ImprovemenTS IN SELF Leveling BertHS STATEROOMS, COUCHES, &c
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Sickels, of Boston, County of Suffolk, State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, for the Invention of
“ImprovemenTS IN SELF Leveling BertHS STATEROOMS, COUCHES, &c."
Cooled the eth Tuono 1970
001
Sealed the 6th June 1870, and dated the 28th March 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Gerard Sickels at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1879.
GERARD SICKELS, of Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, U.S.A.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF LEVELING BERTHS, STATEROOMS, COUCHES, &c."
The first part of my Invention relates to berths, staterooms, couches, and other
analogous structures on navigable vessels, and has for its object, first, to provide
improved means for rendering such structures self-leveling, so as to relieve their
occupants from the discomforts of sea sickness. It also has for its object to enable
a person to get into and out of a self-leveling berth without tilting the same. To
these ends my Invention consists, first, in a berth or other analogous structure
supported on a central pivot on its under side, so as to tilt independently in all
directions, and governed in its tilting movement by a spherical weight which rolls
freely on a rigidly supported concave surface or dish under the berth or structure.
The concave surface or dish is a segment of a sphere, the centre of which is the
pivot of the berth or structure, and the berth or structure is so connected to the
rolling weight that it is governed or steadied in its tilting movement by the weight
without supporting the same or having its weight increased thereby. The Invention
consists also in the means provided for preventing the berth from independently
tilting when a person is getting into or out of the berth, all of which I will pro-
ceed to describe and claim. In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings forming
a part of this Specification, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a tilting
berth and its governing mechanism embodying my Invention; Figure 2 represents
a transverse section of the same; Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a berth
and its casing, showing means for preventing the berth from tilting; Figure 4 is an
end view of two berth and their governing mechanism supported from a vertical
wall; Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the governing mechanism detached;
Figures 6 and 7 represents views of the means employed for holding and releasing
a pivoted berth.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the Figures.
In the Drawings A represents a berth or couch of suitable form. In the under
side of the berth, as near the centre of gravity as possible, is a socket a formed to

page_text: receive and turn freely on a rigidly supported ball or pivot b, which is the sole
support of the berth, the latter being adapted to tilt freely on the pivot in all
directions (excepting when held temporarily at its corners to enable a person to get
in or out, as hereinafter described). The pivot is rigidly supported from any
suitable fixed part of the ship or vessel, and is preferably connected by braces b¹, 61,
to a casting c which is in turn rigidly attached to a suitable flooring or wall, as
shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The upper surface of the casting c is formed to present
a concave or dish, which is at all points substantially equidistant from the pivot b,
or in other words, is a segment of a sphere, the centre of which is the pivot b. d
represents a spherical weight or ball of metal or other heavy material, which rests
in and is wholly supported by the concave or dish, and is adapted to roll freely
therein in any direction, the dish keeping the ball d at all times at a fixed distance
from the pivot b. e represents a ring or spider which depends from and is rigidly
attached to the bottom of the berth by braces e¹, el. All portions of the ring e are
substantially equidistant from the pivot b; and the ring is arranged to encircle the
ball & so that it will move with the ball without interfering with the rolling or
supporting the weight of the latter. It will be seen that the ball is not suspended
from the berth, and therefore is not a pendulum, but is, as before stated, entirely
supported by the concave or dish. The weight of the ball d is proportioned to the
weight of the berth or structure which it is to govern, and may be less, equal to, or
in excess of the weight of the berth or structure and its contents, according as
circumstances may require. The ball being heavy and rolling freely in the dish
will constantly seek and remain in the lowest point in said dish and directly under
the pivot b. The resistance or friction which the ball experiences in rolling on the
surface of the dish reduces its motion to the minimum, so that it is more steady
and less liable to vibrate or pass beyond its point of rest by inertia than it would
be if suspended like a pendulum. The ball being supported independently of the
berth does not increase the tendency of the latter to oscillate as would a pendulum
suspended from the berth. I prefer to coat the surface of the ball or of the disb,
or of both, with a comparatively yielding material like leather, which will increase
the friction; or one or both surfaces may be roughened for the same purpose. It
will be seen from the foregoing description that the ball governs the motion of the
poised berth or structure and prevents it from oscillating or tilting more than is
necessary to keep it level when the vessel is in motion without adding to the weight
of the berth or structure. The braces b¹, 61, which support the pivot 6 are preferably
arranged to extend lengthwise of the ship or vessel, and the braces e¹, e¹, which
connect the ring e to the berth are arranged to extend crosswise of the vessel.
