IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SALOONS, CABINS, FLOORS, AND PLATFORMS HAVING AXIAL MOTION ON BOARD SHIP, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR REGULATING
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SALOONS, CABINS, FLOORS, AND PLATFORMS HAVING
AXIAL MOTION ON BOARD SHIP, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR REGULATING
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Bessemer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 10th December 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, Cannon Street, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SALOONS, CABINS, FLOORS, AND PLATFORMS HAVING AXIAL
MOTION ON BOARD SHIP, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR REGULATING AND

page_text: CONTROLLING THEIR MOTIONS," and have petitioned Her most Excellent
Majesty Queen Victoria to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the first and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare t
the nature of the said Invention, to be as follows:―
In the construction of saloons, cabins, floors, and platforms having
axial motion on board ship, it is necessary to render the structure
sufficiently strong and rigid to resist the powerful strains which are from
time to time brought to bear thereon, resulting in part from the few
points of support on which the great weight of the whole structure is
supported, and also on the strains arising from the force necessary to
control the motion of so heavy a mass being applied at two or more
points only of the platform or floor of the saloon or cabin; it is also
desirable that the centre of gravity of the entire structure and its load of
passengers should be below the axis on which it is supported, so as to
give some stability to the structure irrespective of the controlling
power.
It is also desirable that the mechanical force employed to control the
motion of the structure should be applied simultaneously on opposite
sides of the axis and in an opposite direction, so that the lifting power
applied to one side of the structure may be balanced by a depressing
power on the opposite side, and so on vice versa, as the change of motion
takes place.
And in order that the mode in which I prefer to construct a saloon
with its floor or platform supported on axes, and the mode of applying
mechanical force to control its motions may be fully understood, I have
annexed hereunto six Sheets of Drawings marked respectively A, B, C,
D, E, and F, in which the parts represented in the several Sheets are
when repeated indicated by the same letters of reference.
Sheet A, Figure 1, is a longitudinal view of the main floor beams of
the saloon and its supports, Figure 2 being a plan of the same.
On Sheet B, Figure 1, I have shewn the large cast iron frames on which
the central axes of the saloon platform rests, and at Figure 2 I have
shewn the central portion of the platform represented in Figure 1,
Sheet A, on a larger scale.
:

page_text: On Sheet C I have shewn a vertical cross section of the ship and
saloon taken on a line near to the centre of the saloon, and shewing the
mode in which the hydraulic cylinders and pistons operate upon and
control its axial motion.
Sheet D, Figure 1, represents a longitudinal vertical section of the
saloon and its end supports, and also the private cabins and staircase
which form part of the structure supported on axes, and Figure 2, Sheet
D, is a plan of the same.
Slicet E is a vertical cross section of the lower portion of the ship,
shewing the hydraulic break for retaining the saloon when desired as a
fixture in the ship, and also the arrangement of levers employed for
working the equilibrium valve by means of the saloons own motion.
And on Sheet F are shewn details on a larger scale of the hydraulic
cylinders and pistons employed to control the motion of the saloon.
The platform or floor which may be taken as the base of the structure
consists of a framing of plate iron beams or girders; the main central
girder a extends the whole length of the structure, and is united at both
ends to cross beams 6, which are of considerable breadth, extending
downward at their central part to the lower side of the girder a, and
rising upward to the under side of the axes c, c, which are of steel, and
are held firmly in place by the iron framing d, the axes c, c, rest in
plummer blocks e, e, which are supported on a strong girder or partial
bulkhead, having strong brackets f¹ to sustain any endway thrust of
the saloon, the girders fextend across. the entire breadth of the ship and
add greatly to the strength of it at this part. In addition to the end
beams there are four other cross beams ₁, the ends of which are
united to two longitudinal beams ³, which are also united to the end
beams so as to form a strong rectangular framework divided into
bays; through the central part of this framework there are two other
cross beams g of great strength; these beams project beyond the side
beams, as shewn at g*, and form a pair of working beams between
which the trunnions of the oscillating hydraulic cylinders / work, as
shewn, sec Sheet C, where the trunnion of the hydraulic cylinder / is
shewn fitted into brasses i, i, bolted to the web of the beam 9 which is
made of double thickness of plate at this part to give it additional
strength; a hole is made in the web at j for the purpose of getting the
trunnion in or out of place; the central parts of the beams y rise about

