IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Don Pelegrin Marques, of Barcelona, in the
Kingdom of Spain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."-A communication
from abroad by Antonio Blanco y Ramis, residing at Barcelona, aforesaid.
Sealed the 10th February 1868, and dated the 14th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Don Pelegrin Marques
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th August 1862.
I, DON PELEGRIN MARQUES, of Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS," a communication
to me from abroad by Antonio Blanco y Ramis, resident at Barcelona,
aforesaid, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improved apparatus whereby the bottoms of ships
and vessels may be cleaned and freed from corroding matters without the
necessity of taking the ships into dry docks.
The apparatus is formed of two metal foundation plates, one of which
supports two cylinders and pistons, the other being provided with a strong
brush or scraper; these plates contain also a space enclosed by a sheet of
india-rubber or gutta percha, which space communicates with a force pump
on the deck of the vessel by means of india-rubber tubes.
The piston rods from the cylinders are attached to the brush or scraper, and
the cylinders are supplied with compressed air from the pump by means of
tubes, by which means a reciprocating lateral motion is given to the brush

page_text: or scraper, which is pressed firmly against the sides of the vessel by means
of the pressure of air in the space enclosed by the india-rubber.
The apparatus is to be suspended from the deck of the vessel by a rope or
chain, and a vertical reciprocating movement may thereby be communicated
to the apparatus, in order to perfect the operation of cleaning or scraping the t
bottoms of ships and vessels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Don Pelegrin Marques in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DON
PELEGRIN MARQUES, of Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
be said Don Pelegrin Marques, Her special licence that I, the said Don
Pelegrin Marques, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Don Pelegrin Marques, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND
VESSELS," a communication to me from abroad by Antonio Blanco y Ramis,
resident at Barcelona, aforesaid, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Don Pelegrin Marques, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Don Pelegrin Marques, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:--
This Invention consists of improved apparatus whereby the bottoms of ships

page_text: and vessels may be cleaned and freed from corroding matters, without the
necessity of taking the ships into dry docks.
I will now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for
carrying the said Invention into practical effect, reference being had to the
illustrative Drawing hereto annexed, and to the letters of reference marked
thereon.
The apparatus is formed of two metal foundation plates, one of which
supports two cylinders and pistons, the other being provided with a strong
brush or scraper; these plates contain also a space enclosed by a sheet of
india-rubber or gutta percha, which space communicates with a force pump
on the deck of the vessel by means of india-rubber tubes.
The piston rods from the cylinders are attached to the brush or scraper, and
the cylinders are supplied with compressed air from the pump by means of
tubes, by which means a lateral reciprocating motion is given to the brush
or scraper, which is pressed firmly against the sides of the vessel by means of
the
pressure of air in the space enclosed by the india-rubber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
a is the pump for compressing air; 6, the pipe communicating with the
pipe or cock c leading to the anterior tube; d, d, pipes of connection or com-
munication; e, e, sheets or layers of gutta percha or india-rubber; f, f, metal
heads or plates with screw fastenings; g, g, metal cylinders with corresponding
pistons; h, discharge valve.
The apparatus is to be suspended from the deck of the vessel by a.rope or
chain, and a vertical reciprocating movement may thereby be communicated
to the apparatus, in order to perfect the operation of cleaning or scraping the
bottoms of ships and vessels.
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein expressed and shewn, as
the same may obviously be varied or modified without in any way departing
from the principles on which the Invention is based, but I claim the improved
Apparatus for Cleaning the Bottoms of Ships and Vessels," substantially as
herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Don Pelegrin Marques, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
PELEGRIN MARQUES. (L.S.). .