Improvements in Hydraulic Apparatus for Operating Watertight Doors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Apparatus for Operating Watertight
Doors.
GAVIN CARLYLE RALSTON 32 Saxony Road Kensington Liverpool
Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilise hydraulic power to operate watertight
doors.
The gear consists of 2 sets :-
FF a movable cylinder fitted with a piston A which has hollow rods BB'
and B B screwed into it, kept tight by means of Bramah cup leathers and gland
nuts. The piston is also kept tight, by means of Bramah cup leathers CC and
gland nuts DD, in the cylinder. The rods B B and B B2 have ports EE in
them and the ends are bolted to the framework of the door which is made extra
wide, and so form guides for the cylinder to move up or down upon. The motion
from F F is transmitted to the door by means of brackets H H working in lugs II.
bolted to it.
HAND AND AUTOMATIC GEAR.
T is a tubular ram carrying a D slide valve K which works against ports M, N
and P in the body of the valve.
M and N are connected severally to B B and B B' by means of copper
pipes R and S respectively, whilst P exhausts into the bilges or elsewhere.
U is a pilot valve in T for relieving the pressure, by means of the handle in
quadrant.
V the automatic pressure valve worked by W the transmitting spindle lifted by
the copper float X.
Y is a pressure pipe, connecting main pressure pipe Z, to the chamber on top of
valve V.
Z is the main pressure pipe acting in chamber L against valve K. on the
ram T.
If water enters any compartment, it lifts the float X, which in turn lifts the
valve V, enabling the pressure water through pipe Y to enter the ram T carrying
the slide valve K which works against the ports M, N and P. The ram is lifted
and the port M is opened, allowing the pressure water to pass along the pipe R,
and act against the cylinder FF, setting it in motion and so closing the door.
To open the door, lift the handle in the quadrant which acts on U pressing it
down (and so allowing the pressure water to pass through into the bilges) enabling
the ram T to be pressed down, opening N, and the water acts on the opposite end
of the cylinder, opening the door.
Dated this 12th day of August 1896
GAVIN CARLILE RALSTON.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Apparatus for Operating Watertight
Doors.
GAVIN CARLYLE RALSTON No. 2 Swingstone View Tynemouth near Newcastle-
on-Tyne Engineer 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 :-
This invention has reference to apparatus for utalising hydraulic power to
operate watertight doors, comprising a controlling valve, having a tubular ram,
carrying a D slide valve, covering ports in the body of the valve.
The ports are severally connected by means of pipes to fixed tubular piston rods,
with pistons in the centre having port openings in the tubular rods, close to the
piston on each side, to admit pressure into movable cylinders, and connected to the
door by means of brackets, so as to move the door in whichever direction
the cylinders move.
Also comprising hand, and automatic gear for opening and shutting the door,
which consists of handles, capable of being moved up or down, on a fulerum
spindle, carried through a stuffing box in the bulkhead, to enable a handle being
fixed on each side. The point of one of the handles on the side where the
.controlling valve is fixed, is so arranged over the top of the tubular ram, that it
touches the point of a small pilot valve in the tubular ram, the pilot valve being so
placed, that when the handle is lifted up, the point from the fulcrum of handle
presses it down, allowing pressure to escape, the point of the handle then comes in
contact with the ram, so as to press it down, the pressure in the chamber and
hollow of the ram is then relieved, through the pilot valve, which is open, also a
lever can be keyed on the fulcrum pin of the handles, and connected to a rod
carried to the deck, or elsewhere, which is also worked by meas of a lever, and
handle fitted on a fulcrum pin, moving against a quadrant, with open and shut
marked on, the position of the handle on deck, being similarly placed to those
underneath, to indicate open, or shut as required.
The automatic gear comprising a copper float attached to the end of a lever, the
other end working on a pin, secured to a bracket, and having a spindle connected
to the lever, at a given distance from the pin, the spindle is carried through a
stuffing box, into the chamber at the bottom of the tubular ram.
The point of the spindle being connected to a small valve termed automatic
pressure valve, which is placed at the top of the tubular ram bottom chamber,
through which the spindle connected to the lever, with the copper float passes.
The pressure is on the top of the valve, a connection is formed by a pipe, taken
from the main pressure pipe, and joined to the chamber in which the valve is
placed.
