A New or Improved Apparatus for Cleaning the Hulls of Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Cleaning the Hulls of Vessels.
I, CHARLES PRYCE SMITH, 11, Huntley Cottages, Laira, Plymouth, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for cleaning the outside
of vessels, and the object is to enable the outside of a vessel to be kept clean when
at sea, thus avoiding the necessity of dry-docking the vessel for this purpose. In
carrying out my invention I provide a suitable guide or rail upon the side of the
vessel at or about the keel. A brush of suitable size and shape is connected to
chains or ropes, said brush being also movably connected to a socket piece or
pieces which slides in or on the guide or rail through the medium of ropes or
chains so that the position of the brush may be varied. While operating the ropes
or chains attached to the sliding socket piece or pieces the brush may be caused
to travel in the direction of the length of the ship and its position varied as
required by means of the guidé ropes or chains aforesaid.
Dated thin 01st day of Ta
1900
A New or Improved Apparatus for Cleaning the Hulls of Vessels.
I, CHARLES PRYCE SMITH, 11, Huntley Cottages, Laira, Plymouth, Gentleman,
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:―
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for cleaning the outside
of vessels, and the object is to enable the outside of a vessel to be kept clean when
at sea, thus avoiding the necessity of dry docking the vessel for this purpose. In
carrying out my invention I provide a suitable guide or rail upon the side of the
vessel at or about the keel. A brush of suitable size and shape is connected to
chains or ropes, said brush being also movably connected to a socket piece or
pieces, which slides in or on the guide or rail through the medium of ropes or
chains so that the position of the brush may be varied. While operating the
ropes or chains attached to the sliding socket piece or pieces the brush may be
caused to dravel in the direction of the length of the ship and its position varied as
required by means of the guide ropes or chains aforesaid.
Referring to the annexed drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation (through line x y Fig. 2) of a vessel showing
my invention in operation.
Figure 2 side elevation of same.
Figure 3 perspective view of brush.
Figure 4 cross section of chain channel.
a is a chain or rope which runs in the channel & has the eyes or connections c.
d is a brush which may be operated in a vertical direction upon the side of the
vessel by means of the ropes e which are connected to same & pass through the
eyes or connections c. The brush may also be caused to travel in a horizontal
direction along the outside of the vessel by hauling on one end of the chain or
rope a, thus the desired part of the hull of the vessel may be cleaned by the brush <,
while at sea or in a wet dock, thereby avoiding the necessity of dry docking the
vessel for the purpose. If desired the connection c may be carried by a socket
piece running in the groove or channel b & connected to the chain a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In means for cleaning the hulls of vessels, the combined construction and
arrangement of the various parts substantially as described and illustrated herein.
2. In means for cleaning the hulls of vessels a movable brush, operated vertically
by ropes or chains, said ropes or chains passing through eyes or connections
carried by a chain (or a socket piece connected to said chain) running in a channel
in the side of the vessel, which is operated in a horizontal direction substantially
as described and illustrated herein.