Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN CHARLES WILLIAMSON, 56 Stamford Hill, London, N., Master Mariner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to apparatus for scrubbing or cleansing the bottoms or
exteriors of navigable vessels, for which purpose I employ what I call a shoe carrying
a brush and having an angled top that may be styled the fan; a motor or propeller;
and working lines.
In carrying out my invention a convenient construction of apparatus according
thereto may be constructed and used as follows:
The apparatus is constructed with, say, a plank of light wood constituting the shoe,
of nearly semicircular form, strengthened by a border of tough wood fastened around
its circular edge and its two continuous sides and within this border the space is
occupied by a large brush, secured on to the shoe. The edges of the border are
chamfered well off, to allow the apparatus to slip smoothly accross the landings
or joints of the ship's plates. The brush is next the ship's side when the apparatus
is in use.
Upon the reverse side of the shoe, in suitable positions, are the motor stays which
restrain the motor in its sweep, at its prescribed stroke. These stays rise from a foot
at right angles to the shoe, to a height sufficient to form a backing to the motor in its
whole width; they are backed by a stay secured also to the top of the shoe. Accross
these stays project similar pieces carrying leads for working lines for the foremost end
of the motor; the other ends of these leads are fastened in the middle line of the
fastened
shoe. Between the motor stays, accross the circular end of the shoe, there
a curved rod or bar secured to stays, and forming a traverse bar, over which the fore-
most end of the motor sweeps.
Along the middle line at the upper part of the shoe, there is fastened a base,
preferably of hard wood, upon which is fixed the towing bolt which projects beyond
the curved edge of the shoe, and is curved upward somewhat at its free extremity
which is formed into an eye to which the towing line is shackled. Upon this base
.

page_text: there is fixed an angular frame in the form of a hypoteneuse and perpendicular of a
right angled triangle this frame serves to give a central support to an angular top
covering the shoe, and which I call the fan.
The fan in this arrangement is simply wood filling that reaches from the central
support to the edges of the shoe around its curved edge and continuous sides. It is
pierced by the motor stays and upon its after ends there are bolts for attaching leads
for working the after lines of the apparatus.
The motor or propeller may be a piece of wood such as elm and works on edge
accross the fore end of the scrubber; its after end is fixed upon the top of the
fan, and is bolted through to the underneath support of the same, and works
with double a motion.
Upon this propeller, and above the traverse bar is a triangular support which
keeps the propeller from falling quite flat in its sweep from stay to stay, although
allowing it to fall somewhat from the perpendicular, and thus facilitate its removal
from the propeller stay itself when reversal of stroke is necessary.
The foremost lower edge of the motor is secured to the traverse bar by a slot,
allowing free motion in an arc to that end of the propeller.
The working lines are light ropes of sufficient length to reach from the keel to the
rail of the vessel in her midship section, are two in number, and have one end of each
fastened to the fore end of the propeller. One is then rove through the lead on the
motor stay, through two leads on the after part of the fan, and becomes the after line
when the scrubber is being used: the other is rove through the lead on the motor
stay only, and is the foremost line when the scrubber is in use.
The motive power used to work the apparatus herein described is that due to the
motion of water relatively to the apparatus, and obtained by the passage of the vessel
through the water under steam or sail; or in a tideway when the vessel is anchored.
The method of using the apparatus is as follows:
A line (say, a 3" rope) is rove through a block secured to the vessel's martingale,
or bobstay, or stern, (its position on either being almost indifferent, as to its effect
upon the scrubber's efficiency), and being of sufficient length to slack the scrubber
the whole length of the vessel, its end being shackled to the towing bolt, and the
portion of the line not in use being coiled and kept on the forecastle head clear for
slacking away. The working lines are then made fast one on either side of the fore-
most end of the motor, the foremost line being rove through the lead on one of the
motor stays, and the after line through the lead on the other motor stay and the two
leads on the after part of the fan. The apparatus is then ready for use, and being
lowered to the water's edge, with its flat side to the ship's side, it is strongly pressed
against the latter by the action of the passing water on the angled fan. By pulling
upon the after working line the motor is canted with its foremost end pointing down-
ward, and the passing water acting upon its surface propels the whole apparatus
downward with greater or less speed as the vessel is sailing or steaming (or the water
flowing) faster or slower. On the apparatus reaching the keel, a pull upon the fore-
most working line reverses the motor, and the apparatus is forced upwards to the
water's edge. The upward and downward strokes are repeated as often as may be
needful, and the scrubber is then slacked away by just less than the length of the
shoe, and is then worked up and down as before.
Dated this 7th day of May 1888.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: New or Improved Apparatus for Scrubbing or Cleansing the Bottoms,
or Exteriors of Navigable Vessels.
1, JOHN CHARLES WILLIAMSON, of 56 Stamford Hill, London, N. Master Mariner
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 following
statement:
My invention has reference to apparatus for scrubbing or cleansing the bottoms or
exteriors of navigable-vessels, it may be stationary "light ships," for which purpose I
employ what I call a shoe carrying a brush and having an angled top that may be
styled the fan; a motor or propeller; and working lines.
In the accompanying three sheets of drawings
Fig. 1 is an outside view.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section in the line A B fig. 1; and
Figs. 3 and 4 front and rear elevations respectively of apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
1 is a base or board, which may conveniently be of light wood, or it may be
of other suitable material, constituting the shoe of nearly semi-circular form in plan
(fig. 1) and strengthened by a border 2 which may be of tough wood fastened around
its circular edge and its two continuous sides. 3 is a brush located within the space
formed by the said border and secured to the shoe. The edges of the border may be
chamfered well off to allow the apparatus to slip smoothly across the landings or joints of
the ships plates. For this purpose it is advantageous to provide the border with a series
of rollers as in the example shewn. The brush is next the ships side when the
apparatus is in use. 5, 5 are motor stays or stops arranged upon the reverse or outer
side of the shoe for restraining a motor 6 (hereinafter described) when at the end of
its prescribed stroke. These stays or stops extend from a foot at right angles to the
shoe to a distance sufficient to form a backing to the motor along its whole width; they
are each provided with a stay or strut 7 also secured to the outer side of the shoe.
