IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-LEVELLING SHIPS' SLEEPING BERTHS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-LEVELLING SHIPS' SLEEPING
BERTHS communicated to him from abroad by William Thomas Milligan of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-
LEVELLING SHIPS' SLEEPING BERTHS" [a communication to him from abroad by
William Thomas Milligan of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America]
Heretofore no self levelling berth so called has been constructed, which must not
be hung say from two to three and a half inches from the side of the state room
next which it lies, in order that it may not strike the wall as the ship rolls. This
has been a great objection to such berths, for this space must be taken off the size
of the state room and in the state rooms of an ocean steamer, for example, such a
waste of room is a serious matter. The purpose of the main portion of this
invention is to enable the berth to be hung nearer the side wall of the state room
than has hitherto been practicable, and the said invention comprises a berth, the
longitudinal axis of which is adapted to move laterally (with respect to the walls
of the state room) as the berth swings but in an opposite direction to that in which
the berth swings.
The said invention also comprises the combination of a swinging berth with a
governor adapted to receive its motion from the rolling of the ship and to control
the berth's movements so that it will swing from side to side in substantial accord
with the regular roll of the ship and will not be materially affected by any sudden
and irregular shock given to the ship by a heavy sea, nor by any movement of
the occupant of the berth.
The said invention also comprises a berth adapted to swing upon a transverse
axis and provided with two sets of springs placed, one set on each side, of the said
axis, and of such construction and arrangement that any weight tending to contract
one set of springs will tend also to contract the other set.
Prins 11
11

page_text: The said invention also comprises a berth hung by flexible supports over
suitable lateral pivots and provided with suitable mechanism for adjusting the
head and foot of the berth to the weight of the occupant, so that when occupied
and at rest it may hang substantially level, or at any angle desired, irrespectively
of the comparative weight of the occupant's body and legs.
The said invention also comprises certain details of construction hereinafter
described.
It is obvious that the main feature of the invention may be accomplished in a
variety of manners, by means of suitable cams or springs, but the mode which I
prefer for carrying it into practice is as follows that is to say;-I provide two
circular metallic heads of a diameter of say twenty six inches, two inches or so
longer than the width of the berth. Each head is provided with a pair of sockets
into which fit the ends of two beams. These beams are for the purpose of
supporting the berth, and the sockets should be so arranged as to bring the centre
of gravity of the berth, when occupied, as low as possible. Each head is also
provided with a rim projecting from its back, say half an inch, and of sufficient
thickness to support the weight of the berth and its occupant. This rim rests
upon a series of discs which in turn rest upon an elliptical track secured to the
bulk-head. The shortest diameter of this elliptical track is about two and a half
inches less than its longest diameter, and its longest diameter about two and a half
inches less than the diameter of the head. About fifty degrees of the lower portion
of this track are unnecessary and may be dispensed with.
The discs are seven in number, the largest one being preferably made of
sufficient diameter to hold the head so that normally its horizontal diameter.shall
be in the same horizontal plane with the longest diameter of the elliptical track.
The other discs are made in pairs of different diameters so as to divide as equally
as possible the weight upon the track. These discs are preferably made without
axles and unconnected in any manner.
The lower half of the circumference of each head is provided with ratchet teeth,
half pointing one way and half the other.
It is very desirable that the berth shall not swing with every little motion of
the ship but shall only conform with its regular roll. To ensure such steadiness a
governor is used which will be operated by the rolling of the ship and will restrict
the motion of the berth a sufficient degree to keep it from swinging with every
blow given to the ship by the waves. One form of governor which has been
found advantageous for the purpose consists essentially of a metallic semi-circular
piece of the same diameter as the head, upon the circular edge of which piece are
teeth equal in number to the teeth upon the lower half of the said head. The
said head and piece are connected by means of two pawl levers which are held
against both the piece and the head by means of a spring, and arranged in such a
manner, that one pawl will engage with the ratchet while the other pawl is
disengaged. The said piece is pivotted to the bulk-head of the state room and
connected with it; and swung upon the same pivot is a weight of sufficient
heaviness to counter-balance it and give it a positive motion whenever the ship
rolls. The teeth upon the said piece are equiangular and the lower end of each
pawl is provided with a friction roller, and consequently whenever the ship rolls,
the weight moves the said piece and the roller upon each pawl-lever in turn rises
up upon and over one of the teeth on the said piece and disengages its other end
from a tooth upon the head. But as soon as each roller has passed over one tooth,
one of the springs will drag its pawl lever into the hollow between. that tooth and
the next one, and will cause the other end of the lever to engage with the next
tooth in the head. It will be seen that the berth can move only the distance
corresponding to one tooth at a time and moreover the distance which the weight
travels must equal a certain amount before it will allow the berth to move at all;
consequently the berth will not, swing with every shock which the ship receives
but only under ordinary circumstances with its regular roll.
