IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED STRUCTURES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Gardner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th January
1866.
I, HENRY GARDNER, of Offord Road, Barnsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND OTHER
SUBMERGED STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for cleansing the bottoms
of ships and other submerged structures..
My machinery or apparatus is constructed and arranged as follows:-I. fit
to the side of a vessel, in proximity to the ship or other structure to be cleansed,
one or more supports, upon which a framing is hung or jointed to enable the
framing to be moved horizontally to suit the curve of the body to be cleansed.
. On the outer end of the framing is a shaft on which a toothed wheel is mounted ;:
this wheel is in gear with another wheel ou a second shaft driven by a band or
chain from an engine on the deck or other part of the vessel. The first-
mentioned shaft carries a series of wheels, the peripheries of which are shaped
to receive links or other like appliances to which laths are connected; the
laths are formed with or carry teeth, scrapers, or brushes which are caused to
press against and remove all impurities from the structure; the laths pass
round other wheels attached to another shaft at the extremities of side rods or
bars which are connected to the end of the framing before mentioned; these
side rods are free to be moved by levers and chains so as to bring the teeth,

page_text: scrapers, or brushes against the structure. Although two shafts are mentioned
as carrying the laths, only one may be employed. The framing and parts
connected with it can be raised and lowered or moved horizontally by suitable
tackle to conform to the curve or shape of the structure. The degree of
pressure the apparatus exerts against the structure can be regulated by rollers
on the framing by spars (telescopic or otherwise) fitted with rollers acting
against the side of the structure, and by ropes or chains. The teeth, scrapers,
or brushes may be arranged side by side in one. framing, or they may be
arranged in separate framings. Instead of the framing being carried from the
side of the vessel it may be connected to an upright or uprights on the deck
or other part of the vessel. The driving chain is caused to pass round a
quadrant or weighted wheel to keep it taut.
In some cases the apparatus may be secured to the structure itself, and
driven by an engine or other means, either on that structure or not. I
suspend or fit a screen (say of network) to catch or collect the refuse, which
screen can be raised or lowered as required; this screen may be connected to
the framing or to the structure; or the screen may be sunk beneath the
structure, and drawn up or otherwise removed when the work is completed,
its position being indicated by floats.
The vessel to which the machinery or apparatus is connected I propose to
be provided with propelling power, so as to move it along as the work pro-
ceeds, thus the work may be done horizontally, or if the work is done vertically
the vessel would move forward after each up-and-down movement of the
machinery. The laths may be fitted with springs to allow them to yield
should they press too heavily against the structure.
I also construct an apparatus for enabling a workman to examine the pro-
gress of cleansing. This apparatus consists of a rectangular case, open at the
upper end, the other end being weighted to keep it vertical while in the water;
the apparatus is lowered over the ship's side to the part to be examined. In
one or more sides of the case I fit a sheet of glass, through, which a workman
can see; the inside of the case is provided with bars to serve as step rails to
enable the workman to go up and down, or other means may be provided for
that purpose.