IMPROVEMENTS IN EQUILIBRIUM OR SUSPENDED CABINS FOR SHIPS OR NAVIGABLE VESSELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Black, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EQUILIBRIUM OR SUSPENDED
CABINS FOR SHIPS OR NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 13th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Black at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th March 1876.
"IMPROVE-
THOMAS BLACK, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN EQUILIBRIUM OR SUSPENDED CABINS FOR SHIPS OR NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
The object of the said Invention is to render sea voyages less unpleasant by
providing a cabin which shall not partake of the pitching, rolling, rising, or falling
notions, either singly or combined, given to the ship or vessel by the action of wind
and waves.
For the above purposes I employ a cabin and surrounding framework suspended
on cross trunnions, in manner similar to a ship's compass in gimbals, and I prevent
such cabin from acquiring a swinging or oscillating motion during the pitching and
rolling of the ship or vessel by means of the controlling action of weights hung on
levers free to oscillate with the motion of the ship. The said weighted levers are
attached to any convenient portion of the ship, to the cabin, the surrounding frame-
work, or to any desired carrying pieces. The weighted levers are coupled, some to
the cabin and the others to the framework by connecting rods, both preferably near
to the bottom thereof.
In some cases the weighted levers may only be connected to the cabin or to the
framework.
To obviate or lessen the rising and falling motion of the said cabin I fit the
carrying trunnions and bearings in vertical guides, and support the said bearings
therein by means of suspending or supporting agents. The said suspending agents
may consist of cords, chains, or their equivalents attached to the bearings passing
over pulleys and secured to weighted levers, which may be the weighted levers
above mentioned.
It will be obvious that as the ship or vessel rises or falls during the pitching or
rolling, the oscillation of the weighted levers will give a rising or falling motion to
the cabin, which is arranged to be in the direction opposite to that of the ship.

page_text: Instead of cords or chains being used the bearings may be supported on eccentrics,
wedge picces, or like appliances operated from the said weighted lovers by means of
toothed gearing or other efficient means.
he rise and fall of the cabin and the motion of the levers
Instead of cords or chains being used the bearings may be supported on eccentrics,
wedge picces, or like appliances operated from the said weighted lovers by means of
toothed gearing or other efficient means.
The relation between the rise and fall of the cabin and the motion of the levers
may be adjustable.
As means for obtaining entrance to cabins constructed as above described, I prefer
to employ a rising and falling staircase or way leading from the deck to the roof of
the cabin, the descent into the cabin being arranged in any desired manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Thomas Black in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th September
1876.
THOMAS BLACK, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN EQUILIBRIUM OR SUSPENDED CABINS FOR SHIPS OR NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
The object of the said Invention is to render sea voyages less unpleasant by
providing a cabin which shall not partake of the pitching, rolling, rising, or falling
motions, either singly or combined, given to the ship or vessel by the action of
wind and waves.
For the above purposes I employ a cabin and surrounding framework suspended
in cross trunnions in manner similar to a ship's compass in gimbals, and I prevent
such cabin from acquiring a swinging or oscillating motion during the pitching
and rolling of the ship or vessel by means of the controlling action of weights
hung on levers free to oscillate with the motion of the ship. The said weighted
lovers are attached to any convenient portion of the ship, to the cabin, the sur-
rounding framework, or to any desired carrying pieces. The weighted levers are
coupled, some to the cabin and the others to the framework, by connecting rods,
both preferably near the bottom thereof.
In some cases the weighted lovers may only be connected to the cabin or to the
framework.
To obviate or lessen the rising and falling motion of the said cabin I fit the
carrying trunnions and bearings in vertical guides, and support the said bearings
therein by means of suspending or supporting agents. The said suspending agents
may consist of cords, chains, or their equivalents attached to the bearings passing
over pulleys and secured to weighted levers, which may be the weighted levers
above mentioned.
It will be obvious that as the ship or vessel rises or falls during the pitching
or rolling, the oscillation of the weighted levers will give a rising or falling motion
to the cabin, which is arranged to be in the direction opposite to that of the
ship. Instead of cords or chains being used the bearings may be supported on
eccentrics, wedge pieces, or like appliances operated from the said weighted levers
by means of toothed gearing or other efficient means.
The relation between the rise and fall of the cabin and the motion of the levers
may be adjustable.
As means for obtaining entrance to cabins constructed as above described, I prefer
to employ a rising and falling staircase or way leading from the deck to the roof of
the cabin, the descent into the cabin being arranged in any desired manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2, a cross section of a ship or vessel
showing the same provided with an equilibrium cabin of the simplest construction
under my Invention. a is the framework of the ship; bis the cabin hung in trans-
verse bearings c in the frame d; the frame d is free to oscillate in the longitudinal
bearings e secured to the deck of the ship. A weight attached to the bottom of the

page_text: cabin serves to control the rolling motion, whilst the pitching motion is controlled
by the weighted lever f, connecting rod g, and lever attached to the frame
trunnions; i, staircase from deck to top of cabin. A second staircase leads from the
top to the interior of the cabin.
Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 5, a transverse
section, all of a ship fitted with an equilibrium cabin under my Invention, adapted
not only to obviate the pitching and rolling motion, but also to lessen the rising
and falling motion; j, framework of ship; %, cabin supported in bearings free to
rise and fall in the guides m on the framework n; the framework n is supported in
bearings o secured to the deck of the ship. The rolling motion is overcome by a
weight at the bottom of the cabin, and the pitching motion by the weighted lever
and connections p in the manner above described; y is a weighted lever which
operates by means of the gear and connections t the chain, wire, rope, or its
equivalent passing over the pulleys and attached to the cabin. This arrange-
ment counteracts the rise and fall of the cabin due to the pitching motion of the
ship. The rise and fall due to the rolling motion is overcome by the weighted
levers u acting through the gearing and connections v, so as to give motion to the
eccentric w, the strap of which supports the pulley s over which the chain or its
equivalent r passes; x is a flexible staircase leading from the deck to the top of the
cabin. The said flexible staircase passes over a pulley y, and is kept tight by the
weight so as to allow for the rise and fall of the cabin. A second staircase leads
from the top to the interior of the cabin.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention so that others will be
enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to details, but what I do claim is,-
First. Employing a weighted lever or levers to control the rolling or pitching
motion, or both, of a cabin free to oscillate on bearings, substantially as described
and illustrated for the purposes set forth.
Second. Employing a weighted lever or levers to counteract the rising and
falling motion of a cabin due to the pitching or rolling, or both, of a ship or
vessel, substantially as described and illustrated for the purposes set forth.
Third. Providing a rising and falling cabin with a rising and falling staircase,
substantially as described and illustrated for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Black, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
A
THOMAS BLACK, (L.S.)