Improvements in Berths for Ships, Railway Carriages, and othe Places.
Year: 1888

page_text: . Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Berths for Ships, Railway Carriages, and othe
Places.
We JOHN OAKES HOLT of Eve Hill Works Dudley in the County of Worceste
Manufacturer and FRANK VENTON of Himley Road Dudley aforesaid Foreman of
Bedstead Works do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in constructing and combining the parts of berths in the
manner hereinafter described whereby the berth can readily be folded up when out*
of use and rapidly unfolded and the parts securely fixed in position for use.
The sacking is made preferably of a framing of angle iron and woven wire or
other fabric. At each end of the frame of the sacking is a short horizontal pin or
axis the said axes being situated at a short distance from the inner or distant sido
of the sacking. In the side of the ship or place where the berth is to be fixed are
two horizontal brackets having depressions or recesses into which the axes on the
ends of the frame of the sacking drop. Each of the said brackets has at its rear part
a projection under which the rear or distant corners of the framing of the sacking
engage respectively so that the said sacking may be turned up into a vertical plane
or turned down into a horizontal plane but the said stops prevent the sacking from
turning upon its axis below a horizontal plane.
In order to retain the sacking in the vertical position I fix on the top face of each
bracket a jointed arm having motion in a horizontal plane. The said arm is pressed
inwards by a spring the distance to which it can be forced by its spring being
limited by a stop. Near the outer or free end of the said arm is a lug or projection
inclined on its outer face. The said lug or projection is in front of the depression
or recess in which the axes of the framing of the sacking drop. When the sacking
is raised into a vertical position the edge of the frame of the sacking as it approaches
the vertical position strikes against the inclined face of the lug or projection on the
spring arm pressing back the said arm. When the frame of the sacking has passed
the lug the said lug snaps in front of the frame and fixes it in its vertical position.
When it is wished to turn down the sacking into a horizontal position the spring
arm is pressed back by a thumb plate on its end and the sacking thereby liberated.
To the underside of the front or near angle bar of the framing of the sacking a
horizontal rod is fixed the said rod being parallel with and only a short distance
below the angle bar. The rail or vertical side of the berth is connected to the said
rod by means of eyes carried by the lower edge of the rail. The said rod passes
through these eyes and the rail can turn upon the said rod as an axis. The eyes
can also slide upon the said rod and the rail thereby be passed from one end of the
sacking or berth to the other end.
On the corner
The rail is fixed in its vertical position in the following manner.
block at each end of the outer or front rail a pillar or upright is fixed the said
uprights being of less height than the rail. At each end of the rail a horizontal
loop or eye is fixed the said eyes being so situated on the ends of the rail that when
the rail is in a vertical position the said eyes are respectively over and close upon the
tops of the pillars or uprights. Screw pins passed through the said eyes take into
screwed holes in the tops of the pillars and fix the rail in its upright position. Or the
rail may be fixed in its upright position by pins on its ends taking into slots near the
tops of the uprights and fixed therein by cotters.
Or the rail may be fixed in the following manner. A horizontal pin or projection
is fixed on each end of the rail at such a height as to be in line with a hole in each of
the fixed pillars or uprights. By sliding the rail in one or other direction one or
other of the said pins or projections is made to enter one or other of the holes in the

page_text: fixed pillars or uprights. By means of a set screw on the summit of the fixed pillar
or upright in which the pin or projection is engaged the rail may be fixed in the
position to which it has been brought.
At the rear side of the frame of the mattress two or three light uprights are fixed
to preserve the bedding in its place when the frame is raised into a vertical position.
Or in place of the said uprights curved wires may be employed with the same
effect.
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Berths for Ships, Railway Carriages, and other
Places.
We JOHN OAKES HOLT of Eve Hill Works Dudley in the County of Worcester
Manufacturer and FRANK VENTON of Himley Road Dudley aforesaid Foreman of
Bedstead Works do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention consists in constructing and combining the parts of berths in the
manner hereinafter described whereby the berth can readily be folded up when out of
use and rapidly unfolded and the parts securely fixed in position for use.
The sacking is made preferably of a framing of angle iron and woven wire or
other fabric. At each end of the frame of the sacking is a short horizontal pin or
axis, the said axes being situated at a short distance from the inner or distant side of
the sacking. In the side of the ship or place where the berth is to be fixed are two
horizontal brackets having depressions or recesses into which the axes on the ends of
the frame of the sacking drop. Each of the said brackets has at its rear part a
horizontal projection under which the rear or distant corners of the framing of the
sacking engage respectively so that the said sacking may be turned up into a vertical
plane or turned down into a horizontal plane but the said stops prevent the sacking
from turning upon its axes below a horizontal plane.
In order to retain the sacking in the vertical position we fix on one of the ends
of the sacking frame a jointed arın or catch the lug of which when the sacking
has reached a vertical position drops into a slot in one of the fixed brackets.
