Use in Emigrant or Passenger Ships.
Year: 1885

page_text: Use in Emigrant or Passenger Ships.
I, ROBERT MCWHIRTER, Engineer, of East India Dock Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bedsteads or berths of which a large number are to be
arranged together in rows and in tiers one above the other, and it has for its
object novel methods of constructing such bedsteads or berths, so that they are
very simply, cheaply, and easily, made and put together or taken down, and are
easily accessible and well ventilated.
Assuming that my invention is to be applied to iron bedsteads or berths
arranged in a double row, back to back so that the heads of the occupants of one
row adjoin those of the occupants in the other row, two or more tiers being
arranged one above the other between the decks of a ship, and access being had to
the several berths from the outer sides of the two rows, I arrange and fix upon the
floor a central row of vertical columns, preferably of metal, each column occupying
the point in plan where the inner sides or heads of each four berths meet, and a
corresponding outer row of similar columns between the outer ends or feet of each
pair of berths, upon both sides.
At a short distance from the floor I form or fix upon each of the central row of
columns a block preferably of cast iron square in plan, having vertical recesses or
notches, of the shape ordinarily used in metal bedsteads for receiving and holding
or locking the ends of the angle iron or other bars which constitute the sides and
ends of the frame which carries the bed and is fitted with longitudinal and
transverse intersecting bars or strips.
Each block has two such notches upon each side near the corners, and the outer.
rows of columns above described have similar blocks at the same height each
provided with two corresponding notches at its inner side, so that projections at
the ends of the angle irons or bars which constitute the sides of the bed frames can
be dropped into the notches and whilst themselves properly supported hold the
columns and the entire framework in proper position.
At a suitable height above the blocks described, similar blocks are formed or
fixed upon the upright columns, and into the notches at their sides the ends of the
frames of a second tier of beds are fitted, and so on for a third or as many tiers as
may be desired or as there may be height for between the decks of the ship.

page_text: The columns are so firmly held together by the frames of the beds, that it is not
necessary to carry them up and fix them to the ceiling or upper deck, and great
facility for ventilation and access is thus available.
A notch is also formed at each end, as well as at the sides of the several blocks,
into which the ends of corresponding bars are also fitted in order to give greater
lateral stability, and these bars between the columns in the central row at the
heads of the several berths form open vertical metal frames connecting together
the several sets or tiers of blocks and forming divisions between the heads of the
two rows of berths.
These frames may be provided with central vertical grooves or guides into which
drop and are fitted boards which thus serve, if required, to divide each double
berth into two single ones. The outer ends of the boards drop and are fitted into
corresponding vertical grooves or guides upon the frames at the outer end or foot
of the berth.
Similar grooves or guides may also be formed or fitted upon the columns between
the tiers of blocks, in order to receive boards or frames which divide each berth
from the adjoining one upon the other side of the columns.
The outer sides of the blocks upon the two outer rows of columns need not be
provided with recesses, but may be finished in any desired manner.
The several corresponding parts of the improved berths or bedsteads are pre-
ferably alike and interchangeable, so that the sets of berths can be extended
longitudinally or vertically whenever desired, and to any extent, and the entire
construction whilst very easily and quickly erected is strong, substantial and
durable.

