Improvements in and relating to the Upper Decks of Steam Ships and other Vessels and Floating Structures.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Upper Decks of Steam Ships
and other Vessels and Floating Structures.
We, ROBERT SHAW REID, Consulting Engineer, and JOHN COOк BUCHANAN,
Marine Engineer, both of 11 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention, has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts and fittings of an auxiliary portable
deck for steam ships or other vessels, which can be used as a promenade or ordinary
deck and improve the appearance of the vessel; but should the ship founder or
meet with an accident, this new auxiliary deck can be instantaneously unlocked
and freed from its support on the vessel and float away with the whole or any
required number of the passengers as a life saving deck or raft, cither as a whole
platform, or subdivided up into a great or any number of sectional parts, each
part to independently act as a life saving raft or buoyant appliance in itself.
The new or improved floating.or life-saving deck may be placed at the stern,
bow of the vessel or at intermediate, or other parts of the vessel, but for steam-
boats, preferably at or near the centre, extending longitudinally past each end of
the paddle boxes up to the officer's bridge clear of the funnel and masts, and
carried preferably at a height of about seven feet from the saloon or ordinary deck,
by strong column standards, stanchions, deck-houses, or other supports, or a
combination of these, or it may rest on the saloon or present decks, or form part
of same.
Under one construction or arrangement of our improvements in which the life-
saving deck is formed as one whole floating deck part or raft, it would be formed
with longitudinal planks much as usual, secured to a strong longitudinal and
transverse frame under it, and have a series of fluid-tight hollow tanks or air.
compartments, preferably sheet metal tanks, placed parallel and transversely secured
within the frame or protecting cage below the deck, or a large tank may be used
forming one chamber divided into a series of fluid-tight sections or air spaces, and
which in this case might form the strengthening and floating frame of the deck;
and these air tight tanks may be fitted above to form seats for the passengers. A
metal hand railing or bulwark consisting of horizontal rods carried on vertical
standards at distances apart would be fitted over and all round the floor deck above
the tanks, and light or buoyant seats or chairs may be fitted inside this bulwark or
stanchions, or other part of the floating deck, which may also carry life-buoys,
boxes, lines, or other life-saving or buoyant material. This improved floating
deck would be portably secured to the top of the before mentioned supporting
standards, deckhouses, or other stationary part of the ship by rods and swivelling
catches or eyes or sockets on the top, and draw or spring bolts or other fastenings,
preferably at its four corners, and centre parts, and these locking catches bolts or
fastenings would be connected by rods, chains, or ropes passing round guide pulleys
to an oscillating crosshead or shaft at one end operated by a hand lever which will
simultaneously and instantaneously withdraw or unlock all the catches bolts or
fastenings and release the auxiliary deck to float away with the passengers from
the ship on the water.
Under another arrangement of our improvements we make the floating deck of
a great or any number of sectional or divisional parts, so that each shall act
independently as a life saving raft or buoyant appliance. These sectional parts
may either be placed transversely across the ship or run fore and aft, but preferably

page_text: the former, and under one construction suitable as the upper floating deck of a
steam-boat would consist all as follows:-Each section or divisional floating part
would consist of one, two, three, or more air-tight tanks, spaces or compartments,
preferably of sheet metal, boxed or cased-in on the bottom and all the sides with
and secured under each section by protecting wooden cage frames, or other material,
and covered on top with wooden planks preferably secured by end and intermediate
transverse planks below to form their respective removable portions of the
promenade or walking deck on board the vessel, and having life-lines bicketed or
lashed round the sides. These buoyant sectional parts would be laid parallel close
together or side by side, preferably athwartship, across the ship, and for an
ordinary size of river steam-boat be carried as double divisional main sets on cach
side of midship, with their one or inner ends resting on the opposite flanges of a
strong centre longitudinal H girder or beam running fore and aft the vessel, and
fixed on stanchions or other equivalent preferably about seven feet from the
ordinary deck, and with their other or outer ends similarly resting over longitudinal
beams supported from the deck at the sides of the vessel, preferably with angle
irons to support the outer end of these deck sections. These buoyant sectional
parts would be all held securely together as a promenade deck, on their said
centre and side longitudinal beams, and be held down at the latter by pressing or.
gripping arms or levers mounted on longitudinal turning spindles or shafts working
in bearing standards carried on the fixed beams at each side of the deck. While
they would be held or pressed close together in the longitudinal direction by sliding
pressing planks and plates or brackets on each along the edges of a set by short
pressing screws connected to each bracket and operated by a worm wheel and
screw eyes in them from a screw for each on a worm shaft mounted transversely
between the sets. Both the longitudinal and gearing spindles or shafts would be
actuated in unison from this first motion transverse shaft by worms or screws on it
gearing into each screw wheel on the longitudinal side shafts and operated by a
hand wheel or lever at one or both ends of this first motion transverse screw
shaft, preferably fitted with retaining pawls, so that both sets of shafts and inter-
mediate screw spindles can be instantaneously turned together, and the whole of
the pressing levers and screws be simultaneously turned out of the way or released
in case of shipwreck or otherwise to be floated away in sectional parts as buoyant
life-saving rafts or appliances. Or when the wheel gearing is released any of the
sectional parts can be lifted out and thrown overboard as life-saving appliances.