This form of escapement has been found advantageous. and simple for the

page_text: purpose, although other modes of transmitting motion from the governor to the
berth, may be used, as for example the mode hereinafter described.
a
The foot of the berth is provided with a locking device to enable the occupant
of the berth to lock it whenever he desires to prevent its oscillation. This device
consists of a pair of pawl levers controlled by springs and connected by means of
series of rods and levers with a handle within reach of the occupant of the berth,,
so that by moving the handle, the berth may be locked or unlocked as the case may.
be. The handle should be arranged so that it will be over the occupant's body
when the berth is unlocked and very much in the way, so much so that the
occupant cannot help seeing it when he starts to leave his berth, nor can he leave
his berth except with much trouble without pulling the handle out of the way
and so locking the berth. When he wishes to lock the berth he pulls the handlė
towards him and latches it by means of a latch, this motion moving the levers
and rods so as to force the pawls against the ratchet teeth on one of the heads.
The two beams for supporting the berth proper, are each provided with a friction'
pulley over which passes a wire rope whereby the berth is hung. I also provide a
slotted link arranged to prevent the berth from falling in case a rope should break,
and yet not interfere with it swinging freely when the rope is whole.
The berth proper is composed of a rectangular frame to which a suitable
mattress or support for the bedding is attached.
To each beam are attached two helical springs. These springs are coiled in the
same direction but their helices are so attached to the beam that the outer or
straight part of one spring at the head of the berth starts from the upper part of
the helix, while the corresponding part of the other spring at the foot of the berth
starts from the lower part of the helix. The straight portions of these springs
may be attached to the frame in any convenient manner. A persons body being
heavier than his legs he will naturally depress the head of a berth pivotted as
described more than the foot. When however one pair of springs is on each
side of the transverse axis of the berth, the weight at the head of the berth
will not only be counter-balanced by the springs at the head but also by the
weight of the occupant's legs and the springs at the foot of the berth. The
springs need not be helical though that is believed to be the most convenient
form of spring for the purpose. It is evident that if they are not helical they
need only be so far attached to both parts of the berth as to be compressed
whenever a weight is applied to the bead of this berth. In any case they should
be counter-balanced by one or more weights of say about ten pounds sufficiently
heavy to steady the berth when it is not in use.
:
It is desirable that a berth bung by a flexible support and swinging upon a
transverse axis should be adjustable so that it may be made to answer equally
well for different persons the weight of whose bodies and legs are in a different
proportion. If such a berth has no springs similar to those above described the
desired end may be gained by hanging the berth from pivots which may be moved
in slots in the beams the desired distance and clamped so that the relative lengths
of the ropes supporting the head and foot of the berth (if ropes be used) may be
changed at will. When however such springs are used a convenient mode of
adjustment is as follows that is to say ;-The helical end of each spring is attache !
to an arbor which passes through one of the beams and through a ratchet
provided with two sets of teeth, one set upon one half of its circumference, the
other set upon the other half. The outer end of the arbor is made square so that
it can be turned by a wrench. The ratchet is provided with two pawls one
operating upon each set of teeth.
The springs and ropes may be attached to the side of the 'berth in any desired
mauner. It is however preferable to provide each side of the frame with two
plates, to each of which is attached a roller of sufficient diameter to bear upon
one of the beams, which roller serves to steady the berth between the beams and
enable it to oscillate on its transverse axis without much friction. To each plate is
attached one end of a spring and a rope.

