An Improved Draft Indicator for Ships.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Draft Indicator for Ships.
THOMAS ALFRED REED Consulting Engineer & Surveyor Merchants Exchange
Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the construction of an apparatus to be placed in a
ship for shewing at a glance the depth of water a ship is drawing.
For this purpose I construct an apparatus consisting of a tube attached to the
shell of a ship below the water line by means of a suitable cock which admits water
into the tube or shuts the water off. The tube to be carried to a suitable height and
fitted at its upper end with a glass gauge or any other transparent tube. The tube
may be marked in feet and inches or attached to an indicator marked in feet &
inches, the indicator may also have the load line disc and freeboard marks, marked
on same. At the lower end of the tube, I fit a cock for draining the water as may
be required into the bilges.
The apparatus may also consist of a float in a tube connected to an indicator
placed in any suitable position.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of July 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Draft Indicator for Ships.
I, THOMAS ALFRED REED formerly of Merchants Exchange Cardiff, in the
County of Glamorgan & now of Atlas Chambers Cardiff aforesaid Consulting
Engineer and Surveyor 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 has for its object the construction of an apparatus to be placed in
a ship, for shewing at a glance, the depth of water a ship is drawing.
For this purpose I construct an apparatus consisting of a tube or pipe, attached
to the shell of the ship at any suitable position below the water line at which it is
desired to register, by means of a suitable cock which admits the water into the
tube or shuts the water off. This cock may be worked from the deck if
necessary.
The tube is carried to a suitable height and fitted at its upper end with a glass
gauge, or any other transparent index tube. This tube may be marked in feet and
inches or any other scale of measurement, or this tube may be attached to an
indicator marked in feet and inches or any other scale of measurement.
This indicator may also have the load line dise and freeboard marks marked on
same. At the lower end of the tube a means may be fitted to drain the water into
the bilges. An automatic retarding valve may also be fitted in the pipe, or at the
lower part of the index tube to prevent any undue rush of water through the gauge
or indicator.
The height of the water in the tube indicates the draft of the vessel on the scale
of the indicator.
This apparatus may also consist of a float f in a tube as shewn in Fig. 1,
connected to an indicator which may be placed in any suitable position in or on the

page_text: vessel.
This connection may be made by means of a cord or other attachment, to
either a straight scale indicator as Fig. 2 or circular dial indicator as Fig. 3. An
electrical alarm connection may also be fitted to the apparatus as shewn in Fig. 3,
or as shewn in Fig. 4 and 5, which is connected to an ordinary electric bell &
battery placed in any desired part of the vessel.
The apparatus may consist of a combination of the whole of the before described
apparatus or any single arrangement.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the lower or water level draft indicating apparatus, which
consists of a pipe "a" leading from a cock or valve on the vessel side, below load
draft & preferably above light draft. This is connected to the retarding valve "d"
as shewn in Fig. 1 & 6. This valve is connected to the stop or regulating cock ","
the cock" C is then connected to or cast in one with the socket "c" which holds
a glass tube ";" the tube "" is held by the socket "c2" at the top to which the
pipe "e" is connected. The pipe "e" is lead to any required position in the vessel,
for carrying and protecting the connection to the deck indicators Fig. 2 or 3.
cord may be lead over & in a series of pulleys and pipes if necessary. "y" is a
scale marked in feet and inches or any other desired measurement or marks. The
tube" may be graduated if desired. "" is a float which may be of any desired
shape or material. ""represents a suitable case for enclosing and protecting the
apparatus and "" is a door to same.
""door to same.
if
"
The
"
Fig. 2 shews a form of deck indicator with a straight scale "g." "e" is the pipe
leading from lower indicator Fig. 1. "" is the connecting cord or other attachment
which is lead from the float "" in Fig. 1 through a glass or other tube "b" and
attached to an indicating disc "h" and then passes over the pulley "j" and down
the tube and attached to the balance weight "k."
is the stand and
Fig. 3 shews another form of deck indicator with a circular graduated dial"
upon the stand." "is the attachment to the float in lower indicator Fig. 1
which passes up through the pipe "e," which is connected with the lower indicator.
The attachment "7" then passes over the pulley "j" and down the guide tube "b
and is attached to the balance weight "." 0
is the indicating pointer,
"" is an adjustable insulating stop for forming the alarm connection to an
ordinary electric battery & bell. "" is a groove, in which the stop "p" may
be moved to any required draft at which the alarm is to be given.
guide pulleys for cord 1. is an insulated wire connection to the pointer CE
"
" ገቢ are
0.