The lever with the copper ball attached may also be moved up, or down, by
means of a rod, or wire, connected to it, and joined to a lever, fixed on a pin on the
bulkhead, or elsewhere, and so arranged, to form a connection between each door,
to enable the operator to lift similtaneously each lever with copper balls, which in
turn operates by means of the transmitting spindles, on the automatic pressure
valves, opening them, and allows the pressure to pass into the chamber at the
bottom of the tubular rams, forcing them up, and allowing the pressure in the
D slide valve chamber, to pass thro' the port to the movable cylinders, connected
to the doors, thereby shutting them all by one movement.
And in order that the nature of my invention may be readily understood
I will proceed to explain the same by aid of the Drawings 1. & 2.
The gear consists of two sets F¹ a movable cylinder fitted with a
piston A

page_text: which has hollow rods B¹ and B' screwed into it kept tight by means of Bramah
cup lethers and gland nuts. The piston is also kept tight by means of Bramah cap
leathers C. C. and gland nuts D. D. in the cylinder. The rods B'B' have
ports E. E. in them, and the ends are bolted to the frame work of the door
which is made extra wide, and so forms guides for the cylinders to move up or
down upon.
The motion from F1 F2 is transmitted to the door by means of brackets H. H.
down upon.
The motion from F1 F2 is transmitted to the door by means of brackets H. H.
working in lugs I. I. bolted to it.
HAND AND AUTOMATIC GEAR.
T. is a tubular ram carrying a D slide valve K. which works against
ports M. N. & P. in the body of the valve. M. & N. are connected severally
to B. B' B. B' by means of copper pipes R. S. respectively, whilst P. exhausts
into the bilges, or elsewhere.
U. is a pilot valve in T for relieving the pressure, by means of the handle in
quadrant. V. the automatic pressure valve worked by W. the transmitting spindle
lifted by the copper float X.
Y. is a pressure pipe connecting main pressure pipe Z. to the chamber on the top
of valve V.
If water enters any compartment it lifts the copper float X which in turn lifts
the valve V, enabling the pressure water through pipe Y. to enter the rain T.
carrying the slide valve K. which works against the ports M. N. & P. The ram
is lifted and the port M, is opened, allowing the pressure water to pass along the
pipe R. and act against the cylinders FF setting it in motion and so closing
the door.
Z is the main pressure pipe acting in chamber L. against valve K. on the
ram T.
To open the door lift the handle in the quadrant which acts on U, pressing it
down, and so allowing the pressure water to pass through it into the bilges,
or elsewhere, enabling the ram T. to be pressed down opening N. and the water
acts on the opposite end of the cylinder opening the door.
A rod to lever on bulkhead, C¹ wire from lever forming connection to other
doors.
Rod D' and lever E' forms connection to deck, for opening and closing door.
Rod B³ forms connection to deck or elsewhere for closing all doors by one
movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Hydraulic apparatus, for operating watertight doors, comprising two sets of
gear, with movable cylinders, fitted with pistons, which have hollow rods with
ports in them, the ends of the rods being bolted to the frame work of the door,
which is made wide enough, to form guides for the cylinders to move up or down
upon, the motion being transmitted to the door by means of brackets, which forms
a connection between the cylinders and door.
2. Hydraulic apparatus, for operating watertight doors-hand, and automatic
gear, comprising a tubular ram, carrying a D slide valve, which works against
three ports in the body of the valve, and are connected severally, by means of
copper pipes, to the tubular piston rods, enabling the pressure to enter either end
of the movable cylinders. The exhaust port having a pipe so arranged to deliver
into the bilges, or elsewhere, as required, also a pilot valve in the top of the
tubular ram, for relieving the pressure by means of the handles in the quadrant.
The automatic pressure valve being worked by transmitting spindle lifted by
the copper ball or float. The pipes conveying the pressure to the chamber
of the D slide valve and the chamber on the top of the automatic valve are

page_text: connected, and then joined, to the main pressure pipe, which is carried past
each door.
3. Hydraulic apparatus, for operating watertight doors, comprising the arrange-
ment of handles, levers, and rods, which can be worked so as to open or shut
each door, from deck, inside, or outside, of each compartment, also a connection
can be made to each lever to which is attached the transmitting spindle, and
by means of rods, and levers, so joined, that the movement of one handle,
will lift each lever, and transmitting spindles, which presses up the automatic
pressure valves, allowing the pressure to enter the chamber, at the bottom
of the tubular rams, forcing them up, and thereby closing all doors similtaneously.
Dated this 15th day of March 1897.
GAVIN CARLYLE RALSTON.