IMPROVED MEANS OF DISCHARGING BILGE WATER FROM THE HOLDS OF VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A M &
W Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agents, for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS OF DISCHARGING BILGE WATER
FROM THE HOLDS OF VESSELS A communication to him from abroad by
Henry Cordes, of Hoboken, in the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey,
United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. &. W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, "IMPROVED MEANS OF
DISCHARGING BILGE WATER FROM THE HOLDS OF VESSELS." [A communication to
him from abroad by Henry Cordes, of Hoboken, in the County of Hudson and
State of New Jersey, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the removal of water from the holds
of. vessels.
In the bottom of the vessels hull at one side of the keel is formed an opening,
into which is fitted a semi-cylindrical or slightly tapered shield or deflector which
corresponds to and fits against the forward side of the said opening through which
it passes upwards vertically into the hold of the vessel, the said shield or deflector
being free to slide through the said opening so as to project more or less from the
bottom of the vessel when the bilge water is to be removed. To the lower end of
the shield or deflector which corresponds with the inclination of the vessels bottom,
is attached a covering plate a little larger than the opening and closing snugly
against the vessels bottom when the shield or deflector which also forms a guide
for it, is drawn upward. Within the opening (and within the shield or deflector
by which it is encircled at the forward side) is fitted a seat for a tapered plug
secured in place by an external half flange countersunk in the vessels bottom. A
tapered plug fits into the seat and closes it water-tight. To the semi-cylindrical
Price G11

page_text: shield or deflector and to this plug are respectively attached two rack rods which
pass up to the deck and gear with a pinion or gear wheel between them, whereby
the deflector and attached covering plate may be lowered and the plug raised to
open a passage through the vessels bottom, and vice versa to close the opening.
This pinion or wheel is provided with a crank handle for operating it and is locked in
place to hold the deflector and covering plate and the plug securely in any position
by two pawls which engage with it in opposite directions. The semi-cylindrical
shield or deflector is arranged with its open side toward the stern of the vessel and
embraces the forward side of the plug seat so that when the vessel is in motion and
the deflector and attached plate are lowered and the plug raised to open a passage
through the vessels bottom, the movement of the deflector through the water will
tend to form a vacuum within or in rear of it, whereby the water will be drawn
out of the vessel's bold. When the water has been discharged, the opening is
closed.
In the case of small vessels, the upper ends of the rack bars can be pivoted to a
lever upon the opposite sides of and equidistant from its fulcrum, the lever being
operated by one or both of its ends. The deflector and plug are surrounded within
the hold by a perforated screen or cage to prevent any solid substance that may be
floating in the vessel's hold, from clogging the opening.
With this device also in case of a fire in a vessel at anchor or at a wharf, the
opening can be unclosed to admit water and submerge the vessel to such a depth
that the fire will be extinguished.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd March 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents " IMPROVED MEANS OF
DISCHARGING BILGE WATER FROM THE HOLDS OF VESSELS." A communication to
me from abroad by Henry Cordes of Hoboken in the County of Hudson and
State of New Jersey, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the removal of bilge water from the
holds of vessels.
The Invention consists in the combination with a vessel's hull having an opening
in its bottom, of a semi-tubular shield or deflector fitting into the said opening and
having a covering plate attached to its lower end, a tapered plug seat placed within
the said opening and shield to receive a plug fitting into the said seat, and rack
bars attached to the said shield and plug respectively whereby an aperture
through the vessels bottom can be opened and closed, as will be hereinafter fully
described.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the
improvement taken through the line y-y Figure 2, and shown as applied to a
vessel. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same taken through the line x-x
figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the same. Figure 4
is a plan view of the semi-cylindrical shield or deflector and its covering plate.
Figure 5 is a bottom view of the plug seat and its supporting flange. Figure 6 is
a plan view of the plug.
A represents the hull of a vessel, in the bottom of which at one side of the keel
is formed an opening B into which is fitted a semi-cylindrical or slightly tapered
shield or deflector C which corresponds to and its against the forward side of the
said opening through which it passes vertically upwards into the hold of the vessel.
To the lower end of the shield or deflector C which corresponds with the inclination
of the vessels bottom, is attached a covering plate D a little larger than the
opening B and closing snugly against the vessels bottom when the shield C which
also forms a guide for it is drawn upward. Within the opening B and within the
shield C by which it is partially encircled, is fitted a seat E for a tapered plug G
secured in place by an external half-flange countersunk in a flange F attached to
the outer surface of the vessel's bottom. The opening B and the seat E are so
formed as to leave a space between the forward sides of the said seat and opening
for the passage of the shield C above referred to. G is the tapered plug which fits
into the seat E and closes it water-tight. To the shield C and to this plug G are
respectively attached the lower ends of two rack rods H I which mesh into the
teeth of the pinion or gear wheel J placed between them so that by turning the
wheel J in one direction the deflector and detached covering plate CD may be
lowered and the plug G raised to open a passage through the vessels bottom, and
vice versa to close the opening. This pinion or wheel J is journalled to a supporting
frame K and is provided with a crank handle L for operating it. The wheel J is
locked in place to hold the deflector and covering plate CD and the plug G securely
in any position by two pawls M pivoted to the frame K which engage with the
wheel J in opposite directions.
The semi-cylindrical shield or deflector C is arranged with its open side toward
the stern of the vessel and embraces the forward side of the plug seat so that when
the vessel is in motion and the deflector and attached plate CD are lowered and

page_text: the plug G raised to open a passage through the vessels bottom, the movement
of the deflector C through the water will tend to form a vacuum within or in rear
of it whereby the water will be drawn out of the vessels hold. When the water
has been discharged the shield and plate CD and the plug G are adjusted to close
the opening B.
In small vessels the upper ends of the rack bars H I can be pivoted to a lever N
(see Figure 3) upon the opposite sides of and equidistant from its fulcrum, the
lever being fulcrumed to a support attached to the frame K and one or both its
ends projecting for convenience in operating it.
The deflector C and plug G are surrounded within the hold by a perforated
screen or casing O to prevent any solid substance that may be floating in the vessels
hold from clogging the opening B.
With this device also in case of a fire in a vessel at anchor or at a wharf the
opening can be unclosed to admit water and submerge the vessel to such a depth
that the fire will be extinguished.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is
1st. In a vessel, the combination with the hull A. having opening B in its bottom,
of the semi-cylindrical shield or deflector C having bottom plate D, the tapering
seat E having semi-ring flange F, the plug G, and an operating mechanism,
substantially as herein shown and described, whereby an opening through the
vessels bottom can be opened and closed at pleasure, as set forth.
2nd. In a vessel the combination with the hull A having opening B in its
bottom, the semi-cylindrical shield or deflector C having bottom plate D, the seat E
having semi-ring flange F, and the plug G, of the rack bars H I and the gear
wheel J having crank L and pawls M substantially as herein shown and described
whereby the said shield or deflector and plug can be readily operated and will be
securely held in place as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this third day of March, A.D. 1883.