IMPROVEMENTS IN STALLS AND VENTILATING APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORT OF CATTLE IN SEA-GOING VESSELS.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN STALLS AND VENTILATING APPARATUS,
CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORT OF CATTLE IN SEA-GOING
VESSELS.' A communication from abroad by Thomas Utley and John
"
T
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STALLS AND
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London.
VENTILATING APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORT
OF CATTLE IN SEA-GOING VESSELS." [A communication from abroad by Thomas
Utley and John Fawcett, both of the United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or devices chiefly designed
for facilitating the transport of live stock on sea-going vessels.
Much difficulty has been experienced in transporting cattle and other animals,
especially in sea-going steam-ships, by reason of imperfect ventilation, par-
ticularly during stormy weather, when the passages for admission of air require to
be closed in order to prevent the inflow of water.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to provide a strong and simple
apparatus which affords a passage for air, and yet is so constructed that no water
can flow through it into the ship.
It has been found also that the listing of the vessel often subjects live stock to
severe and fatal-injuries. All animals can readily adapt themselves to the ordinary
motions of the ship if they stand on a level or with their fore shoulders slightly
higher than their buttocks, but when their buttocks are higher than their fore
shoulders (as the cattle on the starboard side will be when the ship lists to port)
they are unable long to suit themselves to the motion of the vessel, and are in
danger of serious or fatal injuries. The second part of this Invention is designed
to remedy this difficulty.
The first of these objects is attained as follows, that is to say:
To the air-port (or any other air-passage) a casing is securely attached provided

page_text: with valves, which rest normally at some distance away from apertures above them
and permit the free flow of air in either direction through those apertures. But if
the casing should be submerged the water which flows into it will float the valves,
and thereby close the apertures. As soon as the vessel rises or the wave passes, the
water in the casing will flow out and the valves return to their normal position,
leaving free passage for air. In order to provide for light as well as air the casing
may be composed in part. of glass. The mouth of the casing should be covered
with one or more perforated plates to break the force of the water entering the
casing.
It will be obvious to all familiar with ships and with the precautions necessary
to prevent the water from flowing in through air-ports, hatches, and deck, or other
ventilators during a storm, that ventilators embodying the first part of this
Invention will vary largely in form and size according to the place where they are
used. Although designed mainly for use on vessels carrying live stock, it will be
clear that these ventilators are adapted for use on other vessels.
The second part of the said Invention consists in a stall, the floor of which can
be kept in the best position to enable the live stock to adapt themselves to the
ordinary motions of the vessel. The floor of the stall is secured on beams, which
have the under side bevelled from the ends to the centre. These beams are
supported at their thick middle portions on a cross beam, and are prevented from
sliding on the cross beam by a pin which projects into a suitable depression. The
back-board of the stall is attached to the floor, preferably by hinges or similar
means, so that while the floor oscillates the back-board can move with it; guided
by supporting rods which slide in rings attached to the frame of the stall. The
cattle are fastened to rings sliding on stanchions and face inboard. Along the front
of the stall, but attached to the floor so as to cзcillate with it, is the feeding and
watering trough. These stalls are generally arranged so that there is one line on
each side of the vessel, the animals facing inboard; but sometimes there are three
or four lines in a wide vessel.
When the vessel lists to port the animals on the starboard will stand (if the floor
of the stall is parallel with the deck) with their fore shoulders lower than the
ordinary and natural position, and their buttocks too high. The floor of the stall
is then tipped (by means of a suitable shaft chains and pulleys) until it is sufficiently
canted to bring the animals in the proper position. For example, suppose the ship
to be on an even keel, but laboring heavily in a gale. And suppose but two lines of
stalls, then the floors of both lines of stalls will be adjusted so that the cattle on both
port and starboard will stand with their heads well up, the floors of both stalls
sloping outward. Then when the ship rolls to port the port cattle will stand with
their heads still higher up, and the starboard cattle will stand on a level, and vice
versa.
In case of a constant list, if the list be to port, the starboard stalls will be
adjusted each with the inboard side of its floor higher than the outboard side; and
if the list be great, the port-stalls will also be adjusted by slightly lowering the
inboard side and raising the outboard side.
It will be obvious that the floor may be tipped on its supports not only by chains
and pulleys, but by screws or jacks, or the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th October 1881.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN STALLS AND
VENTILATING APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORT
OF CATTLE IN SEA-GOING VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Thomas
Utley and John Fawcett, both of the United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or devices chiefly designed
for facilitating the transport of live stock on sea-going vessels.
Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in transporting cattle and other
animals, especially on sea-going steamships, by reason of imperfect ventilation,
particularly during stormy weather, when the passages, hatches, or ports for the
admission of air require to be closed in order to prevent the influx of water.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to provide strong and simple
apparatus which affords a passage for the air, whilst at the same time it is so
constructed that no water can flow through it into the interior of the ship or
vessel.
It has been found also that the listing of the vessel frequently subjects live stock
to severe and fatal injuries. All animals can readily adapt themselves to the
ordinary motions of a ship if they are standing on a level or with their fore
shoulders slightly higher than their buttocks, but when their buttocks are higher
than their fore shoulders (as those of the cattle on the starboard side of the ship
will be when the latter lists to port), the animals are unable, except for a com-
paratively short length of time, to suit themselves to the motion of the vessel, and
are consequently in danger of serious or fatal injuries. The object of the second
part of this Invention is to remedy this difficulty.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is an exterior view of a portion of the hull of a vessel with my improved
ventilating apparatus attached thereto, and .
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same.
Figure 3 is an inboard elevation of the said ventilating apparatus with its inner
plate or cover reinoved.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the apparatus on the line x, x, Figure 2, with the
cover of the air inlet, opening, or passage closed, and
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the said apparatus on the line y, y, Figure 3, with
the said cover opened to permit the passage of air into the hold of the vessel.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of my improved cattle-stall, and
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
My improved ventilating apparatus is constructed as follows, that is to say:-
a represents the casing of the said apparatus, which contains two chambers a¹, a²,
wherein I arrange independently acting valves b and c. These valves are adapted
to slide freely up and down upon the guide rod d supported in suitable bearings
e', el, attached to or forming part of the partition-plates e, and when the said valves
are in their normal position they rest at some distance from their seats e in the
said partition-plates, as shewn in the Drawing, so that there is a free passage for
the air through the apparatus. The aforesaid casing is securely attached to an air-
port of the vessel, or to any other air-passage in the same. One convenient means

page_text: of attaching the said casing to the port is shown in the Drawing, that is to say, I
employ a strong perforated plate f on the outside of the port-hole, and a screw-
bolt g and nut g¹. This screw-bolt passes through a bar h¹ extending across the
air-inlet-passage h secured to the casing a, and by tightening the said nut the
plate and casing a may be rigidly held in their proper relative positions. In
some cases I also provide lugs a* upon the casing, through which screw-bolts may
be passed to assist in retaining the said casing rigidly in position.
The plate serves to break the force of the water entering the casing a, and to
prevent the sudden inrush of a large body of water into the apparatus when the
vessel is struck by a wave or the said plate is submerged. In some cases I arrange
between the plate f and the chamber a¹ an additional perforated plate or cone to
further retard the inrush of water into the apparatus.
The valves b, c,. are preferably formed of cork, and are provided on their upper
face with discs b¹, c¹, of india-rubber, which when the valves rise come in contact
with the valve-seats e², and make a close joint so as to prevent the upward passage
of water.
The emloyment of these valves b, c, arranged in the chambers a¹, a², of the
casing a, as above described, constitutes an important feature of my Invention, as
by their use it will be impossible for any water to enter the vessel, for the reason
that any water which might pass the valve 6 into the chamber a² will immediately
raise the valve c therein, and effectually prevent the entry of such water into the
uppermost portion of the casing a communicating with the interior of the ship or
vessel.
i represents the air-outlet aperture of the casing a, which may be closed by a
cover or flap j. This cover is hinged to the inner plate or cover a³ of the casing a,
and when it is desired to ventilate the hold of the vessel the said cover j is lowered,
as shown in Figure 5, but when it is desired to close the aperture i, the said cover
may be raised and held in a closed position by screws j', as shewn in Figure 4.
In order to admit light as well as air into the interior of the ship I insert in the
lower part of the casing a sheet of glass, as shewn at k. This sheet of glass may
however, if desired, be arranged in any other suitable part of the said casing.
The operation of my improved ventilating apparatus is as follows, that is to
say:
-When the valves b and c are in their normal position, as shewn in the
Drawing, the air will be permitted to flow freely through the passage h, the
openings in the partition plates e, and the passage or mouth i, into the interior of
the part of the ship to be ventilated. If however the perforated plate f should be
submerged, the water which flows into the casing will lift the valve b and close the
aperture in the partition plate between the chambers a¹ and a², and any water
that may escape past the valve b into the chamber a2 will raise the valve c and
close the aperture in the partition-plate between the said chamber and the mouth
or passage i, so that it will be impossible for any water to enter the ship or vessel.