page_text: "
The sides of the berth are provided with a frame or shield which is preferably
made in the form of a rectangle of substantially the size of, and attached to, the
frame, so that it will move with it. It should be sufficiently high to cover all the
side mechanism and, as it moves with the berth instead of being attached to the
beam, it will prevent the occupant of the berth from hindering its free oscillation
on its transverse axis as he might otherwise by his position or the arrangement of
the bed clothes.
The parts of the berth are by preference made of metal, either cast iron or
composition, but the beams, the wire frame, and the berth frame may be made of
wood. The springs may be made of steel of about one inch and a quarter in cross
section such a spring requires but slight tightening to materially increase its
tension, so little in fact that where the ratchet is, say two inches in diameter and
provided with twelve teeth on a side, the change in the position of the ratchet on
each spring, one tooth will change the capacity of the head of the berth about ten
pounds:
I provide means for giving the berth a positive motion corresponding to the
motion of the ship if it is desired to do so rather than allow the berth to swing
freely in accordance with the law of gavity, or in the limited manner above
described. These means may be described briefly as follows, that is to say;-&
shaft is suitably journalled in the bulk-head below one of the heads and provided at
its outer end with a toothed sector. This shaft has rigidly attached to it a yoke of
which the horizontal part is say twenty inches long and the two vertical parts say
each about eight inches long, so that the distance from the centre of the shaft to
the lower end of each vertical part of the yoke will be about thirteen inches or one
half the width of the berth. This yoke is connected with the head above it by
means of two connecting rods each pivotted both to the yoke and to the head,
being attached to the head at a point near its circumference about thirteen inches
from the shaft. It is preferable to have the pivots above referred to each normally
about thirteen inches from the shaft around which they rotate so that the apparatus
will work to the best advantage and yet will not take up more room laterally than
the berth itself.
The source of motion is a pendulum which is suitably pivotted to the bulk head
so that it will swing freely in accord with the rolling of the ship. This pendulum
has rigidly connected to it a toothed sector which engages with a bevel gear-wheel,
forming a part of, or suitably connected with, a shaft journalled in suitable supports
and provided with a worm or screw-thread by which to operate the first toothed
sector. If preferred, the bevel gear-wheel may be upon a nut suitably journalled
and adapted to work laterally on a shaft provided with suitable threads to engage
with the interior of the nut and having attached to its outer end a rack suitably
supported and adapted to engage with the first toothed sector, the whole being so
arranged that the rack will be reciprocated as the pendulum swings and will
transmit the proper motion to the first shaft. If desired, a train of gear wheels may
be interposed between the second toothed sector and the second shaft so as to
obtain any desired leverage. The leverage desire i will depend upon the comparative
weight of the pendulum and the berth: As the ship rolls the pendulum swings
and by means of the gearing moves the second shaft or the rack causes the first
shaft to rotate and gives a proper motion to the berth by means of the said yoke
and connecting rods.
Gearing may be substituted for the screw-threaded shaft if desired, but the shaft
is preferred as it occupies but little space and answers the purposes of the invention
better in every way:
This mechanism inay be used at either end of the berth and if used will render
the locking mechanism or form of gearing mechanism above described unnecessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SELF-
LEVELLING SHIPS' SLEEPING BERTHS a communication to me from abroad by
William Thomas Milligan, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
"
This invention relates to self-levelling ships' sleeping berths..
:
Heretofore no self-levelling berth so called has been constructed which must not.
be hung say from two to three and a half inches from the side of the state room.
next which it lies, in order that it may not strike the wall as the ship rolls. This
has been a great objection to such berths, for this space must be taken off the size
of the state room and in the state rooms of an ocean steamer, for example, such a
waste of room is a serious matter. The purpose of the main portion of this invention
is to enable the berth to be hung nearer the side wall of the state room than:
has hitherto been practicable, and the said invention comprises a berth, the
longitudinal axis of which is adapted to move laterally (with respect to the walls
of the state room) as the berth swings, in an opposite direction to that in which the
berth swings.
:
The said invention also comprises the combination of a swinging berth with a
governor adapted to receive its motion from the rolling of the ship and to control.
the berth's movements, so that it will swing from side to side in substantial accord
with the regular roll of the ship and will not be materially affected by any sudden
and irregular shock given to the ship by a heavy sea, nor by any movement of the
occupant of the berth.
