Improvements in Steamships and other Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
Improvements in Steamships and other Vessels.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 528 Oxford Street, W. in the County of Middlesex,
Horse Clipper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates more particularly to vessels propelled by steam, or other
motive power, but it is also applicable to sailing and other vessels, and the object of
my invention is to provide means for preventing the impact upon the sides of the
vessel, of the broken water from the bows and also of the natural waves.
The apparatus, which forms the subject of my invention, consists substantially
of one or more plates hinged to each side of the vessel and provided with suitable
mechanical arrangements or devices, so that they can be drawn in close to the
vessel, or held at any desired angle thereto. When the vessel is in dock, at
moorings, or proceeding through a narrow or crowded channel, the said plates
would be kept close to her sides, but when travelling at speed in open water, they
would be moved outwards at an angle and held in such position by the devices
aforesaid. The plates would only be partially submerged in the water, and of such
form as to throw off the water impinging upon them.
Dated this First day of August 1895.
improvements in Steamships and other vessels.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 528 Oxford Street, W., in the County of Middlesex,
Horse Clipper Manufacturer, 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 relates more particularly to vessels propelled by steam, or other
motive power, but it is also applicable to sailing and other vessels, and the object
of my invention is to provide means for preventing the impact upon the sides of the
vessel, of the broken water from the bows, and also of the natural waves.
The apparatus, which forms the subject of iny invention, consists substantially
of one or more plates hinged to each side of the vessel and provided with suitable
mechanical arrangements, or devices, so that they can be drawn in close to the
vessel, or held at any desired angle thereto. When the vessel is in dock, at
moorings, or proceeding through a narrow or crowded channel, the said plates
would be kept close to her sides, but when travelling at speed in open water, they
would be moved outwards at an angle and held in such position by the devices
aforesaid. The plates would only be partially submerged in the water, and of such
form as to throw off the water impinging upon them.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms part of this specification,
and in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation

page_text: Fig. 2 is a plan, and
Fig. 3 is a cross-section through A A in Figs. 1 and 2 of a vessel shewing my
apparatus applied thereto.
Fig. 4 is a plan of an arrangement for operating the said apparatus, and
Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified form of the said arrangement.
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, B represents the hull of any steam, sailing, or
other vessel. C, C, are a pair of plates hinged to the sides of the vessel at D,
and capable, when not in use, of lying flat against the said sides, as shewn by the
dotted lines in Fig. 2. These plates are preferably formed of sheet steel,
strengthened, as required, by any suitable form of framing, but so arranged that
the surfaces of the plates are smooth and continuous. Thus for example a frame
formed of steel of flat, T, or other suitable section may be employed, having sheet
steel riveted or bolted on each side, giving a light stiff structure with smooth
surfaces. The hinge D may be constructed in any suitable manner. As shewn in
the drawing, E is a plate riveted or bolted to the side of the vessel, having eyes
forged upon or affixed to its after edge, similar eyes are provided on the forward
edge of the plate C and a long hinge pin, or bolt D is passed through the said
eyes.
The arrangement shewn in Fig. 4, for operating the plate C, consists of a
horizontal bar, or stout tube F, passing through a water tight stuffing-box H, at
the side of the vessel. Its outer end is jointed to the plate C and its inner end
Between
slides in fixed bearings J J and is cut with a square screw thread K.
the said bearings is a nut L forming the hub of a hand wheel L', so that by
rotating the said hand wheel the plate C can be drawn in close against the vessel's
side, or be moved out to any desired angle. If the pitch of the screw K be not
too coarse, the plate will have no tendency to move from the position in which it
may be placed, but any suitable locking device may be combined with the apparatus,
if necessary. The joint between the bar F and plate C may consist, as shewn, of
a fork M on the end of the bar having a pin N passing through a slot P in a
projeation fixed to the plate, such slot being necessary to allow for the variation
caused by the angular movement of the plate. A recess Q may be provided in the
side of the vessel to receive the said joint when the plate is drawn close in. In this
arrangement the plates are moved independently of each other, but in Fig. 5 a
modification is shewn whereby both plates are moved simultaneously to an equal
amount. In this case a bar F¹ is rotated by a hand wheel L' keyed on its centre between
bearings J J. A right-hand screw K is cut on one end and a left-hand screw K¹
on the other end. Nuts L, L, thereon are connected by links R, R, with bars F
passing through stuffing-boxes H, H, and connected to the plates C, C, as before
described. When the wheel L' is rotated, it is obvious that both plates will be
simultaneously drawn in, or moved outwards.
In short vessels, a single plate on each side may be sufficient, but in long vessels
it may be advisable to add one or more additional pairs of plates C, C, behind
the plates C, C. These latter plates, if provided with independent operating
arrangements, will form, in addition to their main object, efficient steering
appliances and may be used for that purpose in conjunction with, or in place of the
ordinary rudder.
The operating mechanism, as illustrated, is designed for being worked by hand,
but it can be readily adapted to be worked by power, and I do not confine myself
to the particular forms of mechanism shewn and described, as any other suitable
arrangements may be employed which will serve the required purpose.
The plates are preferably curved outwards slightly at their upper edges C³, as
shewn in Fig. 3, to prevent the water impinging on them being thrown upwards
on to the deck, as such curved form will throw the water back in the sea again.
Should the said plates come in the way of, and thus darken any of the cabin or
saloon lights, pieces of stout plate glass may be inserted in the plates opposite
any such lights.

page_text: 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. In a steam or other vessel, one or more plates, hinged to each side of the said
vessel and means for operating the said plates, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
2. In a steam or other vessel, in combination, a plate C with hinge D, a bar F
with screw K and joint M, stuffing-box H, bearings J J, nut L and hand wheel L',
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a steam or other vessel, in combination, plates C C, with hinges D D,
bars F, F, with joints M, stuffing-boxes H H, a bar F1 with right and left-hand
screws K, K', a hand wheel L', nuts L L and links R R, substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
4. In a steam or other vessel, the use of plates C' C' to act as steering appliances
in conjunction with, or in place of the ordinary rudder, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of May 1896.