Improvements in Drying or Removing Moisture from the Surfaces of Ships, Pontoons, or other Structures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Drying or Removing Moisture from the Surfaces
of Ships, Pontoons, or other Structures.
I, ANTHONY GEORGE LYSTER, of the Dock Yard, Coburg Dock, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
When ships, pontoons; or other structures, are removed from the water, or have
the water withdrawn from about them for being repainted, or the like, it is
necessary to dry the surfaces before application of the paint, and hitherto this
drying has occupied very considerable time, either when the surfaces are merely
exposed to the air, or when fires are used. Now the object of this invention is
mainly to accelerate the drying or removal of moisture from such surfaces. For
this purpose I make use of a jet or current of air directed, preferably through a
tube or nozzle, against the surface to be dried such tube or nozzle being movable
about as required by hand or otherwise so that all parts of such surface shall be
exposed to the current of air. The air is supplied by means of a fan or blowing
engine in any convenient way and such air may, if found desirable, be freed from
water vapour or moisture by being passed over lime or other water absorbing
substance. The air may also be heated if required.
The invention is also applicable when it is required to dry, before repainting or
the like, stationary structures from which the water recedes during the ebb tide.
1
Improvements in Drying or Removing Moisture from the Surfaces
of Ships, Pontoons, or other Structures.
I, ANTHONY GEORGE LYSTER, of the Dock Yard, Coburg Dock, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing:
-
When ships, pontoons, or other structures are removed from the water, or have
the water withdrawn from about them, for being repainted, or the like, it is
necessary to dry the surfaces before application of the paint, and hitherto this

page_text: drying has occupied very considerable time, either when the surfaces are merely
exposed to the air, or when fires are used. Now the object of this invention is
mainly to accelerate the drying or removal of moisture from such surfaces. For
this purpose I make use of a jet or current of air directed preferably through a
tube or nozzle against the surface to be dried, such tube or nozzle being movable
about as required by hand or otherwise, so that all parts of such surface shall be
exposed to the current of air. The air is supplied by means of a fan or blowing
engine in any convenient way, and such air may if found desirable, be freed from
water vapour or moisture by being passed over lime or other water absorbing
substance. The air may also be heated if required.
The invention is also applicable when it is required to dry before repainting or
the like, stationary structures from which the water recedes during the ebb tide.
The accompanying drawing is a sectional view illustrative of the application of
my invention. a is the floor and walls of a graving dock. is a ship in the dock
and from which the water has been withdrawn. care tubes or nozzles through
which jets or currents of air are forced by fans or blowers & driven by steam
engines or other convenient power. f are flexible pipes for conveying the air
from the fans or blowers to the jets. The jets are held in the hand as shown and
are moved about so that the whole surface to be dried may be exposed to the
cuments of air.
I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement shown for producing and
directing the currents of air as it is obvious many modifications may be made
without departing from the nature of the invention.
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 is
First. The method of drying ships or other structures by forcing against the
surfaces thereof currents of air generated by mechanical means, substantially as
described.
Second. In drying ships and other structures, the combination of a fan, flexible
tubes, and nozzles adapted to direct currents of air against the surfaces of such
ships or other structures as described.
Third. The combination with tubes or nozzles, of mechanical appliances adapted
to force air through such nozzles against the surfaces of ships and other structures
as described.
Fourth. The method of drying ships and other structures by forcing against
the surfaces of such ships or structures through tubes or nozzles currents of air
heated or dried as described.
T
11
T 11 1
1180Q