This arrangement is preferred for the reason that there is usually more lateral than
longitudinal movement in a vessel, hence the ring e needs its chief support crosswise
of the vessel. The arrangement of the braces 6¹ prevents them from interfering
with the braces c¹. I prefer to curve the braces 6' in order to afford more room for
the motion of the weight. I have described only the adaptation of my Invention
to small structures or berths which usually hold but one or two persons; but the
Invention may be applied to larger structures, such as staterooms and even cabins,
without involving any departure from its essential features set forth and claimed
herein; and so far as my Invention is concerned I regard any structures to which
said Invention is applicable for the purpose described as analogous to berths or
couches. While a person is getting into and out of a berth which is poised as
described it is desirable that the berth should be temporarily prevented from
tipping, and to this end I provide means whereby the berth may be rigidly held in
its casing C whenever desired. A practical device is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 for
accomplishing this, consisting of a series of cords h connected to the corners of the
berth and passing through orifices or over suitable pulleys located on fixed bearings
or rings in the casing to regulating mechanism applied to the casing C or any fixed
part of the vessel in close proximity to the side of the berth, whereby the cords
may be tightened so as to support the berth at its corners and prevent the berth
from tilting, and loosened to release the berth and permit it to tilt. Said mechanism

page_text: consists preferably of a swivel i pivoted at j to the casing or rigid support C, and
provided at its ends with links k, k', which are pivoted to the swivel so as to swing
freely thereon. The cords h are connected to the links k, k', as shown. When the
swivel and link are extended, as shown in Fig. 6, the cords h are loosened so that
they will not interfere with the tilting of the berth; but when the swivel is
reversed, as shown in Fig. 7, the outer ends of the links are drawn inwardly
towards the pivot j of the swivel so as to tighten the cords and cause them to
support the berth and prevent it from tilting. The links and swivel are so formed
and so arranged relatively to the guides or supports from which the cords pass to the
regulating mechanism that when the the swivel is in the position shown in Fig. 7
the points on the links k, k', to which the cords are attached are on opposite sides
of a line x, x, intersecting the pivots j, t, t', which line may be called the dead
point of the swivel. When the parts are in this position the strain or draft of the
cords tends to swing the links in the directions indicated by the arrows; but each
is prevented from so moving by abutting against the end of the other link. So
long as the parts remain as last described the strain of the cords holds them firmly
in position, the cords being in line with each other and with the pivot j, and
diagonal to the line x, x. When the berth is to be released a slight movement of
the swivel in the proper direction to separate the links from the pivot j will reverse
the direction of the dead point or line x, x, with relation to the line of the cords,
or in other words, to the line of the draft of the cords, so that the regulating
mechanism will be extended by the strain of the cords, the latter being thus
loosened so as to release the berth and allow it to tilt freely. The swivel i is
provided with one or more handles i¹, and is located so as to be in easy reach of
the occupant of the berth. The cords may pass through orifices in a rigidly
supported casing containing the berth, or through or around any suitable supports
or bearings rigidly attached to the vessel.
The second part of my Invention relates to the application of the hereinbefore
described leveling or governing mechanism to two or more separate berths or struc-
tures, each pivoted independently, and it consists in the combination of the leveling
or governing mechanism with two or more independently pivoted berths or other
structures, and suitable devices connecting the berths or structures with the leveling
or governing mechanism whereby said structures are caused to move or tilt in
unison. It also consists in the provision of means for disconnecting any one of the
berths or structures from the others to which it is connected, and at the same time
supporting it rigidly so that it will tilt independently, all of which I will now
proceed to describe; referring to Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 8 represents a sectional view of a portion of a vessel, showing the leveling or
governing mechanism applied to a pivoted section of the deck and connected to
two berths located above the deck. Figure 9 represents a section on line x, x,
Fig. 8, showing a plan of one of the pivoted berths and the pivoted section of
the deck. Figure 10 represents a modification showing the leveling or governing
mechanism applied to a berth which is connected to a berth above. Figures 11,
12, 13, and 14 represent detail views. Similar letters of reference indicate like
parts in all of the Figures. In carrying out this part of my Invention I prefer to
apply the leveling or governing mechanism to a section E of the deck of a vessel,
said section being supported on the pivot p and provided with the ring or spider e,
the latter encircling the ball d which rolls on the concave c as already described.
The section E is preferably circular in form and is balanced on the pivot p, so as
to be kept in a horizontal position by the governing mechanism. A, A, represent
berths located above the pivoted deck section E, one being directly above the
other. Each berth is balanced on a central pivot F so as to tilt freely like the
section E, the pivots F being rigidly attached to the vessel in any suitable manner.
1, 2, 3, 4, represent cords which connect the deck section E with the berths A, A.
