Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES SPENCER of 316 Paisley Road in the City of Glasgow, Ship Owner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to simplify the construction and improve the
action of that class of apparatus, for scrubbing or cleaning the sides or bottoms of
ships, in which a flat brush connected by a rope. to the ship at or near the stem is
caused to travel up and down in close contact with the ship's side by the pressure
on the back of the brush and on guide fins connected thereto of the water which
flows past the ship.
In lieu of the articulated frame which is ordinarily fitted in conjunction with the
brush and whose top and bottom members form the guide fins by which the
apparatus is directed upwards and downwards through the water I employ an
open rectangular or box-like frame by preference of flat or angle iron bars rigidly
connected together, and upon the two opposite sides forming the top and bottom
of the frame I secure strong boards of wood or metal to form the guiding fins of
the apparatus, eye bolts or similar devices being provided wherewith to connect
the ropes or lines which pass up to the ship's deck and are used for tilting or
inclining the frame fore and aft to bring it into the operative position. On one
side the boards or guide.fins extend beyond the framework and between them the
brush is fitted upon a pin or stud in the central part of the frame in such wise that
the brush and frame may swivel relatively to each other. The face of the brush
projects inwards beyond the guide boards so that it may bear upon the side or
bottom of the ship against which it is pressed by the action of the water upon
inclined planes or fins which are fitted or formed upon the back of the brush one
fin being in front of the centre pin and another behind it. An eye piece or
similar means of fastening the connecting rope is provided on the fore end of the
brush.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in Apparatus- for Cleaning the Sides and Bottoms
of Ships Afloat.
I; JAMES SPENCER of 316 Paisley Road, in the City of Glasgow, Ship Owner,
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:
:
My invention has for its object to simplify the construction and improve the.
action of that class of apparatus, for scrubbing or cleaning the sides or bottoms of
ships, in which a flat brush connected by a rope to the ship at or near the stem is
caused to travel up and down in close contact with the ship's side by the pressure;
on the back of the brush and on guide fins connected thereto, of the water which
flows past the ship.
In lieu of the articulated frame which is ordinarily fitted in conjunction with
the brush and whose top and bottom members form the guide fins by which the
apparatus is directed upwards and downwards through the water I employ as
represented in front and back views in figures 1 and 2, and as applied in the act
of scrubbing a ship's side in figure 3, an open rectangular or box-like. frame by
preference composed of flat or angle iron bars A; A, rigidly connected together,
and upon the two opposite sides forming the top and bottom of the frame, I secure
strong boards B, and C, of wood or metal to form the guiding fins of the apparatus,
eye bolts D, or similar devices being provided wherewith to connect the ropes or
lines d, which pass up to the ships deck and are used for tilting or inclining the
frame fore and aft to bring it into the operative position. On one side the boards
or guide fins B, C, extend beyond the framework A, and between them the
brush E, is fitted upon a pin or stud e in the central part of the frame in such wise
that the brush and frame may swivel relatively to each other. The face of the
brush projects beyond the guide boards so that it may bear upon the side, or
bottom of the ship against which it is pressed by the action of the water upon
inclined planes or fins F, which are fitted or formed upon the back of the brush
one fin being in front of the centre pins and another behind it the latter being
made telescopic and extensible in order, that the degree of pressure exerted upon
the brush may be varied. An eye piece G, or similar means of fastening the
connecting rope or wire g is provided on the fore end of the brush. As shown by
figure 3 the connecting rope or wire g, passes from the eye at the forward end of
the brush to the martingale at g¹, round the sheaf of a guide block H, fitted upon
a rope or wire h, passing from the ships deck under the keel and whose position
is vertically adjustable.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
A ships cleaning apparatus composed of a rigid frame A, provided with guiding
boards or fins B, C, and a brush or scrubber E, having in its back inclined planes
or fins F, the brush being connected to the frame by a swivel pin e, substantially
as described with reference to the annexed drawings.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents,