Improvements in the Construction of Passenger, Cattle, and other Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Passenger, Cattle, and other
Vessels.
I, EMIL HUGO OSCAR ROBERT ROPNER, the Younger, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the
County of Durham, Ship-builder, do hereby, declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My invention has for object to provide, in a simple and efficient manner, for
draining off the moisture or drip running down or falling from the trunk sides,
sloping decks, or central upward extension or extensions of the holds, in passenger,
cattle and other vessels of the type known as "trunk" ships, and may be applied,
inter alia, in vessels constructed in accordance with or partly in accordance with
my previous inventions, the subjects of former Patents and Applications for Patents
numbered respectively:-
21460/97.
For the purpose mentioned, I construct gutter drains or channels at the respec-
tive sides of the trunk, and longitudinally of the vessel, and in connection with
such gutter-drains or channels, I provide other ways, channels or pipes, whereby
the moisture collected may be carried away according to requirement, it may
be to the bilge at the ship ends or otherwise. The gutter-drains or channels may
be variously constructed.'
According to one arrangement, the innermost plates of the side portions of the
weather-deck plating (which may be either horizontal, approximately horizontal
or sloping or curved) are upwardly flanged and are so arranged that the flanges
are fastened to the upwardly-extending parts of my weather-deck beams curved
or angled plates being fixed above them which connect the upwardly-extending
and the approximately horizontal or cambered portions of the weather-deck beams
together near the angles.
Instead of bending or flanging up the plate I can fit or rivet an angle to serve
the same purpose, though of course the flanging will dispense with the necessity
of riveting. The flange or angle may or may not be connected to the upwardly
extending parts of beams.
According to another arrangement, pillars are secured directly to the flanged
or angled side portions of the weather deck plates projecting inwardly on each
side of and at the base of the trunk.
Sometimes I provide hollow pillars, and secure such pillars to the side portions
of the weather-deck plating at both sides of the trunk (which side portions of the
deck may be either horizontal, approximately horizontal, or sloping) and I also
secure the said hollow pillars to the upwardly extending plating at the sides f

page_text: the trunk or the sloping or trunk sides or upward extensions of the cargo hold,
as the case may be.
When pillars are secured as above, there may be lips or flanges or angle
irons on top of the pillars, for the purpose of bolting, securing or riveting the
heads of the pillars to such parts. Brackets or knee-plates may be used in such
an arrangement, for the purposes of providing strong attachment, and stiffening
the plating so as to distribute the strains. In addition, the attachment may, in
some cases, also be to the side deck beams and trunk side beams, or the pillars
may be by angles independently attached either to one or the other.
As examples, but without in any way limiting myself to the details illustrated,
I append two sheets of drawings, indicating constructions that may be conveniently
adopted in carrying out my invention.
Fig. 1 shows, at A, a channel-like gutter-way below the parts 2 and 3 of the
deck beams. Fig. 2 shows, at A¹, a gutter-way above the deck plating on the
parts 2 of the deck beams and in the angle between the said parts and the
upwardly-extending parts 3 of the said beams. C is a pipe for carrying off
the moisture from the gutter way.
With my Complete Specification I contemplate leaving drawings illustrative of
various other arrangements in accordance with this invention.
In connection with an arrangement somewhat similar to that represented in
Fig. 2, I sometimes provide hollow stanchions, to which the channel-plates are
riveted, and arrange within some of such stanchions, drains or pipes from the
gutter drain to the bilge, or otherwise or arrange the hollow pillar itself to act as
the down comer or drain according to requirement. The channel-like gutter-way
will also serve the purpose of adding strength to the vessel by acting as a stringer
or longitudinal tie inside the upward extension of the hold."
The channel like gutter ways will usually be fitted at the base or lower portion
of say any upwardly extending portion of the hold, or at the base of any inclined
deck or portion of decks or curved or angled or sloped decks.
I can fit channel-like gutter ways in the upper corner of upwardly extending
parts of weather deck beams, or below and at the lower corner or angled part of
weather deck beams or I can so arrange that parts of the gutter ways will come
in between the spacing of the beams.
The channel-like gutters can be made in wood if so desired.
Fig. 3 indicates one of a variety of constructions that may be adopted when
employing wood. In this example A2 is wood filling between beams, secured with
cleats of angles; A³ inner side of gutter way or trough, adapted to serve also as
a cargo batten. The gutter-way or trough is or may be chinzed and caulked with
oakum. Brepresents a cargo batten. Sometimes, according to my present inven-
tion, I combine in the same vessel, ventilating arrangements with hollow pillars
and draining arrangements such as hereinabove referred to.
