Improvements in Fenders for Navigable Vessels for Preventing or Lessening the Injurious Effects of Collisions.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fenders for Navigable Vessels for Preventing or
Lessening the Injurious Effects of Collisions.
A communication from abroad by JACOBUS THEODOOR CHRISTIAAN KOCH, of
50, Egelantiersgracht, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS. Thompsos, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to buffers or fenders for navigable vessels.
The object of the present invention is to provide effective fenders for navigable
vessels, by means of which the injurious effects of collision may be materially
lessened.
The fenders are of elastic material in the main, and are designed to take up
much of the effect of the blow in the event of collision, and to distribute the effect
over a large surface.
The fenders are adapted to be applied at the bow above the water-line and on
both sides, preferably at the weakest parts of the vessel.
It is well known that vessels are often collided with amidships, where they are
most vulnerable, owing to the engines and boilers being there situated, and con-
sequently, it is proposed to apply, at this part and on both sides of the vessel above
the water-line, side fenders consisting of long beams of material of a highly elastic
nature.
Two fenders are placed in front of the bow and are shaped to the peculiar
configuration thereof, the upper one, being placed above the anchor chain hole, and
the lower fender, beneath this hole and above the water-line. The fenders may be
hung by chains or fastened in any known way to the bow of the vessel, but it is
preferred to hang them by chains and to draw them closely against the bow and
sides of the ship by means of guys fastened on deck. A crane is provided on deck
to hoist the fenders out of the hold of the vessel, where they may be placed when
not wanted, and to apply them to their respective places. On both sides of the
vessel, preferably in proximity to where the engines and boilers are located, side
fenders are placed of very elastic material. These are hung by chains and may be
located in any desired position on the sides of the vessel. Two rows of beams, one
above the other, protect the engine and boiler rooms. The beams may also be
guyed to the deck in order to prevent them shifting about in stormy weather.
When the beams are not wanted, they are hoisted on deck.
A rigid frame is placed in front of the bow, close to the "cutwater," this frame
may be composed of a wooden or iron plate, brackets (which fit on both sides of
the bow close to the vessel's sides) and webs between the plate and brackets. The
guys may be fastened to the end of the brackets. A ring is provided on the top of
the plate, and holes are made in the webs to hang the fender up and hoist it on
deck. In front of the plate, over the entire height, is fastened, by means of hoops
or plates, the cushion of highly elastic india rubber, and all round the hoops or
plates are put sheets of cork or any other convenient material. The cork sheets
are enclosed in an outer covering of rope net work; the whole is firmly fastened to
the front plate and forms a fender possessing very elastic qualities.
Flat sheets or pads of rubber may be placed between the hull of the vessel and
the brackets which will enable the fenders to fit more closely and lessen the injury
to the vessel in case of collision.

page_text: The construction of the lower fender is similar in principle to that of the buffer.
The shape of the bow is, however, much sharper at the place where this lower
fender is applied. In one arrangenient, the brackets do not fit closely to the sides
of the vessel, but pads of indiarubber are put between the brackets and the bow's
side, so if the vessel strikes at an oblique angle, there is no fear of the vessel's
sides being pressed in and destroyed by the brackets. This construction may be
chosen for the upper fenders, if desired.
Any suitable number of front fenders may be applied in front of the bow.
The side fender is preferably made of one or more long beams of I-iron (or
any other convenient section) riveted together. Between the openings of the
beams, cushions of india rubber are placed, which are fastened to the I-iron
beams aforesaid by means of hoops or iron or steel plates, on which sheets of
cork are placed. The cork is fastened to the beams and enveloped by a network
of ropes. The beam is provided with a hook or ring to attach the suspending
chains.
If two vessels, provided with either front or side fenders, or with both, collide,
the front fenders of the striking vessel will resist the blow and prevent its bow
making an indent or forcing a leak in the vessel it strikes; the hull above the
water line may be pressed out of shape a little, but this will not cause the
vessel to sink. If the front fenders strike side fenders, the resistance is still
greater, as the blow is divided here over a considerable length and surface;
whilst, if a vessel not provided with front fenders, strike a vessel provided with
side fenders, there will be no indent or leak made under the water line.
Although it is preferable to have the fenders made as described, they may be
varied according to circumstances, such as the shape of the vessel's bow and the
dimensions of the vessel.
By means of the invention, it will be readily understood that the effect of a
collisiou will be distributed over a large surface, and much of the effect will be
taken up by the elastic cushions, the result being that the injury from a collision
will be greatly lessened.
Dated this 25th day of March 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fenders for Navigable Vessels for Preventing or
Lessening the Injurious Effects of Collisions.
A communication by JACOBUS THEODOOR CHRISTIAAN KOCH, of 50, Egelantiers-
gracht, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, Merchant.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to buffers or fenders for navigable vessels.
The object of the present invention is to provide effective fenders for navigable
vessels, by means of which the injurious effects of collision may be materially
lessened.
The fenders are of elastic material in the main, and are designed to take up much
of the effect of the blow in the event of collision, and to distribute the effect over a
large surface.
The fenders are adapted to be applied at the bow above the water line and on
both sides, preferably at the weakest parts of the vessel.
It is well known that vessels are often collided with amidships, where they are

