Improvements in Partitions, applicable as Bulk-heads, Cricket Sight Boards, Targets, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Partitions, applicable as Bulk-heads, Cricket Sight
Boards, Targets, and the like.
I, WILLIAM BROWNING, of 29, Skerton Road, Seymour Grove, Old Trafford,
Manchester, Dock Traffic Superintendent, 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 chiefly to what are known as "bulk-heads for use in grain
warehouses or the like, and on dock quays for dividing off floor or ground space and
for acting as walls or partitions for the grain or other substance to lie against, which
have hitherto been made as one rigid structure or in several loose parts occupying a
lot of room when not in use, and requiring considerable labour to erect and transport
them from place to place.
The object of my invention is to make bulk-heads in a way that will enable
them to readily fold up or collapse when it is required to move them, or when they
are not required for use, and thus allow them to be piled one upon another, or stacked
side by side in small compass.
To that end I make the bulk-heads more or less
of the usual form, but instead of the horizontal and vertical members being in one
piece or rigidly connected to each other, or in several loose parts as heretofore I allow
them to be separate, and only connected by links or rods. The horizontal member is
formed with two battens or cross-stays some two inches high, and in front of, and
against one of such battens I cause the lower edge of the vertical member to lie, and
to the other batten I connect the links or rods aforesaid, which in turn are connected
at their opposite extremities to the upper part of the vertical member, and in such
way it will be seen that the peculiar position of the vertical member before the batten
of the horizontal member, and the position of the links or rods will ensure of the
several parts assuming and retaining the proper bulk-head form. When, however,
it is desired to fold or collapse the structure, the lower edge of the vertical member is
readily lifted off the horizontal member on to the ground or floor, and the horizontal
member caused to fold up and lie flat against the said vertical member and beneath
the connecting rods which being loosely linked thereto allow of the said folding, and
thus I allow of the complete folding up of the structure.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings, and will now
proceed to describe the same with the various figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a "bulk-head" constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 3 a plan.
Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the "bulk-head" as it would appear in the act
of being folded up, and when completely folded up, and shewing how compactly
the structure lies.
Fig. 6 illustrates my invention as applied to a "bulk-head" made of corrugated
iron.
In ordance with my invention I make the member or part (A) separate from

page_text: battens (C¹), (C2) about two inches high. To the batten (C¹) I connect by staple or
loop (D), the looped ends of links or rods (E). The looped extremities of the opposite
ends of these rods I connect by staples or loops (D¹) to the member or part (A) as
illustrated.
In erecting the "bulk-head" the part (B) is first laid flat on the ground. The
lower edge of the part (A) is then caused to lie on part (B), and directly in front of
the batten (C2), and in such position, with the aid of rods (E), it is retained in a
vertical position; the weight of the part (B) and that of the grain lying upon it (as
shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 2) serving to maintain the rigidity of the
structure.
When it is desired to take down the structure, and stow it away, the part (A) is
lifted over the batten (C2) on to the ground, and the part (B) folded up behind the
rods (E), and the whole propped against a wall, or placed flat on the ground as shewn
in Fig. 5.
.
It will thus be seen that whilst I produce a structure which fulfils the ordinary
requirements of a "bulk-head," I also produce one that permits of speedy collapse, and
convenience in handling. The part (A) is strengthened by battens (A¹).
In lieu of wood I may construct the device of metal, and, by preference, of corru-
gated iron, with channeled iron battens (A2), as shewn in Fig. 6. For further
increasing the compact stowing away of the structure I may arrange for the rods (E)
to be disconnected from the staples, but I prefer the connection to be permanent, so
as to have no loose parts.
Whilst chiefly applicable to "bulk-heads," I may apply my invention to cricket
sight-boards, targets, temporary partitions, or like structure requiring to be quickly
put up or removed.
For allowing two or more "bulk-heads " to lie at an angle with each other, I form
the part (B) with beviled ends, or I make such part with shouldered ends as shewn by
dotted lines in Fig. 3.
Having thus 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 A "bulk-head" or the like composed of detached parts (A) and (B), the latter
provided with parts (C¹) and (C2), and connected to the former by rods (E), as and
for the purposes set forth.
2: A "bulk-head" or the like of wood or metal, constructed and mounted, sub-
stantially as set forth.
1
בד
1
1000