AN IMPROVED MODE OF BALLASTING AND STOWING CARGO IN SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BLAIR WHITE, of the Borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Doctor of Medicine,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eighth day of January, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
David Blair White, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her special licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said David Blair White, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Blair White,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others;
from time to time and at all. times thereafter, during the term of fourteen
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF BALLASTING AND STOWING CARGO IN
SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said David Blair White, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court

page_text: of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
David Blair White, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to
consist in ballasting and stowing the cargo of ships and other vessels by means
of flexible air and water tight bags, or receptacles filled or partly filled with
water when used for ballasting, and filled or partly filled with cargo when
used for stowing cargo, and in either case made of a material or materials
which will preserve them from damage by vermin, and connected with a
peculiarly formed pump and other apparatus for emptying and filling the said
bags or receptacles at pleasure, and thus altering the line of floatation or the
trim of the ship or other vessel when required. And in further compliance
with the said proviso, I, the said David Blair White, do hereby describe the
manner in which my said Invention is to be performed by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, similar letters being used to denote similar

page_text: double bag, being divided by a transverse partition in the centre. E and F,
coloured blue, are two feed pipes, furnished with taps G, H, at one end, and
closed at the other end, the taps communicating at the stern of the vessel
with the water in which she floats. I, J, K, and L, coloured brown, are
branch flexible hoses, sewed into the bags A, B, at one end, and commu-
nicating with the pipe F at the other, to which they are attached by a socket.
M, N, ȧre four air pipes, sewn into the upper part of the bag A for the escape
of air while the bag is filling, as also for the introduction of cargo when
required, as herein-after referred to. Two of the bags, it will be observed, are
on one side of the keelson, and two on the other, and the sides of the bags
next to the keelson are supported by the before-mentioned part of the outer
covering, as shewn at Figure 1, D, and also at Figure 2, where O is such
part of the outer covering extending from P to Q; and I will now proceed to
describe the modus operandi, which is the same on each side of the keelson
for each pair of bags. The water in which the ship or other vessel floats being
admitted to the bags A and B by opening the tap G, it is allowed to flow
through the pipe F, and the flexible branch connecting hoses I, J, K, and L,
until sufficient ballast water, as it may then be called, has been admitted to
bring the vessel to the line of floatation desired, when the tap G is closed; and
this operation having been performed on each side of the celson, the ship is
ballasted.
The next operation to be described is how to trim the ship by means of
my apparatus, for which purpose it is necessary to be provided with what
I call a nip, being a small instrument to be placed on any of the hoses when
it becomes necessary to stop the flow through them or any of them; and I will
now proceed to describe it. It is shown at Figure 3, and much resembles a
pair of nutcrackers, having a ring on the handles, which ring being forcibly
drawn towards their extremities causes a nip on the hose which is placed
between them. It will be seen that the nip is provided with a padding in its
jaws to secure its making a water-tight pressure. Supposing the ship has
only what the sailors call a list to starboard, or, in other words, that she only
leans over too much to the right side, then it is evident the bags on one side
not being connected with the bags on the other side, that the withdrawal if a
little water from the starboard side will remedy the evil, and this I should effect
by disconnecting the hose I from the pipe F, having first placed the nip upon the
hose to prevent more water flowing out than I wished, and closed the socket h of
the pipe F by a plug or tap, and then connecting the hose with my pump,
which will be more particularly explained hereafter, and which will equally

