IMPROVED MEANS FOR OBVIATING OR REDUCING DAMAGE AND LOSS ARISING FROM COLLISIONS OF OR LEAKS IN SHIPS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Down of Cardiff in the County of
Glamorgan for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS FOR OBVIATING OR
REDUCING DAMAGE AND LOSS ARISING FROM COLLISIONS OF OR LEAKS IN
SHIPS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Down at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1883.
GEORGE HENRY DOWN of Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan, "IMPROVED
MEANS FOR OBVIATING OR REDUCING DAMAGE AND LOSS ARISING FROM COLLISIONS
OF, OR LEAKS IN SHIPS,"
The first part of this invention relates to the means of obviating or reducing
the destruction of ships and loss of life resulting from collisions, and consists in
placing a block of india rubber or other pliant and suitably elastic material, or a
series of two or more such blocks piled vertically, in front of the bows of ships,
the block or blocks being adjustable at any desired level on the stem, so that on
the occurrence of a collision, the blow is received by one of the ships, and in some
cases by both, upon the buffer or cushion so formed.
In applying this part of the said invention to ships constructed, metal strips or
rails extending vertically on each side of the stem are fitted, the said strips or
rails being recessed at the back to form a way or groove to receive the buffer
which is furnished with a shoe or frame to fit over the strips or rails.
In applying the buffer or cushion to ships to be constructed, or in course of
construction, it is preferred to form a groove in each side of the stem into which
the shoe or frame of the buffer takes, in a manner similar to that above described.
The buffer is readily lowered into position or raised as required by. a .davit and
tackle, a crane, jib or other device or means.
The second part of this invention relates to the means of stopping leaks or
holes resulting from any cause. A guard or shield of canvas, matting or other
suitable and water proof material, one side of which is provided with a soft

page_text: fibrous or woolly surface, is secured on a frame, some of the members of which,
preferably the side members, may be of india rubber or other suitable pliant, and
elastic material.
This guard or shield is lowered from the deck to cover a leak or hole, and the
fibrous or woolly side thereof is presented to and forced against the leak to prevent
the water from entering at the same. When the leak is at a rounded or angular
part of the ship's hull, the upper and lower horizontal members of the said frame
are removed to permit the guard or shield to conform to the shape of the ship at
the required point. Weights are attached to the guard or shield to assist in
lowering and maintaining it in place. To the lower member are secured rods or
bars, one on each side of the guard or shield, and to their upper ends, which extend.
up to or above the rail or bulwarks of the ship, are attached adjustable handles or
levers which bear on the rail or bulwarks as a fulcrum and, extending backwards,
are capable of being secured on deck. The rods or bars aforesaid are curved and
are so placed that the concave sides are towards the ship. Accordingly, as the
inner ends of the handles or levers are raised, the pressure brought to bear on the
guard or shield, and tending to press the latter against the leak or hole, is
increased so as to more effectually exclude the water.
Under a modification, the sheet of canvas or other material employed to
exclude the water is held in a rigid frame having an additional member extending
across it to which is pivotted or otherwise attached the rod or bar extending
upwards to the deck or bulwarks.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Henry Down in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1883.
GEORGE HENRY DOWN of Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan IMPROVED
MEANS FOR OBVIATING OR REDUCING DAMAGE AND LOSS ARISING FROM COLLISIONS
OF OR LEAKS IN SHIPS.
The first part of my said invention consists in placing a block of india-rubber
or other pliant and suitably elastic material, or a series of two or more such blocks
piled vertically, in front of the bows of ships, the block or blocks being adjustable
to any desired level on the stem, so that, on the occurrence of a collision, the
blow is received by one of the ships, and in some cases by both, upon the buffer
or cushion so formed. The buffer is readily lowered, adjusted and maintained
in position or raised, as required, by a davit and tackle, a crane or other device
or means.
+
The second part of my said invention relates to the means of stopping leaks or
holes in ships. A guard or shield of canvas, matting or other suitable and water
proof material, one side of which is preferably provided with a soft, fibrous or
woolly surface, is secured on a frame some of the members of which may be of
india-rubber or other suitable, pliant and elastic material. This guard or shield
is lowered from the deck to cover a leak or hole and the fibrous or woolly side
thereof is presented to and forced against the leak or hole, the suction of the water
assisting therein.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed more particularly to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of illustrative drawings and the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig 1 illustrates in sectional plan, and Fig 2 in side elevation, one method of
carrying the first part of my said invention into practical effect. The buffer or
cushion A, of india-rubber or other pliant and suitably elastic material, is fitted
with a shoe B extending vertically throughout its length. The line F F represents
an arbitrary water line. On each side of the stem C of the ship is secured a
guide or rail a, recessed at the back to form a way or groove to receive the
shoe B carrying the buffer or cushion A which is readily lowered away and
adjusted to any desired position on the stem C by means of a davit D and
tackle d operated from the forecastle of the ship, or by a crane or other device or
means.
At
On the occurrence of a collision, the force of the blow both delivered and
received is lessened by the intervention of the buffer or cushion A, and the effect
correspondingly reduced. The buffer or cushion A, which may be perforated as
shown at Fig 1 or not, may be built up of a series of blocks piled vertically.
Figs 3 and 4 is illustrated a modification of this part of my said invention. The
bars e, extending vertically throughout the buffer A, and partially enclosed in the
material of which it is constituted, are tied together at desired intervals by the
cross bars . The buffer, when adjusted to the desired position, is secured in place
by the bolt o passed through the upper ends of the bars e and through the stem C
which is pierced for the purpose at desired intervals. It may be further secured'
by a rope or chain attached at each side to the lower ends of the bars e and
extending upwards into the ship.
At Figs 5 and 6 is represented one method of carrying the second part of my
said invention into practical effect. Fig 5 is a side elevation, and Fig 6 a vertical
section of a nortion of a ship's side.

page_text: The guard or shield L, of canvas, matting or other suitable and waterproof
material, one face of which is preferably provided with a soft, fibrous or woolly
surface, is held in a frame the side members M of which may be of india-rubber
or other suitable, pliant and elastic material. The guard or shield L, having the
fibrous or woolly surface next the ship, is lowered from the deck to cover a hole or
leak N against which the guard is impelled, the sucking action of the water
assisting therein. The further influx of water is thus prevented Weights P may
be attached to the lower horizontal member Q of the frame to assist in lowering
the same which, when in position, is made secure from the deck of the ship.
As seen at Fig 6, a rod X attached to the lower horizontal member Q, may be
employed and operated from the deck, through the medium of the lever Y, to.
assist in maintaining the shield in position.
Under a modification of the second part of my said invention, the side
members M of the frame may be dispensed with and the shield be made capable
of being rolled around the lower horizontal member Q of the frame, when not in
use. Lines attached to the member Q, which may be of any desired weight, may
be passed under the ship and made secure from the opposite side to further assist
in keeping the guard or shield A in place.
Having now described my said Invention and some of the modes in which
the same may be used or practically carried into effect, I claim as the invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent-
Firstly, The application of the buffer to the purpose specified, and arranged
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Secondly, The method of covering and stopping leaks by means of the guard or
shield constructed and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said George Henry Down, have hereunto set my.hand
and seal this twelfth day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
GEORGE HENRY DOWN
DOWN (1.S.)