Improvements in Means for Preventing Collisions Between Ships or Vessels, and in Minimizing the Effect thereof
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1895
Complete Spécification Left. 14th Nov.. 1895-Accepted. 4th Jan. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preventing Collisions Between Ships or
Vessels, and in Minimizing the Effect thereof
I CHARLES HENRY KEATS, Jeweller, of 29 Red Lion Street, in the City of,
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention for improvements in vessels has for its objects to reduce the
liability to damage from collision, to provide more efficient means for signalling
the approach of a vessel to avoid collisions; and cousists essentially in providing.
the bows of the vessels with a buffer apparatus of special construction, and in
providing a revolving light signal apparatus.
The buffer apparatus consists of a usual spring buffer with its casing surrounding.
the helical spring, the said casing being attached to one or more bow springs and
also to a piston or plunger working in a cylinder containing oil or other suitable
liquid. The cylinder is attached to a transverse partition at some distance from
the bows and a longitudinal partition extends from this transverse partition to the
bows so as to divide the vessel into three water tight compartments. The bow
springs are attached to the framework of the vessel. The casing may be further
secured by cables or ropes.
The revolving light apparatus is fixed on the bows and may consist of coloured:
lights that can be revolved, or of coloured glasses that can be revolved in front of
white lights. When the vessel is in motion the lights or glasses are revolved..
The mechanism may be operated by hand or otherwise. The lights may be
arranged horizontally or vertically or both.
Dated this 14th day of February 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Means for Preventing Collisions Between Ships or
Vessels, and in Minimizing the Effect thereof.
I CHARLES HENRY KEATS, Jeweller, of 29 Red Lion Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 for improvements in means for preventing collisions between
ships or vessels and in minimizing the effect thereof has for its objects to reduce
the liability to damage from collision, to provide more efficient means for signalling
the approach of a vessel to avoid collisions; and consists essentially in providing the
bows of the vessel with a buffer apparatus of special construction, and in providing
a revolving light signal apparatus.
The buffer apparatus consists of a usual spring buffer with its casing surrounding
the helical spring, the said casing being attached to one or more bow springs and
also to a piston or plunger working in a cylinder containing oil or other suitable
| Dan S

page_text: liquid. The cylinder is attached to a transverse partition at some distance from
the bows and a longitudinal partition extends from this transverse partition to the
bows so as to divide the vessel into three water tight compartments. The bow
springs are attached to the framework of the vessel. The casing may be further
secured by cables or ropes.
The revolving light apparatus is fixed on the bows and may consist of coloured
lights that can be revolved, or of coloured glasses that can be revolved in front of
white lights. When the vessel is in motion the lights or glasses are revolved.
The mechanism may be operated by hand or otherwise. The lights may be
arranged horizontally or vertically or both.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a vessel provided with means for preventing
collisions between ships or vessels and in minimizing the effect thereof, constructed
according to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the revolving light signal apparatus.
The buffer apparatus arranged at the bow of the vessel comprises a head or
pad A fixed on a rod B guided by a tube C and working as a plunger in a
cylinder D fixed to a transverse partition E. The rod B is also attached to
springs FF bearing respectively against the transverse beam G, and the bottom
of a cylinder G' attached to the tube C. The tube C is attached to springs H
bearing against the transverse beam I. The cylinder D contains glycerine or
other suitable liquid and may be provided with au ontlet, the area of which can
be readily adjusted by a set screw or otherwise. A longitudinal partition L
extends from the transverse partition E to the bows so as to divide the vessel into
three watertight compartments.
The revolving light apparatus M is fixed at the bow end of the deck of the
vessel. The lanterns N emitting the coloured light are supported on a table O
mounted in a framework P and driven by bevel gearing Q from the handle R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A buffer apparatus for a vessel to minimise the effect of a collision sub-
stantially as described.
2. A revolving light apparatus fitted on a vessel to attract attention and indicate
the position of the vessel substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of November 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.