Improvements in Means and Appliances for Preventing Sea-sickness.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Preventing Sea-sickness.
I, MARC RUNKEL, late of the United States of America, but now of
Rue Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 fit cabins, chairs, beds, and other analogous
objects on board ship, in such a manner as to neutralise the motions of the
vessel relatively thereto, and thus prevent the malady of sea sickness arising
therefrom.
In carrying out my invention I provide hollow concave structures of various
diameters to suit the character and dimensions of the cabins, chairs, beds, sofas, or
other articles to be placed therein or fitted thereto.. The form of these bases is, in
every case, that of an inverted spherical segment or zone, and they are built or
placed into or upon one or more of the decks of the vessel, where most convenient
for the use of the passengers. The undersides of the cabins, chairs, beds, sofas, or
other articles to be fitted or placed in the concave recesses, are, in some cases
formed with convex surfaces to correspond with the concave bases or structures
above mentioned, the radius being sufficiently reduced to provide space between the
respective surfaces to accommodate a series of anti-friction balls, the platform and
cabin or other object being sustained by the balls, and the balls by the surface of
the basin.
The depth of the zone is sufficient to afford space under the cabin or other
article to accommodate a weight, suitably attached to the cabin &c., or to the
platform supporting the same, so as to act as ballast thereto, and to enable the same
to retain a horizontal position at all times, notwithstanding the rolling and pitching
of the vessel, and the occupant or occupants is or are enabled to rest upon a
horizontal platform, or approximate position, whereby the cause of sea sickness is
counteracted.
Between the weight forming the ballast, and the concave floor, I place an air
cushion, in such a manner that it applies sufficient friction to prevent any unpleasant
oscillation arising.
Instead of the anti-friction balls above mentioned, I sometimes fit the undersides
of the platforms with wheels or rollers with or without trammels or guides, or
other equivalent devices, to enable the cabin or other article to retain its
horizontal position.
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. The combination of a spherical segmental basin built into or otherwise
attached to or placed upon the deck or other suitable part of a sea-going vessel,
and a ballasted platform supported in or upon the same, carrying a cabin,
chair, sofa, or other article, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
2. In combination with means and appliances as aforesaid, the application and
use of an air cushion attached to the counterweight, substantially as and for the
Purnose described

page_text: 3. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of improvements in means and
appliances for preventing sea-sickness, substantially as herein before described.
Dated 18th July 1894.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.