IMPROVED MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE PROGRESS OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE PROGRESS OF SHIPS
AND OTHER VESSELS." A communication from abroad by John McAdams,
of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell
Reddie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January
1882.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, 66 Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS FOR ARRESTING
THE PROGRESS OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS." [A communication from abroad
by John McAdams of Boston in the State of Massachusetts United States of
America.]
The object of this Invention is to provide means whereby ships and other vessels
even when under full headway, may be quickly stopped, to avoid collision or other
disaster; but which will not retard the speed of the ship or vessel until it is
desirable to do so.
The Invention consists essentially in the combination with a ship or vessel of
wings, fins or blades connected by upright hinges or pivots to the sides of the stern
post or other parts of the sides of the vessel, and adapted to the folded or placed
close against the sides of the ship or vessel when not required to be put in action,
and to be swung outwards so as to project laterally from the sides of the ship, and
thus offer a great resistance to its passage through the water.
The Invention also consists in the combination with such hinged wings, fins, or
blades, of braces which are hinged thereto at or near their outer edges, and to the
side of the ship or vessel forward of the hinges or pivots of the wings, fins, or
blades.
These braces prevent the wings, fins, or blades, from swinging open past a
position at right angles to the ship, or vessel, and they are hinged or jointed at
[Paving S1

page_text: about the middle of their length so that they may fold up between the wings, fins,
or blades, and the sides of the vessel, when the said wings, fins, or blades, are swung
or folded against the side of the vessel.
The Invention also consists in the combination with the wings fins or blades
and their aforesaid braces, of stays which are connected with the hinges or pivots
of the wings, fins, or blades, and with the middle hinges or joints of the braces, and
which prevent the two parts of which each brace is composed, from moving into, or
past a position in line with each other, when the wings, fins or blades are swung
outwards, and so offering an impediment to the return of the wings, fins or blades
to their inoperative positions against the sides of the vessel. Each stay may consist
of a rod hinged at the inner end of the hinge or pivot of the wing, fin, or blade, and
fitting loosely in a hole in the hinge pin which connects the two parts of each
brace, and the said stay has at its outer end a knob, or hook which prevents the
movement of the brace beyond a proper position.
The Invention also consists in the combination with the wings fins or blades of
chains or cables whereby they may be drawn, or swung inwards against the side of
the vessel. These chains or cables may be attached to a windlass upon the deck
of the vessel; or they may each be attached to a separate windlass and by turning
the windlass or windlasses the wings fins or blades may be drawn inwards. The
wings, fins, or blades, are so formed, or so attached to the vessel, that when the
aforesaid chains or cables are released, they will spring outward slightly from the
side of the vessel, so as to catch the water, which will throw or swing them outwards
at once.
The pawl of the windlass, or the pawls of the two windlasses if two are used,
may be operated to release the wings, fins or blades, and permit them to swing
outwards by means-of-cords.or_connections extending to the pilot house or other
desired place and the pawls may also have cords or connections_extending to and
depending from the bow of the vessel in such a position that they will catch upon-
snags or other obstructions, on or below the surface or at the bottom of the water,
and thereby will be caused to withdraw the pawl or pawls, and release the wings,
fins or blades.
The hinge pins, or pivots, which connect the wings, fins, or blades with the vessel
may or will be so made and applied as to permit of their being drawn out to
disconnect and remove the wings, fins, or blades, if they become inoperative, or fail
to work properly from any cause.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th July 1882.
R
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent. IMPROVED MEANS FOR ARRESTING
TILE PROGRESS OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS." A communication from abroad
by John McAdams, of Boston in the State of Massachusetts United States of
America.
The object of this Invention as communicated to me is to provide means whereby
ships and other vessels, even when under full headway, may be quickly stopped, to
avoid collision or other disaster, but which will not retard the speed of the ship or
vessel until it is desirable to do so.
The Invention consists essentially in the combination with a ship or other vessel,
of fins or blades connected by upright or nearly upright hinges or pivots to the
sides of the stern post or other parts of the sides of the vessel; and adapted to be
drawn in or placed against those portions of the sides of the ship or vessel in front
of their pivots or hinges when not required to be put in action, and to be swung
outwards and backwards so as to. project laterally from the sides, and thus offer a
great resistance to the passage of the ship or vessel through the water.
•
The Invention also consists in the combination with such hinged fins or blades,
of jointed braces which are hinged thereto at or near their outer edges and to the
side of the ship or vessel forward of the hinges or pivots of the wings, fins or
blades.
These braces prevent the fins or blades from swinging backwards past a position
at right angles to the ship or vessel and they are jointed at about the middle of
their length so that they may fold up between the fins or blades and the sides of
the vessel, when said fins or blades are swung in against the sides of the vessel.
