AN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE CLEANING OF SHIPS' BOTTOMS WHEN UNDER WAY
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES WELLS, of 18, Walker Terrace, Plymouth, in the county of Devon,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN AUTOMATIC
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE CLEANING OF SHIPS' BOTTOMS WHEN UNDER
WAY," to be as follows:-
--
The object of my invention is the introduction of improved means of, and
apparatus for, effectually cleaning ships' bottoms, and consists in combining a
worm of suitable diameter and pitch with a cylinder-shape brush. When
preferred, the brush itself may be of a spiral shape thus combining in itself the
double function of brush and worm.
I stretch a rope of metal wire along one or both, or part of one or both, sides of
the ship and beneath the water line.
:
Ropes made of metal wire are preferable to those made of hemp because of
their offering less resistance as they move through the water. The brushes, one or
more for each side of the ship if required by the size and condition of the bottom
of the latter, are connected to the side ropes forwards by swivels, to prevent undue
torsion of the ropes, the aft connection being a rigid one. A second rope passed
under the ship as if for keel-hauling, is fastened to each side rope, and is used to
alter the level thereof.-
The operation of my invention is as follows. The brushes being fixed as above
described, are slowly revolved against the ship's sides by the pressure of the
water exerted upon the thread of the worms as the ship moves forward, the worm
acting as the brush-propeller or revolver.
The worms may be fixed on the side rope at a point considerably aft of the
brushes, but, of course, without swivels..
The side ropes do not necessarilly extend the whole length of the ship's side, but
are fastened to the hull at any convenient point aft, the forward ends being rove
through pulleys and carried on to the deck.
.
Dated this (un day of February
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
"

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
UNDER
I, CHARLES WELLS, of 18, Walker Terrace, Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN AUTOMATIC
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE CLEANING OF SHIPS' BOTTOMS, WHEN
WAY," 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 the introduction of improved means of, and
apparatus for, effectually cleaning ships' bottoms, and consists in combining a worm
or screw of suitable diameter and pitch with a cylinder-shape 'brush. When
preferred, the brush itself may be of a spiral shape, thus combining in itself the
double function of brush and worm." This brush (or brushes) is rigged against the
ship's sides, or bottom at the desired levels, by means of ropes. As the ship moves
through the water, the brushes are revolved, the introduction of swivels at the
points of connection of the ropes to the brushes preventing the ropes being
twisted.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood I will proceed to describe the
same in detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings, which are to
be taken as part of this specification and read therewith. Like parts are marked
throughout the figures in which they occur with the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cylinder brush with worm.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a cylinder brush and worm, the latter attached to
the brush direct.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a spiral brush, equivalent to the cylindrical brush
and separate worm of either of the foregoing figures.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a ship, shewing the application of my invention,
and
Fig. 5 is an end elevation corresponding therewith.
In the combination of 'brush and worm illustrated in Fig. 1, the worm, C, may
be at any distance aft of the brush, provided that when it is used on broad beam
vessels, the connecting rope, B, is not sufficiently long to be brought into unnecessary
friction with the vessel's side.
A is a brush of a cylindrical section and diameter, proportioned to the quantity
of work expected of it. It is made preferably of wire, or equivalently durable
and springy material. Each brush is fitted at the forward extremity of its
horizontal axis with a swivel, a, terminating conveniently in a hook, or eye, a¹, for
attaching to the forward rope. A similar hook, or eye, a², is fitted to the rear of
the axis of the brush, and which receives the rope B, by means of which the
worm C is connected to the brush. The worm, C, is conveniently fitted with hooks
or eyes, c, c, one for the purpose of attachment to the rope B, the rear hook being
used for connecting a second brush.
The construction of the brush illustrated in Fig. 2 is, substantially, the same as
that shewn in Fig. 1. Instead, however, of being fitted with a hook, or eye, at its

page_text: rear end to receive a rope, it is connected by a bolt and eye directly to the worm C.
And the stock of either brush may be of a square section, with the bristles
projecting along the corners parallel with the axis.
According to the modification of this part of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3,
the brush is not of a cylindrical section, but is a spiral, D, wound around a cylinder
or block d. Spiral brushes, as Fig 3, are made the same or the reverse hand, as the
screws, the material of the brushes, however, is the same as already described. The
ends of the brush may be fitted with hooks or eyes, by which a second brush can be
connected.
In Fig. 4 the fore brush, A, is connected to the rope E, which is carried forward,
and turned round pulleys conveniently hanging in the fore rigging at convenient
points, on to deck, where it is made taut, and from where it can be hauled in or
run out as the process of cleaning demands. The aft end of the rope may be
secured in a similar, or any other convenient, way to the stern of the ship, or it
may be left loose.
In the figure there are two brushes A, A, on the rope, although any convenient
number may be used in one length, according to the length of the ship. And
more than one rope E, with its brushes, may be used to each side at one time
according to the ship's depth. A suitable number of ropes, G, are fastened to the
side ropes, and passed under the ship as if for keel hauling. By means of these,
the level at which the side ropes, E, are worked is conveniently altered.
I prefer wire ropes to chains, in carrying my invention into effect, because of
their being less friction with the former than with the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of cylindrical brush, A, with swivel connection, a, side
rope, E; intermediate rope, B; and worm C; the whole substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of cylindrical brush, A, with swivel, a; worm, C; and side
rope, E; the whole substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
Figs 2 and 4.
3. The combination of brush and worm, producing the spiral brush, for use in
connection with side rope E, for cleaning ships' bottoms, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying figure 3.
4. In an apparatus for cleaning ships' bottoms, the combination of brush, or
brushes, of either type defined in the first or third claim, with side rope, or ropes, E,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying Figs. 4 and 5.
5. The combination of devices specified in either of the foregoing claims, with
side rope or ropes, E, and cross ropes, G; the whole substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying figures.
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