Construction of Ships' Berths.
Year: 1886

page_text: Construction of Ships' Berths.
We FREDERICK HORATIO STREET, of St. George's Road, Hull, Master Mariner,
and CHARLES ELLIS, of Selby Street, Hull, Grocer, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This Invention relates to certain improvements which are especially applicable
to the construction of ships' berths, and such application of the improvements
herein described is illustrated on the accompanying drawing in the perspective
views Figures 1 and 2.
The Invention consists essentially in a novel arrangement and application for the
purposes herein referred to of lattice work which is so applied in the improved
manner hereinafter described as that it may have extensible and collapsible
movement given to it in one direction (say longitudinally) without corresponding
alteration of dimension in the other (or transverse) direction.
To attain this object according to the present improvements, we construct lattice
work of the required dimensions of wood or metal laths rivetting or pivotting the
intersections thereof as desired, and apply it to the intended purpose in independent
sections, so combining and applying such sections as that when in their fully
opened position they exactly occupy the required area, and so that they can be
independently or together closed up without lateral distension.
On the accompanying drawings,-1, 2, 3, represent three of such sections of
lattice work constructed of metal laths, 4, rivetted at their intersections, 5.
6, 7, represent horizontal supporting bars which are or may be permanently or
temporarily let into uprights or equivalent supports, 8, and to which bars 6, 7, the
adjacent ends of the sections, 1, 2, 3, are connected the sections being alternately
connected to the bars, 6, and, 7, and the connection being effected by eyes, 9, or
other means affording a facility of sliding along the bars, 6, 7. The bars are
arranged at a distance apart just sufficient to permit of the eyes, 9, of the adjacent
sections sliding freely past each other when the sections of lattice work are being
closed up or opened out.
Each section is fixedly connected to its bar, 6, or, 7, at some part the inner
section (or sections if more than three in all, and if not applied in pairs,) being
connected to its or their bar centrally of its or their width, as at, 10, and the
outside sections (or each section if applied in pairs) being connected to their bar
or bars at their outer sides, as at, 11. All other connections, 9, of the sections with
the said bars, 6, 7, permit of such parts of the sections sliding along such bars
differentially in ratio to their distance from the said fixed parts 10, 11.
The alternate sections are likewise adapted with continuous foot or bottom bars,
or each section is adapted with a separate foot or bottom bar 12, to which bars

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the adjacent ends of the sections are similarly connected as hereinbefore described
with reference to the connection of the other ends thereof to the top bars, 6, 7.
By such arrangement and combination of parts all permanent grooved or other
side guides are dispensed with and when the sections are collapsed or closed up as
they may be in a series together or separately, the outer parts of the inner section
(or sections if more than three in all, and if not applied in pairs,) distend in
opposite directions from the centre or fixed portion 10, thereof, and the inner
parts of the outer sections distend inwards in opposite directions from the fixed
parts, 11, at the outer sides thereof, and as the bars 6, 7, are in different planes the
adjacent parts of the adjacent sections are caused to overlap each other, and the
outer parts of the outer sections being fixed as described, lateral distension or
increase of the total width is obviated.
When lattice work is adapted in the manner described without side guides, and
to serve as the bottom of berths when distended, with facility of being closed up
in the manner also described, it may then be turned on its rods, 6, 7, the fixed
connections, 10, 11, being of such a formation as to permit of this movement, and
may then be stowed out of the way without removal against the inner sides of the
ship or vessel, in the manner illustrated at x, in Fig. 2, or may be conveniently
supported by depending legs or otherwise and utilized as seats.
13, represents a series of fixed or removable uprights fitted in the upper and
bottom decks, 14, 15, or suspended at, 16, from the upper deck and fitting in
sockets, 17, and which are provided with hooks or equivalent devices at, 18, for
supporting the said foot bars, 12, and stretching the lattice sections.
19, represents a removable lattice foot rail which is detachably connected to
the said uprights, 13, and can be folded together when removed therefrom;-and
20, represents removable lattice side rails which extend from the head rail, 21, to
the said foot rail 19, and are suitably connected to both and can be set at any
required distance apart to divide off the berths.
The hereinbefore described improved arrangement of lattice work and upright
supports can also be used with advantage in dividing off and supporting cargo;
and the improved arrangement of lattice work may also be used in the construction
of hospital, barrack and other bedsteads, garden seats, shelves, and cattle and stable
fittings on board ship and elsewhere, the sections being arranged in all modifications
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is,―
1. The hereinbefore described improved arrangement of lattice work in com-
bination with the improved fittings thereof, and the application thereof for the
purposes herein before referred to substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination in the construction of ships' berths of collapsible and
extensible sections of lattice work arranged supported fitted and operating
without variation of outside dimension in one direction in the improved manner
herein before described, with the removable lattice or folding footrail, and with the
removable lattice or folding side rails, substantially as hereinbefore described.
D
T1
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Agents for the Applicants.