AN IMPROVED SHIP'S BERTH OF SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION THAT MAINTAINS A HORIZONTAL POSITION DURING THE ROLLING OR PITCHING MOTION OF THE VESSEL, SO AS TO RENDER SEA-VOYAGES LESS ANNOYING, AND INCREASE THE COMFORT OF THE PASSENGERS MATERIALLY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz; Albert Groth, of the Firm. L. A. Groth & Co.,
the Scandinavian Patent Office, 6, Bective Road, Putney, London, Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SHIP'S BERTH OF SIMPLE
CONSTRUCTION THAT MAINTAINS A HORIZONTAL POSITION DURING THE ROLLING
OR PITCHING MOTION OF THE VESSEL, SO AS TO RENDER SEA-VOYAGES LESS
ANNOYING, AND INCREASE THE COMFORT OF THE PASSENGERS MATERIALLY."
A communication by Theodor Otto Ludvig Schrader, of New York, in the
State of New York United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Albert Groth, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1879.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, of the Firm L. A. Groth & Co., the Scandinavian
Patent Office, 6, Bective Road, Putney, London, Consulting Engineer.
"AN IM-
PROVED SHIP'S BERTH OF SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION THAT MAINTAINS A HORIZONTAL
POSITION DURing the RollING OR PITCHING MOTION OF THE VESSEL, SO AS
TO RENDER SEA-VOYAGES. LESS ANNOYING, AND INCREASE THE COMFORT OF THE
PASSENGERS MATERIALLY." [A communication by Theodor Otto Ludvig Schrader,
of New York, in the State of New York, United States of America.]
This Invention consist of an oscillating berth which moves by rollers or
wheels on fixed circular guide-rails, on which the berth is retained by means of
guard-devices, so as to prevent the jumping of the same from the rails. A compart:
ment below the berth serves in single berths for the storage of bedding, while in
double berths it is used for receiving a counter balancing weight. The berth has a
closed, upward extended back wall, which acts as a guard or safety device. The
single or double berth, may be readily removed from the rails for cleaning and
repairing by placing it in inclined or vertical position until one set of rollers clears
the rails.
My improved ship's berth is supported on a carriage, the wheels of which run on
arc-shaped or circular rails. These rails are rigidly secured to the walls and floor of
the state-room of the vessel at the sides, and top, and bottom-points, they being
preferably placed transversely to the longitudinally axis of the vessel, so that the
berth in oscillating serves mainly to overcome the rolling action of the vessel,
which, owing to the increased length of the present construction of ocean-steamers
is more objectionable than the pitching motion, which is less disagreable. Should
it be desired to overcome both the rolling and pitching motions of the vessel, the
LD GR.13

page_text: berth is not placed directly on the carriage, but placed on a supplementary carriage,
which is supported on a shorter set of arc-shaped rails, placed at right angles to
the main-rails, said shorter rails being secured to the carriage. The main and
supplementary carriages and rails admit thus the oscillation of the berth in
longitudinal and lateral directions, so as to neutralize the effect of the rolling and
pitching motions of the vessel.
For most purposes a single set of rails that is placed transversaly to the axis of
the vessel is sufficient to overcome the rolling motion, which is the most annoying
motion to the system.
The rails may be made of any desired cross-section, the rollers or wheels of the
carriage being made to correspond thereto so as to move with as little friction as
possible thereon.
The carriage is prevented from jumping, or otherwise leaving the rails, by means
of guards, which are formed by extending the side-rails of the carriage beyond the
guide-rails, and by connecting them with transversal rods which are detachable, so
as to permit the removal of the berth from the rails. They are set back from the
rails so as not to come in contact there with during the motion of the berth. In
place of the guard-device, any other equivalent device, either of the wheels or
carriage, may be employed.
The berth is provided at the front with a railing, and at the back with a closed
backwall that prevents any wedging in at a limb between berth and cabin-wall, or
other accidental injury to the person in the berth. The segmental space between
the berth and rails is filled up by arranging a box or casing below the berth, which
box may be used as a storage-compartment for the bedding. The triangular spaces
between the rails, and the walls and floor, of the stateroom may also be utilized for
the storage of luggage, a.s.f, or in any other suitable manner.
A locking device formed of one or more vertical or horizontal springbolts serves
to secure the berth rigidly in position, when the ship is at anchor, or when the
oscillating motion of the berth is not desired. When the rails are of semicircular
shape, a cushoning device, formed of rubberblocks or springs, is arranged at the
ends of the rails to prevent the forcible concussion between berth and the supports
of the rails.
A second independent berth may be supported on a second set of rails above the
lower berth, or the second berth may be supported above the lower one by
extending the corner parts of the lower berth, and forming thus a connected double
berth. The double berth is then guided by additional wheels on nearly circular
rails.
The double berth requires a counter-balancing weight which is preferably
arranged below the lower berth, so as to balance the upper berths when the lower
berth is not occupied. The berths may be removed from the rails either by
detaching the guard-rods or by swinging up the berths into nearly vertical position
until the wheels and guard-devices clear the rails. The double berth may then be
lifted out for cleaning and repairs.
The double berth may also be hung by a central pivot to a fixed socket-bearing
of the wall when it is desired to dispense with some of the guide-wheels, the pivot-4
connection preventing the tilting of the berth.
In this manner an oscillating ship's berth is obtained, by which the hardships
of a sea-voyage are in a great measure overcome. The same principle may also be
used for sofas, chairs, and other ships'-furniture, the essential feature of my
Invention, consisting of the guard-devices, by which the jumping of the berth from 5
the rails is prevented.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Lorentz Albert Groth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
March 1880.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, of the Firm L. A. Groth & Co., the Scandinavian
Patent Office, 6, Bective Road, Putney, London, Consulting Engineer.
" AN IM-
PROVED SHIP'S BERTH OF SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION THAT MAINTAINS A HORIZONTAL
POSITION DURING THE ROLLING OR PITCHING MOTION OF THE VESSEL, SO AS
TO RENDER SEA-VOYAGES LESS ANNOYING, AND INCREASE THE COMFORT OF THE
PASSENGERS MATERIALLY." A communication by Theodor Otto Ludvig Schrader,
of New York, in the State of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish an improved ship's berth of simple
construction that will maintain a horizontal position during the rolling or pitching
motion of the vessel, so as to render sea-voyages less annoying, and increase the
comfort of the passengers materially.
This Invention consists of an oscillating berth which moves by rollers or wheels
on fixed circular guide-rails, on which the berth is retained by means of guard-
devices, so as to prevent the jumping of the same from the rails. A compartment
below the berth serves in single berths for the storage of bedding, while in double
berths it is used for receiving a counterbalancing weight. The berth has a closed,
upward extended back wall, which acts as a guard or safety device. The single or
double berth may be readily removed from the rails for cleaning and repairing by
placing it in inclined or vertical position until one set of rollers clears the rails.
In the accompanying Drawings which fully illustrate the Invention,―
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a single ship's-berth; Fig. 2 a top view of
the same, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are modified elevations of a double oscillating berth.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the Improved ship's berth which is supported on a carriage B, the
wheels of which run on arc-shaped or circular rails C. These rails C are rigidly
secured to the walls and floor of the state-room or cabin of the vessel at the sides,
and top, and bottom points, they being preferably placed transversely to the
longitudinal axis of the vessel, so that the berth in oscillating, serves mainly to
overcome the rolling action of the vessel, which, owing to the increased length of
the present construction of ocean steamers is more objectionable than the pitching
motion.
Should it be desired to overcome both the rolling and pitching motions of the vessel,.
the berth is not placed directly on the carriage B, but placed on a supplementary
carriage, which is supported on a shorter set of arc-shaped rails, placed at right
angles to the main-rails, said shorter rails being secured to the carriage B. The
main and supplementary carriages and rails admit thus the oscillation of the berth
in longitudinal and lateral directions, so as to neutralize the effect of the rolling and
pitching motions of the vessel. For most purposes a single set of rails that is
placed transversely to the axis of the vessel is sufficient to overcome the rolling
motion, which is the most annoying motion to the system.
The rails C may be made of any desired cross-section, the rollers or wheels of the
carriage being made to correspond thereto, so as to move with as little friction as
possible thereon. The carriage B is prevented from jumping, or otherwise leaving
the rails by means of guards D, which are formed by extending the side-rails of
the carriage beyond the guide rails, and by connecting them with transverse rods D',
as shown in the Drawings. The rods D¹ are detachable so as to permit the removal
of the berth from the rails. They are set back from the rails so as not to come in
contact therewith during the motion of the berth. In place of the guard-device
shown, any other equivalent device, either of the wheels or carriage, may be
employed.

