Improvements in Ships' Berths.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 3rd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
Improvements in Ships' Berths.
We EDWARD LAWSON, of Charlotte Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick
Bedstead Manufacturer and HENRY LEA, of 38 Bennett's Hill, Birmingham aforesaid
Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In modern ships' berths more particularly those made of iron the lee rail, or front
vertical side of the berth is sometimes made of only about half the length of the berth
itself and can be slid end wise to either end of the berth so as to act as a guard to the
head and shoulders of the occupant at whichever end of the berth he may prefer.
Such a lee rail is termed a half lee rail. The half lee rail can also be turned upon the
axis of the front bottom bar of the frame of the berth as upon a hinge pin so as to be
folded against the bottom of the berth when the latter is unoccupied or when it is
desired to turn it up out of the way.
This invention relates to an improved method of constructing and mounting the
half lee rail so as to enable it to be slid along and folded over without marking or
damaging the paint upon the bottom side bar of the berth, and so as to ensure the
half lee rail being stiffly and firmly held in place when in use at either end of the
berth.
We will describe the invention as applied to a half lee rail consisting of an open
metallic frame-work of about half the length of the berth having at each end a hollow
socket which loosely embraces and slides and turns upon a tube forming the side bar
of the herth.
According to the invention we apply to the lower side of the half lee rail a hollow
ube extending from one end of the half lee rail to the other, or nearly so, and of
uch an internal diameter as will allow an{annular space of about one eighth of an inch
etween the interior of the lee rail tube and the exterior of the tubular side bar which
t embraces. The said tube may either be attached at each end to the sockets of the
alf lee rail or the sockets may be omitted and the tube may be attached directly to
he frame-work of the half lee rail.
In order to maintain the annular space and so to prevent the lee rail tube from
uching the paint of the tubular side bar, we provide at certain intervals along the
bular side bar projecting heads or buttons so disposed that there shall always be a
Price 8d 1

page_text: sufficient number of them included within the lee rail tube to prevent the latter from
having any more slackness of fit than will suffice for the easy sliding and turning
motion. The projecting heads or buttons are preferably made of brass and their outer
faces are polished and left bright, their sides being painted at the same time as the
tubular side bar. The lee rail tube takes a bearing upon the bright faces and leaves 5
untouched the painted portions.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular method of fixing the heads or buttons
to the tubular side bar but we will describe one method which is easy and practicable.
We make a pin or rivet of brass or other suitable metal the head of which forms one
of the heads or buttons before mentioned. The stem of the rivet is passed through
two holes drilled through the tubular side bar diametrically opposite each other and in
a plane at right angles to the axis of the side bar. The stem of the rivet is of such a
length as to project outside the tubular side bar and receive a washer into which the
end of the stem is rivetted down. The washer is of the same size and shape as the
rivet head. The head and washer thus form two buttons diametrically opposite each
other. Very near to them we drill another pair of holes through the side bar, on a
diameter at right angles to that of the first pair, and we fix therein another rivet and
washer. The four buttons thus provided afford four points or surfaces of contact
situated 90° apart upon which the lee rail tube can truly slide or turn.
Along the side bar we repeat the insertion of pairs of rivets as before described at
such intervals as shall ensure that not less than two sets of buttons shall be contained
within the lee rail tube at one time at any part of its travel along the side bar, and
not less than three sets when the lee rail arrives at either end of the berth, but the
numbers of sets included may be varied provided that there be enough to produce the
desired result.
In order to ensure that the buttons shall properly fit the interior of the lee rail tube
we prefer in the first place to use mandrel drawn tube for the latter, and in the next
place after having rivetted all the buttons into the side bar to pass the latter through
a hollow revolving milling tool or cutter whereby the buttons are accurately dressed
We
off to an uniform diameter measured outside the heads of two opposite buttons.
also prefer to slightly bell-mouth the lee rail tube to prevent it accidentally catching
against any of the buttons.
There are several other ways in which the buttons may be fixed to the side bars,
such as for instance by screwing the stems tightly through the side bar, or by making
a short stem to each button and screwing each in separately, or by placing a temporary
loose mandrel inside the hollow side bar and hammering each button down upon it
until its short stem has been rivetted over inside the hollow side bar or by soldering
or brazing the buttons on. Or collars or longitudinal ribs attached to the side bai
may be substituted for the buttons, but of all the methods which may be used we
prefer that first described as being better adapted to the ordinary processes and con
tingencies of the manufacture of metallic berths.
