IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR REMOVING WATER FROM THE INTERIORS OF SEA-GOING AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN CLOSING OR STOPPING LEAKS IN SUCH VESSELS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Pelham Warren, of East Court, Cosham,
in the County of Hants, Commander in the Royal Navy, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR
REMOVING WATER FROM THE INTERIORS OF SEA-GOING AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND IN CLOSING OR STOPPING LEAKS IN SUCH VESSELS."
Sealed the 10th August 1866, and dated the 12th February 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Pelham Warren.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th February 1866.
1, FREDERIC PELHAM WARREN, of East Court, Cosham, in the County of
Hants, Commander in the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR ARRANGEMENTS
POR REMOVING WATER FROM THE INTERIORS OF SEA-GOING AND OTHER VESSELS, AND
IN CLOSING OR STOPPING LEAKS IN SUCH VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of or
arrangements for removing water from the interiors of sea-going and other
vessels, and in closing or stopping leaks in such vessels.
For these purposes

page_text: I form or construct along the lowest convenient part or parts of the interior
of the vessel, or communicating with such interior and running in the
direction of the vessel's length, one or more channels or passages having
openings provided with flap or other valves situated at convenient intervals
and opening from the interior of the vessel into the channel, channels, passage
or passages in such manner as to prevent the return of water therefrom into
the vessel; and in order to prevent the passage of foreign matters from the
vessel through the openings described I form each of them as or cover it
with a strainer or sieve whereby such substances as might stop or impede
the action of the valves are effectually excluded. The channel or channels,
passage or passages referred to communicate with a suitable rotary or other
pump or pumps worked by means of one or more steam engines, which with its
or their boiler or boilers (in the case of a steam vessel) is or are placed at a
higher level than the boilers used for working the vessel, so that in case of
any water finding its way into the vessel's hold, and extinguishing the fires of
the ordinary boilers, the pumping engine or engines may remain unaffected
and still be enabled to work, and by means of the pump or pumps to draw
off the water through the openings and channel or passage, or channels or
passages described and eject it from the vessel. Similar arrangements are
applicable also to sailing vessels. For stopping or closing leaks such as may
arise by collision, shot holes, and otherwise, in iron, armour-plated, and other
vessels I make use of a flexible waterproof substance (such as a combination
of felt and india-rubber) formed in sheets of convenient size, and having
near to their edges or in other positions at suitable intervals for holding the
sheets, a number of pneumatic holders partially contained in metallic or other
casings let into or attached to the sheets. The india-rubber or other flexible
substance constituting the surface or part of the holder which is intended to
be held against the vessel by the formation of a vacuum beneath it is
provided with a screw and nut acting upon a washer, the under side of which
is concave, so that while allowing room for the drawing upward of the central
part of the flexible surface or part referred to it will at the same time, by
the action of the nut upon the washer, press and hold its edges more closely
into contact with the vessel. For the purpose of stopping or closing leaks the
sheets are attached to the vessel externally by means of the holders, and
will be farther pressed and held against it by the water without.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Pelham Warren in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
PELHAM WARREN, of East Court, Cosham, in the County of Hants, Com-
mander in the Royal Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Frederic Pelham Warren, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic Pelhant
Warren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Frederic Pelham Warren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR REMOVING WATER FROM THE
INTERIORS OF SEA-GOING AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN CLOSING OR STOPPING LEAKS
IN SUCH VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Frederic Pelliam Warren, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Pelham Warren, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 improvements in the construction of or
arrangements for removing water from the interiors of sea-going and other
vessels, and in closing or stopping leaks in such vessels. For these purposes
I form or construct along the lowest convenient part or parts of the interior
of the vessel, or communicating with such interior and running in the direction
of the vessel's length, one or more channels or passages having openings pro-
vided with flap or other valves situated at convenient intervals and opening

page_text: from the interior of the vessel into the channel, channels, passage or passages
in such manner as to prevent the return of water therefrom into the vessel;
and in order to prevent the passage of foreign matters from the vessel through
the openings described I form each of them as or cover it with a strainer or
sieve whereby such substances as might stop or impede the action of the
valves are effectually excluded. The channel or channels, passage or passages
referred to communicate with a suitable rotary or other pump or pumps
worked by means of one or more steam engines, which with its or their boiler
or boilers (in the case of a steam vessel) is or are placed at a higher level than
the boilers used for working the vessel, so that in case of any water finding
its way into the vessel's hold, and extinguishing the fires of the ordinary
boilers, the pumping engine or engines may remain unaffected and still be
enabled to work, and by means of the pump or pumps to draw off the water
through the openings and channel or passage or channels or passages described,
and eject it from the vessel. Similar arrangements are applicable also to sailing
vessels.
For stopping or closing leaks such as may arise by collision, shot holes, and
otherwise-in iron, armour-plated, and other vessels I make use of a flexible
waterproof substance (such as a combination of felt and india-rubber) formed
in sheets of convenient size, and having near to their edges, or in other
positions at suitable intervals for holding the sheets, a number of pneumatic
holders partially contained in metallic or other casings let into or attached to
the sheets. The india-rubber or other flexible substance constituting the
surface or part of the holder which is intended to be held against the vessel
by the formation of a vacuum beneath it is provided with a screw and nut
acting upon a washer, the under side of which is concave, so that while
allowing room for the drawing upward of the central part of the flexible
surface or part referred to it will at the same time by the action of the nut
upon the washer press and hold its edges more closely into contact with the
vessel. For the purpose of stopping or closing leaks the sheets are attached
to the vessel externally by means of the holders, and will be farther pressed
and held against it by the water without.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a transverse section of a vessel constructed with a
channel or passage according to the first part of my Invention, and Fig. 2 a
plan of a portion of the lower part of the vessel and channel or passage.
a represents the channel or passage running in the direction of the vessel's
length constructed with openings covered with sieves or strainers b, and having
valves c opening from the vessel into the channel so as to prevent the return
of water therefrom into the vessel. The channel may also be fitted at intervals

