IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Crawley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
February 1875.
I, WILLIAM CRAWLEY, of Ballymarcanlon, Dundalk, Ireland, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," to be as follows:-
Hitherto great inconvenience and discomfort has been experienced by
passengers on the sca from the sensation of sea sickness arising from the
motion of the ship caused by the action of the waves thereon."
Now I propose to obviate such discomfort and malady in the following
way. For this purpose I proceed as follows:-About midway of the
length of the ship where the motion of the sea is least perceptible, I
form a well preferably of an oblong shape, but a circular or any other
form of well may be made if desired. At the head and foot of such
oblong well I form two grooves so as to permit of wheels working therein
as herein-after more particularly described. I perforate that portion of
the ship's bottom which is situated immediately beneath the well so as to
permit of the water entering within the bottom of the well and rising to
the usual water mark.

page_text: In order to prevent the speed of the vessel being retarded by the
weight of the water within the well, I provide a double cutwater in the
bottom thereof, such double cutwater extending about half way up
from the bottom of the well, and being secured to the head and foot of
the well in order to divide the force of the water in whichever direction
the ship may be sailing. I then secure to the bottom and sides of such
well in suitable positions a number of springs, either spiral or otherwise,
for the purpose of supporting the saloon as hereafter described. Such
saloon I construct of an oblong or other shape, corresponding with the
shape of the well, and I provide the bottom thereof with a keel similar
to that of any ordinary boat.
In order to prevent accidents arising to passengers or others walking
on the top of such saloon (such top forming a portion of the after deck
of the vessel), I fix a light railing around it of sufficient height to
prevent any person falling down the opening left between the outside of
the saloon and the sides of the well.
In the centre of the saloon I form an ordinary cabin staircase to
permit of ingress and egress thereto, and internally I construct such
saloon of a size and divided into as many compartments as may be
compatible with the class of vessel in which it may be fitted.
About midway of the depth of the saloon and around the outside
thereof, I fix a stout iron frame or ring corresponding in shape to that
of the saloon itself; such iron frame or ring being secured thereto by
means of two bolts placed one on either side thereof, and working on
pivots so as to permit such iron frame or ring, as also the saloon itself
which is contained therein, to move up and down in a sufficient degree
to retain a perpendicular position whatever the motion of the waves
may be.
At each end of the oblong iron ring or frame I provide a wheel
working on an axle in order to permit of its turning round, and thereby
assist in allowing the saloon to retain a perpendicular position whatever
the oscillation of the ship may be.
And in order to provide against any risk of the wheels before-
mentioned leaving the grooves formed at the head and foot of the well
before described, owing to the ship pitching heavily in very rough
weather, I provide two second or guide wheels fixed at a distance of
about 12 inches or more beneath the before-mentioned wheels, but

page_text: working on a similar axle, and in the same carriage as before-mentioned,
care being taken that such carriage extends a sufficient length to ensure
the proper working therein of such second or guide wheels, and by
means of such two second or guide wheels I ensure the return of the two
upper wheels into the grooves formed for their reception in the sides of
the well, as before explained, owing to the fact that such second or guide
wheels are placed at such a distance beneath them that they cannot by
any possibility be thrown out of their position within the length of the
groove and carriage, and thus by their retrograde motion nessessarily
draw back the upper wheels into their proper position should they have
been dislodged therefrom by any violent shock.
The saloon is now placed in the well formed in the vessel amidships
in such a manner as to allow the wheels at each end of the iron ring or
frame surrounding the outside of the saloon to work easily up and down
in the grooves at the head and foot of the well. By this means the
saloon sits or floats upon the water in a thoroughly level position, as
whatever the roll of the ship may be the water contained within the
well will always find its level and likewise the saloon itself.
In the event of the water leaving the well entirely, owing to any
excessive rolling of the ship, I place a requisite number of spiral or
other suitable springs in suitable positions at the sides and bottom of the
well as before alluded to in order to receive and support the saloon, and
thereby serve to retain it in a proper position until the reflux of the
water into the hollow thereof.
By constructing a well and saloon amidships of any vessel, and fitting
it in the manner before described, I practically obviate all the indis-
position and discomfort hitherto attendant upon marine travelling.
Another great advantage of my Invention is that my improved saloon
is capable of being adapted for use in any vessel at a comparatively
trifling outlay, whereas the Inventions hitherto employed to attain such
objects have been both costly and complex.