Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Causing a Vessel, Independently of the Ballast, to Draw More or Less Water as may be desired by those on Shipboard, and whereby the Vessel may be Steadied in the Water.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1880
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Causing a Vessel,
Independently of the Ballast, to Draw More or Less Water as
may be desired by those on Shipboard, and whereby the Vessel
may be Steadied in the Water.
A communication from abroad by GEORGE WASHINGTON NAPIER, of Los Angeles,
in the County of Los Angeles and State of California, Citizen of the United
States, Rancher.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND M. Inst. M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means auxiliary to
the ballast of a vessel which will be under the control of those on shipboard, and by
means of which the vessel may be caused to draw more or less water as may be
desired and whereby the vessel will be made steady in the water.
The invention comprises the combination of a fin pivotally secured to the side of
the vessel by one edge, an arm pivotally secured to the fin near the other edge
thereof; and mechanism for raising and lowering the arm.
The drawings illustrate this invention.
Figure 1 is a view of this invention mounted upon the side of a vessel.
Figure 2 is a view of one side of a vessel having one of the fins mounted
thereon.
Figure 3 is a section of a portion of this invention along the line x Figure 1.
In this view the pawls K L are shown in position to prevent the rotation of
the drum.
Figure 4 is a section of a portion of this invention along the line y y Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the hinge which pivots the fin to the
arins B B
Figure 6 is a detail section illustrating the device employed for raising and
lowering the bar B¹.
The proportions shown in the drawing are not essential and may be changed and
two or more fins can be attached to each side of the vessel if it is desired.
A is the fin which is hinged or pivotally attached to arms B B and C. The
arms B B are attached to the fin near the edge next to the side of the vessel, and
the arm is attached to the fin near the edge farthest from the vessel, so that
when the arm C is raised or lowered it will raise or lower the outer edge of
the fin.
'
The bar B is fixed upon the side of the vessel Z and the bar B¹ is adjustably
attached to the side of the vessel. The central support arm or operating rod C is
attached to the mechanism, whereby it can be raised or lowered by those on
shipboard.
The rod C passes through a hole D in a bracket E secured to the side of the
vessel Z, and the upper end of the rod is provided with a head F which, when lowered
rests upon the bracket E to prevent the fin from being lowered too far.
The upper end of the rod C is secured to an endless chain G which passes around
the drum or axle H from which project cogs I, which engage with the chain to drive
it when the drum is rotated in either direction.
The drum is provided at each end with peripheral notches J with which pawls K L
engage to prevent the drum from turning in either direction. Cranks M are secured
to the ends of the drum whereby it may be turned when the pawls are thrown out

page_text: of the notches. The chain is held taut by means of the pulley N mounted beneath
the drum, and around which the chain passes. When the drum H is rotated, the
chain operates to move the rod C up or down thus raising or lowering the outer edge
of the fin, and the chain can be secured at any point desired by throwing the
pawls KL into the notches J, thus holding the fin at any inclination desired.
The hinges connecting the support arms with the fin are not fitted together closely ;
thus allowing room for play so that the movable bar B₁ can be moved up and down,
thus raising or lowering the end of the fin to which the arm B¹ is hinged.
When it is desired to make the vessel draw more water when it is moving forward,
the fore-end of the fin is made lower than the end nearest the stern of the vessel,
and the inertia of the water above and before the fin, will cause the fin to sink
into the water, thus forcing the vessel downward and causing it to draw more
water.
When it is desired to make the vessel draw less water, the fore-end of the fin is
elevated, and the inertia of the water beneath the fin will tend to lift the vessel and
cause it to draw less water.
When the arm B₁ is set, to either raise the vessel or to force it down into the
water, the degree with which it operates can be regulated by raising or lowering the
arm thus raising or lowering the outer edge of the fin, and thereby reducing
the amount of water bearing upon it. The hole D in the bracket E is widened at
the bottom and at the top to allow room for the arm C to move toward or from the
side of the vessel, when the outer edge of the fin is being raised or lowered.
The scope of the invention is not limited to the peculiar mechanism shown for
changing the angle and inclination of the fin, as the gist of the invention is the
adjustable fin A pivotally connected with and projecting outward from the side of
the vessel, and being provided with mechanism for changing the angle and inclination
of the fin.