The Invention also consists in the combination with the fins or blades and
their aforesaid jointed braces, of stays which are connected with the hinges or
pivots of the fins or blades and with the middle hinges or joints of the braces, and
which prevent the two parts of which each brace is composed from moving into or
past a position in line with each other when the fins or blades are swung outwards,
and from thereby offering an impediment to the return of the fins or blades to their
inoperative positions against the sides of the vessel.
Each stay may consist of a rod hinged at the inner end of the hinge or pivot of
the fin or blade and fitting loosely in a hole in the hinge pin which connects the
two parts of each brace; and the said stay has at its outer end a knob or hook
which prevents the movement of the brace, beyond a proper position.
The Invention also consists in the combination with the fins or blades, of chains
or cables whereby they may be drawn or swung inwards simultaneously against
the sides of the vessel. These chains or cables may be attached to a windlass or
windlasses upon the deck of the vessel, and by turning the windlass or windlasses
the wings, fins or blades may be drawn inward. The fins or blades are so formed,
or so attached to the vessel, that when the aforesaid chains or cables are released
they will spring outward slightly from the side of the vessel so as to catch the
water, which will throw or swing them outwards at once.
The pawl of the windlass or the pawls of the windlasses, if two are used, may be
operated to release the fins or blades, and permit them to swing outwards by
means of cords chains or connections extending to the pilot house or other desired
place and the pawls may also have cords or connections extending to and depending

page_text: from the bow of the vessel in such a position that they will catch upon snags, rocks,
shoals or other obstructions on or below the surface or at the bottom of the water
and thereby will be pulled to withdraw the pawl or pawls and release the fins or
blades.
The Invention is applicable to either steam vessels or sailing vessels.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 represents a side view partly in section of
a steam vessel provided with this Invention. Fig: 1* is a vertical section of the
windlass employed to draw the fins or blades to the sides of the vessel. Fig: 2 is
a horizontal section of the after part of the vessel and the fins or blades. Fig: 3 is
a transverse section in the line x. x. of Fig: 1, and Fig: 4 is a view of the stern of
the vessel. Figures 1. 2. 3. 4 are all on the same scale, larger than that of Fig: 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A indicates the hull of the vessel. B is the stern post and CC are the fins or
blades for stopping the vessel. These fins or blades are represented as connected by
hinge pins or pivots a, with the stern post, B; though they may be similarly
connected with the sides of the vessel at any part of its length. The said fins or
blades may extend downwards nearly to the bottom of the keel, and upward to or
nearly to the water line. They are each shewn as composed of a single plate to
which are secured strengthening ribs b in the ends of which are formed the eyes
for the hinge pins or pivots a. upon which they may be swung inwards and
forwards against the sides of the vessel as shewn in Fig: 1, or they may swing
outwards and backwards so as to project transversely from the vessel as shewn in
Figures 2.3 and 4. When thus swung out they will offer a great resistance to the
progress of the vessel and will enable the speed to be instantly checked, and cause
-the-vessel to be stopped within a short distance if desired.
Upon the sides of the vessel iminediately forward-of the position occupied by the
front edges of the fins or blades when swung forwards and inwards against the
sides of the vessel, there are secured plates D. which are tapered or thinned in a
forward direction, as shewn in Fig: 2.
When the fins or blades are swung inwards against the vessel they do not
project beyond the outer surfaces of the plates D and do not therefore offer any
appreciable resistance to the progress of the vessel.
It will be readily seen that as soon as the outer or front edges of the fins or
blades move outwards ever so little from the sides of the vessel they will be caught
by the water and swung open, and if they are shaped to the side of the vessel their
upper portions may overhang their lower portions and will give them a natural
tendency to swing outwards by gravitation into a position where the water will
catch them.
In order to still further ensure the fins or blades moving outwards when
released they are shaped so that their lower portions will strike the sides of the
vessel before their upper portions and they will therefore be so sprung against the
sides of the vessel when drawn in thereto that when released their elasticity
E E
will carry their upper portions outward sufficiently to catch the water.
designate folding braces which are hinged at c. to the outer edges of the fins
or blades C, and at d, to the sides of the vessel, as best shewn in Fig: 2, and
which are constructed with folding joints e, at about the middle of their length.
When the fins or blades are swung outwards the braces E are unfolded and will
assume the nearly straight positions shown in Fig: 2, and will prevent the tins or
blades from moving past a position at right angles to the sides of the vessel, but
when the wings or blades are swung forwards and inwards, these braces fold
inwards between the fins or blades C and the sides of the vessel.
