AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO AUTOMATICALLY COLLECT WHILST AT SEA FURNACE ASHES AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES IN A SHIPS BILGE
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1887
Complete Left. 25th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
I, ROBERT HOWARTH, of 53 Goldthorn Terrace, Penn Road Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS TO AUTOMATICALLY COLLECT WHILST AT SEA FURNACE ASHES
AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES IN A SHIPS BILGE, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus, easily accessible for cleaning,
which shall automatically collect, and hold ready for removal, furnace ashes and other
analagous substances, usually to be found mechanically suspended in the bilge water
of vessels whilst at sea, doing damage and incurring danger to the pumps and pipes,
but which settles down in parts of the ships framing, in places more or less inaccessible,
when not in a state of agitation.
To carry out the purpose of my invention, I construct a rectangular box, closed
on four sides, but without ends, preferably of iron, not confined to any particular
size.
I then partially close each end, by means of suitable removable gratings, sloping
inwards, of such dimensions as will go inside the box fitting close to the sides and
bottom and leaving an opening between the top edge of each grating and the top
inside of the box.
Mid-way between the two gratings, freely suspended from the top of the box, and
extending from side to side of it, I provide a division or flap, of sufficient width to
close the opening over the top edge of either grating, when held against it from the
inside.
In operation the apparatus is securely placed, so as to be easily accessible for

page_text: cleaning, between any two frames, in such a manner that water rushing from side to
side of the vessel, may have free access through the gratings, all other passages being
closed.
It follows that in consequence of the gratings being inclined inwards, suspended
matter will be washed up and over the top of one of them, thus entering the apparatus,
the opening over the other grating being closed by the loose division or flap, prevents
egress.
This action is repeated at each swill of the bilge water.
At any convenient time, the apparatus with its contents, can be removed for
cleaning, and replaced at pleasure.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus to Automatically Collect whilst at Sea
Furnace Ashes and other Analagous Substances in a Ship's
Bilge.
I, ROBERT HOWARTH of 53 Goldthorn Terrace, Penn Road Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford 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 following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus easily accessible for cleaning
which will automatically collect, and hold ready for removal, furnace ashes and other
analagous substances usually to be found mechanically suspended in the bilge water
of vessels whilst at sea, doing damage and incurring danger to the pumps and pipes,
but, which settles down in parts of the ships framing, in places more or les inaccessible
when not in a state of agitation.
Such being the general character of the apparatus which I employ, I will now
describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, several arrangements of it ;-
similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.
To carry out the purpose of my invention I construct a rectangular box without
ends of which Fig. 1 is an elevation Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 an end view, but I do
dot confine myself to any particular size.
I then partially close each end by means of a suitable removable grating, sloping
inwards, A. A. Fig. 1; of such dimensions as will go inside the box, fitting close to
the sides and bottom, and leaving an opening a. a. between the edge of each grating
and the top inside of the box.
Midway between the two gratings, freely suspended from the top of the box, and
extending from side to side of it, I provide a division or flap, of sufficient width to
close the opening over the top edge of either grating, when held against it from the
inside B. Fig. 1.
In operation the apparatus is placed freely between two guides which are secured
to any adjacent ships frames, in the bilge, and so spaced, as to suit the grooves C. C.
Fig. 2. when the box is in position these guides prevent the free passage of water
along the sides whilst holding it in position.
When the bilge water is agitated, and rushing violently from side to side of the
vessel, its velocity causes it to mount the inclined grating A. A. and to enter the box
through the opening a. a. pushing aside the flap B and closing the opposite opening a
thus preventing egress except through the perforations in the gratings A. A. which
are of any required degree of fineness, thus effectually collecting all suspended matter
coming under its operation, at the return swill of the water, the operation is repeated
but from the opposite end of the box.
Fig. 4 is intended to show a single acting arrangement, one inclined grating A
being renlaced by a vertical perforated plate D. the flap B Fig. 1 being thus

page_text: Fig. 6 is an arrangement in which the loose flap B is replaced by a rigid division,
which reaches from the top & extends a portion of the way towards the bottom.
As an alternative plan, when it is desirable in consequence of weight or other
cause, to dispense with as many parts as possible, I carry out the purpose of my
invention by selecting some suitable position in the ships bilge, and to two adjacent
frames I secure attachments to receive one or more perforated plates, A. A. Fig. 5
maintaining such an inclination in fixing that solid matter which is readily washed up
the incline and over the top edge of the plate is prevented from returning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
First. The combination of perforated and plain plates forming a box having no-
orifice for the introduction of a pipe as herein fully described and substantially as
illustrated by the drawings.
Second. In an apparatus such as herein described to dispense with the top bottom
and sides of the box substituting a convenient portion of the ships framing and
using only the inclined perforated plate or plates substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The arrangement of parts substantially in the manner and for the purposes
described, in which the loose flap is replaced by a rigid partial division, substantially
as described and illustrated by the drawing.
Fourth. The arrangement of parts substantially in the manner and for the purposes
described in which access is gained to the interior by removing or making removable
one or several of the parts.
Fifth. The construction of an apparatus as and for the purposes described and set
forth in the drawings provided with alots or grooves extending vertically on the
outsides, for the purposes herein described.
Sixth. The combination of any or of all the parts of an apparatus constructed as
herein described substantially as shown by the drawings as and for the purposes
set forth.