Instead of screws and screw wheels for actuating the gripping and tightening up
shalts of the sectional deck parts, an arrangement of bevel wheels may be used or
wedges or other locking mechanism simultaneously actuated from one prime moving
shaft. The ordinary side rails would be mounted on and over the outer fixed
frames supporting these removable deck sections.
Dated the 18th November 1891.
W. K. M. THOMSON & CO.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Upper Decks of Steam Ships
and other Vessels and Floating Structures.
We, ROBERT SHAW REID Consulting Engineer, and JOHN COOK BUCHANAN,
Marine Engineer, both of 11 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, 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 in writing, that is to say:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts and fittings of an auxiliary portable
deck for steam ships or other vessels, which can be used as an overhead awning

page_text: deck or as a promenade or ordinary deck and improve the appearance of the
vessel; but should the ship founder or meet with an accident, this new auxiliary
deck can be instantaneously unlocked and freed from its support on the vessel
and float away with the whole or any required number of the passengers as a life
saving deck or raft, either as a solid body, or subdivided up into a great or any
number of sectional parts, cach part to independently act as a life saving raft or
buoyant appliance in itself.
The new or improved floating or life-saving deck may be placed at the stern
or Low of the vessel or at intermediate, or other parts of the vessel, but for
steam-boats, preferably at or near the centre, extending longitudinally past each
end of the paddle boxes up to the officer's bridge clear of the funnel and masts
and carried preferably at a height of about seven feet from the saloon or ordinary
deck, by strong column standards, stanchions, deck-houses, or other supports, or a
combination of these, or it may rest on the saloon or present decks, or form part
of same.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used, to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation of a steam-boat on which is fitted an
arrangement of our improved floating deck in the form of an overhead awning or
shelter deck.
Figure 2 is a plan view, detached to a large scale, of a complete floating deck
as constructed in accordance with one arrangement of our improvements, and
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the deck corresponding to Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 on Sheet 2 are an elevation and inverted plan view respectively
of a section of the deck, showing three of the hollow floating tanks a, a', a².
Figures 6 and 7 are detached sectional inverted plan view and transverse section
through the deck showing the actuating mechanism for disengaging and setting free
the sectional parts of deck.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, to an enlarged scale, of one of the actuating
screws, and
Figure 9 is a detached elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the actuating worm
gearing.
Figures 10 and 11 are detached end sections showing modified constructions of
channel irons used for supporting and securing the sides of the floating deck.
Referring to these drawings:-Under this arrangement of our improvements we
make the floating deck of a great, or any, number of sectional or divisional
parts A, A', so that each shall act independently as a life saving raft or buoyant
appliance. These sectional parts A, A', may either be placed transversely across
the ship, as shown, or run fore and aft, but preferably the former, and under one
construction suitable as the upper floating or awning deck of a steam-boat, would
consist all as follows -Each section or divisional floating part A, A', would consist
of one, two, three, or more air-tight tanks, spaces, or compartments preferably of
sheet metal, three a, a, a, being shown in the drawings, boxed or cased-in on the
bottom and all the sides with and secured under each section of the deck by
protecting wooden cage frames A', A", or other material, and formed of or covered
on top with wooden planks A, preferably secured by the end and intermediate
transverse planks A below to form their respective removable portions of the
awning or promenade deck on board the vessel, and having life-lines e bicketed or
lashed round the sides, for the passengers to hold on by in case of shipwreck, as
shown in Figure 7. These buoyant sectional parts a, a, a², would be laid parallel
close together or side by side, preferably athwartship, and on an ordinary river
steam-boat would be carried as double divisional main sets, as shown in Figures 2
and 3, on each side of midship, with their inner ends resting on the opposite flanges
or angle irons B', of a strong centre longitudinal girder or beam at B, running
fore and aft the vessel, and fixed on stanchions B' or other equivalent preferably

page_text: on
about seven feet from the ordinary saloon deck 2, and having stay rods B
supporting the tank divisions A, A', as seen in Figure, 3, and with their other or
outer ends similarly resting over longitudinal wooden beams b, carried
longitudinal channel or angle iron girders, as shown in Figures 10 and 11,
supported by vertical pillars or columns from the deck at the sides of the vessel;
any water accumulating in the channel irons 6 passing down through holes at
the top of the pillars, which may be formed of tubular metal and tied to the