page_text: serve the purpose of the ordinary ship's pump. Having adjusted the hose I
to the pump by means of the bent pipe e, f, g, Figures 4 and 5, I pump
out as much ballast water as may be necessary to place the ship on an
even keel, as it is technically called. And it is evident that the water
remaining in each of the bags A and B will stand at the same level. But sup
posing it should be required to trim the vessel more by the head or more by the
stern, as it is called, then more of the nips must be used; thus, for instance, if
I wished that the vessel should float more by the stern I should be obliged to'
place a nip on each of the three hoses I, J, and K, at the places marked R,
and withdraw water only from the hose L, which would of course lighten the
ship forward, and vary her line of floatation accordingly. But now suppose it
is required to remove ballast altogether, all the nips must be removed, and the
pumps set to work on both sides of the ship, and all the water pumped out, or,
in some cases, the ship may be laid aground, and the water run out at the
stern. And supposing it is required to substitute liquid cargoes (wine or spirits,
or water for ships' use for instance) in lieu of ballast, the bags now made
cargo bags, instead of ballast bags, may be filled from the deck by means of a
hose, with such cargo through one of the air pipes M or N in each bag, and
there seems to be no reason why dry cargo, such as rice, coffee, and other
substances, might not be introduced in a similar way, if proper provision were
made for taking it out of the bags again with facility, as the pumps in that case
would not of course be applicable.
I will now proceed to describe the situation of my pump in the vessel, with
reference to the bags and the mode of keeping the bags in position, by
reference to Figure 4, which represents a longitudinal section of part of a ship
fitted with my ballast and cargo bags, and shall afterwards describe the
peculiar action of my pump, not only as applicable to my said bags but
to all ordinary purposes of a ship's pump. It will be observed from this
Figure 4 that the bags are secured from forging ahead or astern by three
strong ropes ST, ST, ST, which are hauled tight across the vessel, being
secured to each end by strong iron eye-bolts, which are fixed to the side
timbers of the vessel, and to these cross ropes at S, S, Ś, are secured, fore and
aft and midships, the holding tackle from the concentrated fastening cords of
the netting which envelopes the casing and bags, as before described; and they
are held up and kept extended to a certain extent, when empty, or not quite
full of water, by the tackles U and V, Figure 4, the utility of which will be
explained hereafter. The bags, with their casing, netting, and covering, are
also confined to the bottom of the hold by thimbles fastened thereto, and eye

page_text: or ring bolts fixed in the timbers, through which, and the thimbles, the rope
colored red is passed and fastened at both ends. In this Drawing (Figure 4).
the parts marked W represent the upper deck beams, and those marked-X the
lower deck beams of the vessel, to some of which, it will be observed, some
of the ropes are fastened. The rope and tackle coloured green, it will be seen,
is made fast to the foremast Y at one end and the mainmast Z at the other, and
holds the sides of the bags up by thimbles fastened to the bags and coverings
by passing through them. The rope coloured yellow performs an important
office when the bags are not full, for it is then drawn down, as shewn at U,
Figure 2, bringing the bag into a shape which prevents its fluid contents from
rolling about and making the ship unsteady, and gives the bag nearly the same
effect as if it was full.
The pump, it will be seen by Figure 4, is placed immediately before the
mainmast Z, but I will describe it with reference to Figures 5 and 6, where it'
is shewn on a larger scale, and where Figure 5 represents a vertical section of
the pump, and Figure 6 a front elevation of it, while Figures 7 and 8 are
plans of the same. And having exhausted the Roman capitals on the former
Figures, I will use the small alphabet for describing the pump.
In Figure 5, a, a, a, show the main body or barrel of the pump, which, it
will be observed, is forked or divided into two ways or channel's at its lower
end, the second channel, which makes the fork being marked b. It will be
observed that unlike an ordinary ship's pump the working barrel, with its
bucket and suction clack, are placed at the lower instead of the upper part of
the pump, the object of which will be explained hereafter. The channel or
branch 6 is the delivery pipe, the end of which is fitted into the socket c, and
is made water-tight therein by an intervening washer of gutta percha, or other
suitable material. The socket c, when used in connection with the pump,
constitutes the continuation of the delivering pipe, passing along the side of
the keelson to the stern of the ship, where it is made to pass through to the
outside. The branch d at the bottom of the pump is the suction pipe, which
is similar to the ordinary ships' pump. e, f, g, is a bent connecting pipe, to be
used when required to pump the ballast water or liquid cargo out of the bags,
which pipe, when so required, is fitted on to the end of the suction pipe d in
the same manner as herein-before described for the branch b, into the socket c,
and is retained in its place by a strong spring pressing against the bottom of
the well; the other end g of the bent pipe e, f, g, is connected to the flexible
branches I, J, K, L, as herein-before described as communicating with the
bags, and colored brown. The side branch his fitted with a tap or plug, so

