An Improved Method of Preserving and Cleansing the Bottom and Sides of Ships, and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Preserving and Cleansing the Bottom and
Sides of Ships, and Apparatus connected therewith.
GEORGE HORATIO JONES Surgeon Dentist and Doctor of Dental Surgery
57 Great Russell Street Bloomsbury London do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The object of the invention is to produce a better method of & apparatus for
an anti-fouling coating for ships than any at present in use being also more effective
& economical & otherwise superior to painting & also for cleansing the bottom &
sides of vessels in order to prepare ships for the process by machinery & with
less time & labour than can now be done for painting.
I
It is a well known fact that copper is the best anti-fouler & preservative for
ships bottoms & hitherto has been employed on wooden ships by sheets of copper
being mechanically fastened on & thus covering the ship at great expense & labour.
Since the introduction of iron ships several attempts have been made to find an
anti-fouling coating equal to copper but without success such as anti-fouling paints
& various other preparations & expedients. Now to overcome the difficulty & to
apply copper to iron ships & with less expense to wooden ships I proceed to carry
out my invention by precipitation of copper from solution & thus depositing pure
copper on the ship so to be treated in any convenient manner & by any of the well
known methods of precipitation of copper from solution. In one way prepare
the ship if of wood to receive the coating of copper by first charring the outside
& then giving the charred surface a slight coating of some metallic substance say
blacklead upon the ship being immersed in a solution of copper the required
precipitation takes place to any degree of thickness & the same being done by
electro process. For a new iron ship the copper can be precipitated upon the
plates before construction of the ship & if an old ship requiring beforehand
cleansing I preferably remove all the old paint by means of a mechanical & auto-
matic cleansing machine hereinafter described, by this means a clean surface of the
iron plates is exposed to receive the metallic precipitate of copper.
The machine cleanser required to do this consists of a series of scrapers &
brushes worked by steam power by pulley from the engine & these are brought &
kept in contact with the ship by an automatic adjustment. In one form the machine
can be constructed portable or on wheels to move on rails placed at the sides of the
vessel either on the summit of the dock or its floor & can be controlled either at
the traveller engine or close at the sides of the vessel by connecting gear operating
an axle with pulley attachment for revolving the brushes & scrapers or machining
the same in a longitudinal or other direction more or less after the manner of a
planing machine. When the vessel has been cleansed & prepared for coppering as
herein described the dry dock is filled with the solution & when sufficient deposit
of pure copper has been made on the ship means are employed to pump out the
solution & store it for further use.
It is obvious that without departing from the nature of my invention I can
modify the details in any more convenient manner.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Preserving and Cleansing the Bottom and
"Sides of Ships, and Apparatus connected therewith.
I, GEORGE HORATIO JONES, of No. 57 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, in
the County of London, Surgeon Dentist and Doctor of Dental Surgery (U.S.A.)
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 methods of preserving and cleansing the bottom and
sides of ships and to apparatus for use in connection therewith.
By my invention I am enabled to provide a ship with an anti-fouling coating
which is more effective, economical and otherwise superior to paint and other anti-
fouling compositions heretofore employed. My said invention, moreover, comprises
improved apparatus for cleansing the bottom and sides of ships in order to prepare
the same to receive the said coating, and for other purposes, which apparatus is also
applicable for polishing the surface of ships' hulls. By my said invention I effect
great economy both in respect of time and labour in applying the anti-fouling
coating, and I obtain a more perfect and durable coating than is practicable with
the methods heretofore adopted.
It is well-known that copper is one of the best anti-foulers and preservatives for
ships' bottoms, and hitherto this metal has been applied to wooden ships in sheets
which are mechanically fastened on, thus covering the ships at great expense and
labour. Since the introduction of iron ships, several attempts have been made to
find an anti-fouling coating equal to metal, such, for example, as anti-fouling paints
and various other preparations and expedients; but such attempts have not proved
altogether successful.
Now to overcome the difficulties and defects hitherto experienced and to apply
an anti-fouling coating to iron or steel ships and also to wooden ships with less
expense than heretofore, I deposit pure copper or other suitable metal from solution
upon the ship's surface in any convenient manner and by any of the well-known
electric or other methods of deposition. In some cases I use, instead of copper,
aluminium, nickel or similar metals.
In treating wood or ships constructed of wood, I prepare the same to receive the
anti-fouling coating, by first charring the outer surface of the wood, and then
giving the charred surface a slight coating of some metallic substance, such, for
instance, as blacklead, and then immersing the ship in a solution of copper or other
metal or medium, wherein the deposition of the metal is effected to any degree of
thickness by electricity, one or more suitable electrodes being immersed in the
solution for this purpose.