Only one side of the vessel is shown, as the other side is provided with like
mechanism, and a view thereof would be a mere duplication of the views shown.
Figure 5 illustrates the hinges which attach the arms B and B' to the fin. Pis
a lug projecting upward from the top of the fin, and Q is the pivot connecting it with
the arm B or B¹. The hole in the lug P is smaller than the cleft a in the bar in
which it is mounted, thus giving sufficient play to the hinge to allow the end of the
fin attached to B₁ to be moved up and down as described. It is obvious, a swivel
hinge similar to that connecting with the fin may be used if preferred.
Tis a pin fitting into holes Û by means of which the arm B' may be secured at any
desired height. V is a standard having holes W therein to afford a fulcrum for the
lever X, by which the arm B' may be raised when desired.
Y Y are brackets forming guideways through which the arm B₁ moves up
and down.
Tth: cit 1
1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Causing a Vessel,
Independently of the Ballast, to Draw More or Less. Water as
may be desired by those on Shipboard, and whereby the Vessel
may be Steadied in the Water.
A communication from abroad by GEORGE WASHINGTON NAPIER, of Los Angeles,
in the County of Los Angeles and State of California, Citizen of the United
States, Rancher.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M. Inst. M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, G, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester .both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means auxiliary to
the ballast of a vessel which will be under the control of those on shipboard, and by
means of which the vessel may be caused to draw more or less water as may be
desired and whereby the vessel will be made steady in the water.
The invention comprises the combination of a fin pivotally secured to the side of
the vessel by one edge, an arm pivotally secured to the fin near the other edge
thereof; and mechanism for raising and lowering the arm.
The drawings filed with the provisional specification illustrate this invention.
Figure 1 is a view of this invention mounted upon the side of a vessel.
Figure 2 is a view of one side of a vessel having one of the fins mounted
thereon.
Figure 3 is a section of a portion of this invention along the line a Figuro 1.
In this view the pawls K L are shown in position to prevent the rotation of
the drum.
Figure 4 is a section of a portion of this invention along the line y y Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the hinge which pivots the fin to
the arms B B¹.
Figure 6 is a detail section illustrating the device employed for raising and lowering
the bar B².
The proportions shown in the drawing are not essential and may be changed, and
two or more fius can be attached to each side of the vessel if it is desired.
A, is the fin which is hinged or pivotally attached to arms B B₁ and C. The
arms B B are attached to the fin near the edge next to the side of the vessel, and
the arm is attached to the fin near the edge farthest from the vessel, so that
when the arm C is raised or lowered it will raise or lower the outer edge of
the fin.
The bar B is fixed upon the side of the vessel Z and the bar B' is adjustably
attached to the side of the vessel. The central support arm or operating rod C is
attached to the mechanism, whereby it can be raised or lowered by those on
shipboard.
The rod passes through a hole D in a bracket E secured to the side of the
vessel Z, and the upper end of the rod is provided with a head F which, when lowered,
rests upon the bracket E to prevent the fin from being lowered too far.
The upper end of the rod C is secured to an endless chain Ġ which passes around
the drum or axle H from which project cogs 1, which engage with the chain to drive
it when the drum is rotated in either direction.
The drum is provided at each end with peripheral notches J with which pawls K L
engage to prevent the drum from turning in either direction. Cranks M are secured
to the ends of the drum whereby it may be turned when the pawls are thrown out
of the notches. The chain is held taut by means of the pulley N mounted beneath
the drum, and around which the chain passes. When the drum H is rotated, the
chain operates to move the rod C up or down thus raising or lowering the outer edge
of the fin, and the chain can be secured at any point desired by throwing the
pawls K L into the notches J, thus holding the fin at any inclination desired.
The hinges connecting the support arios with the fin are not fitted together closely;
thus allowing room for play so that the movable bar B can be moved up and down,
thus raising or lowering the end of the fin to which the arm B' is hinged.
