An Improved Means for Preventing the Inrush or Flow of Water through Ships' Divisional Bulkheads in Case of Collision, and Giving Ready Access from One Compartment to the Other.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1905
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
An Improved Means for Preventing the Inrush or Flow of Water
through Ships' Divisional Bulkheads in Case of Collision, and
Giving Ready Access from One Compartment to the Other.
1 SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON of 130 High Street Poplar in the County of
London Marine Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved means for preventing the inrush or flow of
water through ships divisional bulkheads in case of collision and in affording ready
access from one compartment to the other as may be desired.
In the bulkhead or bulkheads of ships or vessels I construct a circular chamber or
cylindrical case having two doorways one opening in and toward the fore
compartment and the othor into the aft compartment of the vessel, and within this
circular chamber I place a cylinder of suitable corresponding shape or form having
one or more openings formed therein and so fitted as to be capable of revolving upon
a central spindle or shaft by means of wheel and pinion, levers or other suitable
mechanical means.
The space or clearance between the internal and outer cylindrical case would be
kept water tight by stuffing boxes and packing up and down its sides or in other
suitable manner.
The passage from one compartment to the other may be readily effected by those
entering the doorway or opening in the cylindrical ca e and that of the internal
cylinder or chamber and by causing the said cylinder to rotate by suitable mechanical
means, exit is given by the doorway or opening when approached in the opposite
compartment, during which and at all times the passage or water way as from
one divisional chamber or compartment to the other is always effectually closed or
sealed.
Another method would be to construct an iron case of suitable form on the fore or
aft side of either bulkhead having an opening or doorway formed on the side
thereof likewise a sliding door. which would be provided to cover this opening or
doorway. In the bulkhead or bulkheads a suitable doorway or opening is or are
formed which would be covered by a sliding door connected with the sliding door of
the iron case by suitable connections and worked by levers of other suitable
mechanical means, and so arranged that the doorway would be entirely shut before
the other is opened and so preventing any possible chance and avoiding all risks of
water entering from one compartment to the other.
Another method would be to construct and fix in position an iron shaft or case on
either side of a bulkhead having a doorway or port at the lower portion of same
and provide a further doorway on the opposite side thereto of the bulkhead and at a
higher level than that referred to. An iron hox of suitable shape and size would be
so fitted as to freely travel up and down within the iron shaft or case and having a
doorway also formed therein so that the party or parties may enter same and be
lowered or ruised and regulated by suitable means until the opening in the case or
bulkhead is met with, thus providing exit passage way as from one compartment to
the other and vice-versa, and at the same time in cases of collision or other

page_text: causes such as might occur the flow of water from one compartment to the other
would be entirely prevented and rendered impossible.
D
3
CA
11000
An Improved Means for Preventing the Inrush or Flow of Water
through Ships' Divisional Bulkheads in Case of Collision, and
Giving Ready Access from One Compartment to the Other.
I, SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON of 130 High Street, Poplar, E. Marine 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 foilowing
statement and accompanying drawings:-
This invention relates to an improved means for preventing the inrush or flow of
water through ships divisional bulkheads in case of collision and affording ready
access from one compartment to the other, as may be desired, which I propose to effect
in the following manner.
On the bulkhead or bulkheads of ships or vessels I would propose in some cases
to construct a circular chamber or cylindrical case of suitable form having two
doorways, one opening in and toward the fore compartment and the other into the aft
compartment of the vessel, and within the circular chamber I place a cylinder of
suitable corresponding form having one or more openings also formed therein and so
fitted as to be capable of revolving upon a central spindle or shaft by means of wheel
and pinion, levers or other suitable mechanical means.
The space or clearance between the internal cylinder and the outer cylindrical case
would be kept water tight by stuffing boxes and packing, up and down its sides, or
in other suitable manner.
The passage from one compartment to the other may be readily effected by those
entering the doorway or opening in the cylindrical case and that of the internal
cylinder or chamber, and by causing the said cylinder to rotate by suitable
mechanical means, free exit is given by the doorway or opening when approached in
the opposite compartment, during which and at all times the passage or water-way as
from one divisional chamber or compartment to the other would always be effectually
closed or sealed.
Another method I may propose to adopt for the particular purpose I have in view,-
would be to construct and securely fit an iron case, chamber or box of suitable
form and securely fit same against and onto the fore or aft side of the
bulkhead, having an inlet opening or doorway formed on the outer side thereof,
likewise two sliding doors working freely in the said case or box chamber,
which would be so fitted and provided when in operation as to enable one sliding
door to entirely cover the said outer or inlet opening or doorway when desired.
A further suitable doorway or opening would be formed in the bulkhead which would
be covered by the other sliding door, both of which would be worked as in connection
by means of toothed wheels on a shaft or spindle working into ratchet connections,
or by means of levers or other suitable means or connections and so arranged that
one doorway would be completely and securely shut before the other is opened, thus
preventing any possible chance of water entering from one compartment to the other
and avoiding all risk or danger.
I may further propose to adapt for the same object or purpose another method, viz.:
by constructing and fixing in position an iron shaft or case on either side of a bulkhead
having a doorway or port formed at the lower portion of same and provide a further
doorway on the opposite side of the bulkhead at a suitably higher level than that just

