An Improved Ship's Brake, capable of Use as a Collision Fender, Sea Anchor, and Supplementary Rudder.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ship's Brake, capable of Use as a Collision Fender,
Sea Anchor, and Supplementary Rudder.
I, ABEL WARDLAW BEST, 17, Netherwood Road, West Kensington, London W.,
Master Mariner, 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 :-
My invention consists in an improved ship's brake, capable of use as a collision
fender, sea anchor and supplementary rudder. The construction of the apparatus
and the way and manner in which I operate the same to attain the objects I have
in view will be readily understood by reference to the drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view shewing one form of the improved netting I employ in
constructing the brake, part of the external covering being removed.
Fig. 2 is an end view of same.
Fig. 3 is a front view shewing brake net made with gauze of fine mesh.
Fig. 4 is a front view shewing metallic brake, fender, or anchor.
Fig. 5 is an eud view of same.
-
Fig. 6 is a diagram representing a vessel with. one brake out.
Fig. 7 is a diagram shewing the vessel with all brakes and fenders out.
:
Fig. 8 is a diagram shewing the application of my invention to assist a vessel in
"porting
Fig. 9 is a diagram shewing my invention assisting a vessel in "starboarding."
Fig. 10 is a diagram shewing the vessel lying head to sea or drifting, her brakes
acting as sea anchors.
Fig. 11 is a diagram shewing a vessel anchored to brake fitted with oil vessel.
Fig. 12 shews the method of folding up the brake made of netting or like flexible
material when not in use.
:
In the drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3, 12, 1 is a spar of wood, preferably formed in two
pieces and of square, round, or other suitable section. A net 2, the mesh of which
may be coarse as shewn in Fig. 1 or as fine as gauze, see Fig. 3, is formed of
metallic wire, and covered on both sides with canvas 3, treated with tar or like.
protective. The object of the wire netting is to support the weights and prevent
the rending or tearing of the canvas or other cover, and to act as a spring and so
regulate the same by the lower part lifting when the pressure is very great and
dropping again when it is released. The net is supported or held at its top or
other part between the pieces of the divided spar 1, and secured thereto by lashing
or binding as with wire or ropes 4, bolting, or other equivalent and suitable means.
Weights 5 are attached to the sides and bottom, or these may be replaced by
metal bars; and rings of metal or loops of cord 6, are attached to it in convenient
positions. The apparatus thus described forms the improved ship's brake which is
capable of use as a collision fender, sea anchor and supplementary rudder.
Figs. 4, 5 shew a form of brake also capable of use as a fender, sea anchor or as
supplementary rudder, in which the wooden spar 1 is replaced by a split or plain
metallic cylinder 1 filled with cork 7, or like buoyant material, and the netting
and its covering by a piece of plain sheet metal 3 secured to the cylinder by
bolting or like means, or in the case of a plain cylinder by angle irons and bolts.
See dotted lines.
The spar 1 formed of wood or metal packed with cork or the like or otherwise

page_text: may together with the nets or plate replacing same, be formed of any size or
shape suited to my purpose. When not in use the brake when formed of flexible
material as described under Figs. 1, 2, 3, 12, is folded up in the manner shewn in
Fig. 12 and supported upon a forked davit, prop, or in other convenient manner on
the bows, amidship, at the stern, or in any other suitable position for readily
heaving over the side by means of a lover formed of a spar or by like means.
will be readily understood that ropes, hawsers, chains or the like are attached to
the rings at the top of spar or at the bottom or side of the brake as may be most
suitable for the required purpose.
It
The various uses of which my invention is capable and the manner of employing
the same will be seen by reference to the diagrams.
For instance: In Fig. 6 the brake, which as a whole is denominated by the
letter B, has been thrown from the bow of the ship A, the weights 5 causing it to
sink, and the guy lines 4 compelling it to take up the position shewn across the
bow. The resistance offered by the brake has the effect of readily checking the
vessel's progress.
In Fig. 7, the diagram shews a ship A, having three brakes out. Assuming
that a colliding vessel is approaching in the direction of the arrow it is obvious that
the brake B, being across the bows of A, tends to deflect the blow and distribute
the same over a wider area, thus preventing the cutting of that vessel's sides.
Fig. 8 is a diagram shewing the brake as a supplementary rndder assisting the
vessel A in the operation of porting.
Fig. 9 shows the position of the brake when starboarding. This method of
steering by means of brakes may also be employed in the case of a damaged
rudder.
Fig. 10 is a diagram which shews the position in which the brakes are or may be
placed when a vessel is disabled or otherwise, with head to sea or drifting. It will
be observed that by properly proportioning the surface of the brakes the way of
the vessel may be partially or wholly checked.
Fig. 11 shews a vessel A, anchored to a brake B, having a floating vessel or bag
containing oil 8 attached to it by a line, the effect of the oil leaking therefrom
prevents the breaking of the seas on board the vessel.
The plain plate shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, may also be built of a series of narrow
plates mounted on cords, strands or the like, Venetian blind fashion; so as to be
folded up for greater facility of stowage, and for regulating the surface by
attaching or detaching the plates. Boards may also be applied to the flexible
form of brake described under Figs. 1, 2, 3, 12, to increase its surface and
retarding action.
In the case of a brako constructed of very fine mesh or gauze as in Fig. 3 the
external covering of canvas or the like may be dispensed with if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the value of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For the purpose of preventing collisions between ships or other obstacles,
fendering, anchoring and assisting in steering the same, the use of a brake or
brakes constructed of wire netting covered or not, plate or a series of plates,
constructed and operating in the way and manner and for the purposes described.
2. In a ship's brake employed for the purposes described in Claim 1 the
combination of the wire netting, covered with canvas or the like protective
material, and attached to a wooden spar, the weights 5 or metal bars replacing
same, the rings 6 thereon and the use and employment of guy lines therewith.
3. In a brake employed for the purposes described in Claim 1 the particular
construction of the solid plate 3 secured to a split or plain cylindrical or other
form of spar 1 filled with cork 7 or otherwise; the rings thereon substantially as
shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
4. In a brake constructed and employed for the purposes described under

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 the use of a series of thin plates mounted Venetian blind fashion, and
capable of removal and attachment.
5. For the purpose of anchoring vessels at sea, the use and employment of a
brake formed of netting covered or not as described, or of plate, and having
a floating oil vessel or bag attached, operating in the way and manner and for the
purposes set forth.
Du 1000
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.