page_text: 3 feet higher than the floor, as seen at 9', and have formed therein brass
bearings to receive the axes Z on which the beams 9 oscillate, and which
axes are in a line with the axes c, c.
By reference to Sheet A it will be seen that there are four points of
support on which the floor moves, and as the lift and thrust of the
hydraulic cylinders acts on opposite sides of the floor and in the centre
of its length, it is desirable that the forces applied at these two central
parts should be as evenly distributed as may be throughout the floor. . I
therefore cross the rectangular frame with four diagonal beams b*, and
thus prevent the racking of the framework when the hydraulic force is
applied at the ends of the beams at g*. Smaller angle beams are
employed between the cross beams b¹ (not shewn in the Drawing), on
which the floor boards are secured, thus completing the level platform or
floor of the saloon.
The working beams 9 have their axes supported on massive cast-iron
frames k, see Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B, in which a central opening is
made through which the main longitudinal girder a can oscillate freely.
These frames are bolted to bed plates securely fastened to the main
framing m of the bottom of the ship. Four stout wrought-iron diagonal
stays are secured to bosses formed on the frames k, their lower ends
being secured in flanged shoes n bolted to the frame m of the ship. A
further steadying of the frames k is obtained by means of two stout
stretcher rods p, p, passing through bosses in the frames k, the slots c
in the beams 9 allowing the latter freedom of motion, although the
rods o, o, pass through them.
In Figure 1, Sheet B, one of the cast-iron frames is shewn in.
vertical section, and the other k² in elevation. In Figure 2 on this Sheet.
the frame k is shewn in front elevation, by which it will be seen that it.
is composed of three castings bolted together, by which means it can be
made to embrace the main girder a after the latter has been made to
form part of the large rectangular frame or floor.
The upper portion of the structure is formed by a series of light somi-
circular plate girders r resting on the longitudinal beams 62, which are
of considerable depth and rise above the floor, as shewn at 63, in Sheet C.
A web of this beam extends horizontally as far as the curved shells of a
the saloon, and is strengthened by numerous gusset pieces. An angle
plate girder extends along each side and along the ends of the saloon

page_text: at a height of about 12 fect above the floor, connecting the several arched
girders r, and is supported by round wrought-iron stanchions resting on
the floor beams, and thus gives great stiffness to this comparatively light
part of the structure. These staunchions pass down the inside of the
ornamental columns x, x. The curved plate girders are also concealed
by oak panels v, which form small bulkheads united to the bases of the
columns x above the girder. The framing is carried vertically upward,
as shewn at w, in which a row of windows is formed. The upper floor
or promenade deck u, surrounded by a railing not shown in the Drawings,
rests at its edges on this framing w, and in the centre is supported on the
girder y, which rests on and unites the series of curved girders r, r. The
beams or rafters u¹ serve to strengthen the upper deck, and on their
lower side are sealed so as to hide the iron and rough woodwork. The
whole of the curved sides of the saloon are formed of a series of light
angle irons curved to correspond to the girders, and a thin iron or
steel plating covers the whole exterior surface as far as the vertical
part w.
On Sheet D Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, in which is
seen the level of the ship's deck at A, from which access is had to the
suspended saloon through the vestibule B. By descending the stairs C
a person will arrive at one end of the passago D. A portion of the floor of
this passage is formed of oak bars, having a steel rod passing through
holes in both ends of them, these rods at one end resting on supports in
the fixed part of the structure, and their opposite ends working in
sockets attached to the movable saloon, so that these bars D¹ will
accommodate themselves to the motion of the vessel, and form an
inclined or slightly spiral surface, on which a person can walk without
difficulty and thus pass readily from the rolling part of the ship to the
quiet saloon. Near the end of this passage at D there is on one side a
refreshment box E, and on the opposite side a staircase F leading to the
promenade deck u. The curved stairs G lead down into the saloon,
around which is formed a raised dais H, with sofas I. A similar raised
portion J occupies the central part of the saloon, with sofas K; and an
enclosed space L, which contains the equilibrium valve, the hand gear,
and the man who controls its movement. M, M, are the ladies' private
cabins, and N are those provided for gentlemen, all of which form part
of the suspended structure.
The mode which I prefer to work the equilibrium valve and distribute