8, 8 are stays projecting across the stays or stops 5 to which they are secured; each
of these stays carries or is formed with a fair lead at 9 for working lines 10, 10"
connected to the foremost end of the motor; the other end of each of these
stays 8 is fastened near the centre line of the shoe. 11 is a curved rod
or bar that extends between the motor stays and across the circular end of
the shoe. This rod or bar is secured to the stays 8, 8ª and forms a traverse bar
over which the foremost end of the motor sweeps. 12 is a towing bolt secured to the
outer side of the shoe or to a base carried by the shoe; this bolt projects beyond the
semi-circular edge of the shoe, and is curved upward somewhat at its forward extremity
which is formed into an eye at 13 to which the towing line is shackled. Upon the
shoe there is fixed an angular frame in the form of a hypothenuse 14 and perpen-
dicular 15 of a right angled triangle, this frame serves to give a central support to an
angular or conical casing or cover 16 that extends over the outer side of the shoe and
which I call the fan. The fan in the arrangement shewn is formed of wood that
reaches from the central support 14 to the edges of the shoe around its curved edge

page_text: and continuous sides. It is pierced by the motor stays or stops 5, and by the stays
or struts 7, 8 and 8ª and upon its after ends there are flexible connections 17 for
attaching leads or blocks 18, 18 for the after working line 10 of the apparatus. The
motor or propeller 6 may be a piece of wood such as elm and works on edge across
the fore end of the scrubber; its after end is pivotted or journalled upon the top of
the fan in such a manner as to have a double or compound motion.
For this purpose it carries a pin 19 that has a bearing in an eye 20 carried by a
bolt 21 that extends through and is able to turn in the part 14 of the right angled
frame 14-15. Upon each side of this motor or propeller 6 and above the transverse
bar 11 is fixed a triangular frame or support 22 which keeps the motor or propeller
from falling quite flat during its movement from one stay or stop 5 to the other
although allowing it to fall somewhat from the perpendicular and thus facilitate its
removal from the propeller stay 5 itself when reversal of stroke is necessary.
The foremost lower edge of the motor is held to the traverse bar 11 by a shackle 23
that allows free motion in an are to that end of the motor.
The working lines 10, 10 are light ropes of sufficient length to reach from the keel to
the rail of the vessel in her midship section, and have one end of each fastened to the
free end of the propeller as shewn. One (10) is then rove as shewn through the lead 9
on the stay 8 through the two leads 18, 18" on the after part of the fan and becomes
the after working line when the scrubber is being used the other line (10*) is rove
through the lead 9 on the stay 8ª only and is the foremost line when the scrubber is
in use.
The motive power used to work the apparatus hereinbefore described is that due to
the motion of water relatively to the apparatus, and is obtained by the passage of the
vessel through the water under steam or sail; or in a tideway when the vessel it may
be a "light ship" is anchored or moored.
The method of using the apparatus is as follows:-
A line of sufficient length to slack the scrubber the whole length of the vessel (say
a 5" rope) is rove through a block secured to the vessels martingale, or bobstay, or
stern (its position on either being almost indifferent as to its effect upon the scrubbers
efficiency) and one of its ends is shackled to the towing bolt of the scrubber the
portion of the line not in use being coiled and kept on the forecastle head clear for
slacking away. The working lines 10, 10" are then made fast one on either side of
the foremost end of the motor 6, the foremost line being rove through the lead 9 on
the stay 8 and the after line through the lead on the other stay 8 and the two
leads 18, 18 as hereinbefore stated.
The apparatus is then ready for use and on being lowered to the waters edge with
its flat or brush side to the ships side it will be strongly pressed against the latter by
the action of the passing water on the angled or conical surface of the fan. By
pulling upon the after working line 10 the motor is canted with its foremost end
pointing downward and the passing water acting upon its surface propels the
whole apparatus downward with greater or less speed according as the vessel is
sailing or steaming (or the tidal water flowing) faster or slower. On the apparatus
reaching the keel a pull upon the foremost working line 10" reverses the position of
the motor and the apparatus is forced upward to the waters edge. The upward and
downward strokes are repeated as often as may be needful and the scrubber is then
slacked away by a few inches less than the total length of the shoe, and is then again
worked up and down as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In apparatus for scrubbing or cleansing the bottoms or exteriors of navigable
vessels, a semicircular or rounded shoe or base provided on one side with a brush or
scrubber and on the other side with a fan or inclined or conical surface against which
the water, in which the vessel floats, acts to keep the brush in contact with the exterior
of the vessel substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. In apparatus for scrubbing or cleansing the bottoms or exteriors of navigable
vessels, a motor or propeller consisting of a blade hinged or jointed to the centre of
the upper portion of the scrubber in combination with back stays or stops 5 against
which it presses and working lines for controlling and adjusting the said motor or
propeller against the back stays substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and for the purposes set forth.
3. My improved apparatus for scrubbing or cleansing the bottoms or exteriors of
navigable vessels, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shewn in the drawings annexed.
Datadhin 10th lovesť
Danamba 1000
AMY E. WILLIAMSON,
Per John Charles Williamson,
Master Mariner.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.