"
" is an insulated wire connection to the stop p." These two wires "" and ""
are connected to the alarm bell and when the pointer " comes in contact with
the stop pit forms the necessary electric circuit.
፡፡ "
رو
CC "
Fig. 4 and 5 shews another form of making the electric connection. Fig. 4 is a
section of Fig. 5 on line "Y Y." Fig. 5 is a front view of the indicator.
"b" is
a glass tube.
"" the float. "" is a small rod fixed to the float "." "s" is the
end of rod "t" which may be platinum tipped. u is an insulated guide through
which the rod "t" passes. The float "" and rod "" are preferably made of
aluminimum. "y" is the insulating material for guide "u." "w" is a contact stop &
may also be coated with platinum. The stop "w" can be moved up and down in
groove
to any required draft at which the alarm is to be given. "" is an
insulated wire connecting the guide "u
is the other wire
which forms the circuit from stop 66
to the alarm bell when the end "s" of
rod ""comes in contact with the stop "w."
Fig. 6 is a section of the retarding valve "d." "" is a valve, spherical or any
other suitable shape which rests on the ribs "d²." "d" is the seat which receives
the valve when the water rises in the tube too quickly, thereby shutting off the
connection with the indicator, and preventing an inrush of water to the gauge
which is undesirable for various reasons such as unsteadiness of water &c. damage
to float &c.
13
to the alarm bell.
22
The action of the apparatus is as follows The connection on vessels hull to the

page_text: "
sea and other connections being opened, the water enters through the pipe "e' into
the glass tube "b" and coming to rest shews the same level as the water outside
the vessel. The height of the water in the tube shews the exact draft of the
vessel at a corresponding position to where the indicator is fixed. The apparatus
may be fixed on the fore peak bulkhead and after peak bulkhead or only in a
suitable position as near amidships as possible. If one is placed amidships the
reading will give the mean draft, but if one is placed on the fore peak bulkhead
and one on the after peak bulkhead, the mean of the readings should be taken to
see if the vessel is down to her lond line. A small conical or other shaped float
may be placed in the water in the tube to shew more distinctly the readings.
>>
In the apparatus where the float and deck indicator is fitted the action is as follows.
As the water rises or sinks in the tube, the float also rises and sinks, and the
balance weight k follows this movement, and the cord passing over the pulley "j"
turns the pointer "in Fig. 3 or moves the disc "h" in Fig. 2, the draft can
then be read off the scales "g" at a glance.
°
Due correction having been taken from the lower scale and allowed for on the
deck indicator due to any movement in the float in overcoming the inertia of the
moving parts. Where the electric alarm is fitted as in Fig. 3 the action is as
follows. The stop "p" having been set for the required draft, as the vessel is loaded
& sinks, the pointer "o" passes round to the stop & forms an electric circuit through the
wires "" and "" which are connected to the pointer and stop respectively, the
circuit being complete the electric bell rings and gives the alarm that the vessel is
at the draft required.
"
When the apparatus as shown in Fig. 4 and 5 is used which can be with or
without the deck indicators the action is as follows. The stop w" having been
set to the draft required, as the vessel sinks the float "" and rod "t" rise, and the
end" "coming in contact with stop "w," forms an electric circuit through the
rod "t" and insulated guide "u "and wires "r" to the battery and bell and back
through wire "" and stop the electric bell rings at moment of contact
of 3 & w.
20
"
The apparatus may consist of a combination of the above described apparatus or
any single arrangement.
If there is a rising and falling movement of the water & or float the regulating
cock should be shut when the water is at its highest point & again at its lowest
point and the mean of the readings taken.
It is necessary when fitting the instruments to place them on the fore and aft
centre line of the vessel. The apparatus may be modified in its construction
without departing from the main features of the invention and various other forms
of indicators may also be used, these shewn being examples.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner it is to be performed I declare what I consider novel
and desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is
(1) The general arrangement or combination of parts of the draft indicating
apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings
annexed.
(2) The combination of the registering scale "9" and tube "b" with retarding
valve "d" and regulating cock "c," a cock or other means of draining the water
out of the apparatus into the bilges and a regulating valve or cock worked from
the deck or other suitable position substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3) The combination with the lower indicating apparatus with a deck indicator
in which a float, counterbalance and disc is used either collectively or singly to
directly indicate or operate or actuate the mechanism for indicating the draft of
a vessel substantially as hereinbefore described.
(4) The combination with the indicators of an electric alarm connection
substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: (5) The use in a draft indicating apparatus of the class described of a retarding
valve as substantially and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
(6) The indicating devices substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6 of the annexed drawings.
THOS. A. REED.