A Device for Automatically Closing Leaks in Ships and like. Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Automatically Closing Leaks in Ships and like.
Vessels.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by La Société Anonyme des Forges et Chantiers de
la Mediterranée of Paris in the Republic of France) to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a device to be inserted within the compartments or
casings of ships or like vessels so as on the occurrence of a leak to automatically
effect a closure thereof to exclude water until repairs can be properly made.
According to this invention there is secured to the inward partition a device
which normally remains rolled up or in a position such that it is not liable to be
injured for instance by shot. It is of such a nature however that on the occurrence
of a leak say by a shot penetrating the vessel, on water entering the compartment
in which it is situated it unrolls or floats up in the water which so enters and
covers the leak in the inward partition. The following is a convenient construction
but I do not limit myself to the precise details which I shall describe. The device
consists of a kind of water-tight mattress formed of two fabrics or cloths, oiled,
vulennized, or coated, with any suitable substance for rendering them as
impermeable as possible.
One of these fabrics or cloths is flat, and is attached to the other fabric or cloth,
which is wrinkled or corrugated. This mattress carries wooden laths, or metallic
tubes or the like for, the purpose of stiffening it and is provided also with floats,
which may be formed of cork, cellulose, elder wood, india-rubber or other suitable
substance the whole being flontable.
The mattress so constituted is fixed over a resisting cloth or felt capable of
forming a water-tight covering to the leak to be stopped.
The said mattress is fastened at its lower edge to the partition or the like and is
rolled up.
When a leak occurs and water enters the space in which the mattress is secured,
the said mattress unrolls and floats up, but as it is attached by its lower edge it
applies itself over the partition and, owing to the pressure of the water upon
it, it closes any hole that may have been made in the partition to which it is
applied.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Automatically Closing Leaks in Ships and like
Vessels.
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
nunicated to me from abroad by La Société Anonyme des Forges et Chantiers de
a Mediterranée of Paris in the Republic of France) and in what manner the same
Price 1

page_text: is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
This invention consists of a device to be inserted within the compartments or
casings of ships or like vessels 60 ns, on the occurrence of a leak, to automatically
effect a elusure thereof to exclude water until repairs can be properly made.
According to this invention there is secured to the inward partition a device
which normally remains rolled up or in a position such that it is not liable to be
injured, for instance by shot. It is of such a nature however that on the occurrence
of a lesk, say by a shut penetrating the vessel, and an water entering the compart-
ment in which it is situated it unrolls or floats up in the water which so enters and
covers the leak in the inward partition. The following is a convenient construction
but I do not limit myself to the precise details which shall describe.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shews in transverse section part of the
hull 7 of a vessel near the water line, the compartment separated by the partition 6
being in its normal state and provided with a device 4. 3. 5 according to this
invention, which device is shewn in its rolled up position.
Figure 2 shews the same portion of the vessel but with a leak made by a shot
having passed through the hull 7 and the partition G and with the said device
closing the hole in the partition 6.
Figure 3 is a detail drawn to a larger scale shewing a section of the device in its
unrolled position against the partition 6.
The said device consists of a kind of water-tight mattress or mat formed of two
fabrics ur cloths 1 and 2. oiled, vulcanized, or coated or impregnated with any
suitable substance, for rendering them as waterproof as possible.
The fabric or cloth 1 is flat, and is attached to the other fabric or cloth 2, which
is wrinkled or corrugated as shewn in the drawings. This mattress or mat carries
wooden laths or metallic tubes or the like 3, 3, for the purpose of stiffening it and
is provided also at 4, 4, with floats, which may be formed of cork, cellulose, elder-
wood, india-rubber or other suitable substance, the whole being buoyant in water.
The mattress su constituted is fixed over a resisting cloth, or felt, 5, so that the
whole will form a water-tight covering for the leak to be stopped.
The said mattress or mat is fastened at its lower edge to the partition 6 or the
like and is rolled up as shewn in Figure 1.
When a leak occurs and water enters the space in which the mattress or mat is
secured, the water penetrates into the compartment, and the mattress or mat
unrolls and floats up but as it is attached by its lower edge to the partition it can
only unroll as the water level rises in the compartment and as it unrulls it applies
itself over the partition and, owing to the pressure of the water upon it, it closes
any hole that may have been made in the partition to which it is applied.
The invention is not limited to the precise forms, dimensions, or inaterials or
details of construction herein before described and shewn or to the number of
fabrics employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
1 claim is :-
1. A device for automatically closing leaks in ships or like vessels and consisting
of a flexible and buoyant mattress, mat or body which is attached to, or in
proximity to, the partition or part to be protected, and which will, on water
gaining access to the space in which it is situated be so acted upon by the water
as to apply itself to the partition or the like and stop any leak there may be
therein, suhetantially as hereinbefore explained.
2. A device constituting a self-closing screen comprising fabrics or cloths
impermeable to water, one flat and another undulated or corrugated with Inths or
stiffeners and flonts attached thereto or held there between for ensuring the
buoyancy of the whole, the said device being fastened at its edge to the partition
or the like to be protected, so that on water gaining access to the device it will

page_text: unroll automatically, and apply itself over the partition or the like and close
any leak therein, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. A device made as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of October 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.