Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 16th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 25th Mar., 1887.
I, THOMAS HOWIE of 20 Etchingham Road Leyton Road E. London, Continental
and foreign Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The object of this invention is so to arrange and suspend a ships sleeping berth that
its equilibrium is maintained under all conditions in order to counteract the uneven
motion of a ship when at sea and by this means prevent nausea and sea sickness
caused by the rolling and pitching of the vessel.
The weight of the occupant is counterbalanced by means of adjustable weights
made to run longitudinally in slots at either end of the uprights supporting the berth
the apparatus acting inversely to the motion of the vessel. The whole of the berth and
apparatus combined therewith is encompassed within an iron frame carefully balanced
upon two substantial columns.
By this means the lateral motion is subdued and controlled the undulatory motion
being resisted by atmospheric pressure upon the berth and regulated relatively to the
violence of its motion.
Having set forth the nature and object of my invention I will now describe the
means and apparatus whereby it is to be carried into practice.
For this purpose two fixed uprights are arranged to support the berth the weight
of the latter being borne by means of counterpoise weights capable of adjustment to
allow of the same being balanced evenly in like manner when occupied. A frame is
provided for the weights contiguous to a receptacle for the adjustable weights moving
lengthwise in regard to the uprights upon suitable wheels.
Collapsible bellows are mounted so as to act inversely one to the other to resist the
undulatory motion of the ship the latter affecting the apparatus proportionally to the
violence of the movement. Two air chambers are arranged one above and the other
below the berth (connected together by suitable pipes) for receiving the alternate
pressure and into which air is drawn by the bellows for distribution.

page_text: The air chambers are furnished with exhaust valves to compensate for violent
upheaving of the berth being acted upon by the concussion of buffers acting by means
of rods fitted with spiral springs for closing and readjustment.
The bed is suspended from the sides of the berth upon joints moving obliquely.
The counterbalance weights are guided in grooves or slots in the fixed uprights for
evenness of movement horizontally. The air chambers are provided with air holes
which close upon the depression of the bellows. Connecting rods are mounted
between the berth and the upper bellows to resist upward movement.
There are columns to support the rectangular framework in which the apparatus
is mounted and balanced, suitable bearings being arranged near the bottom above
the flooring.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS HOWIE of 20 Etchingham Road, Leyton Road, E. London, Continental
and Foreign Commercial Traveller 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:-
The object of this Invention is so to arrange and suspend a ships sleeping berth
that its equilibrium is maintained under all conditions in order to counteract the
uneven motion of a ship when at sea and by this means prevent nausea and sea
sickness caused by the rolling and pitching of the vessel.
The weight of the occupant is counter balanced by means of adjustable weights
made to run in slots at either end of the uprights supporting the berth the apparatus
acting inversely to the motion of the vessel. The whole of the berth and apparatus
combined therewith is encompassed within an iron frame carefully balanced upon two
substantial columns.
By this means the lateral motion of the vessel acting upon the berth is subdued
and controlled the undulatory motion of the berth being resisted by atmospheric
pressure from air chambers arranged above and below the berth which is thus
regulated relatively to the violence of its motion.
Having set forth the nature and object of my Invention I will now describe the
drawing hereto annexed which shows the means and apparatus whereby my
improvements are carried into practice.
a. a. are two fixed uprights arranged to support the berth M the weight of the
latter being borne by means of counterpoise weights b. suspended upon cords or chains
passing over pulleys a¹ and capable of adjustment to allow of the same being balanced
evenly in like manner when the berth is empty or when occupied. A fixed frame or
receptacle is provided for receiving the weights b when out of use placed contiguous
to the adjustable berth the weights and their cords or chains moving lengthwise in
regard to the uprights a upon or over the wheels or pulleys a¹ Some of the weights b
and the fixed receptacle b¹ are shown separately.
c, c are collapsible bellows mounted so as to act inversely one to the other to enable
the berth to resist the undulatory motion of the ship the latter affecting the apparatus
proportionally to the violence of the movement. Two air chambers E. E are arranged
one above and the other below the berth M connected together by the flexible pipes d
for receiving the alternate pressure and into which air is drawn by the bellows for
distribution.
The air chambers E. E. are furnished with exhaust valves f. f. to compensate for
violent upheaving of the berth M being acted upon by the concussion of the
buffers ffx acting on the end of the berth M by means of buffer rods.fitted with
spiral springs for closing and re-adjustment of the valves ff when the berth M
rises too suddenly for the air to be driven down the connecting pipes d into the lower
chamber E.

page_text: The bed G is suspended from the sides of the borth M upon joints moving obliquely.
The counterbalance weights are guided in grooves or slots H H in the fixed
uprights a. a. for eveness of movement horizontally. The air chambers E. E. are
provided with air holes i. i. which close upon the depression of the bellows admitting
air as required when the bellows expand. Connecting rods J. J. are mounted between
the berth M and the upper bellows C to resist upward movement.
K. K. are columns to support the rectangular framework in which the apparatus is
mounted and balanced, suitable bearings L. L. being arranged near the bottom above
the flooring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The improved arrangement combination and application of apparatus for suspending
ships berths so that equilibrium is maintained by the pressure of air caused by the
action of the ship in relation to the apparatus and aided by counterpoise weights for
preventing sea sickness the apparatus being arranged to act substantially in the
manner and for the purpose hereinbefore fully described and represented by the drawing
hereto annexed.