IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS EMPLOYED IN VESSELS FOR CARRYING CARGO IN BULK."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas John Stevens, of Odiham, in the County of
Hants, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS EMPLOYED IN
VESSELS FOR CARRYING CARGO IN BULK."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas John Stevens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1880.
THOMAS JOHN STEVENS, of Odiham, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE FITTINGS EMPLOYED IN VESSELS FOR CARRYING CARGO IN BULK.'
My Invention relates to the "shifting boards" employed on board ship to prevent
grain and other loose cargo from shifting or becoming unduly displaced by the
motion or rolling of the vessel.
The "shifting boards" at present employed usually consist of planks of wood
about three inches thick, held or secured in position between the ordinary stanchions
of the vessel and other stanchions, rods, or bars connected thereto; this arrangement
however is very cumbersome and expensive, and necessitates considerable labor in
fixing them.
According to my Invention I construct "shifting boards" of sheet iron or other
suitable metal, in two parts or flaps, which, when in use, are connected together and
form a kind of bulkhead, either in a longitudinal direction or transverse to the line
of the vessel.
One of these parts or flaps I hinge "tween decks," either to the beams of the
upper deck or to the upper ends of the stanchions which support the upper deck, or
to any other suitable part of the vessel, so as to be capable of being turned or
folded up when not in use against the underside of the upper deck, whilst the other
part or flap is similarly hinged to the lower part of the stanchions, or to the
planks of the "tween decks," so as to be capable of being turned down on to the
deck, or the lower part or flap may be fitted so as to slide on to the upper part or
flap and be stowed behind it when not in use, suitable sockets or guides being
provided on the flaps for that purpose.
When in use the two parts or flaps are closed, or brought together, or extended,
or slid out the one from the other, as the case may be, and connected together and
to the stanchions by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings to prevent them
from being accidentally separated by the motion of the vessel or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas John Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
February 1881.
THOMAS JOHN STEVENS, of Odiham, in the County of Hants.
"
IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE FITTINGS EMPLOYED IN VESSELS FOR CARRYING CARGO IN BULK."
My said Invention relates to the "shifting boards" employed on board ship to
prevent grain and other loose cargo from shifting or becoming unduly displaced by
the motion or rolling of the vessel.
The "shifting boards" at present employed usually consist of planks of wood
about three inches thick bolted or secured in position between the ordinary stanchions
of the vessels and other stanchions, rods, or bars connected thereto; this arrangement
however is very cumbersome and expensive, and necessitates considerable labour in
fixing them.
According to my said Invention I construct "shifting boards" of sheet iron or
other suitable metal, which are so arranged that when in use they form a species
of bulkhead either in a longitudinal direction or transverse to the line of the vessel,
and when not in use are capable of being folded or turned up or down, all as
hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section
of a portion of a vessel having my said Invention applied thereto; Figures 2 and 3
(on Sheet 2) are transverse sections of the same, taken respectively along the lines
1, 2, and 3, (Figure 1); Figure 4 is a detail hereinafter described.
A are the metal shifting plates arranged 'tween decks, which plates are
constructed in two parts or flaps a, b, hinged respectively to filling in pieces at c, d,
in such a manner as when in use and fastened together at e to form a species of
bulk head, as shewn by the full lines in Figure 2, and when out of use to be capable
of turning or folding upwards and downwards, and of being secured at f, g,
respectively as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. The upper flap a is arranged
to slightly overlap the lower flap b when in use. In the lower holds I employ
shifting plates B, C, similar to the plates A, with the exception that they are, by
preference, inade in one piece. The plates B are hinged at h so as to turn or fold
upwards when out of use, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, in which
position they may be retained by a fastening at i. The plates C are hinged at k so
as to turn or fold downwards when out of use, as also indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 2, and are retained in that position by a fastening at l. When in use the
plates C slightly overlap the plates B, and the two are secured together, as shewn
If desired the plates B, C, may each be made in two parts, jointed together
so as to admit of their folding into a smaller compass when not in use, or they
may be composed of two flaps after the manner of the plates A.
at m.
A represent plates hinged at o for cutting off the cargo space of the "'tween
decks" from the hatches C, the latter being open to the holds below. The plates A'
may either be made in one piece opening upwards, as shewn, or in two parts or
flaps after the manner of the plates A.
B₁ represent removable plates in the hold below.
After the plates have been closed they are further secured by means of stiffening
bars D inserted in cleats E, and the plates may also be fastened to the said bars, as
shewn at p, in order to obtain increased strength and support.
The shifting plates may be fastened to the stanchions by any suitable means, as
for example, in the manner indicated in Figure 4.
By the use of my said Invention greater compactness and durability in the
shifting appliances is obtained, together with a perfectly grain tight joint, whilst a
E

page_text: considerable saving of time is effected in placing them in position. Moreover, as
the hatches are closed in all round, and filled with grain in bulk, they form a feed
for the lower holds and maintain them full as the cargoes settle down, thereby
preventing all liability of the shifting of the bulk grain in the lower holds.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I will observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The employment in vessels for carrying cargo in bulk of "shifting plates,"
constructed and arranged substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas John Stevens, have to this my
Specification set my hand the Twenty eighth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS JOHN STEVENS. (L.S.)