To the underside of the front or near angle bar or rod of the framing of the
sacking, a horizontal rod is fixed the said rod being parallel with and only a short
distance below the front bar or rod. The rail or vertical side of the berth is connected
to the said rod by means of eyes carried by the lower edge of the rail. The said
rod passes through these eyes and the rail can turn upon the said rod as an axis.
The eyes can also slide upon the said rod and the rail thereby be passed from one
end of the sacking or berth to the other end.
The rail is fixed in its vertical position in the following manner. On the corner
block at each end of the outer or front rail a pillar or upright is fixed the said
uprights being of less height than the rail. At each end of the rail a horizontal
loop or eye is fixed, the said eyes being so situated on the ends of the rail that when
the rail is in a vertical position the said eyes are respectively over and close upon
the tops of the pillars or uprights. Screw pins passed through the said eyes take
into screwed holes in the tops of the pillars and fix the rail in its upright position.
Or the rail may be fixed in. its upright position by pins on its ends taking into
slots near the tops of the uprights and fixed therein by cotters.
Or the rail may be fixed in the following manner. A horizontal pin or projection
is fixed on each end of the rail at such a height as to be in line with a hole in each
of the fixed pillars or uprights. By sliding the rail in one or other direction one or
other of the said pins or projections is made to enter one or other of the said holes
in the fixed pillars or uprights. By means of a set screw on the summit of the

page_text: fixed pillar or upright in which the pin or projection is engaged the rail may be
fixed in the position to which it has been brought.
At the rear side of the frame of the sacking two or three light uprights are fixed
to preserve the bedding in its place when the frame is raised into a vertical position.
Or in place of the said uprights curved wires may be employed with the same
effect.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which our invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation; Figure 2 in plan and Figure 3 in end
elevation, a berth for ships, railway carriages or other places constructed according
to our invention; Figure 4 represents in end elevation the berth turned up into a
vertical plane, with the side rail folded on the under side of and parallel to the plane
of the sacking frame of the berth. The said berth is also indicated in dotted lines
fastened in an inclined position in Figure 4 for turning up when out of use as an
upper berth.
Figure 5 represents in front elevation, side elevation and plan one of the fixed
brackets of the berth drawn to a larger scale: Figure 6 represents in front elevation
and end elevation the end portion of the sacking frame and a portion of the sliding
and swivelling side rail of the berth drawn to a larger scale: Figure 7 represents in
back elevation and cross section a portion of the said side rail. Figure 8 represents
in side elevation and end elevation a portion of the end of the sacking frame and
Figure 9 is a plan of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawings.
a, a, a, a, is the sacking frame consisting of angle bars at the back a and
ends a¹, a and a cylindrical rod or tube a' at the front of the frame; a³, a³ are the
angle tension bars carrying the woven wire or other fabric of the sacking not
represented in the drawings; b, bare short horizontal pins or axes having heads at
their ends situated on the ends a¹, a¹ of the sacking frame and c, c are the horizontal
brackets fixed to the side d of the ship or place where the berth.is to be stationed.
In the said brackets c, c are depressions or recesses e, e into which the axes b, b on
the ends a¹, a¹ of the sacking frame drop. By means of the axes b, b and slots e, e
the sacking frame of the berth is made capable of being folded up when not in use as
illustrated in Figure 4 or of being unfolded or brought into a horizontal position for
use as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Each bracket c is provided at back with a
horizontal projection or stop f under which projections or stops f. f the rear or
distant corners of the sacking frame engage when the sacking is turned down into
a horizontal plane (see Figure 2). The sacking is thereby prevented from turning
upon its axes or pivots b, b below a horizontal plane but the said sacking is free to
be turned up into a vertical plane without obstruction (see Figure 4). The sacking
frame is retained in the vertical position. Figure 4 by the lug part gl of the
swivelling or self-acting arm or catch 9 on one end a' of the sacking frame dropping
into the vertical slot in one of the brackets c as seen in Figure 4. The arm or
catch g, g¹ is shewn drawn to a large scale in Figures 8 and 9 where it will be seen
that the said arm or catch has a cranked forın and turns on the centre g' on the
underside of the angle bar a¹. As the sacking is raised from a horizontal to a
vertical position the said catch or arm g, g¹ is slightly turned on its centre g' and
when the lug part g₁ has been brought opposite the slot h in the bracket c, the said
catch falls by its own weight and its lug g engaging with the slot h automatically
fixes the vertical position of the sacking frame.
In order to release the sacking frame from the vertical position Figure 4 it is
only necessary to lift the catch g, g¹ vertically on its joint when its lug is disengaged
from the notch and the sacking frame is released and may be turned down
for use.
