IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ellis Cutlan, of Crouch Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE
BOTTOMS OF SHIPS.”
Sealed the 3rd September 1878, and dated the 6th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ellis Cutlan at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1878.
ELLIS CUTLAN, of Crouch Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Builder. “IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS."
The object of this Invention is to prevent the growth of marine deposits on the
submerged portions of the sides and the bottoms of ships when at sea, the speed
of which is in consequence of such deposits greatly retarded during long voyages.
The Invention consists in a novel construction of rotating brush and scraper
combined, which is to be used from time to time during the voyage, and by the
progress of the ship through the water will receive automatically rotary motion.
The brushes and scrapers are fitted adjustably to the blades of an archimedian
screw, which is made fast to a spindle. Fitted loosely to this spindle is a pair of
wheels which are free to run against the vessel's sides, and by their diameter gauge
the distance of the screw from the ship's side. On the ends of the spindle are
formed eyes, to which are connected two pairs of link rods that constitute the
framing of the apparatus. To one pair of these rods is connected by a swivel hook
a chain or rope that is passed under the ship and brought up to the other side
thereof, and to the other pair of link rods is connected a second chain or rope
which is also brought up to the deck. By means of these chains or ropes the
apparatus is applied to the ship's side, and raised or lowered to any desired level
for acting upon the skin of the ship. Ropes are also provided and attached to the
opposite ends of the spindle, for the purpose of shifting the apparatus endwise
along the ship's side as the cleaning operation progresses.
If now this apparatus is in position below the level of the water the speed of
the ship will cause a current of water to flow through the archimedian screw and

page_text: thereby rotate the same.
The brushes and scrapers will thus be brought to bear
upon the skin of the ship, and clean off any marine deposit which may adhere
thereto.
If this apparatus is applied frequently, or while the deposit is of a slimy or soft
character, the removal of the deposit will be readily effected.
I propose to provide a pair of such scrapers, one for each side of the ship, making
the screw in one case right-handed and in the other left-handed; thus the progress
of the vessel through the water will cause the two scrapers to rotate in opposite
directions.
For working over the horizontal portions of the ship's bottom I prefer to use a
modified form of this apparatus; thus instead of the blades of an archimedian screw
being used to carry the scrapers and brushes I construct a kind of breast wheel,
and apply to the blades of that wheel the adjustable brushes and scrapers. The
resistance which this wheel will meet with by the progress of the vessel through
the water will cause it to rotate, and thereby bring up its scrapers and brushes in
succession into contact with the skin of the vessel. The adjustment of this
apparatus and its traverse motion will be effected in the manner described with
reference to the first-mentioned apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ellis Cutlan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September
1878.
•
ELLIS CUTLAN, of Crouch Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Builder.
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS."
"IMPROVED
The object of this Invention is to prevent the growth of marine deposits on the
submerged portions of the sides and the bottoms of ships when at sea, the speed of
which is in consequence of such deposits greatly retarded during long voyages.
"
The Invention consists in a novel construction of rotating brush, or brush and
scraper combined, which is to be used from time to time during the voyage, and
by the progress of the ship through the water will receive automatically rotary
motion.
The brushes, or brushes and scrapers, or knives are fitted adjustably to the blades
of an archemedean screw, which is made fast to a hollow drum revolving on a
spindle, the said drum being also fitted in its interior with an archemedean screw.
Fitted loosely to this spindle is a pair of wheels which are free to run against the
vessel's sides, and by their diameter fix or gauge the distance of the screw and
brushes from the ship's side; these wheels also allow of the apparatus being easily
moved vertically over the ship's bottom. The ends of the spindle are fitted in a
frame, to which are connected two pairs of rods that constitute the framing of the
apparatus, or instead of the rods wire rope may be employed. To one pair of these
rods is connected by a swivel hook or otherwise a chain or rope, that is passed