page_text: Use in Emigrant or Passenger Ships.
I, ROBERT MCWHIRTER, of East India Dock Road, in the County of Middlesex,
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 and accompanying drawing (that is to say):-.
This invention relates to bedsteads or berths of which a large number are to be
arranged together in rows and in tiers one above the other, and it has for its object
a novel method of constructing such bedsteads or berths so that they are very
simply cheaply and easily made and put together or taken down and are easily
accessible and well ventilated.
In the accompanying drawing figure 1 is a plan and figures 2 and 3 end views
shewing iron bedsteads or berths arranged in a double row back to back so that
the heads of the occupants of one row adjoin those of the occupants in the other
row, two tiers being shewn arranged one above the other between the decks of a
ship and access being had to the several berths from the outer ends of the two
rows. Figure 5 is a perspective view shewing the invention applied to berths on
board ship, and figure 6 is a perspective view.shewing a block or set of iron berths
upon a floor.
A central row of vertical columns a, a, a, is fixed upon the floor or deck
consisting preferably of wrought iron tubes with flat bases b, b, b, each column
occupying the point in plan where the inner sides or heads of each four berths
meet, and a corresponding outer row of similar columns c, c, c, c, c, c, is fixed
between the outer ends or feet of each pair of berths upon both sides.
At a short distance above the floor or deck is fixed upon each of the central
columns a a block or support d preferably of cast iron having vertical recesses or
notches as shewn for receiving and holding the ends of angle iron or other
bars e, e, e, which constitute the sides and ends of the frames which carry the bed
bottoms, one of which is shewn at f fitted with longitudinal and transverse
intersecting bars or strips. These bed bottoms are preferably made of separate
frames which can be lifted in and out as desired as shewn at fin figure 1 and in
section in figure 4.
Each block d has a notch upon each side and the outer rows of columns c have
similar blocks d at the same height each provided with corresponding notches at
its inner side so that projections at the ends of the angle irons or bars e which
constitute the sides of the frames can be dropped into the notches and whilst
themselves properly supported hold the columns and the entire framework in their
proper position. At a suitable height above the blocks d, d¹³, similar blocks are
formed or fixed upon the upright columns and into the notches at their sides a
second tier of bedframes is fitted as shewn in figures 2, 3, and 5 and so on for
a third or as many tiers as may be desired one above the other. A notch is also
formed at each end as well as at the sides of the several blocks, into which the
ends of corresponding transverse bars g are also fitted in order to give lateral
stability.

page_text: The columns are so firmly held together by the angle irons and lateral bars that
when their bases at bare screwed to the deck or floor it is not necessary to carry
them up and fix them to the upper deck, and great facility for ventilation and
access of air is thus obtained.
The outer sides of the blocks 61 upon the two outer rows of columns c c need
not be provided with recesses but may be finished in any desired manner. Grooves
or guides h are also formed upon or fixed to the columns to receive boards as shewn
in figure 5 or metal frames to divide the berths lengthways, and similar grooves at
right angles to the others to receive boards or metal frames at the head of the
berths as shewn in figure 2 and at the foot of the berths as shewn in figure 3, and
in figure 5. Similar grooves may also be formed or fitted in the frames or boards
at the head and foot of the berths as shewn at i in figure 2 into which can drop
and fit boards or metal frames which thus serve to divide each double berth into
two single ones when necessary as shewn in figure 5. Bed frames to carry one
person only are made where it may be desired to add a tier of such single berths,
in which case the columns are placed at half the distance apart as shewn in the
several figures, the lateral bars and head and foot boards or frames being made of
proper size.
Or, if required the berths may be carried along the side of a ship or
room lengthways in which case access is had to the beds from the sides. They
'may also be arranged in a single row where it may be required to fit them across a
ships deck against a bulkhead. The several corresponding parts of the improved
berths or bedsteads are preferably made similar and interchangeable so that the
sets of berths can be extended either longitudinally or laterally whenever desired
and to any extent, and the entire construction whilst quickly and easily erected is
very strong substantial and durable, and by the method of construction described
and shewn great rigidity and security are obtained without requiring any sockets
to be let into the deck or floor on which they stand, or any connection with the
deck or ceiling above, and the berths can therefore be moved from one deck or
floor to another, without any special fittings being required as in the case of such
iron berths or bedsteads as heretofore used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The moveable berths or bedsteads consisting of the columns a, c, supports b
notched blocks d, d', carrying frames e, g, and fixed or moveable bedbottoms f
together with the supports h, i, for metal or wooden dividing boards or frames, all
substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 20th Joy of Inl.. 1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.