When the half lee rail has been slid to either end of the berth it may be fixed so a
to prevent it from sliding or turning either by furnishing each end of the side ba
with a dovetail projection which shall tightly enter a dovetail recess in the nearest le
rail sockets or end of the lee rail tube, or by attaching the upper corner of the lee ra
to the end rail or other part of the berth or to the bulkhead, as the case may be, th
advantage afforded by the invention being that when loose the lee rail moves smoothl
and truly and does not touch the paint of the berth, and when fixed at one end th
other end remains firm and rigid by virtue of the rigidity of the tube whic
extends from one end of the lee rail to the other end or nearly so as hereinbefo
described.
1207
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Berths.
We EDWARD LAWSON, of Charlotte Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Bedstead Manufacturer, and HENRY LEA, of 38 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham aforesaid,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
In modern ships' berths, more particularly those made of iron the lee rails, or front
vertical side of the berth, is sometimes made of only about half the length of the
berth itself and can be slid endwise to either end of the berth so as to act as a guard
to the head and shoulders of the occupant at whichever end of the berth he may prefer.
Such a lee rail is termed a half lee rail. The half lee rail can also be turned upon the
axis of the front, bottom bar of the frame of the berth as upon a hinge pin so as to be
folded against the bottom of the berth when the latter is unoccupied or when it is
desired to turn it up out of the way.
This invention relates to an improved method of constructing and mounting the half
lee rail so as to enable it to be slid along and folded over without marking or damaging
the paint upon the bottom side bar of the berth, and so as to ensure the half lee rail
being stiffly and firmly held in place when in use at either end of the berth.
We will describe the invention as applied to a half lee rail consisting of an open
metallic frame-work of about half the length of the berth having at each end a hollow
socket which loosely embraces and slides and turns upon a tube forming the side bar
of the berth.
According to the invention we apply to the lower side of the half lee rail a tube
extending from one end of the half lee rail to the other, or nearly so, and of such an
internal diameter as will allow an annular space of about one-eighth of an inch between
the interior of the lee rail tube and the exterior of the tubular side bar which it embraces.
The said tube may either be attached at each end to the sockets of the half lee rail or
the sockets may be omitted and the tube may be attached directly to the frame-work of
the half lee rail.
In order to maintain the annular space and so to prevent the lee rail tube from
touching the paint of the tubular side bar, we provide, at certain intervals along the
tubular side bar, projecting heads or buttons so disposed that there shall always be a
sufficient number of them included within the lee rail tube to prevent the latter from
having any more slackness of fit than will suffice for the easy sliding and turning
motion. The projecting heads or buttons are preferably made of brass and their outer
faces are polished and left bright, their sides being painted at the same time as the
tubular side bar. The lee rail tube takes a bearing upon the bright faces and leaves
untouched the painted portions.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular method of fixing the heads or buttons to
the tubular side bar, but we will describe one method which is easy and practicable.
We make a pin or rivet of brass or other suitable metal the head of which forms one of

page_text: the heads or buttons before mentioned. The stem of the rivet is passed through two
holes drilled through the tubular side bar diametrically opposite each other, and in a
plane at right angles to the axis of the side bar. The stem of the rivet is of such a
length as to project outside the tubular side bar and receive a washer into which the
end of the stem is rivetted down. The washer is of the same size and shape as the
rivet head. The head and washer thus form two buttons diametrically opposite each
other. Very near to them we drill another pair of holes, through the side bar, on a
diameter at right angles to that of the first pair, and we fix therein another rivet and
washer. The four buttons thus provided afford four points or surfaces of contact
situated 90° apart upon which the lee rail tube can truly slide or turn.
Along the side bars we repeat the insertion of pairs of rivets as before described at
such intervals as shall ensure that not less than two sets of buttons shall be contained
within the lee rail tube at one time at any part of its travel along the side bar, and not
less than three sets when the lee rail arrives at either end of the berth, but the numbers
of sets included may be varied provided that there be enough to produce the desired
result.