Dated th 20th 1an of Lun 1000
Improvements in the Construction of Passenger. Cattle, and other
Vessels.
1, EMIL HUGO OSCAR ROBERT ROPNER, the Younger, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the 50
County of Durham, Ship-builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
My invention has for object to provide, in a simple and efficient manner, for
draining off the moisture or drip running down or falling from the trunk sides,
sloping decks, or central upward extension or extensions of the holds, in passenger,
cattle and other vessels of the type known as trunk" ships, and may be applied,
inter alia, in vessels constructed in accordance with or partly in accordance with
my previous inventions, the subjects of former Patents and Applications for Patents
numbered respectively:-10680 of 1895, 10954 of 1895, 3484 of 1897 and 21460
of 1897.
For the purpose mentioned, I construct gutter drains or channels at the respec-
tive sides of the trunk, or upward extension, and longitudinally of the vessel, and
in connection with such gutter-drains or channels, I provide other ways, channels
or pipes, whereby the moisture collected may be carried away according to require-
ment, it may be to the bilge at the ship ends or otherwise. The gutter-drains
or channels may be variously constructed.
According to one arrangement, the innermost plates of the side portions of the
weather-deck plating (which may be either horizontal, approximately horizontal
or sloping or curved) are upwardly flanged and are so arranged that the flanges
are fastened to the upwardly-extending parts of my weather-deck beams curved
or angled plates being fixed above them which connect the upwardly-extending
and the approximately horizontal or cambered portions of the weather-deck beams
together near the angles.
Instead of bending or flanging up the plate I can fit or rivet an angle to serve
the same purpose, though of course the flanging will dispense with the necessity
of riveting and caulking. The flange or angle may or may not be connected to
the upwardly extending parts of beams according to requirements for strength &c.
According to another arrangement, pillars are secured directly to the flanged
or angled side portions of the weather deck plates projecting inwardly on each
side of and at the base of the trunk.
Sometimes I provide hollow pillars, and secure such pillars to the side portions
of the weather-deck plating at both sides of the trunk (which side portions of the
deck may be either horizontal, approximately horizontal, or sloping) and I also
secure the said hollow pillars to the upwardly extending plating at the sides of
the trunk or the sloping or trunk sides or upward extensions of the cargo hold,
as the case may be.
When pillars ara secured as above, there may be lips or flanges or angie
irons on top of the pillars, for the purpose of bolting, securing or riveting the
heads of the pillars to such parts. Brackets or knee-plates may be used in such
an arrangement, for the purposes of providing strong attachment, and stiffening
the plating so as to distribute the strains. In addition, the attachment may, in
some cases, also be to the side deck beams and trunk side beams, or the pillars
may be by angles independently attached to one or the other.
In connection with some arrangements I sometimes provide hollow stanchions,
to which the channel-plates are riveted, and arrange within some of such stan-
chions, drains or pipes from the gutter drain to the bilge, or otherwise or arrange
the hollow pillar itself to act as the downcomer or drain according to requirement.
The channel-iike gutter way will also serve the purpose of adding strength to the
vessel by acting as a stringer or longitudinal tie inside the upward extension of
the hold.
The channel like gutter ways will usually be fitted at the base or lower portion
of say any upwardly extending portion of the hold, (including selftrimming
hatchways, hatchway coamings &c.) or at the base of any inclined deck
or portion of decks or curved or angled or sloped decks, but I can
fit channel-like gutter ways in the upper corner of upwardly extending.
parts of weather deck beams, or below and at the lower corner or angled

page_text: part of weather deck beams, or I can so arrange that parts of the gutter ways
will come in between the spacing of the beams.
The channel-like gutters can be made in wood if so desired
The accompanying drawings illustrate in transverse section the upper portions
of the hulls of trunk" ships constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates an arrangement in which the innermost plates 1 of the side
portions of the weather-deck plating (which may be either horizontal, approxi-
mately horizontal or sloping or curved) are formed with upwardly-extending
flanges 1 and are so arranged that the flanges 1" may be fastened by riveting or
otherwise to the upwardly-extending parts 2 of my weather-deck beams, curved
or angled plates 3 being fixed above them which connect the upwardly-extending
parts 2 and the approximately horizontal or cambered portions 4 of the weather-
deck beams together near the angles. In order to prevent corrosion at the junction
of the plates 1 and 3 the internal angle between them may advantageously be
payed, caulked or filled with cement, marine glue, pitch or the like as indicated
at 3. 5 are scuppers for leading the collected moisture to the bilge; they may
be arranged in the channel iron of which the stanchions or pillars 6 are formed as
shown in the left hand portion of the figure, or they may extend along the weather
deck-beams to the ship's side whence they are carried along the frames to the
bilges as shown in the right hand portion of the figure, or they may lead down
the side or sides of a bulkhead. The gutters may be formed by suitably arranged
stringers, if desired.
Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement in which the stiffeners or upwardly extending
parts 2 of the weather-deck beams and the plates 3 are bent outwardly as shown
to the left of the figure or are curved outwardly as shown to the right of the figure
and are secured to gutter plates 1 formed with flanges 1 and to the parts 4 of
the weather-deck beams by means of knee-plates 7, both the parts 2 and the knee-
plates being within or over the gutter.
Fig. 3 illustrates a similar arrangement to that shown in Fig. 2, the parts 2
not being bent or curved outward but straight, the plates 3 nevertheless being
curved as are also the knee-plates. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modification in
which some of the weather-deck plates are joggled and the plate 3 is fastened to
the plate 1 by means of a longitudinal angle 1 on the outer side, the structure
being strengthened if required by an internal angle 7*.
Fig. 4 illustrates at its opposite sides different ways of fitting the stiffening
webs 8 of the trunk at those points where strong beams 9 occur.
To the left the
web 8 is shown cut away to above the knee plate 7 and is fastened to the adjacent
parts 2 and to the strong beam 9; or knee plates may be dispensed with, as
in the arrangement illustrated in the right hand side of the figure.
Figs. 5 and 5 illustrate an arrangement in which the gutter formed by the
flanged plates 1 is extended inwardly where webs 8 occur; at such parts the plates 1
are not flanged but have riveted to them a suitably bent or curved angle iron 10
(see Fig. 5). To the right of Figure 5 there is shown a tubular stanchion or
pillar 6 with a scupper 5 extending through it.
Fig. 6 illustrates an arrangement in which a gutter way 11 formed of metal
plate of channel section is secured beneath the parts 2 and 4 of the weather-deck
beams by means of lugs 12, 12"; the gutter-way may be of any desired channel-
section and is preferably protected by a cargo batten 13, or other device to prevent
it being damaged whilst the ship is being loaded and unloaded. As will be seen
from the left hand portion of the drawing, the lugs 12 are arranged externally
and the lugs 12 internally of the gutter; in the arrangement shown to the right
the lugs 12 are dispensed with and the lugs 12 are disposed centrally within the
gutter.
Fig. 7 indicates one of a variety of constructions that may be adopted when
employing wood for making the gutter. The bottom of the gutter is formed of
wood filling 14 arranged between the upwardly extending parts 2 of the beams
and secured above the end portions of the horizontal parts 4 of the weather-deck

page_text: beams with cleats or angles. 15 is the inner side of gutter way or trough, which
is formed of wooden planks adapted to serve also as a cargo batten. The gutter-
way or trough is or may be chinzed and caulked with oakum.
Holes may be drilled through the beams, beam webs and bulkheads where
necessary to enable the water to find its way along the gutters to the scuppers.
Sometimes, according to my present invention, I combine in the same vessel,
ventilating arrangements such as described in my said former Patent No. 21160
of 1897 with hollow pillars and draining arrangements such as hereinabove referred
to.
It is to be understood that gutters according to this invention may be applied
to various kinds of vessels having a central upward extension or extensions of
the hold, for instance, vessels of that type such as are formed with ordinary gun-
wales, or with rounded gunwales, or with those portions of the weather deck
which are at the sides of the extension or extensions curved to "whaleback" form
or of sloping or cambered form, the construction of the frames, beams, etc., being
varied to suit requirements. In this connection reference may be made to Fig. 8
which illustrates, by way of example, a vessel having a rounded gunwale 16 and
constructed with a bridge 17.
Vessels constructed with gutter drains or channels such as herein before describe:1
have the advantage that the cargoes etc., are not damaged by the falling or
dripping of moisture which has condensed upon the inner sides of upwardly extend-
ing parts of the hold space. The outside curved or angled plates 3 which may be
riveted to flanges or angles on the knee plates 7 across the corners at the base of
the trunk or upward extension form cross ties to the beams, affording additional
strength and tending to prevent panting or bellowsing of the trunk sides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
In passenger, cattle and other vessels of the kind having an upward extension or
extensions of the hold, constructing gutter drains or channels at the respective
sides of the "trunk" or other upward extension, and longitudinally of the vessel,
with pipes, scuppers or the like provided in connection therewith, the arrange-
ment being such that moisture falling from the trunk sides, etc., will be
collected in the gutter drains or channels and carried away according to require-
ment, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by way of examples
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of April 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.