page_text: referred to. An iron case or box of suitable shape and size being fitted vertically
therein so as to be capable of freely working up and down within the said outer shaft.
or case, a doorway would be likewise formed therein so that the party or parties may
enter same and be lowered or raised and regulated by suitable means until the opening
in the case or bulkhead is met with,-thus-providing a clear exit passage way as from.
one compartment to the other and rive-versa.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings,
Figure 1 (heet 1) exhibits a cross sectional view of a ship or vessel, wherein I have
shewn a method I may in some cases propose to adopt according to my invention for-
giving ready access from one compartment to the other through ships divisional
bulkheads.
Figure 2, (Sheet, 1) is a cross horizontal sectional plan shewing the working portion
or part of same but to an enlarged scale. The letters of reference given to the
respective Figures 1 and 2 refer to like or corresponding parts thereof;-wherein A, is
a circular form of chamber or cylindrical case having two doorways B and C, formed
therein, one opening toward the fore compartiment and the other to the after compart
ment of the vessel and within the said cylindrical case or chamber A, I provide and
fit therein a cylinder E, which is connected to a central spindle or shaft F, and so
arranged as to be capable of being actuated upon and revolved by means of wheel and
pinion or by a lever or levers working in openings formed in the vertical shaft or by a
spanner working on a shoulder formed thereon or by other suitable means
The said
vertical spindle or shaft F, would be fitted in position just clear of the bulkhead K;
the cylinder would likewise have two ports or doorways G and H, formed therein so
that when the cylinder is caused to rotate the inlet port closes and on approaching the
opposite or corresponding door or port provided in the case or chamber A, free opening
or exit way is directly given thereby, so that in every case one port would always be
shut and no possible chance of water entering from one part to the cther.
Figure 3, (Sheet 2) exhibits a cross sectional view of a ship or vessel wherein I
have shewn a further method I may propose to adopt according to my invention.
Figure 4 (Sheet 2) is a part cross sectional plan of same to an enlarged scale and
Figure 5, Sheet 2) an end view also to an enlarged scale wherein the letters of
reference to these respective figures refer to like or corresponding parts :-A', A', is a
box or chamber bolted onto either the fore or after side of the bulkhead A. An outer
opening or doorway B', would be provided in the said box or chamber A', and a further
or inner opening B', wonld also be provided forming a corresponding doorway or
opening in the bulkhead A. Cand C, are two sliding doors arranged to work in a
horizontal direction and in such manner that when one is open the other is always.
shut, entirely preventing water from passing through in case of collision or otherwise.
The method of working the sliding doors C and C, may be effected by fitting_a
toothed rack D' and L*, on each of these doors and providing toothed wheels El
and E to take therein and keyed on to the shaft F¹; G¹ and Gare grooved pullies.
fitted on the shaft F', on each side of the bulkhead A. G is a further grooved pulley
also fitted on the shaft I, within the box or chamber A¹. Each of these grooved
pullies G, G and G would be provided with either endless chain or rope fitted
thereon, so that when required the shaft F¹ may be caused to rotate thereby and the
toothed wheels thereon to gear into the respective racks and move the sliding doors in
manner desired or the same may be effected by electric motor or in other suitable
manner. Within the box or chamber A', an exit passage way or pipe casing H', may
be provided extending from the chamber or box A', up to the main deck (as shewn at
Figure 3 Sheet) enabling men to escape from the box or chamber A', in case of any
possible sudden entry of water therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use
or employment in some cases of a cylinder suitably fitted within a
circular case or chamber having inlet and exit ports or doors so that when the internal

page_text: cylinder is caused to rotate by suitable mechanical or other means the inlet port or
door closes and the exit port or door opens but in every case one port is always shut
to prevent in case of collision or accident any entry of water from one part to the
other substantially in manner as herein illustrated and described.
2. The use or employment in some cases of a box or chamber of suitable form
bolted onto the face of a bulkhead with an inlet opening or doorway formed on the
outside of the said box or chamber and just within the said box or chamber two
sliding doors would be provided working horizontally, or instead of working
horizontally may in some cases or purposes be so arranged and disposed as to work
in a vertical direction or manner and so fitted as to enable one to cover the outer or
inlet opening or doorway and the other to cover a further doorway or opening formed
in the bulkhead, both of these sliding doors would be so arranged that in every case
one port or doorway would always be securely shut before the other is open both of
which may be worked by means of toothed wheels on a shaft working into ratchet
connections or by an electric motor or other suitable means or connections for the
particular object and purpose desired substantially as in manner herein illustrated and
described.
Toted this 27th dow of Tenno 1907
HERBERT ROBERTS, C.E.,
Agent for S. A. Johnson.