In order to ensure that the buttons shall properly fit the interior of the lee rail tube
we prefer in the first place to use mandrel drawn tube for the latter, and in
the next place, after having rivetted all the buttons into the side bar, to
pass the latter through a hollow revolving milling tool or cutter whereby the buttons
are accurately dressed off to an uniform diameter measured outside the heads of two
opposite buttons. We also prefer to slightly bell-mouth the lee rail tube to prevent it
accidentally catching against any of the buttons.
There are several other ways in which the buttons may be fixed to the side bars,
such as, for instance, by securing the stems tightly through the side bar, or by making
a short stem to each button and screwing each in separately, or by placing a temporary
loose mandrel inside the hollow side bar and hammering each button down upon
until its short stem has been rivetted over inside the hollow side bar or by soldering
or brazing the buttons on. Or, collars or longitudinal ribs attached to the side bar may
be substituted for the buttons, but of all the methods which may be used we prefer that
first described as being better adapted to the ordinary processes and contingencies of
the manufacture of metallic berths.
When the half lee rail has been slid to either end of the berth it may be fixed so as
to prevent it from sliding or turning either by furnishing each end of the side bar
with a dovetail projection which shall tightly enter a dovetail recess in the nearest lec
rail socket or end of the lee rail tube, or by attaching the upper corner of the lee rail
to the end rail or other part of the berth or to the bulkhead, as the case may be, the
advantage afforded by the invention being that when loose the lee rail moves smoothly
and truly and does not touch the paint of the berth, and when fixed at one end the
other end remains firm and rigid by virtue of the rigidity of the tube which extends
from one end of the lee rail to the other end or nearly so as herein before described.
And, in order that our said invention may be more fully understood we will now
proceed to describe it, with the aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in each and every figure in which they
occur.
Figure 1 represents a half lee rail constructed and mounted according to our said
invention.
The half lee rail is at the right hand end of the side bar of the berth.
Figure 2 shews the half lee rail half-way between each end of the side bar.
Figure 3 shews the half lee rail at the left hand end of the side bar of the berth.
Figure 4 is a cross section through Figure 1, the dotted are of the circle shewing the
path of the end of the half lee rail when folded under the berth.
Figure 5 shews the sockets at the ends of the half lee rail with their connecting tube
and the side bar of the berth in side elevation.
Figure 6 is a cross-section through Figure 5.
Figures 5 and 6 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Figure 7 is a cross section through the tubular side bar of the borth showing the
rivets, hereinafter described, with their button beads.

page_text: Figure S is a partial longitudinal section through the tube connecting the half lee
rail sockets shewing inside it a part of the side bar of the berth with its button heads.
Figure is a detail of button head, rivet and washer.
Figure 10 is a detail of the end of the tube connecting the half lee rail sockets.
Figure 11, sheet 2, is a cross section of the tubular side bar with button head, bolts
and nuts.
Figure 12 shews cross section with four buttons screwed in.
Figure 13 shews cross section with four buttons rivetted in.
Figure 14 shews cross section with four buttons brazed on.
Figure 15 is a partial elevation and Figure 16 a cross section of tubular side bar
of berth, with a collar brazed or otherwise fastened on.
Figure 17 is a partial elevation and Figure 18 a cross-section of tubular side bar
of berth, made of a tube with longitudinal ribs.
Figures 7 to 18, all inclusive are on a larger scale than the preceding figures.
In Figures 1 to 6, a is a half lee rail, and a' a' are sockets, one at, or nearly at,
each end of the half lee rail; these sockets are hollow and they are connected the one
with the other by a tube, b, preferably mandrel drawn. This tube is firmly secured
at each end to the sockets a¹ of the half lee rail so that it makes with the half lec
rail a rigid frame.
We may dispense with the sockets a' and secure the tube to the half lee rail a
without them by well known means if desired.
The tube is about a quarter of an inch larger in diameter inside than the external
diameter of the side rail c of the berth, thus giving, when the two are concentric, a
space of about one-eighth of an inch all round the side bar.
The object of our invention is to allow this tube to slide along the side rail e
(which is usually itself made of metallic tube, as shewn in the drawings) without
rubbing or grazing its painted surface. In order to do this, we provide at certain
intervals on the side rail a button-like projections d of such a size that the tube /
easily slides over them.
In Figure 6 it would seem as if the tube & touched the button heads all round, but
it does not do so, as it slides easily over them.