page_text: The berth A is provided at the front with a railing E, and at the back with a closed
back wall E, that prevents any wedging in of a limb between berth and cabin-wall, or
other accidental injury to the person in the berth. The segmental space between the
berth and rails is fitted up by arranging a box or éasing F below the berth, which box
may be used as a storage-compartment for the bedding. The triangular spaces between
the rails, and the walls, and floor, of the state-room may also be utilized for the
storage of luggage, and so forth, or in any other suitable manner.
A locking device G, formed of one or more vertical or horizontal spring-bolts,
serves to secure the birth rigidly in position when the vessel'is at anchor, or when
the oscillating motion of the berth is not desired. When 'the rails are of semi-
circular shape, as in Fig. 1, à cushioning device H, formed' of rubber-blocks or
springs is arranged at the ends of the rails to prevent a forcible concussion between
berth and the supports of the rails.
A second independent berth may be supported on a second set of rails above the
lower berth, as shown in Fig. 1, or the second berth may be supported above
the lower one by extending the corner posts of the lower berth, and forming thus
a connected double berth. The double berth is then guided by additional wheels
on the nearly circular rails B, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
The double berth requires a counter-balancing weight, which is preferably
arranged below the lower berth, so as to balance the upper berths when the lower.
berth is not occupied: The berths may be removed from the rails either by
detaching the guard rods, or by swinging up the berths into nearly vertical position
until the wheels and' guard-devices clear the rails.
The double berth may then be lifted out for cleaning or repairs.
The double berth may also be hung by a central pivot to a fixed socket-bearing
of the wall, when it is desired to dispense with some of the guide-wheels, the pivot-
connection preventing the tilting of the berth, as shown in Fig. 3.
In this manner an oscillating ships' berth is obtained, by which the hardships of
a sea voyage are in a great measure overcome. The same principle may also be
used for sofas, chairs, and other ship's furniture, the essential feature of this
Invention consisting of the guard-devices by which the jumping of the berth.from
the rails is prevented.
.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of this Invention, I claim :-
First. The combination in ships' furniture of fixed arc-shaped or circular rails,
with an oscillating berth provided with guard-devices that prevent the jumping
of the berth from the rails, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination of fixed arc-shaped or circular rails, with an oscillating
berth, having a segmental storage-compartment below the berth, substantially as
described.
Third. The combination of fixed rails having eushoning devices at their ends,
with an oscillating berth, having guard-devices extending beyond the rails,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. An oscillating berth having a closed, upwardly-extended rear wall, to
prevent injury to the occupant, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of fixed circular guide-rails, with an oscillating double
berth provided with guard-devices, and with a counter-balancing weight below the
lower berth, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorentz Albert Groth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH. (L.S.)

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