IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR MANTAINING CONTINUALLY A PLATFORM, CRADLE, OR OTHER ANALOGOUS APPARATUS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Gardner, of Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF
MECHANISM TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR
MANTAINING CONTINUALLY A PLATFORM, CRADLE, OR OTHER ANALOGOUS
APPARATUS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION."
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 29th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1879.
FREDERICK GARDNER, of Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION
WITH SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR MAINTAINING CONTINUALLY A PLATFORM, CRADLE,
OR OTHER ANALOGOUS APPARATUS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION."
This Invention consists in an arrangement of mechanism for suspending a
platform or cradle in a ship or vessel in such a manner that it shall always maintain
a horizontal position irrespectively of any motion of the vessel from the action of
the sea.
In the Specification of an Invention for "Improvements in Apparatus to be
Fitted in or to Vessels for Preventing Sickness at Sea," for which Letters Patent
were granted to me bearing date the 19th day of October 1876, No. 4047, I have
described the frame supporting the platform or cradle as being suspended from a
vertical rod the upper end of which is connected to a ball and socket joint, this
arrangement however renders necessary the employment of weights to act as a
counterpoise to the platform. By the following arrangement of mechanism forming
the subject of this Invention the necessity of employing the said counterpoise is
obviated. To the lower end of a bar or rod is connected a ball and socket or
universal joint which is supported by a beam or any suitable framework attached
to the side or other desired part of the ship, and to the upper end of the said bar or rod
is connected the frame carrying the platform or cradle, the said frame being so curved
as to allow of the platform being under the point of suspension. A second ball and

page_text: socket joint is placed at a short distance from that before mentioned, and the ball
thereof is provided with a bar or rod projecting in an upward direction. To the
upper end of this bar or rod is hinged or pivoted at right angles thereto a bar, the
opposite end of the latter being hinged or pivoted to the bar or rod of the first
mentioned ball and socket joint. The two rods joined respectively to the two ball and 5
socket joints are thus connected together in a position parallel to each other and
maintain their relative positions when in action. The employment of the said
joints and mechanism and the suspension of the platform or cradle at a point
above the bearing of the first mentioned ball and socket joint tend effectually to keep
the said platform or cradle steadily in a horizontal position at all times notwith- 1
standing the effects of any motion of the sea upon the ship or vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
September 1879.
" IMPROVE-
FREDERICK GARDNER, of Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION
WITH SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR MAINTAINING CONTINUALLY A PLATFORM, CRADLE,
OR OTHER ANALOGOUS APPARATUS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION."
My said Invention consists in an arrangement of mechanism for suspending a
platform or cradle in or upon a ship or vessel in such a manner that it shall always
maintain a horizontal position irrespectively of any motion of the vessel caused by
the action of the sea.
In the Specification of an Invention for "Improvements in Apparatus to be Fitted
in or to Vessels for Preventing Sickness at Sea for which Letters Patent were
granted to me bearing date the 19th of October 1876, No. 4047, I have described
the frame supporting the platform or cradle as being suspended from a vertical rod,
the upper end of which is connected to a ball and socket joint, this arrangement
however renders necessary the employment of weights to act as a counterpoise to
the platform. By the following arrangement of mechanism forming the subject
of this Invention the necessity for the employment of the said counterpoise is
obviated.
In order that the nature of my present Invention may be clearly understood I
will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings in which Figure 1 is a
front view of the apparatus; Figure 2, a perspective view of the same; and
Figure 3, a top view. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the
several Figures.
To the lower end of a bar or rod D is connected a ball and socket or universal
joint A which is supported by a beam or any suitable framework F attached to the
side or other desired part of the ship, and to the upper end of the said bar or rod D
is connected the frame G, G¹, G², carrying the platform or cradle H, the said frame
being so formed as to allow of the platform being under the point of suspension.
Part of the frame in Figure 2 is shewn broken so that the connection of O with the
bar E may be clearly seen. Cand shew the sockets in which the balls work in
this instance. In order to control the action and to prevent the twisting of the rod
D and platform H a second bar or rod E is provided, at the lower end of which is
the ball and socket or universal joint B. To the upper end of the said bar or rod E is
hinged or pivoted a bar or rod O, the opposite end of which is hinged or pivoted
to the bar or rod D. The two bars or rods D and E are thus connected together in
a position parallel or nearly so to each other, and such relative position is always
maintained when the mechanism is in action.
The employment of the said joints and mechanism connected therewith and the
attachment of the framework G, G1, G2, carrying the platform or cradle to the rod D
above the point of suspension A, tend effectually to maintain the said platform or
cradle steadily in a horizontal position at all times notwithstanding the effects of
any motion of the sea upon the ship or vessel.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
First. Attaching the framework supporting the platform or cot to a portion of a
bar or rod situated above the point of suspension, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth and described.

page_text: And, Secondly. The combination and arrangement of the ball and socket or
universal joints and mechanism connected therewith, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Gardner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
F. GARDNER. (L.S.)