Im- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND FITTINGS TO BE USED IN SHIPS FOR FACILITATING THE LOADING, UNLOADING, AND STOWAGE OF THEIR CARGOES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND FITTINGS TO BE USED IN SHIPS FOR FACILITATING
THE LOADING, UNLOADING, AND STOWAGE OF THEIR CARGOES."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Gilbert Auguste Fournier des Corats, Gentleman,
of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 30th January 1866, and dated the 7th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office-
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his' Petition, on the 7th August
1865.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND FITTINGS TO BE USED IN SHIPS FOR
FACILITATING THE LOADING, UNLOADING, AND STOWAGE OF THEIR CARGOES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in steam and other vessels, with the
object of saving the transhipment, loading, and unloading of cargoes by-

page_text: manual labor. For this purpose I divide the interior of the ship or vesser
into a certain number of compartments, three, for example; the forward and
after compartments being intended to receive trucks or waggons, mounted on
small wheels, in which trucks the goods are previously placed before shipment.
In the third compartment, which is between the two others, are placed the
engines for giving motion to the vessel, and also those for loading and dis-
charging the waggons or trucks above mentioned. Landing places, similar to
railway platforms, and furnished with rails, serve to receive the trucks on their
being unloaded from the ship. The trucks are loaded and unloaded at the
landings in the ordinary manner. A special steam engine is-used on board
the vessel for taking in the trucks, actuating any suitable lifting apparatus
also contained therein. For example, supposing a number of trucks are
required to be placed in the two compartments of the vessel intended for their
reception, for this purpose I place screw rods in a vertical position at suit-
able distances apart carrying nuts, on which the rails bearing the trucks are
fixed. Longitudinal shafts, furnished with endless screws serve to work theso
vertical screw rods, the nuts working up and down thereon according as it is
desired to take in or discharge the trucks. The deck of the vessel is also,
furnished with rails, in connection with a gangway and landing place, both
similarly provided. It will be readily understood that on the rail's carried by
the nuts before mentioned rising to a level with those on the deck the loading
and discharge of the trucks may be readily, effected.
:
The following is the mode of operating :-The steam engine employed for
the purpose sets in motion a drum placed at the rear end of the vessel, ou
which a cable is wound or unwound, according as it, is desired to take in
or land the trucks which are connected to said cable. The vessel, when
loading or unloading, is introduced into a kind of space hollowed out of the
quay; the depth of water in which is the same as that of the dock. The
gangway is fixed at the end of said space, being hinged in such manner as
such
always to adapt itself to the level of the vessel, to which it is also fixed in s
manner that the rails on the landing, gangway, and deck, all correspond with
each other. The operation being completed the lifting apparatus is set
in motion for raising the trucks to a level with the rails on the deck and
gangway, which being doue the trucks are then connected to the cable passing
round the drum at the after end of the vessel, and driven by the engine as
before mentioned, when, by means of turning pullies applied on the landing,
the trucks are caused to arrive rapidly and simultaneously at the landing
place. In order to load in the trucks the operation is reversed, the' cable

page_text: 5
I
being connected to the end of one or more rows of trucks, and thence.passing
to the drum above mentioned; the loading being effected with such rapidity
that the vessel has not time to make the least movement before equilibrium
is re-established.
It will be readily understood that the coal necessary for the supply of the
engines may be loaded in a similar manner by means of the trucks.
The advantages resulting from these improvements are a considerable saving
of time, the expense of transhipment is saved, the cargoes are, landed or
shipped in better condition, while there are facilities in case of fire at sea for
ejecting the trucks into the sea in a very short space of time, also giving free
access to the waterways.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing. Fig. 1 of
which shows a longitudinal view of a vessel arranged for the reception of
trucks, seen partly in 'section; Fig. 2 is a plan of same, while Fig. 3 shows
'a' transverse section of the vessel.. The same letters apply to the three
Figures:
a, ship or vessel properly so called; b, screw; c, rudder; d, vertical screw
rods; e, nuts or sockets carrying rails f, on which are placed the trucks g; 'h;
wheel gearing, keyed on screw rods d, and receiving rotary motion from endless
screws i;j, turntables placed on the deck of the vessel to facilitate operations;
k, gangway connecting the ship with the landing or quay; l, rails placed on
the deck of the vessel corresponding with those of the gangway and quay;
m, traction chain or cable for hauling the trucks into the vessel, or vice versa ;
n, turning pullies; o, o, pullies for conducting the cables to the machine
operating the traction.
!
In Fig. 3 the loading and discharging is shown as being effected at one
side of the ship, while in Figs. 1 and 2 the trucks pass to and fro at the fore
end. By these two arrangements it will be seen that the trucks may be
loaded or unloaded in any direction desired, as they may be readily changed
in position by means of the deck turntables.
The Invention thus consists,-1st, in the use of steam machinery on board
ships or vessels as a motive power for effecting the loading and unloading of
goods in small trucks by means of any suitable lifting and hauling apparatus
also placed in the vessel, all in the manner described. .
2ndly, in the application of rails on the decks and at the lower parts of
vessels in the manner described, as also the use of turntables, to permit of
discharging at the sides, the whole forming a continuous railway for the
purpose described.
3rdly, in the use and application of trucks on board ships; as described.