These cords are attached to the underside of the deck section at points about
equidistant from each other and from the pivot of the section E, and extend down-
wardly around pulleys F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, and upwardly near the corners of

page_text: the berths to a frame or spider N, which is suspended or pivoted above the upper
berth. The direction the cords take in passing from the section E to the berths
is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the cords being suitably connected to the berths
near the corners thereof, and so arranged that collectively they will cause the
berths A, A, and spider N. to move in unison with the deck section E, that is to
say, the cords are arranged to communicate every motion of the deck section to the
berths A and spider N, so that their position will always correspond with that of
the deck section. Any suitable arrangement of cords which will effect this result
may be employed. The deck section E constitutes a level place on which persons
may stand or sit, and may support a table or other article or articles of furniture,
and when arranged in front of the berth A as shown it enables a person to get
into the berth without locking the latter. This deck section E may be used without
the berths as the floor of a cabin or saloon. In Fig. 10 I have shown the governing
mechanism applied directly to a berth A. as shown in Sheet 1, said berth being
connected to one or more pivoted berths above by four cords 1, 2, 3, 4, which are
connected to the berths near their corners, and are also connected to a suspended
spider or frame N. I prefer to connect each berth to the cords 1, 2, 3, 4, in such
manner that it can be detached from said cords and made rigid when it is not
desirable that the berth shall tilt, as when a person is getting in or out. For
making the berth rigid I employ the means shown in Sheet I and hereinbefore
described, viz., cords h connected to the corners of the berth, and mechanism con-
nected to the vessel within reach of the occupant of the berth for tightening and
loosening said cords. To disconnect the berths from the cords 1, 2, 3, 4, I pro-
vide each berth with four jaws U, adapted to grasp grooved collars T on the cords
1, 2, 3, 4, automatically, and to be disengaged from said cords by the cords h when
the latter are tightened to stop the motion of the berth. Each jaw U is composed
of a curved metallic edge u rigidly attached to the berth, and a similar edge u
formed on the ends of a metallic bar V which is attached at its centre to the berth
at v. The cords h are attached to the ends of the bar V, and are adapted
when tightened to curve said bar so as to draw the edges u' away from the
the edges and thus open the jaws U. The jaws U when closed are adapted
to enter grooves t in the collars T on the cords 1, 2, 3, 4, and thus connect
said cords with the berths, but when said jaws are separated by the means des-
cribed they let go their hold on said collars, and thus the berth is disconnected
from the cords 1, 2, 3, 4.
When the cords h are loosened to release the berth the edges u¹ spring back to
place, and the jaws are adapted to again grasp the collars T. Said collars are tapered
or inclined gradually in both directions from the grooves t, so that as they slide
through the jaws U the latter will be opened by the gradually inclined ends of the
collars until their edges u, u¹, enter the grooves t, the sides of which are so abrupt
that they cannot force the jaws apart, so that the latter remain engaged with the
grooves until the cords h are tightened. Guides or lugs w project from the berth
above and below the ends of the bars V to prevent the latter from being wrenched
out of place vertically, and yet allow them the described movement in and out.
I claim as my Invention,-
First. A berth or other analogous structure entirely supported by a central pivot
combined with a loose spherical weight, a rigidly supported concave or dish adapted
to support the weight and permit it to roll freely, and means whereby the pivoted
berth or structure is connected to the spherical weight so as to be governed by
without supporting said weight as set forth.
Second. The combination of a berth or other structure having a central socket,
a rigidly supported pivot entering the socket, a rigidly supported dish or concave
under the pivot, a spherical weight supported and rolling on the concave or dish,
and a ring rigidly attached to the berth and encircling the weight, as set forth.
Third. In combination with a pivoted berth and a rigid casing or rigidly sup-
ported bearings, cords connecting the corners of the berth with the casing or
bearings, and means whereby said cords may be tightened and loosened, as set forth.

page_text: Fourth. In combination with the cords h, h, the regulating mechanism consisting
of the swivel i and links k, k', all arranged and operating substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination of the leveling or governing mechanism with two or
more independently pivoted berths or structures and mechanism, substantially as
described, whereby said berths and governing mechanism are connected and caused
to move in unison.
Sixth. The pivoted deck section combined with the governing mechanism, sub-
stantially as described
Seventh. The pivoted deck section and its governing mechanism combined with
one or more independently pivoted berths or structures and connecting mechanism,
substantially as described, whereby said section and berth or berths are caused to
move in unison.
Eighth. In combination with a series of pivoted berths controlled by governing
mechanism that is common to all, means whereby either of said berths may be
disconnected from the others and from the governing mechanism, and made fast to
the rigid portion of the vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Sickels, have hereunto set my hand
dow of March 1870
In the presence of
CHARLES FREEMAN BROWN.
GEORGE WILLIS PIERCE.
GERARD SICKELS. (L.S.)