Improvements in the Covers of the Hatchways and other Deck Openings of Ships, Steamers, and other Vessels.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 30th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Covers of the Hatchways and other Deck
Openings of Ships, Steamers, and other Vessels.
THOMAS RICHARD Fox of Bay House, Holt Hill Higher Tranmere Cheshire
Surveyor of Ships do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to the improvements in the coverings of the hatchways and
other deck openings of ships, steamers and other vessels and the adapting of the said
covers for use as life boats, life rafts, pontoons, lighters cargo boats, anchor boats,
scrubbing punts or the like. My invention consists of the formation of metallic
hatchway covers of such a section as to form a double water-tight joint when screwed
down on a bar secured to the outside of the coamings thus dispensing with the use of
tarpaulins or their substitutes, and capable of being fitted with air chambers and used
as life boats, life rafts, pontoons, lighters, cargo boats, anchor boats, scrubbing punts
and the like. The structure of my improvements in hatchway covers of ships steamers
and other vessels may be of any suitable material preferably of steel and iron and
I claim the following improvements in the covers of the hatchways and other deck
openings of ships steamers and other vessels.
The formation and use of metallic covers for the hatchways and other deck openings
of ships, steamers and other vessels of such section as to be capable of being fitted if
desired with air and ballast chambers and used as life boats, life rafts, pontoons,
lighters, cargo boats, anchor boats, scrubbing punts, and the like and having their
gunwales so fitted as to form a double water tight joint on the edge of the coamings
and a bar attached thereto, without the use of tarpaulins or their substitutes.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1887
THOMAS R. FOX.

page_text: Openings of Ships, Steamers, and other Vessels.
I THOMAS RICHARD Fox of Bay House, Holt Hill Tranmere Cheshire Surveyor
of Ships, 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 relates to improvements in the covers of the hatchways and other
deck openings of ships and to the excluding of water therefrom without the use of
tarpaulins or similar appliances and to the adapting of the said covers for use as life
boats, life-rafts, pontoons, lighters, cargo-boats, scrubbing punts or the like.
In order that my description and specification may be clearly understood
refer to the accompanying sheets of drawings numbered 1 to 4.
shall
My invention consists of the formation and use of dish or punt shaped metallic
covers C (preferably of steel or iron) for the hatchways O and other deck openings of
ships, steamers and other vessels of such section as when screwed or bolted down to
form in conjunction with the edge of the coamings H and the bars B. B. a double
watertight join whereby the use of tarpaulins or other like coverings may be
dispensed with and likewise of such section as will fit the said covers for use as life-
boats L, life rafts, cargo boats, or any purpose for which boats are commonly used
and capable of being fitted with air chambers A and water ballast chambers W and
other appliances the better to adapt them for such use.
The sections of these covers C may be of any desired form (two of which only are
shown in the drawings) adapted to the openings they are to protect and the purposes
hereinbefore indicated for which they are intended when afloat.
Material employed may be iron, steel or other suitable metal.
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 to he
novel is:
1st. The construction and use of dish or punt shaped metallic covers of any desired
form for the hatchways and other deck openings of ships steamers and other vessels
of such section as to be capable of being fitted with air and water ballast chambers and
other appliances and used as lifeboats, life rafts, pontoons, lighters cargo boats,
decked or open, anchor boats scrubbing punts or any purpose for which boats are
commonly used.
2nd. The formation and use of a double water tight joint between the edges of the
covers C and the coamings and between the bars B formed on or secured thereto
when screwed or bolted down as shown at J in Sheet IV thus excluding water without
the use of tarpaulins or their substitutes.
.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of June 1887.
THOMAS R. FOX,
Applicant.