Carrying Liquids in Bulk, including Cargoes of a Volatile Character, such as Petroleum, Turpentine, and the like.
Year: 1885

page_text: Carrying Liquids in Bulk, including Cargoes of a Volatile
Character, such as Petroleum, Turpentine, and the like.
HENRY FREDERICK SWAN of North Jesmond Newcastle on Tyne in the County
of Northumberland Ship-builder do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NAVIGABLE VESSELS FOR CARRYING
LIQUIDS IN BULK, INCLUDING CARGOES OF A VOLATILE CHARACTER SUCH AS
PETROLEUM, TURPENTINE AND THE LIKE, to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct new vessels or make alterations in
existing vessels in such manner that they may be capable of carrying liquid cargoes
in bulk or water ballast especially such liquids as are of a volatile or expansive
character such as mineral and other oils.
This invention includes special structural arrangements and appliances for
permitting, in a self acting manner, the expansion or contraction of the liquids, due
to varying temperatures, without affecting the sea-worthiness of the ship, and at
the same time allowing for the escape of the volatile gases evolved from the cargo.
I construct vessels of the usual ship-building materials and subdivide them by
transverse and longitudinal bulkheads into numerous cells or compartments each
self contained and water-tight. The cells extend from the outer or inner bottoms
(in vessels so fitted) to the upper deck or between decks, or a special deck may be
constructed to form the top of the cells, I prefer to place the propelling engines aft,
but they may equally be placed amidships, and to have a well at each of the outer
compartments (which contain the liquid cargo) with suitable appliances whereby
any leakage from these compartments may be returned to them so as to keep
them full.
To allow for the expansion of the liquid cargoes, I propose that each of the cells
above mentioned shall have a trunk way the height and capacity of which shall
bear a definite proportion to the capacity of the cell to which it is connected so as
to allow of a head pressure being always maintained in the cell and also being
sufficient to contain any overflow which may take place from the cells owing to
increase in temperature I fit each trunkway with a self acting piston or float
which while controlling the liquid in the trunkway may be utilized as a means of
indicating the height of liquid in the trunkway and cell. I propose that the
trunkways shall also be used for filling purposes and that they shall form a
receptacle for the volatile gases, escape pipes being attached to them and carried
to convenient places.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Navigable Vessels for
Carrying Liquids in Bulk, including Cargoes of a Volatile
Character, such as Petroleum, Turpentine, and the like.
I, HENRY FREDERICK SWAN, of North Jesmond, Newcastle on Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland, Ship-builder, 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 construct new vessels propelled by steam, sails,
or any other means, or to alter existing navigable vessels of any description in such
manner that they may be capable of carrying liquid cargoes in bulk, more especially
such liquids as are of a volatile or expansive character, such as mineral or other
oils; and my invention includes special structural arrangements and appliances for
permitting in a self acting manner the expansion or contraction of the liquid so
carried which may be caused by variations in the temperature of the atmosphere,
or otherwise and without affecting the sea worthiness of the vessel, and at the same
time allowing for the escape of the volatile gases which may be evolved from
the cargo.
In carrying out my invention I construct vessels of the usual shipbuilding
materials or alter existing vessels, in either case subdividing them by one or
more longitudinal bulk-heads and several transverse bulkheads into numerous
independent cells or compartments. The aggregate capacity of the cells or
compartments to be equal more or less to the full cargo carrying capacity of the
vessel In every case the liquid is to be carried out to the skin of the vessel
excepting in vessels which have a double bottom in which the inner bottom may
be made to form the bottom of the cells or compartments.
The number and size of the cells or compartments is to be determined with
reference to the relative proportions of the vessel herself, so that the filling or
emptying of any one compartment would not dangerously affect the vessel
whether she be in a laden or light condition, and also to give the necessary
amount of meta-centric height.
It is a necessary condition of this mode of transporting liquid cargo that the
cells or compartments must be kept absolutely full, and for this purpose each bulk
head as also the deck of the cells or compartments must be constructed in a
sufficiently strong manner that each individual cell or compartment will stand the
maximum head pressure that can be brought upon it through any part of the ships
structure or fixed fittings.
To provide for any possible leakage through the end bulkheads of the cargo
compartments I form wells to receive any such leakage, with pumping arrangements,
so devised that any leakage may be pumped from the well and returned to the
cells or compartments.
The whole of the cells or compartments above described can equally be used for
carrying water-ballast, and the special appliances for controlling the liquid cargoes
are equally applicable for controlling water ballast.

page_text: To control the liquid with which the cells or compartments may be filled, and
to permit of expansion or contraction by self-acting means in such cargoes as
are of an expansive character, I fit to each cell or compartment one or more
trunkways either circular in section or of any other convenient form: the capacity
and height of which are regulated by the nature of the liquid likely to be carried.
It being necessary to have each trunkway always partially filled to ensure that its
corresponding cell or compartment is also full.
In one trunkway of each cell or compartment I introduce a piston or float, to
which I fit a spindle, carried through a stuffing box in the cover of the trunkway,
which spindle while serving as a guide to keep the piston or float in proper position,
will also indicate at a glance the degree of fulness of the particular trunkway in
which it is fitted and it may also have graduated marks for that purpose.
In cases where the size of the trunkway necessary to give the requisite amount
of capacity in relation to its cell or compartment, would become inconveniently
large, I sometimes surround it by a second trunkway or casing extending to any
convenient height, and in some cases fitted with wash plates to control the contained
liquid.
It is however to be observed that by my method of carrying the larger portion
of the cargo below the level of the load water line, the temperature of the cargo
can never differ very much from that of the sea and consequently the amount of
liquid in the trunkways will also not materially vary by expansion or contraction..
To permit of the escape of volatile gases which may accumulate in the above
mentioned trunk ways, vapour pipes are fitted to each, and carried to convenient
places.
In the top of each trunkway I fit a watertight manhole, through which the
trunkway can be entered for examination or for purposes of filling: in which case
a second manhole will be fitted in the deck of the cell or compartment.
The lower ends of the trunkways stand on the deck of the compartments or
cells, the said deck having one or more small perforations sufficient to allow the
expansion of the liquid to take place without permitting an injurious inrush of the
same into the trunkways when the vessel is in motion in a seaway.
For emptying the cells or compartments I provide a pump or pumps with main
pipes and branches, in such a manner that any individual cell or compartment can
be separately emptied, and by fitting a filling pipe to the main pipe in any
convenient position an alternative mode of filling any individual cell or com-
partment is provided.
I construct the upper deck of iron or other suitable material, and in such manner
that it is made tight, and I also provide a means of closing every opening in the
deck except those within the limits of the poop) which arrangement, taken in
connection with the general construction and subdivision of the vessel, renders her
practically unsinkable.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained reference is hereby made to the accompanying Drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts and which Drawings are intended
to shew generally the manner in which such vessels may be fitted.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation and Fig. 2 is a cross section of a
vessel in which the liquid cargo or water ballast is carried to the height of the
upper deck and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal sectional elevation
and cross section of a vessel in which the liquid cargo or ballast is carried to a
lower height than the upper deck. In these figures a a are the compartments,
bb the bulkbeads, d is the pump room, e the engine room-ff are the trunkways,
and gg. are the spindles attached to the floats before mentioned, and h is the well.
In Figs. 1 and 3 the position of the machinery is shewn placed aft, so as to
give greater safety from fire when carrying volatile or inflammable cargoes-The
machinery may however be placed amidships if preferred or in any other suitable
position and the arrangement and distribution of the cargo cells or compartments
may be varied accordingly.

page_text: Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical and cross section of a trunkway in which
i is the piston or float and'g the spindle or guide which also serves as an indicator
to indicate the height of the fluid-k is the upper deck line and the deck of the
compartments or cells, is a pipe for discharging vapour, and m is the manhole.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a vertical and cross section shewing both the
trunkways fand f1 carried above the upper deck k.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew the inner trunkway f¹ only carried above the upper deck,
the outer casing or trunkway being carried only to the upper deck.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew only the inner trunkway f1 carried above the upper deck,
the outer trunkway or casing f. extending only to an intermediate distance.
If preferred it is not absolutely necessary that either of the trunkways should
extend above the upper deck as the spindle g only might be carried through.
The float or piston i can if so desired be guided by the spindle without having
an inner trunk way, I prefer however the float or piston being enclosed, as it is not
thereby so liable to be affected by the movement of the liquid arising from the
rolling and pitching of the vessel.
Although I consider that the spindle g affords a convenient mode of indicating
the height of the contained liquid ordinary glass tubes, floats fitted to radial arms
and other well known methods of indicating the height of the liquid may be used
in conjunction with my system.
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
1. In the construction of navigable vessels for the purposes aforesaid, the sub-
division of the cargo space or hold or some part thereof, into separate tight
compartments, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the Drawings.
2. In the construction of navigable vessels as aforesaid the method of insuring
that the compartments are always kept full, substantially as herein before described
and shewn on the drawings.
3. In navigable vessels so constructed and fitted as aforesaid, the use of trunk-
ways either singly or combined fitted with pistons or floats and other usual
appliances substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn
on the drawings.
4. In navigable vessels so constructed and fitted as aforesaid the method of
indicating the height of the liquid in the trunk ways by the means substantially as
herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
5. In navigable vessels as aforesaid, the use of single or combined trunkways,
fitted as aforesaid, as receptacles and means of safely conducting away the escaping
of volatile gases, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings.
6. The general construction combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts together forming my improvements in the construction of navigable
vessels for carrying liquids of a volatile character such as petroleum, turpentine, and
the like substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the Drawings.
Dated 6 January 1806
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.