wheels or segments.
The brackets a which carry the spindles K K K K are preferably of steel cast in
one with the frame B. On the lower end of the hollow shaft F is a wheel J as in the
first described arrangement the bevel or mitre segment j thereof gearing with a
corresponding mitre segment k on the shaft K¹ and the spur segment gearing with.

page_text: a similar segment fast on the upper end of a short vertical shaft K* mounted in
brackets a². On the lower end of the short shaft K* is keyed another spur segment k
gearing with a corresponding segment fast on the upper end of the shaft K so that
by turning the hollow shaft. F' by means of a key or spanner as hereinbefore described
the shafts K K K K will be partially turned and the clip levers H through the
gearings will be caused to engage or disengage the door as the case may be.
When the catches are disengaged from the door, the said door may be opened by
turning the shaft F by means of the spanner as herein before described.
An arrangement for holding the door when open against the bulkhead to prevent
it swinging about by the motion of the ship is also illustrated in Figures 16 and 17
and is capable of being operated from the deck by means of the spanner Qas
well as from below by means of the handles o ox. On the segment ** is cast a
tail piece or levert which is connected by a rod t to a lever U mounted on a stud u
fixed to the bulkhead at a short distance from the hinged side of the door. To the
lever U is hinged a hooked catch lever V which is free to rise vertically on its hinge
pin but cannot descend lower than to a right angle to the bulkhead. The end of this
catch or hooked lover V is rounded so that when the door is fully opened it will by
striking against the said rounded end of the catch cause the said catch to rise and pass
over the top edge of the door and then fall by its own weight and secure the door in
its open position against the bulkhead as shown by dotted lines in Figure 17. The
catcli lever V is disengaged from the door to admit of the door being closed, by
partially rotating the hollow or outside shaft F1 by means of the spanner Qas herein-
before described so as to impart through the gearing segments k² a partial rotation
to the short shaft K* and as the tail t of the segment is connected by the rod t² to
the lever U the said lever U will be caused to turn on the stud u and thereby raise
the catch lever V free of the door. The door may then be closed by turning the
shaft F by means of the portion q³ of the spanner as hereinbefore described with
reference to the first described arrangement. The portion g of the spanner and the
shaft F are brought back to their original positions after the catch V is released and
the door partially closed and kept there until the door is quite closed, after which it is
moved round to the "locked" position as hereinbefore described whereby the
shafts K K K K will be partially turned and the clip levers H brought into
position by the gears to secure the door in its closed position. This mechanism
for holding the door in its open position is equally applicable to the first described
arrangement.
Both the shafts F and F¹ terminate at the door and on deck in a similar manner to
that hereinbefore described with reference to the first arrangement, but another form
of indicator shewn in section in Figure 20 and plan in Figure 21 may be used for
indicating the condition of the door.
Fast on the end of the hollow shaft F in the deck valve G is a toothed segment p
which gears with a pinion p² on a spindle på fitted to turn in bearings in the valve and
passing through the flange thereof. On the top of this spindle is marked an arrow
or pointer and on opposite sides of the opening in the flange through which the
spindle passes, the words "lock" and "unlock are respectively marked. In like
manner the shaft F is provided with a segment fin gear with a pinion f' fast on a
spindle passing through an opening in the flange of the valve G and marked with
an arrow or pointer to point to the words open or "shut" marked respectively
on opposite sides of the opening in the flange through which the said spindle
passes.
"
"
It is obvious that when either of the shafts F F is moved round, the spindle in gear
therewith will also move and the arrow thereon accordingly points to the words
"lock" or "unlock" in the 'one case and "open" or "shut" in the other case.
Figure 19 illustrates an arrangement for transmitting motion from the deck above
to the door below in cases where it is necessary to transmit the motion from vertical
shafts to horizontal shafts and vice versa and it consists in supporting the several
portions of the compound shafts F F¹ in suitable brackets, such for example as shown
at R, and connecting the shafts together by mitre wheels $ S' as shown.

page_text: Arrangements according to our invention as hereinbefore described will be found
very advantageous in War vessels and Merchant steamers working with forced
draught as facility is afforded for enabling engineers to pass through the bulkheads
to the various stokeholds, coal bunkers and other parts of the vessel without allowing
the air to escape, the doors being capable of being readily opened and closed by
means of the handles oox, whilst in cases of emergency the iloors may be readily
closed or opened as required from the deck as herein before described, satisfaction is
also afforded to the Officers on deck in being able to readily ascertain by referring to
the deck valves G what position the doors are in.
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 is :-
1. In connection with watertight doors or appliances for closing bulkheads, water-
tight compartments and the like, bolts or clips or catches operated for releasing or
securing the door or the like by gearing and arranged so as to be capable of being
operated from the deck or from other suitable place without the necessity of going
below substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In connection with water-tight doors or appliances for closing bulkheads,
water-tight compartments and the like, bolts or clips or catches operated by a shaft
and gearing for releasing or securing the door or the like in combination with a
hinge rod, both being actuated by means of a duplex key passed on to the hinge
rod and the shaft provided with gearing substantially as hereinbefore described so
that the door or the like can be unlocked, locked, opened and closed from the deck
or from other suitable place without the necessity of going below substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3. In connection with water-tight doors or appliances for closing bulkheads and
the like, bolts or clips or catches operated for releasing or securing the door by
means of gearing actuated from a spindle passing through the bulkhead or the like
and provided on each side of the bulkhead or the like with a handle for operating the
bolts, clips or catches from either side of the bulkhead or the like substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. Casting the frame of water-tight doors or appliances for closing bulkheads
water-tight compartments and the like, in one piece and with a groove or grooves for
the reception of india rubber or like yielding material and without the necessity of
planing substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In connection with water-tight doors or appliances for closing bulkheads,
water-tight compartments and the like a hooked lever or hinged catch arranged to
automatically engage the door and retain it in its open position in combination with
means capable of being operated from the deck to release the door substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 15 of the
accompanying drawings.
7. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 16 to 22 of
the accompanying drawings.