In treating ships constructed of iron or steel, I first scrape or clean the surfaces
to be coated, and I then immerse the ship in the electrolytic bath. For this
purpose I sometimes provide a suitable dock which, when the ship is situated
therein, is filled to the required level with a solution of the metal to be deposited,
one or more suitable electrodes being immersed in the said solution.
In some cases, I prefer to electro-plate a portion only of the ship's surface at a
time. For this purpose I employ a caisson, coffer-dam or other suitable contrivance
to maintain the solution in contact with such portion of the skin of the ship during
the process of electro-deposition.
I find it advantageous to employ a caisson constructed of a flexible iron or other
framing covered with a waterproof material and attached to the side of the ship by
means of electro-magnets, suitable packing being provided to form a water-tight joint
between the walls of the said caisson and the side of the ship, and one or more
suitable electrodes being immersed in the solution contained in the said caisson.

page_text: This caisson can be readily adapted to the varying curves of the ship's surface, and
can be readily removed and applied to fresh portions of the ship's surface.
In the case of a new iron or steel ship, I sometimes deposit the copper or other
metal upon the plates before the construction of the ship, that is to say, before the
plates are secured to the frames of the ship. In the case of an old ship, in which
previous scraping or cleansing is necessary, I preferably remove all the old paint
and clean the surface of the metal by means of an automatic cleansing machine
such as is hereinafter described; by this means a clean surface of the iron or steel
plates is exposed to receive the metallic deposit, which surface may be otherwise
treated if necessary or desirable.
The mechanical cleanser which I prefer to employ comprises a series of rotary
or reciprocating scrapers, wire or other brushes or similar tools worked by a steam-
engine or other motor, the said scrapers or brushes being brought up to and kept
in contact with the skin of the ship by an automatic adjustment or by hand. The
said machine is, in some instances, made portable, the steam-engine or other motor
for driving the scrapers or brushes being mounted upon wheels and arranged to
travel on rails placed along the sides of the ship, either on the quay or summit of
the dock or on its floor, the scrapers or brushes being connected with the steam-
engine or other motor by means of flexible shafting whereby the said rotary or
reciprocating scrapers or brushes may be operated, while being moved over the
ship's surface either by hand or automatically. In some cases the said scrapers or
brushes are arranged to have rotary or reciprocating motion imparted to them by
means of an electric motor which is connected by suitable flexible or other
conductors with a dynamo-electric machine on the quay or summit or on the floor
of the dock. According to another arrangement, the said electric motor is
mounted on a frame provided with wheels or rollers and adapted to be attached to
the sides of the ship by magnetic attraction and to be caused to gradually travel
forwards or backwards over the ship's surface, this travel or feed motion being
effected by suitable gearing from the motor shaft or otherwise.
My improved cleansing apparatus may, if desired, be operated automatically by
means of a pointer moving over the surface of a model of the vessel, or template,
the movements of the travelling frame carrying the scrapers or brushes following
the movements of the said pointer over the model, suitable electric or other
connecting gear being provided for this purpose, whilst motion may be imparted to
such automatic cleanser by means of a flexible cable, and by enclosing the electrical
conductors and other necessary parts of my improved apparatus in water-tight
casings, I can, if desired, effect the whole or a portion of the said cleansing before
the vessel enters the dock and thus effect a considerable saving of time.
In other cases I arrange the said brushes or scrapers on a reciprocating frame
arranged to be kept in contact with the ship's side by weighted levers, springs or
the like. It is obvious that my improved cleansing apparatus may be applied in
other cases where it is desired to remove barnacles, sea-weed or other matter from
the bottom or sides of a ship. It may also be used, if desired, for polishing the
surface of the hull.
When the vessel has been cleansed and prepared for electro-deposition as
hereinbefore described, the dock or caisson, as the case may be, is filled with the
solution and when a sufficient deposit of pure copper or other metal has been made
on the ship, means are employed to pump out the solution and store it for
further use.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a diagram showing my method of attaching a caisson to the side of a
vessel by magnetic attraction.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing one form or modification of my improved cleansing
machine.
Figure 3 is an end view, and
Figure 4 a section on the liner, x, Figure 3, showing another form or modification
of my improved cleansing machine.

page_text: Figure 6 a side elevation, showing another modification thereof.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing a further modification of the said machine.
Figure 8 is a plan, and
Figure 9 a side elevation, showing a still further modification of my improved
cleansing machine.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the side of a vessel; B is one of the walls of the dock.
