Improvements in and relating to the Fastening of the Waterproof Covers of Ships' Hatchways.
Year: 1894

page_text: CUNT DEID
Improvements in and relating to the Fastening of the Waterproof
Covers of Ships' Hatchways.
I, GEORGE BROWN of 148 High Street, Maryport, in the County of Cumberland
Master Mariner 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 :-
Although many and various means have hitherto been proposed for fastening and
holding the edges of the water proof covers of ships' hatchways, with a view to
secure these against spontaneous removal in rough weather, I am not aware that a
safe and reliable means has hitherto been provided for effecting the said fastening,
that at the same time precluded all possibility of the water getting between the
edges of said covers and the coamings of the hatchway, in very rough weather.
It is a fact well known to experienced mariners, that in fastening down the edges
of the covers referred to, it is next to impossible to effect this without certain folds
or overlaps occurring in the said edges, and that if these be only slightly exposed to
the force of the waves, shipped during a heavy sea, that the water will find its way
between the said folds, and that if water in ever such small quantities at a time, is
allowed to get between the said cover and the coamings, that the said water will
eventually find its way into the hatchway, and probably rupture the cover, and to
prevent such exposure of the said edges, and the consequences arising therefrom, is
the object and purpose of my invention.
In order that my invention and the manner of its application and operation may
be fully understood, I have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a perspective view of so much of a ship's hatchway as will serve
to illustrate the general application of my invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of either side of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 Sheet 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are plan views (partly in section) of corners of ships hatchways,
illustrating alternative arrangements of my invention in connection therewith.
Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged front elevation and vertical section respectively,
of specially constructed screw bolts, which I prefer to employ for fixing and holding
the water proof hatchway cover retaining plate, as hereinafter explained.
I carry my invention into effect by rivetting, screwing, bolting or otherwise
fixing in any suitable manner, upon each of the vertical sides or coamings A, of a
ships hatchway, at any convenient distance below the usual moulded upper edge of
same, a metallic channel B, preferably, but not imperatively rectangular in cross
section, each of which may be of precisely the same length as the said sides or
coamings A, so that a small space exists between their ends as at Figs. 1, 5 and 6.
In each of said channels B, I place loosely on edge a flat metallic bar or plate C,
of the same length as B, and between these and the coamings A, the edges of the
waterproof hatchway covering D would be placed and held as shewn by Fig. 1.
At suitable intervals in the length of the upstanding ridges B' of the channels B,
I provide internally threaded holes, each of which is fitted with a suitable screw
bolt or thumb screw E, the screwing home of which would cause the plates C, to
abut against the edges of the cover D, and bite the same between themselves and
the coamings A, and so retain it in position.
It will be understood that although a wave may break with great force against
the under surface of B, it could not even wet the edges of D, and by reason of the
plates C resting upon the bottom or horizontal portion of the channels B, it would
not be possible for water to get beneath this with anything like sufficient force to

page_text: drive up between D and A, and such portion of the water as may get between the
plates D, and the ridge B', would, by the motion of the vessel be discharged through
the open ends of B.
At that portion of the cover D covering the corners of the hatchway, a certain
number of folds or overlaps is inevitable, unless the cover be shaped to fit the
hatchway, which is seldom the case, and in order that the water may not get beneath
the cover at these points, I provide thereat plates F, which would be bent to
correspond with the shape of the corner of the hatchway, as shown by Figs. 5 and 6,
and these would be retained in position by their ends being placed between the ends
of the adjacent plates C, and the ridges B' of B, the end screws or bolts E in the
latter of which would press upon these, and these upon the plates C, or the said
pieces F may be placed between the plates C and cover D so that the bolts E when
pressing home C would also press home F, but in either method the said pieces F
would press against the corner folds of D, and prevent water from getting in at
that point, of which only an inch or two would be exposed, and I may obviate the
possibility of water entering at this small space, by so extending the ends of the
channels B, that such extensions may form a seating for that portion of the pieces F.
The position of these pieces is also shown by a dotted line in Fig. 1.
When the corners of the hatchway are curved as at Fig. 6, I may employ a
continuous length of channelling B, so that this may extend unbroken all round the
hatchway, as shewn by the corner view Fig. 4, in which case, the corner pieces F,
may have an additional or supplementary retaining screw E, as shown in the same
figure, and I may in lieu of the said corner pieces F, extend the length of the plates C,
and bend or curve one end of these, so that the said bent or curved end of one plate,
may overlap the unbent or straight end of the next. In this method I may find it
convenient to make openings B in the ridge B' as shewn at Fig. 4, to permit
escape of the small portion of water that may as before stated get between C
and B.
In Fig. 7 and 8 I illustrate a specially constructed and arranged bolt E, also
forming part of the combination constituting my invention. The object of this arrange-
ment is, that in large cargo vessels having large hatchways, carrying heavy water-
proof cloths D, a greater leverage may be brought to bear upon the said screws,
and, to facilitate the use of a marlin spike or a spanner to effect this, I form the
head E of the bolt as shown in the said figures, the outer portion of which a, is
formed to receive a spanner, and between this and its flange any number of holes b,
are provided for the reception of a marlin spike or its equivalent as shown in Figs. 2
and 7. I may also provide that the ends of the threaded portion of these bolts may
carry a flange c, by means of which and a boss d the said bolts may be permanently.
but loosely connected to the plates C, as shewn in Fig. 8.
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 :-
1st. In an improved method of, and means for, securing the waterproof covers of
ships hatchways, the construction and use of the herein described combination of
parts, and the several alternative modifications in the arrangement of same, connected
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth, and shewn by
the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved method of, and means for, securing the waterproof covers of
ships hatchways, the combination of metallic channels or channelling B, B', fixed
by any suitable means upon the coamings A, and provided with bolts or thumb
screws such as E, and flat metallic plates or bars C, and curved or angle pieces F,
connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The construction and use of a screw bolt consisting of the combination of a
threaded portion E, and head E', the latter formed at a for the reception of a

page_text: spanner, and provided with holes b for the reception of a marlin spike or its
equivalent, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 24th day of October.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.