As soon however as the ship rises or the wave passes, the water in the casing will
escape or flow out from the casing, and the valves will drop to their normal
position, so that a free passage for air through the ventilator will again be left.
In the Drawing I have shewn my improved ventilating apparatus provided with
two series of the valves b, c. It will be obvious however to any person familiar
with sea-going vessels, and with the precautions necessary to prevent the inflow of
water through air-ports, hatches, and decks, or other ventilators, during a storm,
that my improved ventilators may be provided with a greater number of such
valves, and that the said ventilators will vary considerably in form and dimensions
according to the particular uses to which they are to be applied.
Although my improved ventilators are more particularly designed for use on
vessels carrying live-stock, it will be evident that the said ventilators are adapted
for use on other vessels, and that they might be employed, for instance, for
ventilating ships' cabins.
I will now proceed to describe my improved cattle-stall, which is constructed as

page_text: follows, that is to say :- represents framework which supports the beams m,
whereon the floor n is built. These beams m are shaped, as shewn in the Drawings,
so that the floor n may be tilted into the best position to enable the live stock to
adapt themselves to the ordinary motions of the ship. Stout dowel-pins, one of
which is shewn in Figure 7, enter depressions in a cross beam o, and prevent the
displacement of the said beams m.
The frame of the stall consists of the uprights and the cross pieces 12, 13, which
support the devices for tilting the floor n. This floor may be tilted in a variety
of ways, as, for instance, by screws or jacks. In the Drawing however I have shewn
it arranged to be tilted by power applied to a shaft p, which on being turned in
one direction will shorten chains q and lengthen chains q', and thus raise the front
edge of the floor n, and depress its rear edge, and vice versa.
'
represents the watering and feeding trough, which is attached to the floor n
so as to oscillate with the same. 8 is the back-board of the stall, which hinged
to the rear edge of the floor n, as shown, so that as the latter oscillates the back
board can move with it, the said back board in its movements being guided by
the rods 8, which slide in the eyebolts & attached to the frame of the stall.
The cattle are fastened to rings sliding on stanchions, and face inboard, and my
improved stalls are generally so arranged that there is one line of stalls on each
side of the vessel, but in a wide vessel there may be three or four lines of such
stalls.
When the vessel lists to port the animals on the starboard side of the vessel will
stand (if the floor of the stall is parallel with the deck) with their fore shoulders
lower than the ordinary and natural position, and with their buttocks too high.
The floor of the stall is then tipped by the means above described, or other suitable
devices, until it is sufficiently canted to bring the animals into the proper position.
For example, supposing that the ship is on an even keel, but labouring heavily in a
gale, and that but two lines of stalls are employed, then the floors of both lines of stalls
will be so adjusted that the cattle on both the port and starboard sides of the vessel
will stand with their heads well up, the floors of both stalls sloping outward.
Then when the ship rolls to port, the cattle on the port side will stand with their
heads still higher up, and the cattle on the starboard side of the vessel will stand.
on a level, and vice versa.
In case of a constant list, if the list be to port, the stalls on the starboard side
will be so adjusted that the inboard side of their floors will be higher than the
outward side, and if the list be great the floors of the stalls on the port side will
also be adjusted by slightly lowering their inboard side, and raising their outboard
side.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that I do not claim as
a novel feature of my improved ventilating apparatus the use of one valve adapted
to close an air passage on the flow of water into the ventilator, as I am aware
that the employment in a ship's ventilator of a single valve for this purpose has
been disclosed in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted long before the date
of my Invention. Moreover by the employment of but one valve it has been
found impracticable to prevent the entry of water into the vessel, for the reason
that a sudden or rapid influx of the water will invariably cause the same to pass
through the aperture surrounded by the valve-seat prior to lifting the valve into
contact therewith to close the opening communicating with the interior of the ship
or vessel, but I claim,―
First. A ventilating apparatus provided with the chambers a', a², containing the
two valves b, c, or two or more series of the same, and with or without a glass
plate, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The ventilating apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and
arranged substantially as shewn in the accompanying Drawing for the purposes
specified.
.

page_text: Third. The improved stall for cattle constructed substantially as above set forth,
and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENKY H. LAKE.
(L.S.)