C, Figure 1 is a caisson, consisting of flexible iron frames a arranged at
suitable distances apart and serving to support an external waterproof covering b.
The said frames are provided at their edges with packing-strips c of indiarubber
or other suitable material, which are adapted to be compressed between the edges
of the frames a and the side of the vessel by means of electro-magnets & suitably
attached to the said frames.
The cleansing machine shown in Figure 2 comprises a rotary scraper or brush D
mounted in suitable bearings in a frame e, which is suspended from the side of the
vessel by a chain or rope f, and is provided with a handle g whereby the said
scraper or brush may be pressed against and guided over the surface to be cleansed.
Rotary motion is imparted to the scraper or brush D by means of a flexible
shaft preferably from a steam engine E mounted on a carriage adapted to move
on rails on the quay or summit of the dock. By moving the engine E on its
carriage, varying the length of the chain or rope and guiding the brush or
scraper as required, the whole surface of the hull may be readily cleansed.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown a reciprocating cleanser in which the brush or
scraper D' is suspended from the side of the vessel by a rope or chain and receives
a reciprocating motion from a steam-engine E mounted on a carriage moving on
rails i, laid on a staging k arranged between the side of the vessel and the walls of
the dock. The said steam-engine imparts a rotary motion to a crank / from which
a connecting-rod transmits reciprocating motion to a bar m working in suitable
guides, and connected to the brush or scraper D¹. In some cases, I find it
advantageous to arrange the steam-engine in such a manner that the cross-head or
other reciprocating part thereof may be connected directly to the said scraper.
In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown an arrangement in which the scraper D is
driven through flexible shafting hand gearing h³ from an electro-motor F mounted
on a carriage in a similar manner to the steam-engine shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The scraper and hand-gear are mounted similarly to those above described with
reference to Figure 2.
Figure 7 shows a similar arrangement in which the electro-motor Fis
suspended by chains n from a crane & adapted to be moved on rails i on the quay
or summit of the dock.
In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown an automatic cleansing machine which consists
of an electro-motor F mounted on a suitable framing H provided with wheels H', H
adapted to engage with the sides of the vessel when attracted thereto by means of
one or more electro-magnets o and having their edges or rolling surfaces milled or
otherwise prepared to prevent slipping when driven as hereinafter described.
One end of the armature shaft F of the said motor is provided with a bevel pinion
adapted to engage with a bevel wheel mounted on a sleeve p working in the frame H
of the machine. The interior surface of the said sleeve is provided with a feather
adapted to engage with a slot in a shaft 9 mounted in the framing H in a direction
approximately normal to the surface to be cleansed. On one end of the shaft qis
mounted the rotary brush or scraper D³, the other end working in a suitable
bearing in the frame H, a spiral or other spring g', acting on a collar on the shaft g
being provided to keep the scraper D2 pressed against the ship's side. The
improved machine is preferably suspended from a wire rope or rail extending
along the ship's side by means of sheaves r¹ and is caused to travel along the same by
rotating the wheels H2 through worm and spur gearings from the motor-shaft Fi
The electro-magnet o is provided with suitable pole-pieces o' which are so placed as

page_text: to travel at a short distance from the surface to be cleansed and by their attraction.
to the iron plates of the ship's side I am enabled to provide sufficient pressure for
the efficient operation of the scraper D and for the adhesion of the wheels H' to
the said surface to propel the said machine along the same. The motor F and
electro-magnet o may, if desired, be arranged in series with one another on the same
circuit or they may be arranged on separate circuits, and be supplied from any
convenient source of electric energy.
It is obvious that my improved apparatus may be somewhat further modified
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improved method of treating the hulls of ships to prevent fouling of
the same, by depositing copper or other suitable metal upon the bottom and sides
thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. The herein described method of coating wood or the bottom and sides
of the hull of a wooden ship, by first charring the outer surface of the wood and
then covering the charred surface with black-lead or the like and coating the same
with metal by electro-deposition.
Third. A ship having a coating of copper or other suitable metal deposited upon
the outer surface of the bottom and sides of the hull thereof, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. A machine for scraping or cleaning ships' hulls, which machine is
constructed with scrapers or brushes and with means for automatically operating
the said scrapers or brushes while in contact with the skin of the ship, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The use, in combination, with a machine for scraping or cleausing the
bottom and sides of ships' hulls, of an engine or motor mounted on wheels and
arranged to travel on rails either on the floor or on the quay or summit of a
dock, and suitably connected with the said machine, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Dated the 23rd day of December 1893.