The said invention also comprises a berth adapted to swing upon a transverse
axis and provided with two sets of springs placed one set on each side of the said
axis, and of such construction and arrangement that any weight tending to contract
one set of springs will tend also to contract the other set.
"
The said Invention also comprises a berth hung by flexible supports over suitable.
lateral pivots and provided with suitable mechanism for adjusting the head and
foot of the berth to the weight of the occupant, so that, when occupied and at rest,
it may hang substantially level or at any angle desired irrespectively of the.
comparative weight of the occupant's body and legs.
The said Invention also comprises certain details of construction all as herein-
after described
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a berth embodying this invention and
showing the governing mechanism for use at the head of the berth, the weight
being omitted.
.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section showing the locking mechanism at the foot of
the berth, the weight being omitted, and Figure 4 is a section on the line y, Y,
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the middle of the berth, the
views of the ends of the berth corresponding with the views in figures 2 and 4
respectively, except that a portion of the governing and locking. mechanism. is
omitted as is also a portion of the frame so that the position of the lateral mechanism
may be seen.
The remaining figures illustrate various details and modifications of construction
and will be hereinafter referred to.

page_text: It is obvious that the main feature of the invention may be accomplished in a
variety of manners by means of suitable cams or springs, but the mode which I
prefer for carrying it into practice is illustrated in the drawings, in which :---
A A¹ indicate two circular metallic heads of a diameter of say twenty six inches,
two inches or so longer than the width of the berth. Each head is provided with
a pair of sockets B B, into which fit the ends of two beams B¹ B'. These beams
are for the purpose of supporting the berth, and the sockets B B should be so
arranged as to bring the centre of gravity of the berth, when occupied, as low as
possible. Each head is also, provided with a rim a projecting from its back say
half an inch and of sufficient thickness to support the weight of the berth and its
occupant. This rim rests upon a series of discs a¹ a³ as a which in turn rest upon
the elliptical track C secured to the bulk head. The shortest diameter of this
elliptical track is about two and a half inches less than its longest diameter, and
its longest diameter about two and a half inches less than the diameter of the head.
About fifty degrees of the lower portion of this track are unnecessary and may be
dispensed with.
The discs are seven in number, the largest one al being preferably made of
sufficient diameter to hold the head so that normally its horizontal diameter shall
be in the same horizontal plane with the longest diameter of the elliptical track C.
The other discs are made in pairs of different diameters so as to divide as equally
as possible the weight upon the track as shown. These discs are preferably made
without axles and unconnected in any manner.
•
The operation of this part of the said invention is as follows, that is to say :-
As the ship rolls, the berth swings or vibrates (with respect to the walls of the
state room) upon the discs a¹ a³ a³ a³, and the centre of each head will move
laterally, in a line opposite to the direction in which the berth swings, a distance
depending upon the proportionate length of the diameters of the ellipse and conse-
quently upon the size of the friction rollers. By properly proportioning the
parts, a berth which, if swinging upon a fixed axis, would swing say two and a
half inches on each side of a perpendicular dropped through its centre when at rest,
will swing only one and one quarter inches each side of the said line, the lateral
movement of the axis serving to compensate for the remaining one and one quarter
inches. Consequently such a berth need only be hung say one and a half inches
from the state room wall, instead of three and a quarter inches. This will be
understood from Figure 10, in which, however, the berth is represented as remaining
horizontal and the state room wall L and the elliptical track C are out of perpen-
dicular in consequence.