page_text: most vulnerable, owing to the engines and boilers being situated there, and con-
sequently, it is proposed to apply, at this part and on both sides of the vessel above
the water-line, side fenders consisting of long beams of material of a highly elastic
nature.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which―
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steamer having the improved fenders applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is a deck plan.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section above the water-line.
Figure 4 is an end elevation.
Figures 5 and 6 show two kinds of front fenders constructed in accordance with
this invention; and
Figure 7 is a section of a side fender.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
Two fenders A, B, are placed in front of the bow and are shaped to the peculiar
configuration thereof, the upper one, A, being placed above the anchor chain hole,
and the lower fender, B, beneath this hole and above the water-line. The fenders
may be hung by chains or fastened in any known way to the bow of the vessel, but
it is preferred to hang them by chains and to draw them closely against the bow
and sides of the ship by means of guys a fastened on deck. A crane D is provided
on deck to hoist the fenders out of the hold of the vessel, where they may be placed
when not wanted, and to apply them to their respective places. On both sides of
the vessel, preferably in proximity to where the engines and boilers are located,
side fenders Care placed of very elastic material. These are hung by chains d
and may be located in any desired position on the sides of the vessel. The drawing
shows two rows of beams one above the other, which protect the engine and boiler
rooms. The beams may also be guyed to the deck in order to prevent them
shifting about in stormy weather. When the beams are not wanted, they are
hoisted on deck.
Figure 5 gives, on a larger scale, a horizontal section of the upper front fender A,
drawn closely to the vessel's bow and sides by guys a A rigid frame E is placed
in front of the bow, close to the "cutwater and, in the drawings, is shown as
composed of a wooden or iron plate E, brackets F (which fit on both sides of the
how close to the vessel's sides) and webs G between the plate E and brackets F.
The guys a may be fastened to the end of the brackets F. A ring R is provided
on the top of the plate E, and holes H are made in the webs to hang the fender
up and hoist it on deck. In front of the plate E, over the entire height, is fastened,
by means of hoops or plates L, the cushion M of highly elastic india rubber, and
all round the hoops or plates L are put sheets of cork N or any other couvenient
material. The cork sheets are enclosed in an outer covering of rope net work, r,
the whole is firmly fastened to the front plate E and forms a fender possessing
very elastic qualities.
Flat sheets or pads of rubber S may be placed between the hull of the vessel
and the brackets F which will enable the fenders to fit more closely and lessen the
injury to the vessel in case of collision.
The construction of the lower fender B (Figure 6) is similar in principle to that
of the buffer A. The shape of the bow is, however, much sharper at the place
where this lower fender is applied. In the construction shown in Figure 6, the
brackets E do not fit closely to the sides of the vessel, but pads of india rubber ()
are put between the brackets and the bow's side, so, if the vessel strikes at an
oblique angle, there is no fear of the vessel's sides being pressed in and destroyed
y the brackets E. This construction may be chosen for the upper fenders A if
desired.
Although two front fenders are shown in the drawing, it must be understood
that any suitable number may be applied in front of the bow.
Figure 7 is a cross section of the side fender C. It is preferably made of one or

page_text: more long beams of I-iron T (or any other convenient section) rivetted together as
shown. Between the openings of the beams, cushions of india rubber M are
placed, which are fastened to the I-iron beams aforesaid by means of hoops or iron
or steel plates L, on which sheets of cork N are placed. The cork is fastened
to the beams and enveloped by a network of ropes r, as shown. The beam is
provided with a hook or ring R to attach the suspending chains d.
If two vessels, provided with either front or side fenders, or with both, collide,
the front fenders of the striking vessel will resist the blow and prevent its bow
making an indent or forcing a leak in the vessel it strikes; the hull above the
water-line may be pressed out of shape a little, but this will not cause the vessel
to sink. If the front fenders strike side fenders, the resistance is still greater, as
the blow is divided here over a considerable length and surface; whilst, if a vessel,
not provided with front fenders, strike a vessel provided with side fenders, there
will be no indent or leak made under the water-line.
Although it is preferable to have the fenders made as described, they may be
varied according to circumstances, such as the shape of the vessel's bow and the
dimensions of the vessel.
By means of the invention, it will be readily understood that the effect of a
collision will be distributed over a large surface, and much of the effect will be
taken up by the elastic cushions, the result being that the injury from a collision
will be greatly lessened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is―
1. A fender comprising an elastic cushion, a metallic casing therefor, an outer
surrounding netting and an elastic filling between the netting and casing, substan-
tially as set forth.
2. A fender comprising the frame E formed of a face plate, rearward projecting
diverging arms F provided with suspension eyes and the pad secured to the said
face plate, substantially as set forth.
3. A fender comprising the frame E formed of a face plate, rearward projecting
diverging arms FF having suspending eyes and apertured webs GG connecting
said plate and arms, and a pad secured to the face plate, substantially as
set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a fender for vessels, consisting of a rigid
frame, an elastic cushion secured thereto, and a cork facing on said cushion,
substantially as described.
5. The combination, in a fender for vessels, of a rigid frame having rearwardly
extending divergent arms, an elastic cushion secured to said frame, and elastic pads
secured to the arms of the said frame, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.