When it is desired to make the vessel draw more water when it is moving forward,
the fore-end of the fin is made lower than the end nearest the stern of the vessel,
and the inertia of the water above and before the fin, will cause the fin to sink
into the water, thus forcing the vessel downward and causing it to draw more
water.
When it is desired to make the vessel draw loss water, the fore-end of the fin
is elevated, and the inertia of the water beneath the fin will tend to lift the vessel and
cause it to draw less water.

page_text: When the arm B¹ is set, to either raise the vessel or to force it down into the water,
the degree with which it operates can be regulated by raising or lowering the arm
thus raising or lowering the outer edge of the fin, and thereby reducing the amount
of water bearing upon it. The hole D in the bracket E is widened at the bottom and
at the top to allow room for the arm C to move toward or from the side of the vessel,
when the outer edge of the fin is being raised or lowered.
The scope of the invention is not limited to the peculiar mechanism shown for
changing the angle and inclination of the fin, as the gist of the invention is the
adjustable fin A pivotally connected with and projecting outward from the side of
the vessel, and being provided with mechanism for changing the angle and
inclination of the fin.
Only one side of the vessel is shown, as the other side is provided with like
mechanism, and a view thereof would be a mere duplication of the views shown.
Figure 5 illustrates the hinges which attach the arms Band B' to the fin. Pis
a lug projecting upward from the top of the fin, and Q is the pivot connecting it with
the arm B or B. The hole in the lug P is sinaller than the cleft a in the bar in
which it is mounted, thus giving sufficient play to the hinge to allow the end of the
fin attached to B¹ to be moved up and down as described. It is obvious, a swivel
hinge similar to that connecting with the fin, may be used if preferred.
Tis a pin fitting into holes U by means of which the arm B' may be secured at
any desired height. V is a standard having holes W therein to afford a fulcrum for
the lever X, by which the arm B¹ may be raised when desired.
Y Y are brackets forming guideways through which the arm B' moves up
and down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with the vessel, a fin pivotally secured to the side of the vessel
by one edge; an arm pivotally secured to the fin near the other edge thereof, and
mechanism for raising and lowering the arm.
2. In combination with the vessel, the arm B affixed thereto, the arm B' adjustably
attached to the vessel, the fin A pivotally attached to the arms B B'; the rod C
binged to the fin A, mechanism for raising and lowering the arm B', and mechanism
for raising and lowering the rod C.
3. In combination with the vessel, the fin A, the arm B fixed upon the side of the
vessel and pivotally connected with one end of the fin; the arm B¹ connected with
the other end of the fin and adjustably attached to the vessel; the rod C attached to
the fin; and mechanism for raising and lowering the rod C.
4. In combination with the vessel, the arm B fixed upon the side of the vessel, the
arm B adjustably attached to the vessel, the fin A hinged or pivotally attached near
one edge thereof to the arms B B'; the arm C pivotally attached to the fin near the
other edge thereof, and mechanism for raising and lowering the arm C.
5. In combination with the vessel, the arms B B attached to the side of the
vessel, the fin A pivotally attached thereto, the rod C pivotally attached to the fin
and provided at its upper end with the head F, the bracket E secured to the side
of the vessel and provided with the hole D; the endless chain, the drum provided
with cogs I, and means for rotating the drum.
6. In combination with the vessel and with each other, the arms B B' attached to
the side of the vessel, the fin A pivotally attached thereto, the point of attachment
being near one edge of the fin, the rod C pivotally attached to the fin near the other
edge thereof, the bracket E embracing the rod C and secured to the side of the
vessel, the endless chain passing over the pulley N and connected at one end to
the rod C, and at the other end to the drum H provided with cogs I, and mechanism
for rotating the drum.
7. In combination with the vessel and with each other, the arms B B', attached to
the side of the vessel, the fin A pivotally attached thereto, the point of attachment

page_text: being near one edge of the fin, the rod C pivotally attached to the fin near the other
edge, the bracket E embracing the rod C and secured to the side of the vessel, the
endless chain passing over the pulley N and connected at one end to the rod C and
at the other end to the drum H, provided with the cogs I and at each end with
the peripheral notches J, pawls engaging therewith and mechanism for rotating
the drum.
Dated this 6th day of Santambar 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.