central pillars B2, by horizontal tie bars below the tanks a. These buoyant
sectional parts A, A', would be all held securely together as an awning or promenade
deck on their said centre and side longitudinal beams B, B', 4, 4, and be held down
at the latter by pressing or gripping arms or levers C₁, mounted on longitudinal
turning spindles or shafts C, working in bearing standards or guide collars C",
carried on the fixed central beam B, B. While these sectional parts A, A', would
be held or pressed close together in the longitudinal direction by sliding pressing
planks or bars D as shown in Figure 6. These planks D would be fitted with
plates or brackets D', connected to short pressing screw studs D", operated by a
screw box D. This box D would be fitted with right and left handed screw
eyes in each end and worn wheel D², in the centre which would be actuated by a
short screw D³, on a worm shaft D', mounted transversely between the sets. The
two longitudinal and gearing spindles or shafts C would be actuated in unison
from this first motion transverse shaft D, by worms or screws D3 on it gearing into
the screw wheels C³ on the longitudinal side shafts C and operated by a hand
wheel D or a lever at one or both ends of this first motion transverse screw
shaft D', so that both sets of shafts C, C, and intermediate screw shaft D', can be
instantaneously turned together, and the whole of the pressing levers C, and screw
studs D and pressing beams D, be simultaneously turned out of the way and
released in case of shipwreck or otherwise, for the deck to be floated away in
sectional parts as buoyant life-saving rafts or appliances. Or when the wheel
gearing is released any of the sectional parts can be lifted out and thrown over-
board as life-saving appliances. Instead of screws and screw wheels for actuating
the gripping and tightening up shafts C, C, and beams D, D, of the sectional deck
parts, an arrangement of bevel wheels may be used or wedges snibs or other
equivalent. locking mechanism, simultaneously actuated from one hand actuated
prime moving shaft as D'. When used as a promenade deck, the ordinary side
rails might be mounted on and over the outer side fixed frames b, b', supporting
these removable deck sections.
Under another arrangement of our improvements in which the life-saving deck
is formed as one whole floating deck part or raft, it would be formed with
longitudinal planks much as usual, secured to a strong longitudinal and transverse
frame under it, and have a series of fluid-tight hollow tanks or air compartments,
preferably sheet metal tanks, placed parallel and transversely secured within the
frame or protecting cage A, A, A, below the deck; or a large tank may be used
forming one chamber divided into a series of fluid-tight sections or air spaces, and
which in this case might form the strengthening and floating frame of the deck;
and these air tight tanks may be fitted above to form seats for the passengers. A
metal hand railing or bulwark of ordinary construction consisting of horizontal
rods carried on vertical standards at distances apart may be fitted over and all
round the floating deck above the tanks, and light or buoyant seats or chairs may
be fitted inside the bulwark, or at other parts of the floating deck, which may also
carry life buoys, boxes, lines, or other life-saving or buoyant material. This
improved floating deck would be secured to the top of the before mentioned
supporting standards, deckhouses, or other stationary part of the ship by rods
and swivelling catches or eyes or sockets on the top, and draw or spring bolts or
other fastenings, preferably at its four corLers, and centre parts, and these locking
catches, bolts, or fastenings would be connected by rods, chains, or ropes passing
round guide pulleys to an oscillating crosshead or shaft at one end operated by
hand lever which will simultaneously and instantaneously withdraw or unlock all

page_text: the catches, bolts, or fastenings, and release the auxiliary deck to float away with
the passengers from the ship on the water.
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
First. The constructing of the awning, promenade, or other auxiliary decks of
steam ships or other vessels, with portable air-tight tanks or chambers, which can
be detached as a floating deck from the vessel, substantially as and in the manner
herein described.
Second. The constructing of the awning, promenade, or other auxiliary decks of
steam or other vessels of portable air-tight tanks or chambers carried in cage
frames which can be detached as a floating deck from the vessel and individually
used as life saving appliances, substantially as and in the manner herein described
in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The constructing of the awning, promenade, or other auxiliary decks of
steam ships or other vessels, of portable air-tight tanks or chambers, in combination
with instantaneous releasing and disengaging mechanism, substantially as and in the
manner herein described.
transverse
Fourth. The constructing of the awning, promenade, or other auxiliary decks
of steam ships or other vessels of portable air-tight tanks or chambers in combina-
tion with longitudinal oscillating shafts and gripping levers and a
shaft with screws and worms, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts
of awning, promenade, or other auxiliary decks or coverings of steam ships or
other vessels for use as portable floating decks or life saving appliances substantially
as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.