page_text: with sluice valves whereby portions may be cut off or divided from the
remainder when desired. A rotary pump d worked by a suitable steam engine
with its boiler is placed upon the deck e above the level of the ordinary
boilers f, so that in the event of their fires becoming extinguished the pump
may remain unaffected and still continue to be worked. The lower part g of
the suction pipe leading from the channel or passage up to the pump may be
formed of two pipes or tubes (as shewn in Fig. 3), the one g¹ being attached
to the pump and continued downward to the bottom of the combined suction
pipe, and the other part fitting closely around the same and being provided
with a cross handle g³, so that by partially revolving or turning the outer tube
upon the inner one a series of perforations in the upper part of the outer
tube may be brought to coincide with similar perforations in the inner or
fixed tube, thereby, while the level of the water in the vessel remains at a
sufficient height, causing the pump to draw its water through those per-
forations. When, however, the water level has been lowered so that the
perforations described are not available for the supply of the pump the outer
tube may be partially revolved or moved upon the inner one so as to close
the perforations described and to open another series situated at the lower
end of the tube as shown.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a transverse section and a plan of the lower
part of a vessel constructed with a central rib whereby the channel or passage
is divided longitudinally into two portions communicating with each other by
means of openings formed in the rib. The suction pipe leading from the
channel or passage up to the pump is in this case placed at one side of the
central rib, as shown. It is obvious that the species of pump made use of in
connection with channels or passages as described is not necessarily confined to
the rotary or any other particular form, but that any arrangement whereby
the water may be pumped up from the channel or passage, or channels or
passages, and ejected from the vessel may be employed.
My arrangements for stopping or closing leaks such as may arise from
collision, shot holes, and other causes are represented on Sheet 2, Fig. 5,
showing a portion of a sheet or patch of flexible waterproof material attached
by means of pneumatic holders to a ship's or vessel's side or bottom. The
Figure represents a portion of the sheet or patch of waterproof material
(which in the present case consists of sheet lead), comprising two of the
pneumatic holders, one of which, together with the skin h of the vessel to
which the sheet is applied, is shown in section, and the other as it would
appear when viewed edgewise with the sheet. The sheet of lead i consti-
tuting the sheet or patch for placing over and closing the leak is formed with

page_text: recesses or depressions, as shown, for containing the pneumatic holders, which
each consist of an india-rubber or other flexible piece or washer j attached to
a screw k, passing through the recess formed in the sheet of lead i as shown,
and capable of being drawn outward by means of a wing or other suitable
nut acting against a washer at the outside of the recess. A concave
washer is interposed between the lead i and the piece or washer j so as to
press upon the latter and assist in maintaining it in position. Fig. 6 is an
external view of the same portion of the sheet i taken at right angles to the
foregoing with the two pneumatic holders in position, the one on the right
being fitted with a hexagonal nut not tapped entirely through instead of a
wing nut as previously described, the forms of nuts being immaterial excepting
in so far as may be necessary to avoid their being caught by ropes or other
external objects, for which purpose they may be formed with wings turned
downward, as shown at Figs. 7 and 8, or otherwise hexagonal or square, as
shown externally at Fig. 6, and above it in section at Fig. 9.
Fig. 10 represents a shot hole m passing through the side of a vessel and
covered by a sheet i of flexible waterproof material secured to the vessel by
means of pneumatic holders n, and Fig. 11 an opening or rent caused by
collision or otherwise in the side of a vessel and covered by a similar sheet or
patch of flexible waterproof material i, also attached to the vessel by means of
pneumatic holders, and covering the rent. The flexible waterproof material
made use of for covering shot holes or other openings or leaks, whereby water
might gain admission into vessels may consist either of a combination of felt
and india-rubber, gutta percha, lead, or other substance or substances attached
to the vessel by means of pneumatic holders, as described, in connection with
which where the vessel's surface is particularly rough I make uso of a
mixture such as Stockholm tar and lime or other similar substance for
coating the surface before attaching the sheet as described.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same may be conveniently performed, I
desire to point out that I do not confine or limit myself to the precise forms
or details represented and described, so long as the distinguishing features of
my Invention are maintained, but that I claim,-
Firstly, the application to ships or vessels of a channel or channels, passage
or passages, having valves opening inward and communicating with a pump
or pumps for the purpose of withdrawing water from the interiors of such
ships or vessels, substantially as described.
Secondly, the use in ships cr vessels, in combination with channels or
passages as described, of a rotary or other pump or pumps worked by means

page_text: of a steam engine and boiler situated at a higher level than the ordinary
boilers, substantially as described.
Thirdly, the use or employment of pneumatic holders in combination with
sheets of waterproof material, substantially as described, for stopping or closing
leaks or fractures as herein previously set forth.
Fourthly, the construction of pneumatic holders with a concave washer
acting against the flexible holding disc or washer, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Pelham Warren, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
FREDERIC PELHAM WARREN. (L.s.)