We bell-mouth the ends 61, 6 of the tube b so that it shall easily slide on to and
over each set of heads or buttons (see Figures 2, 5 and 10). Each of these sets of
button heads consists of four placed at angles of 90° around the side bar as clearly
shown in Figure 7.
The sets are so arranged along the side bar that there are never fewer than two
sets within the tube and when the half lee rail a is at one or other end of the side
bar there are three sets within the tube as clearly shewn in Figure 1 where there are
three sets in the tube b, in Figure 2 where there are two sets, the half lee rail being
half way along and Figure 3 where there are three sets in the tube. These numbers
we find are sufficient to render the movement of the tube b steady when it is shifted
along the side bar and we prefer them but we do not limit ourselves to these
particular numbers.
By preference we make and affix the button heads to the side rail as shewn in
Figures 7, 8, and 9 where d is the button head of a rivet having a stem d' and end d².
We drill two holes opposite to each other through the tubular side bar c in a plane
at right angles to its axis and through these holes we pass the stem d' of the bution
head rivet. We then place the button shaped washer 3 (Figure 9) on the end d² of
the stem. This washer has the hole in it slightly countersunk and we then rivet the
end d² of the stem into it as shown in Figure 7. We drill another pair of holes at
right angles to the first and as close together as we can allowing the rivet stems to
clear each other, (see Figure S) and in these holes we insert another button bead
rivet exactly like the first. We then have four button like projections on the side
bar, two in one place and two in another, a little removed and at intervals of 90°
around the tubular side bar c.
We make these rivets and washers preferably of brass and polish their outer
surface d', the circumference d. being painted the same as the tubular side bar c.

page_text: Along the tubular side bar c we repeat the insertion of pairs of rivets, as shewn
at d, d, d, Figure 1, and also in Figures 2 and 3.
We prefer that the tube should be mandrel drawn and that the rivet heads and
washers when fixed should all be dressed off to uniform height by passing the tubular
side bar c with its button like projections throngh a hollow revolving milling tool, or
by some other suitable means.
We have described the best mode known to us in which the object in view, that is,
preventing the abrasion of the tubular side bar c by the half lee rail tube b, can be
attained but there are several other modes in which this can be done and some of
these modifications we will now describe. In Figure 11, sheet 2, we shew the stem
with a button head d and the other end screw threaded for a button shaped nut, as
shewn at dº.
In Figure 12 each button head d has a short screw threaded stem d which is
screwed into one of a set of tapped holes in the tubular side bar c. It is evident that
in neither of these arrangements can the screw nut or screw button head fit as closely
to the tubular bar e as in the arrangement first described.
Or, by placing a temporary loose mandrel inside the tube, button heads with short
stems might be rivetted in, as shewn at d in Figure 13.
Or, button shaped pieces may be brazed to the outside of the tubular side bar c, as
shewn in Figure 14.
Each of these three latter modifications will admit of each set of the button heads
being exactly in the same plane, and of there being more or fewer than four in
number if so desired.
Another modification we may effect by providing collars e, Figures 15 and 16, at
intervals along the side bar. The tube will slide on the outer surface of these
collars.
C
Another modification we may effect by having the tubular side bar e drawn with
projecting ribs c¹, c¹ as shewn in elevation in Figure 17, and in cross section in
Figure 18, or such ribs may be affixed to a plain tube. The number of these ribs is
immaterial and they may be straight, as shewn, or spiral. But of all the methods
which we have described and illustrated we prefer that first described as being better
adapted to the ordinary practice and contingencies of the manufacture of metallic
berths.
Though we have described and shewn the side bar c of the berth as tubular, as it
usually is, yet it may be made solid if desired, and in that case only some of the
methods of affixing the projecting pieces hereinbefore described will be available.
When the half Tee rail a has been slid to either end of the berth it may be fixed,
so as to prevent it from sliding or turning, by suitable means which we do not here
describe as they do not form part of our present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim, in
respect of ships' berths, is :-
1. In a ship's berth, a half lee rail having a tube rigidly connected to its lower
side, and a side bar formed with projections for the said tube to slide upon,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The several arrangements or modifications hereinbefore described, in which a
tube rigidly connected to the lower side of a half lee rail embraces a side bar formed
with projections for the said tube to slide upon, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1887
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.