page_text: the water under pressure, which operates on the pistons employed to
control the motions of the saloon, is best seen on Shects C and E of
the annexed Drawings. In the latter P represents the external casing
of the equilibrium valve, which I prefer to be of that kind known as a
piston valve, the casing being provided with pipes which lead from the
valve through the trunnions ' to the opposite sides of the pistons Q,
and from thence returns the water to a cistern from which a set of
pumps actuated by steam power again forces it through the equilibrium
valve in quantities regulated in the manner about to be described.
The valve casing P is fixed on the floor of the saloon at a distance of
about 3 feet from a line drawn through the axes of the saloon, and
centrally on a line drawn through the cylinders h, h. Hence whenever
the floor of the saloon moves cither upward or downward from a true
horizontal position, the valve box P will also rise and fall, and if in such.
case the valve rod R is made to retain its position unaltered, the move-
ment upward and downward of the valve casing will cause the ports in
the valve to open and shut in the same manner, as is usually effected by
moving the valve rod up or down within a stationary valve box. Hence
it will be seen that the distance that the piston valve will cover or
uncover the ports will always be in proportion to the movement of the
floor on which the valve box rests.
The pipes are so arranged that whenever water flows under pressure
to the upper side of one piston h, it also flows to the under side of the
piston at the opposite end of the beams g, and the reverse sides of both
pistons are in like manner brought simultaneously into communication
with the exit water pipes in a manner similar to the ingress and egress
of steam from an ordinary steam cylinder, hence, while one end of the
beams are lifted the other ends are forced down alternately, as required.
It will be seen that the piston rods Q are jointed to the deck plates of
the ship at S, as shewn in Figure 2, Sheet F. The deck plates are
strengthened at this part by a strong rivetted framing S¹ attached at
cach side to the large vertical simi-bulkheads m*. The lower ends of the
cylinders are bolted to a hollow cross head ', see Figures 1, 3, and 4,
Sheet F. The ends of these cross heads work in brasses i, i, bolted to
the curved ends of the beams g, thus it will be understood that when
the ship rolls the friction of the bearings on the axes of the saloon (or
other causes) tend to produce a corresponding motion of the saloon; as
soon however as such motion commences the rise or fall (as the case
°

page_text: °
may be) of that part of the saloon floor on which the valve case P is
fixed will open a communication between the water under pressure and
the pistons Q, and counteract a further tendency to movement in that
direction, the opening of the valve taking place exactly in proportion to
the saloon's movement; thus if the ports are half an inch wide and there
is no lap in the valve, a movement upward of the valve box of half an
inch would open it to its fullest extent, hence if the distance of the
centre of the valve box is 3 feet from the axis of the saloon, and the
distance of the extreme width of the saloon is 15 feet from the centre,
it follows that a movement of 2½ inches at this part of the saloon will
fully open or close the valve,, as the case may be. It will also bo
understood that there being no lap in the valve the smallest amount of
the saloon's movement will commence to check it, and it will rarely
be required that the valve should be fully open.
The amount of motion of the saloon floor requisite to thus govern
itself is regulated at will in the following manner:-In a position
central with the axes of the saloon a small heavy disc wheel T is
supported on a hoizontal axis having a radius rod U united to it by a
joint at U*. On the top of the valve box P thero is a pair of plummer
blocks Z supporting a small way shaft, one end of which is shown at W.
This shaft carries a curved bell-crank lever X, the lower end of which is
united by links to the valve rod R, and on the upper curved part a
sliding piece Y is fitted, to which the radius rod U is jointed. A jointed
piece 1 is screwed on to the wheel on one side, having a short connecting
rod 2 attached to it, the lower end of which slides on the curved arm 3;
this arm is keyed on to a small way shaft supported by the plummer
blocks 4 resting on a strong bar 5, which is secured at both ends to the
raised part of the beam g, a pair of lever handles 6 is also keyed on
the same way shaft at a distance apart convenient for the steersman to
grasp firmly in his hands. Projecting from the wheel T is a small arm
carrying a spirit level 7; it extends forward between the handles 6, and
is immediately beneath the eye of the steersman, and his simple duty
will be to maintain a truc level in this instrument by gently moving the
handles 6, as the floor beneath him moves through a small space upward
or downward. The desired amount of range of the equilibrium valve
with a given motion of the saloon floor being regulated by the sliding
piece Y on the curved lever X, and by a similar arrangement by which
the connecting rod 2 slides on the curved arm 3, the position of the