page_text: as to close that branch when the pump is to be used. Now by this arrange-
ment it will be seen, that in order to pump out the liquid in the bags, or to
pump the ship as it is called under ordinary circumstances, it is never necessary.
to lift the water to the deck, which will save much labour and some time, for
the water being lifted only as high in the pump barrel as the level of the water
outside the ship, it will of course find its way through the channel 6, and thus
escape into the sea or water of floatation.
Figure 6 shews a contrivance by which the stagnant water in the well is
prevented from holding any quantity of sand, dirt, or other matter sufficient to
choke the pump; it is as follows:-k is a rod, passing through guides cast upon
the pump, reaching to the upper deck, fitted with a lever at the upper end, and
what may be termed a rake or blade at the lower end; a rotatory or alternate
motion being given to the lever at the upper end, and consequently to the
blade at the bottom of the well, will agitate whatever dirt or other matter may.
collect there, and prevent the pump from choking. The rod, with agitating
lever, may be lifted out of its place when required for the application of the
bent pipe e, f, g, or any other purpose.
Figure 9 is given merely to shew the mode in which liquid cargo or fresh
water in the bags may be pumped into casks or other receptacles on the deck,
or conveyed by pipes to any part of the vessel, the taps h and G being shut
for that purpose.
I shall now explain my object in this arrangement of pump, which is as
follows:-
First, that the ballast water may be discharged at a low level, the resisting
column not exceeding the height of the water of floatation.
Secondly, by the application of the bent pipe a considerable saving of labour
is effected, as the column of resistance is only equal to the difference in level of
the water in the bags and that of floatation.
Thirdly, by the use of the agitating rod and blade the risk of the pump's
choking is greatly diminished, if not totally obviated.
Fourthly, in the event of obstruction or choking, the pump can be lifted out
of its place on to the deck for the purpose of clearing.
One use of my ballast and cargo bags remains yet to be explained. It is
when in cases of accident, and the vessel may be in danger of sinking. If the
bags be at once emptied, and nips put upon all the air tubes, the rope fasten-
ings at the top, bottom, and sides keeping them extended, and therefore filled
to a certain extent with air, they will act as floats or buoyant caissons to keep
the vessel afloat.

page_text: In conclusion, it must be observed that the bags, with their respective
casings, nettings, and tarpaulins, have each a set of thimbles through which
ropes are threaded in connexion with eye-bolt fastenings placed along the sides
and ceiling of the vessel, by which ropes the bags are firmly secured to the
vessel; and further, that these ropes, which thread along the sides of the ship
and bags, and also along the under side of the bags and ceiling of the ship, are
fastened fore and aft to the ropes S, T, which cross the vessel, openings being
made in the casing, netting, and outer covering, through which the thimbles
may pass, which would otherwise be enclosed. One special object that I have
in view in the arrangement of tackling for securing the bags in their places is,
that when the bags are not so required they may be removed with facility, and
stowed away without leaving any obstruction in the hold.
Be it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement
herein described for securing my apparatus to the vessel, nor yet to the direction
or position of the pipes E, F, which may run to the stem, stern, or any inter-
mediate part of the ship, all of which arrangements must be modified to adapt
my Invention to the size and shape of the vessel to which it may be applied.
And now having described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I hereby claim,―
First, the ballasting and stowing the cargo of ships or other vessels means
of flexible air and water tight bags, made of materials impregnated or coated
with gas tar or other ingredients of a nature that will preservo them from
destruction by vermin, and either fixed or moveable in the hold of the ship or
other vessel, and either filled or partly filled with water when used for ballast,
and filled or partly filled with cargo, and lined with gutta percha or otherwise,
when used for stowage.
Secondly, the arrangement of bags, pipes, hoses, ropes, tackle, taps, nips,
and pumps, herein-before described, for ballasting and stowing the cargo of
ships and other vessels; and,
Lastly, the forked pump, herein-before described, as applied to the emptying
and filling of the said bags, but which is equally applicable as an improved
ship's pump.
And, such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used in that part of Her said Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my
Specification of the said Invention, and that I do verily believe that my said
Specification doth fully, and without reserve or disguise, comply with .the

page_text: proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained..
Wherefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my
said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Blair White, have hereunto.set
my hand and seal, the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
DAVID BLAIR (L.s.) WHITE.
Signed, sealed, and delivered (being
first duly stamped) by the within-
named David Blair White, in the