Improvements in Doors for Ships' Bulk-heads Air-Locks and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Doors for Ships' Bulk-heads Air-Locks and the
like.
I, WILLIAM HOUGHTON, of the Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York, State of New
York, U.S.A., Engineer, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a door that shall be water tight or air
tight, or substantially so, that can be readily opened and closed, and that shall require
but little space for its installation and operation.
With these objects in view I provide a door frame or casing that is circular in eross
section and tapers from the top downwardly. In it I arrange a correspondingly
tapered circular door, which is a hollow chamber with a proper opening or openings
to coincide or register with the openings in the door frame. This door turns upon a
vertical axis coincident with the axis of the casing. Normally when the door is closed
it seats itself in its tapered socket or casing, forming a substantially water or air tight
joint. When the door is partially rotated it is caused to rise, thus passing substan-
tially out of frictional contact with its casing, and may therefore, be readily turned to
the desired position. In the case of doors for ships' bulk-heads I also provide an
arrangement by which the door, if open, will be automatically closed by the rise of
water in either of the compartments which it connects.
Aside from these general features, my invention embodies certain details of organi-
zation all as hereinafter described.
The interior face of the casing and the exterior face of the door may be machine
finished, that is to say they may be turned or ground to produce the most efficient
and accurate fit.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a vertical section.
Figure 2 a transverse section therethrough on the line 2, 2.
Figure 3 a similar section on the line 3, 3.
Figure 4 a similar section on the line 4, 4.
Figure 5 an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1 with the lower part broken away to
show the rolls upon the bottom of the revolving door and the inclined tracks on the
floor of the casing upon which the rolls travel.
Figure 6 a plan view of Fig. 1, and
Figure 7 a transverse section therethrough on the line 7, 7.
Figures 9 to 14 inclusive show a modified form of my invention,
Figure 8 being a vertical section.
Figure 9 a transverse section therethrough on the line 9, 9.
Figure 10 a similar section on the line 10, 10.

page_text: Figure 12 a side elevation at right angles to Fig. 8 with the lower portion broken
away.
Figure 13 a plan view thereof, and
Figure 14 a transverse section therethrough on the line 14, 14.
I will first describe the organization shown in Figures 1 to 7.
In Figure 1 X represents a portion of a partition or ship's bulk head. An opening
is formed therein to which the cylindrical casing or frame is applied. This casing is
shown as composed of two parts A, semi-circular in cross section and provided with
At the bottom their circumference is con-
flanges for attachment to the bulk head.
tinuous and at a suitable distance above the bottom they are formed with openings
which constitute the passage way. Above these two parts are two solid semi-circular
parts B whose circumference and tops are continuous or unbroken; and which together
form a closed cap for the door frame, and are provided with flanges for attachment
to the bulk-head and to the parts A A. This casing throughout the area occupied
by the circular door and somewhat above it, is tapered interiorally from the top
downwardly. The door C is a hollow cylindrical tapering body formed with a closed
bottom C¹ and opposite openings in its sides. It fits closely within the casing and
At the
turns upon a pivot C2 that is stepped in a socket in the floor of the frame.
top it is formed with radial arms uniting in the hub C3 at the center and in this hub
is keyed a short shaft D that has its upper bearing in the top of the cap of the
casing formed by the parts B B. On the under side of the bottom of the
circular door are lugs, in which are journaled the shafts of conical rolls E which run
upon the circular tracks on the floor of the casing. This track or circular path F is
divided into four equal parts, each of which is inclined radially to coincide with the
taper of the rolls. The track is also inclined circumferentially and has two opposite
low parts ff connected at each side by a rising incline fi extending through
approximately a quarter of the circle to the highest point f, from which it declines
again to the lowest point f, that is to say, on each side of a diametric line passing
through the low portions of the track the inclination of the track is upward to its
highest point and then downward again, the highest points of the track being in a
line at right angles to the diametric line passing through the low points f. When the
rolls are upon the lowest parts of these inclines the circular door is closed and in its lowest
position, as seen in sectional view, Fig. 3, and is closely seated in the casing. When
the door has revolved through a quarter of a revolution to bring the openings coinci-
dent with the openings in the casing, the rollers travel up the inclines and lift the door
from its seat in the casing and permit it to turn readily. In this position the friction
and resistance to motion through the shafts and gearings is sufficient to hold the
door at rest in the open position with the rolls upon the highest points of the
track.
It is obvious that with such an organization I obtain a tightly fitting door of great
strength, whose operation will not be materially impeded or interfered with by
pressure upon its sides, or either of them, and that may be rotated readily with a
small expenditure of power. The details thus far, and hereinafter described, inay
of course be varied in many ways obvious to those skilled in the art, without departing
from the principles of construction and operation herein before indicated.
The means which I have shown for controlling the operation of the door are as
follows:
The winch G located at a suitable point upon one face of the bulk-head, has a
driving shaft extending through the bulk-head and equipped on each end with an
operating crank. Through the medium of suitable gears a vertical shaft H may be
rotated and a beveled gear H¹ thereon meshes with a corresponding beveled gear on
a horizontal counter-shaft H2, which has a beveled gear meshing with a beveled
gear H3 on a vertical shaft projecting through the top of the casing and carrying a
pinion that meshes with the gear upon the shaft D fixed in the top of the cylindrical
door. By the manipulation of the winch from either side of the bulk-head the door
may therefore he rotated to open or close it in the manner already indicated. The
beveled gears H₁ H³ slide upon their shafts and may be controlled as follows. A