page_text: joints 1 and U* in reference to the axis of the wheel T form a triangle,
and serve the purpose of a bell crank with the advantage that the
wheel T by its viz inertia serves to correct small inequalities of pressure
and motion better than a light bell-cranked lever would do, and thus
renders the task of steering more casy and simple. It will be observed
that in this arrangement of the valves and levers the man operating has
not to exercise any judgement as to how far he will open or shut the
valve to check or alter the saloon's motion, but he has merely to keep the
wheel T motionless, as indicated by the spirit level, by doing which the
slight motion of the saloon floor will of itself turn on or off the water ]
pressure from the pistons in the exact proportion that is necessary to
maintain the floor of the saloon in a horizontal position less the small
movement requisite to move the slide valve.
When the steam ship is not under weigh it is desirable that she should
have the means of securing the saloon from motion without the attention:
of the steersman. It is also very desirable that in case of any accident
occurring in the steam pumps or other hydraulic apparatus, or the acci-
dontal bursting of a water pipe or other like cause, that the saloon
should be rendered a fixture with the vessel, with the saloon floor
parallel with the ship's deck. For this purpose I employ two water
cylinders 8, 8, fixed in an inclined position firmly by flanges formed
along their sides and united by angle irons to the lower framing m of
the ship. Central between them is a strong bed plate 9 fastened to the
frames 1, 1, before described. The bed plate 9 has two cheeks a short
distance apart with grooves formed therein, in which two short cross
heads 10 slide. To these cross heads the piston rods 12, 12, and pistons
13 are attached. Beneath the main central beam a of the floor a strong
forging 14 is securely rivetted by angle brackets. The picce 14 projects
downwards in the centre at 14*, but there is sufficient space between
the cross heads 10, 10, for it to oscillate so long as the pistons 12 are
retained at the furthest or lower ends of their respective cylinders. A
small water vessel of strong plate iron is placed at any convenient poiut
between the steam boilers and the cylinders 8, 8, capable of containing
about twice as much water as will fill the cylinders 8, 8. A communi-
cation between the boilers and the upper part of this vessel is made by
a pipe, and a similar pipe is made to communicate between the lower
part of the water vessel and the lower ends of the cylinders 8. This
pipe is shewn broken off at 15, 15. Similar pipes 16, 16, communicate

page_text: with the water pipes charged with the water under high pressure, which
works the hydraulic pistons Q. Now the pressure of the water for this
purpose may be equal to about 400 lbs. per square inch, and consequently
while the pipes 15 and 16 are open to their respective reservoirs the
pistons 13 will be by the superior force of the water entering at the
pipe 16 kept down to the lower end of their respective cylinders, and
thus allow the piece 14 to freely oscillate between the cross heads 10;
but if the steersman is desirous to fix the saloon rigidly with the ship
he has only to allow the water to escape freely from the upper end of
the cylinders 8 by the means of a two-way valve from the pipe 16,
when the force of the water acting on the lower side of the pistons will
cause them to push forward and act on the piece 14, at whatever part of
its path it may be in, and force it to the centre, where both pistons will
hold it firmly between them, and thus retain the saloon in its required
position. By again allowing the high pressure water to enter by the
pipes 16 the low pressure water will be forced back into its reservoir
and the piece 14 be again at liberty to oscillate with the saloon floor.
.
It will be understood that the openings by which the water has ingress
and cgress from the cylinders 8, 8, are so small as to prevent their
movement with a speed that would give a sensible blow on their coming
in contact with the piece 14. Should at any time a stoppage of the
hydraulic power take place by the bursting of a pipe or otherwise the
failure of the pressure on the upper side of the break cylinders 8 will
allow the pressure always kept up in the vessel in connection with the
boilers to slowly move the pistons forward and push the piece 14 until
the saloon floor resumes a position parallel with the ship's deck, and
there retains it, at the same time the steersman would pull the lever
handle 17, which acting on a small bell crank 18 would slide a stout
steel bolt 19 into its socket, and thus further secure the saloon firmly to
the ship.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
1. The construction of the floor or platform of suspended saloons
with a central cross beam or beams extending beyond the exterior of
said saloon and having the controlling power applied to its ends, as
hercin described.
☑ The employment of a pair of oscillating cylinders and nistone

page_text: acting vertically and simultaneously on the opposite ends of beams
which project beyond the external sides of the saloon.
3. The employment of a strong cast-iron frame projecting upwards
through the floor of the saloon for the purpose of supporting the axes
of the principal floor beams.
4. The construction of the floor or platform of suspended saloons
with a central cross beam or beams extending beyond the exterior of
said saloon, combined with a longitudinal central girder and with
diagonal beams, as shewn on Sheet A of the Drawings.
5. The employment in the construction of the suspended saloon of
arch-shaped beams or girders, combined with a rectangular frame or
girder, supported on vertical stanchions, said arched beams serving to
support the upper deck of the saloon, as described.
6. The supporting the axes of the suspended saloon in plummer
blocks, supported on a wide or deep girder extending entirely across the
ship, as shewn.
7. The peculiar construction of hollow cross head and cylinder, repre-
sented on Sheet F, and the mode of attaching the piston rods to the
deck plates and partial bulkheads of the ship.
8. The peculiar arrangement of levers or hand gear employed in
connection with a heavy wheel for the purpose of regulating or con-
trolling the distributing valve of the hydraulic apparatus, as described:
9. The employment of cylinders and pistons, actuated by watér
pressure, for the purpose of forcing the saloon when necessary into any
desired position, and locking or retaining it there, as herein described.
10. The combined arrangement of suspended saloon and controlling
gear, substantially as herein described and shewn in the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of
E