page_text: under the ship and brought up to the other side thereof, and to the other pair of
rods is connected a second chain or rope, which is also brought up to the deck.
By means of these chains or ropes the apparatus is applied to the ship's side, and
raised or lowered to any desired level for acting upon the skin of the ship. Ropes
are also provided and attached to the fore end of the spindle, for the purpose of
shifting the apparatus endwise along the ship's side, as the cleaning operation
progresses.
But to make my Invention better understood, I will now proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved apparatus for cleaning the bottoms of
ships; Figure 2, an end view; and Figure 3, a longitudinal section of same.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
a, b, is the hollow drum formed of two concentric cylinders a and b, the space c
between the two cylinders being closed at the ends d, e, so as to render the
apparatus more buoyant; fff, are the blades of the archemedean screw fitted on
the outside of the drum a, and g is the archemiedean screw fitted inside the drum ;
h is the spindle on which the drum with its screws revolves, the drum being
preferably provided with a sleeve or bollow spindle i, revolving on the spindle h.
jj, are the brushes fitted to the blades f,f,f, of the archemedean screw; the
said brushes being fixed by screw bolts and nuts k, the said bolts passing through
elongated holes or slots in the blades f, f. f, so as to allow of the brushes being
adjusted as they wear; these brushes are made of the proper curved form to fit
the blades of the screw; L, l, are the gauge or guide wheels revolving on the
spindle h; m, m, is the frame of the apparatus formed in two parts, the spindle h
being fitted in the said frames; n, n, n¹, n¹, are the rods jointed to the frame m;
or instead of these rods wire rope may be used; the rods are formed with-rings
or eyes at o, o, to allow of attaching the ropes or chains by which the apparatus is
raised and lowered, and the spindle h is also provided with a ring-or eye p at one
end to allow of attaching a rope or chain for moving the apparatus endwise.
If an apparatus of this construction be placed in position below the level of the
water, it will be understood that the speed of the ship will cause a current of water
to flow through the archemedean screws and thereby rotate the same, and conse-
quently the brushes, so as to bring the brushes to bear upon the skin of the ship
as they revolve and clean off any marine deposit which may adhere thereto, and
if the apparatus be applied frequently, or while the deposit is of a soft or slimy
character, the removal of the deposit will be readily effected.
In cleaning the submerged part of a ship or vessel I make use of a pair of my
improved apparatuses, one on each side, the screws in one case being made right-
hauded and in the other left-handed; and to make use of the machines two lines, one
from each side of the bow, should be rove through blocks at the martingale end, and
fastened respectively to the rings p at the ends of the spindles of the machines. A
line passing through suitable blocks attached to the rigging by means of a spar
and travelling block, or by other suitable means, passes down each side of the
vessel, and is connected to the ring o at the upper part of the frame m. Another
line from the ring or eye o at the lower part of the frame of one machine passes
under the keel of the vessel, and is connected to the eye or ring o of the lower part
of the frame of the other machine; the said line being of a length sufficient to pass
from the keel to the water's edge, so that when one machine is at the level of the
water on one side of the vessel the other machine will be at the level of the keel
at the other side of the vessel. In this position by the vessel travelling through
the water the brushes will be revolved, as herein-before described, and by the said
side lines being operated the machine at the level of the keel will be drawn up to
the level of the water while the other machine will be drawn down to the level of
the keel. Each machine on reaching the water's level must be dropped astern by
slackening the line at the bow the length of the machine, and so on, one machine
thus moving from the keel to the water's edge while the other is moving from the

page_text: water's edge to the keel and vice versa alternately, until the whole vessel's bottom
is cleaned.
Although in the Drawing I have shewn brushes only applied to the blades of
the screw, it will be understood that I may also employ scrapers or knives either
alone or in combination with the said brushes.
Suitable floats are applied to the apparatus to render it more buoyant.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the improved apparatus
for cleaning the bottoms of ships, operating substantially in the manner herein-
before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. In an apparatus for cleaning the bottoms of ships I claim the employ-
ment of archemedean screws for automatically operating the brushes, or scrapers,
or knives by the passage of the ship through the water, as herein-before described.
Thirdly. In an apparatus for cleaning the bottoms of ships I claim the employ-
ment of guide or gauge wheels, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. I claim the peculiar construction and employment of the adjustable
brushes, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ellis Cutlan, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St.,
Finsbury,
London.
ELLIS CUTLAN. (L.S.)