In order to prevent the braces E from moving into or past a straight position
which would prevent their folding inwards between the fins or blades and the
sides of the vessel, stays F are employed. These stays consist of rods pivotted or
hinged at one end, f, of the stern post or side of the vessel, and having their other
end working through holes in the heads of the pins of the joints c, of the folding
braces, and provided with knobs or heads f¹ as shewn in Fig: 2 and when the fins

page_text: or blades are swung inwards the pins of the joints e slide inwards upon the rods or
stays F while the latter swing inwards with them.
The mechanism for drawing the wings or blades C, inwards is best represented in
Fig 3, but is partly shewn in Fig: 1*, and it also shewn on a small scale in Fig: 1,
G designates a windlass which is adapted to be worked by a winch handle G¹, and
suitable gearing, and from said windlass extends a chain or other connection g,
to which are connected two other chains or connections g¹ which pass outwards
through holes in the sides of the vessel. In order to prevent water from entering
the hull through these holes, communications by pipes or tubes h, are formed
between them, and an upright trunk H, which is closed at the bottom. The chains
or connections g. g'. work through these pipes or tubes and trunk, and are carried
over suitable guide rollers or pulleys i. in the sides of the vessel, and in the pipes
or tubes, as shewn in Fig: 3.
When the fins or blades are drawn inward and forward against the sides of the
vessel they are held there by a pawl j, engaging with a ratchet wheel embodied
in the gearing of the windlass, or by any other locking device, and when the fins
or blades are to be released and allowed to operate, all that is necessary is to
withdraw this pawl, or locking device. The pawl j, is fulcrumed at 22 and is held
in engagement with its wheel j¹ by a spring as shewn in Figure 1*.
I designates a cord, chain, or other suitable connection which is fastened to the
pawl, j, and carried forward to the bow of the vessel, and a branch chain or
connection, I' leads therefrom to the pilot house J where it can be operated to
withdraw the pawl and release the wings or blades.
The chain or connection, I, may also be pulled to withdraw the pawl by a lever I'
arranged at the bow where it may be operated by the look-out man, and said chain
or connection is fastened at the end to a lever or feeler K which is fulcrumed at k
and depends in front of the bow. The lever or feeler K is kept in the position
shewn in Fig: 1 by a spring applied above its fulcrum and when it strikes any
snag, rock, shoal, or other obstruction the lower end will be moved inwards or
towards the bow of the vessel, and the chain or connection I pulled to withdraw
the pawl. The lever K may have a vertically adjustable lower section K' which
may be raised or lowered so as to project as far below the keel as is desired and
this extension may have laterally projecting arms so as to "feel" the bottom, and
prevent the vessel from running into shallow water. For instance in running into
a harbour or in shallow inland waters the section K' may be properly adjusted and
in case of too shallow water it will strike the bottom and pull the chain or
connection to withdraw the pawl j.
If desired the bowsprit L may also be made moveable in a socket L' in the stom
of the vessel and connected by a branch chain or cord m with the connection I, and
when the bowsprit is moved inward by collision with a vessel, or by running
against any obstacle, the chain or connection I will be pulled and the pawl
withdrawn.
All the hinge pins or pintles which connect the fins or blades and the braces E
with the vessel may be so constructed that they can be readily pulled out, and
in case of any accident happening to the fins or blades, or to their operating gear
while at sea which would prevent them from being closed, all the pins may be
pulled out and the fins or blades unshipped.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improved Means for
Arresting the Progress of Ships and other Vessels " as communicated to me from
abroad and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect I wish it to bo
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,
First-The combination with a vessel, of fins or blades pivotted or hinged to
the sides thereof and adapted to be drawn in or placed against those portions of
the sides thereof in front of their pivots or hinges or to be swung outward and
backward therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Second: The combination with the fins or blades pivotted or hinged to the vessel
herein above described of a locking device for holding said fins or blades against

page_text: the sides of the vessel and means for unlocking said device on or above the deck
of the vessel substantially as herein described.
Third: The combination with a vessel and fins or blades connected with the
sides thereof by pivots upon which they are adapted to swing outwards and
inwards, of a locking device for holding said fins or blades inwards against the
sides of the vessel, and a lever or feeler depending in front of the bow and connected
with said locking device, substantially as described.
Fourth: The combination with a vessel of the hinged fins or blades C the
windlass Q, and pawl, j, for operating them and holding them inwards, and the
lever K, and adjustable section K₁ connected with said pawl, substantially as
described.
Fifth: The combination with a vossel, of the fins or blades connected with the
sides thereof by pivots upon which they are adapted to swing outwards and
inwards, and braces hinged to the outer portions of the wings or blades and to the
sides of the vessel forward of the wings or blades, and each composed of hinged
sections, adapted to fold between the fins or blades and the sides of the vessel,
substantially as described.
Sixth The combination with a vessel of the hinged fins or blades C, the hinged
sectional braces E and the stays F on which said braces may slide substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie have hereunto
set my hand and seal the Twenty-fourth day of July in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.