page_text: And, 4thly, in the application of these improvements to all kinds of steam
and sailing vessels, barges, or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
February 1866.
%
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
of.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year, of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
AND FITTINGS TO BE USED IN SHIPS FOR FACILITATING THE LOADING, UNLOADING, AND
STOWAGE OF THEIR CARGOES," a communication to me from abroad by Gilbert
Auguste Fournier des Corats, Gentleman, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby, declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being, had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to improvements in steam and other vessels, forming

page_text: a new means of transport or railway, for river and sea service, having for
object to save the transhipment and loading and unloading of cargoes by
manual labor. For this purpose I divide the interior of the ship or vessel
into a certain number of compartments, three, for example; the forward and
after compartments being intended to receive trucks or waggons mounted on
small wheels, in which trucks the goods are previously placed before shipment.
In the third compartment, which is between the two others, are placed the
engines for giving motion to the vessel, and also those for loading and dis-
charging the waggons or trucks above mentioned. Landing places, similar to
railway platforms, and furnished with rails, serve to receive the trucks on their
being unloaded from the ship. The trucks are loaded and unloaded at the
landings in the ordinary manner. A special steam engine is used on board
the vessel for taking in the trucks, actuating any suitable lifting apparatus
also contained within the vessel. For example, supposing a number of trucks
are required to be placed in the two compartments of the vessel intended for
their reception; for this purpose I place screw rods in a vertical position at
suitable distances apart, carrying nuts, to which the rails bearing the trucks
are fixed. Longitudinal shafts, furnished with endless screws, serve to work
these vertical screw rods, the nuts working up and down. thereon according as
it is desired to take in or discharge the trucks. The deck of the vessel is
also furnised with rails in connection with a gangway and landing place, both
similarly provided. It will be readily understood that on the rails carried. by
the nuts before mentioned rising to a level with those on the deck the loading
and discharge of the trucks may be readily effected..
The following is the mode of operating:-The steam engine employed for
the purpose sets in motion a cylinder, placed at the rear end of the vessel,. on
which a cable is wound or unwound, according as it is desired to take in or
land the trucks which are connected to said cable. The vessel when loading
or unloading is introduced into a kind of space hollowed out of the quay, the
depth of water in which is the same as that in 'the dock.. The gangway is
fixed at the end of said space, being hinged. in such manner as always to
adapt itself to the level of the vessel, to which it is also fixed in such manner.
that the rails on the landing, gangway, and vessel, all correspond with each
other. This operation being completed the lifting apparatus is set in. motion.
for raising the trucks to a level with the rails on the deck and gangway, which
being done the trucks are then connected to the cable passing round the
drum at the after end of the vessel, and driven by the engine as before, men-
tioned, when, by means of turning pullies applied on the landing, the trucks

page_text: are caused to arrive rapidly and simultaneously at the landing place. In order
to load in the trucks. the operation is reversed, the cable being connected to
the end of one or more rows of trucks, and thence passing to the drum above
mentioned the loading being effected with such rapidity that. the vessel has
not time to. make the least movement before equilibrium is re-established..
It will be readily.understood that the coal necessary. for the supply: of the
engines may be loaded in a similar. manner by means. of the trucks..
The advantages resulting from these improvements are considerable saving
of time, while the expense of transhipment is: also saved; the cargoes are
landed or shipped. in better condition, while there are facilities in. case of fire
for ejecting the trucks into the sea in a very short space of time, also giving
free access to the waterways:
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,. Fig. 1 of
which shows. a longitudinal view of. a vessel arranged for the reception of
trucks, seen partly in section; Fig. 2 is a plan of. same,, while Fig. 3 shows
a transverse section of the vessel. The same letters. apply to the three
Figures....
1a, ship or. vessel, properly so. called; b, screw.;. c, rudder; d; vertical screw
rods; e, nuts or sockets carrying rails f, on. which are placed the trucks g;
h, wheel gearing.keyed on screw rods d, and receiving. rotary motion from
endless screws ; j, turntables placed on the deck of the vessel to facilitate
operations; k, gangway. connecting the ship with. the landing or quay; 1, rails
placed on the deck of the vessel corresponding with those of the gangway. and
quay; m, traction chain or cable. for. hauling the trucks into the vessel, or
vice versa; n, turning pullies.; 0; 0; pullies for conducting. the cables to the
machine operating the traction. In Fig. 3 the loading, and. discharging is
shown as being effected at one side of the ship, while in Figs. 1 and 2 the
trucks pass to and fro at the fore end. By these. two arrangements it will be
seen that the trucks may be loaded or unloaded in any direction desired, as
they may be readily changed in position by means of the deck turntables:
..Having described the nature of this Invention, and. the manner of per
forming the same, I declare that what I.claim as the.Invention to be protected
by the herein-before. in part recited Letters Patent is,-,
1st, the use of machinery on board ships or vessels, actuated by motive
power, for effecting, the loading and unloading of goods, that is to say, in
trucks by means of suitable lifting and bauling apparatus also placed in tho
vessel, all in the manner described herein-before.
e
2ndly, I claim the application of rails on the decks and at the lower part

page_text: of vessels, in the manner described, as also the use of turntables to permit of
discharging at the sides, the whole forming a continuous railway for the
purpose described.
3rdly, I claim the use and application of trucks on board ship as and för
the purposes described.
4thly, I claim the application of these improvements to all kinds of steam
and sailing vessels, barges, or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)