The lower half of the circumference of each head A A¹ is provided with
ratchet teeth half pointing one way and half the other as shown. It is
very desirable that the berth shall not swing with every little motion of the
ship, but shall only conform with its regular roll. To ensure such steadiness a
governor is used which will be operated by the rolling of the ship and will restrict
the motion of the berth a sufficient degree to keep it from swinging with every
blow given to the ship by the waves. One form of governor which has been found
advantageous for the purpose is shown in Figure 1. It consists essentially of a
metallic semi-circular piece D of the same diameter as the head A, upon the circular
edge of which piece are teeth equal in number to the teeth upon the lower half of
the head A. The said head A and piece D are connected by means of two
pawl levers d which are held against both the piece D and the head A by means
of springs d' and are arranged in such a manner that one pawl will engage with
the ratchet A while the other pawl is disengaged. The said piece D is pivoted to
the bulk-head of the state room at D', and connected with it and swung upon the
same pivot is a weight D2, of sufficient heaviness to counter-balance it and give
it a positive motion whenever the ship rolls. The teeth upon the said piece D are
equiangular and the lower end of each pawl is provided with a friction roller, and,
.consequently, whenever the ship rolls, the weight D2 moves the piece D, and the
roller upon each pawl-lever d in turn rises up upon and over one of the teeth on

page_text: the piece D and disengages its other end from a tooth upon the bead A. But
as soon as each roller has passed over one tooth, one of the springs d¹ will drag its
pawl-lever into the hollow between that tooth and the next one and will cause the
other end of the lever to engage with the next tooth in the head A. It will be
seen that the berth can move only the distance corresponding to one tooth at a
time and moreover the distance which the weight travels inust equal a certain
amount before it will allow the berth to move at all; consequently the berth will
not swing with every shock which the ship receives, but only, under ordinary
circumstances, with its regular roll.
This form of escapement has been found advantageous and simple for my
purpose although other modes of transmitting motion from the governor to the
berth may be used, as for example the mode hereinafter described.
The foot of the berth is provided with a locking device to enable the occupant of
the berth to lock it whenever he desires to prevent its oscillation. This device
consists of a pair of pawl levers E controlled by springs e and connected by means
of a series of rods and levers e¹ with a handle e within reach of the occupant of
the berth, so that, by moving the handle, the berth may be locked or unlocked as
the case may be. The handle should be arranged as shown so that it will be
over the occupant's body when the berth is unlocked and very much in the way,
so much so that the occupant cannot help seeing it when he starts to leave his
berth, nor can he leave his berth, except with much trouble, without pulling the
handle out of the way and so locking the berth. When he wishes to lock the
berth, he pulls the handle towards him and latches it by means of the latch e³ as
will be understood by reference to figures 3, 11 and 12, this motion moving the
levers and rods so as to force the pawls against the ratchet teeth on one of the
heads A or A¹.
The beams B B' are for the purpose of supporting the berth proper, and are
each provided with a friction pulley b; over which passes a wire rope b' whereby
the berth is.hung. 62 indicates a slotted link arranged to prevent the berth from
falling, in case a rope should break, and yet not interfere with its swinging freely
when the rope is whole.
The berth proper is composed of a rectangular frame to which a suitable
mattress or support for the bedding is attached.
To each beam B₁ are attached two helical springs G Gl. These springs are
coiled in the same direction but their helices are so attached to the beam that the
outer or straight part of the spring G, at the head of the berth, starts from the
upper part of the helix, while the corresponding part of the spring G', at the foot
of the berth, starts from the lower part of the helix. The straight portions of
these springs may be attached to the frame F in any convenient way. A person's
body being heavier than his legs he will naturally depress the head of a berth
pivoted as shown more than the foot. When however the springs are arranged as
shown, as one pair of springs is on each side of the transverse axis of the berth,
the weight at the head of the berth will not only be counter-balanced by the
springs G at the head but also by the weight of the occupants legs and the
springs G' at the foot of the berth. The springs need not be helical though that
is believed to be the most convenient form of spring for the purpose. It is evident
that if they are not helical they need only be so far attached to both parts of the
berth as to be compressed whenever a weight is applied to the head of this berth.
In any case they should be counter-balanced by one or more weights G
sufficiently heavy (say about ten pounds) to steady the berth when it is not
in use.
It is desirable that a berth hung by a flexible support and swinging upon a
transverse axis should be adjustable so that it may be made to answer equally well
for different persons, the weight of whose bodies and legs are in a different
proportion. If such a berth has no springs such as the springs G G¹, the desired
end may be gained by hanging the berth from pivots which may be moved, in slots
in the beams B'; the desired distance and clamped so that the relative lengths of

page_text: the ropes supporting the head and foot of the berth (if ropes be used) may be
changed at will. When however such springs as are shown in the drawings are
used, a convenient mode of adjustment is as follows, that is to say:-The helical
end of each spring is attached to an arbor g which passes through the beams B¹
and through a ratchet g¹ provided with two sets of teeth, one set upon one half of
its circumference and the other set upon the other half thereof. The outer end of
the arbor is made square so that it can be turned by a wrench. The ratchet g¹´is
provided with two pawls g², one operating upon each set of teeth. This
arrangement is deemed advisable so as to prevent any change in the tension of the
springs owing to any unusual or sudden strain being brought to bear upon them.