When the sacking frame is required to be arranged and fixed in the inclined
position indicated in dotted line in Figure 4 it is fastened in that position

page_text: by the jointed hook i on one of the end angle bars of the sacking frame
engaging in the hole in the stop f in the bracket c with which the catch
ог arm g, engages to fix the vertical position of the sacking frame. Or
the jointed hook may be dispensed with and the sacking frame may be fixed in
the inclined position indicated, or in any other desired position, by the self acting
catch or arm g, g', g², dropping into a slot similar to the sloth made at the required
position in the edge of one of the brackets c.
,, are light uprights or curved wires at the rear side of the sacking frame for
preserving the bedding in its place when the said frame is raised into the vertical
position Figure 4.
7 is the side or vertical rail of the berth situated at the front a² of the sacking frame.
This rail is jointed to the tube or rol m parallel to the front tube or rod a² of the
sacking frame by means of the eyes 12, P, on the bottom of the said frame turning
on the tube or rod m as a centre or axis. By means of the eyes 1º, the rail can
be raised into the vertical position represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3 or turned onto
the back or underside of the sacking frame as represented in Figure 4 when the said
sacking frame is to be raised into a vertical position, the said rail being fixed
in its turned back position by the jointed clipp provided with a hook p². After
the rail has been folded on the back of the sacking frame, the clip p is turned upon
one of the bosses of the rail and the hook p² hooked upon the rod of the rail
(see Figures 1, 4 and 6). The said rail can also slide upon the rod m and be
passed from one end of the sacking frame or berth to the other end as indicated in
dotted lines in Figure 1. When the rail is in its vertical position the half socket
pieces partly embrace the front rod a² of the sacking frame as illustrated in
Figures 6 and 7.
The rail is fixed in its vertical position in the following manner.
On the corner
block at each end of the front of the sacking frame is a pillar or upright q the
horizontal part near the head of which is recessed (see Figure 6) and at each end of
the rail is a peg r.
When the side rail is in the position Figure 1, one of the pegs r
engages with the top of one of the uprights q and when the side rail is moved
into the dotted position Figure 1 the peg at the other end of the said rail engages
with the top of the upright at the opposite end of the sacking frame. In order to
prevent the sliding of the rail when its end has been engaged with either of the
uprights the cotter s represented in Figure 7 is used. The said cotter passes
through the loopt on the rail and takes into a depression in the block u cast on
the middle of the fixed front rod a² of the sacking frame as seen in the said Figure 7.
By withdrawing the cotter s the front rail may have a sliding motion given to it,
or it may be turned onto the back of the sacking frame for the purpose before
described. Each end of the rail is provided with a loop similar to the loop t for
fixing the rail in either of its two positions.
Instead of fixing the rail in its vertical position by a peg at the end of the rail
taking into a hole or depression in the pillar qand preventing its sliding motion by
the cotter s, the said rail may be fixed and its sliding motion prevented by a
horizontal eye or loop on each end of the rail (replacing the peg ) taking into a
slot in the top of the pillar 9 a vertical pin screwing into the top of the pillar taking
into the said eye or loop and fixing the rail in its place. Or pins on the ends of the
rail may take into slots near the tops of the uprights and be fixed therein by
cotters.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of the cylindrical front rod or tube a³ of the
sacking frame as an angle bar may be used in place of the said cylindrical rod or
tube. In this case angular shaped pieces above the eyes 12 of the rail fit upon the
angle bar of the sacking frame when the rail is raised into a vertical position and
the arrangement described and represented in Figure 7 for fixing the sliding rail
at the middle. of the front rod or tube a' may be used with this modification..
The berth may be converted into a lounge by turning the rail on the underside
of the horizontal sacking frame,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
as our invention of, "Improvements in berths for ships, railway carriages and other
places":
First The addition to or combination with each of the horizontal brackets in
which the sacking frame of the berth turns, of the stop or projection f under which
stops the distant or rear corners of the sacking frame engage for preventing the
said sacking frame from turning down on its axes or pivots below a horizontal
plane substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly-Locking the sacking frame of the berth in a vertical position or in a
position intermediate between a vertical and horizontal position by means of the
self acting catch g, g¹, g* on one of the ends of the sacking frame taking into or
engaging with a slot made in the edge of the fixed bracket of the berth substantially
as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly The combination with the berth, of the hooked catch i taking into a
hole in the stop of the bracket for fixing the sacking frame in an inclined
position substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourthly The combination with the sacking frame of the berth of the pillars or
uprights 9, 9 and the methods described and illustrated for fixing the sliding and
swivelling side rail to one or other of the said pillars for the purpose and substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings also the
arrangement described and represented in Figure 7 for fixing the sliding rail to the
middle of the front rod or bar of the sacking frame.
Lastly The addition to the front rod or bar of the sacking fraine of the supple-
mmentary parallel rod or bar m on which the front rail is capable of sliding and
swivelling and the fastening marked p p for fastening the turned back front rail
on the underside of the sacking frame substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
;
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of June 1889.
JOHN OAKES HOLT.
FRANK VENTON.