page_text: Divoted lever h connected with the beveled gear H¹ at one end, and from its
opposite end extends downwardly, a rod h¹, which at its lower end is coupled to a
ever having one end pivoted in a stud or bracket on the deck below the floor level,
and carrying at its opposite free end a float. 13. The other beveled gear H³ is con-
nected to one end of a pivoted lever ht from the opposite end of which extends
downwardly a rod h³ which at its lower end is pined to a pivoted lever he similar to
the lever h² and having at its free end a suitable float. As seen plainly in Figure 5
one float is located on each side of the bulk-head while both gears H¹ H³ are located
upon the same side of the bulk-head. The lever h* therefore has its free end, to
which the rod h³ is connected on the opposite side of the bulk-head, its axis passing
Normally when there is no water in
through a suitable bearing in the bulk head.
the space in which the floats are located, the weight of the parts is sufficient to hold
the beveled gears H¹³ up in operative connection with the gears with which they
engage. In the event, however, of water rising in the compartment on either side
of the bulk head the float in that compartment rises and the end thrust of the vertical
rod connected with the lever h or ht causes either the gear H¹ or H³ to pass out of
Should this condition arise the resistance
engagement with its corresponding gear.
opposed to the rotation of the door is removed and it then automatically turns, the
rolis E running down the inclines of the track to the lowest points when the door is
closed and seated in its socket.
In Figures 8 to 14 inclusive 1 have shown a door constructed according to my
invention, which always closes the opening in which it is located. Such a door is
suitable as an air lock aboard ship where forced draught is used, and also where it is
desired that the divisional ships' bulk heads between large compartments shall be
maintained intact. The door casing or frame is the same as that already described,
as is also the cylindrical door, except that it has but one opening leading into it
which in one position of the door communicates with one compartment, and in the
other position with the other compartment. The organization otherwise is, or may be
the same as that already described except in the following respects. The pinions H¹
H3 are fast in their shafts, and the counter-shaft pinion with which H¹ gears slides on
a key or feather connection. Its sleeve is connected with a lever or arm M projecting
from a rock shaft m turning in bearings in the bulk-head, and having at each end,
or lever M¹. The shaft m has a taper
on either side of the bulk-head, an arm
screw m¹ having a correspondingly shaped seat in the bearing so that when the gear
on the counter-shaft is thrown into mesh with H₁ by the manipulation of either lever
M', it will be so held by the frictional binding of the rock shaft in its socket. If
these two pinions be out of gear, a person in a compartment on either side of the
bulk head may throw them into gear, and by means of the winch G, revolve the door
until its opening is turned toward that compartment. He may then disengage the
gears and enter the cylindrical door, within which is mounted a winch N having a
bevel gear N adapted to mesh with a sliding bevel pinion N2 on a vertical shaft O,
when the latter pinion is moved upward by rod n by means of a treadle pivoted on
the floor of the door. The shaft O has at its upper end a spur wheel 01 gearing with
an internally geared ring (2 mounted within the cap B B of the door casing. By this
5 means the person within the door may revolve it until the opening is turned toward
the other compartment. This requires a half revolution of the door and hence the
rolls E E occupy the lowest portions of the track when the door is in either
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
50 tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: -
First: The combination of a tapering cylindrical door casing having openings in its
opposite sides, a correspondingly tapered cylindrical door seated and turning within
the casing and having an opening in its walls, and mechanism actuated from either
55 side of the casing for turning the door and raising it from its seat in the casing to
bring its opening opposite either opening in the casing.

page_text: Second: The combination of a bulk-head, a tapered cylindrical door casing forming
à part thereof and having openings communicating with the respective compartments
separated by the bulk-head, a correspondingly tapered hollow cylindrical door seated
and adapted to turn in the casing and having one or more openings in its walls
corresponding with the openings in the casing, mechanism for turning the door, and
means located on each side of the bulk-head for at will operating said mechanism
substantially as set forth.
Third: The combination of a tapering cylindrical door casing having openings in
its opposite sides, a correspondingly. tapered cylindrical door seated and turning
within the casing and having an opening in its walls, radially arranged rolls on the
bottom of the door, the inclined circular track upon which the rolls run, and
mechanism actuated from either side of the door for rotating it.
:
Fourth The combination of a tapering cylindrical door casing having openings
in its opposite sides, a correspondingly tapered cylindrical dor seated and turning
in the casing and having two openings in its walls, radially arranged rolls on
the bottom of the door, the inclined circular track upon which the rolls run, and
mechanism actuated from either side of the casing for rotating the door to
bring either its openings or its solid walls opposite the openings in the
casing.
Fifth The combination of a tapering cylindrical door casing having openings in its
opposite sides, a correspondingly tapered cylindrical door seated and turning within
the casing and having two openings in its walls, radially arranged rolls on the bottom
of the door, the inclined circular track upon which the rolls run, and which has two
low portions and two intermediate high portions connected by inclines, mechanism
for rotating the door to bring its openings opposite the openings in the casing and its
rolls upon the high points of the track and there holding them, and float devices for
releasing the door and permitting it to descend and rotate by gravity to bring its solid
walls opposite the openings in the casing.
Sixth The combination of a tapering cylindrical door casing, having openings in its
opposite sides, a correspondingly tapered cylindrical door seated and turning therein
and having two openings in its walls, mechanism for rotating and raising the door to
bring its openings opposite the openings in the casing, and float devices for releasing
the door and permitting it to descend and rotate by gravity to bring its solid walls
opposite the openings in the casing.
Dated at New York, NY. U.S.A.. this 14th day of June 1899.