When it is desired to adjust the head of the berth for a heavy person, the
springs G must be tightened and the springs G¹ loosened, so as to cause the head
of the berth to be raised and its foot lowered at the same time. Its head will then
sustain a greater weight than before, without throwing the berth out of level.
This arrangement of springs and flexible suspension has another advantage in that,
when the berth swings on its transverse axis, it being suspended from the fixed
points and its motions being partly controlled by the springs G, G¹, whenever the
berth swings on its transverse axis, the ropes will be caused to give a little over
the points of suspension so as to shorten the radius of that end of the berth which
is approaching the ceiling of the state room, and consequently the berth will
oscillate on its transverse axis in less space than it otherwise, would.
The springs G, G¹, and ropes 61 may be attached to the side of the berth in any
desired manner. It is however preferable to provide each side F of the frame
with two plates 63 to each of which is attached a roller 64 of sufficient
diameter to bear upon one of the beams B', which roller serves to steady the
berth between the beams and enable it to oscillate on its transverse axis
without much friction. To each plate bª is attached one end of a spring G or G³,
and a rope b'.
The sides of the berth are provided with a frame or shield H, which is
preferably made in the form of a rectangle of substantially the size of, and
attached to, the frame F, so that it will move therewith. It should be
sufficiently high to cover all the side mechanism and, as it moves with the
berth instead of being attached to the beam B, it will prevent the occupant of the
berth from hindering its free oscillation on its transverse axis as he might otherwise
by his position or the arrangement of the bed clothes.
The parts of the berth are by preference made of metal, either cast iron or
composition, but the beams B1, B₁, the frame H and the berth frame F may be
made of wood. The springs G, G', may be made of steel, of about one inch and
a quarter square, in cross section, such a spring requires but slight tightening to
materially increase its tension, so little in fact that, where the ratchet is, say, two
inches in diameter and provided with twelve teeth on a side, the change in the
position of the ratchet on each spring one tooth will change the capacity of the
head of the berth about ten pounds.
In Figure 13 I show apparatus for giving the berth a positive motion
corresponding to the motion of the ship, if it is desired to do so rather than allow
the berth to swing freely in accordance with the law of gravity, or in the limited
manner above described.
This apparatus may be described briefly as follows:-M indicates a shaft
suitably journalled in the bulk-head below one of the heads A, A', and provided at
its outer end with a toothed sector M' as shown. This shaft has rigidly attached
to it a yoke M² of which the horizontal part is, say, twenty inches long and the
two vertical parts, say, each about eight inches long, so that the distance from the
centre of the shaft M to the lower end of each vertical part of the yoke will be
about thirteen inches or one half the width of the berth. This yoke is connected
with the bead (A or A¹) above it by means of two connecting rods M³ each pivoted
both to the yoke and to the head, being attached to the head at a point near its
circumference about thirteen inches from the shaft M. It is preferable to have

page_text: .
'
the pivots above referred to each normally about thirteen inches from the shaft
around which they rotate, so that the apparatus will work to the best advantage
and yet will not take up more room laterally than the berth itself.
The source of motion is a pendulum P which is suitably pivoted to the bulk-
head so that it will swing freely in accord with the rolling of the ship. This
pendulum has rigidly connected to it a toothed sector P¹ as shown, which engages
with a bevel gear-wheel P² formning a part of, or suitably connected with, a shaft P³:
This shaft is journalled in suitable supports and is provided with a worm or screw-
thread by which to operate the first toothed sector M¹: If preferred, the bevel
gear-wheel P2 may be upon a nut suitably journalled and adapted to work laterally
on a shaft provided with suitable threads to engage with the interior of the nut,
and having attached to its outer end a rack P* suitably supported and adapted to
engage with the toothed sector M¹ (see Figure 14), the whole being so arranged
that the rack P will be reciprocated as the pendulum swings, and will transmit
the proper motion to the shaft M. If desired a train of gears may be interposed
between the sector gear P¹ and the shaft P³ so as to obtain any desired leverage.
The leverage desired will depend upon the comparative weight of the pendulum
and the berth. As the ship rolls, the pendulum swings and by means of the
gearing moves the shaft P3 or the rack P', causes the shaft M. to rotate, and gives
a.proper motion to the berth by means of the yoke M² and connecting rods M³.
It will be seen that while the berth will be swung by means of this pendulum,
it cannot be swung materially without moving the pendulum and hence the
occupant of the berth may lean his whole weight on the edge of the berth without
depressing it to any extent. Moreover if it be desired to lock the berth it may be
done by simply chaining the pendulum to the bulk-head in some way so that it
will not swing.
Gearing may be substituted for the screw-threaded shaft Ps if desired, but the
shaft is preferred as it occupies but little space and answers the purposes of the
invention better in every way.
This mechanism may be used at either end of the berth and if used will render
the locking mechanism or form of gearing shown in figure 3 unnecessary.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim :-
―:
First An automatic ships' berth adapted to oscillate upon its longitudinal axis
and provided with mechanism substantially as above described whereby a lateral
curvilinear motion is given to its axis of oscillation, all as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
'
Second: In an automatic ships' berth, the heads A A' forming the two ends of
the berth suitably connected together and each provided with a rim a projecting
from its upper edge adapted to support its head upon a series of discs resting and
adapted to be rotated upon a suitable elliptical track C attached to a stationary
support, in combination with the said discs and track, all as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Third: An automatic ships' berth adapted to oscillate about its longitudinal
axis and provided with proper means of pivotal support, in combination with
devices substantially as described, whereby the relative motions of the ship and
berth are controlled and the rate of such relative motions regulated, all substantially
as set forth.
Fourth In an automatic ships' berth, the combination of a circular head A
forming one of the ends of the berth, provided with suitable ratchet teeth upon its
lower periphery and pivoted to suitable supporting mechanism, and a weight or
governor D, D hung from a suitable support upon an independent axis and pro-
vided with suitable escapement mechanism, substantially as described, operating
in connection with the governor and the head A to control the oscillations of the
berth, all as set forth.
Fifth-In an automatic ships' berth, the locking mechanism above described,

page_text: consisting of a circular head A¹ suitably supported and provided with suitable
ratchet teeth upon its lower periphery, and one or more pawls, suitably pivoted to
a fixed support, connected together, and adapted to be operated by means of levers
to interlock with the said ratchet teeth, all substantially as, and for the purpose;
set forth.
Sixth An automatic ships' berth hung from pivots attached to lateral supports
and provided with two sets of springs, one set at the head of the berth and the
other set at the foot of the berth, arranged and attached to the berth and the
said lateral supports substantially as described, the set of springs at the foot of
the berth being adapted to act with the set at the head of the berth, to counter-
balance any weight applied to the head of the said berth, as, and for the purpose,
Bet forth.
Seventh-The berth above described adapted to swing upon a transverse axis
and provided with suitable springs upon each side of the said axis connecting the
said berth with the frame to which it is laterally pivoted, and suitable weights
whereby the berth may be steadied against any sudden vertical jar, all substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
:-
Eighth An automatic ships' berth hung at each side from a lateral support by
a rope passing over a pulley attached to one of the said lateral supports, upon
which ropes the said berth is adapted to oscillate about the said pulleys, and
provided with springs attached to the said lateral supports and the said berth
substantially as described, whereby as the said berth swings the said ropes are
caused to travel over the said pulleys, and the position of the transverse axis of
said berth is caused to move, with respect to the head and foot of the berth,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth In an automatic ships' berth, adapted to swing around a transverse
axis, the mechanism above described for adjusting the berth around the said axis,
the said mechanism consisting of the two pairs of helical springs G G¹ attached at
their outer ends to the supporting beams B¹ B¹ and each provided with an arbor g,
to which it is attached, ratchets g', and pawls 92, substantially as set forth.
Tenth-In combination with an automatic berth, a pendulum pivoted to the
state room bulk-head, and provided with suitable gearing whereby its motion
received from the motion of the ship may be transmitted to a shaft suitably hung
from the said bulk-head and connected with one end of said berth by suitable
connections, all as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Eighth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
TIRADU TT Th
HANDW
TAZ
(L.N.)
TUT
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TATITETT