Improvements in Watertight Doors for Ships.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watertight Doors for Ships.
GEORGE DUNCAN, 27 Trinity Crescent, Trinity, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian,
Foreman Ship Plater, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
in
use,
for
My invention consists of improvements upon the devices, at present
preventing leakage in cargo or coaling doors in vessels when at sea.
The improved apparatus, consist of a cast steel frame, fitted on the sides of
vessels, having snugs cast thereon, to tighten up the door, also a ledge, to take
The
circular and buffer rubber, the barrel of hinges are also cast on the frame.
door is preferably of cast steel, having strong cross strengthening bars, and hinges
When the door
cast thereon, also snugs to take bolts opposite those on the frame.
is closed the edges all round bear on to the circular rubber, and is screwed up by
the bolts. The snugs on the frame are faced, to suit the angle of the hinged bolts,
in such a manner that when they are screwed up they cannot slip out of place.
The buffer rubbers are fitted between the frame and the cross strengthening bar,
for the purpose of taking the shock when the ship is struck by a sea, or gets a
fender against a quay wall.
The door may be fitted on other parts of the ship if suitable.
GEORGE DUNCAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watertight Doors for Ships.
I, GEORGE DUNCAN, of 27 Trinity Crescent, Trinity, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Foreman Ship Plater, 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 of improvements upon the devices at present in use for
preventing leakage in cargo or coaling doors of sea going vessels. The improved
apparatus consists of a cast steel frame fitted to the side of the vessel and provided
with snugs to tighten the door by means of bolts, and a ledge formed with a groove
or recess to receive circular strips of india rubber to serve as buffers, the barrel of
the hinges being cast on the fraine. When the door is closed, the edges all round
bear on the circular rubber, the door being tightened up by means of bolts, the
snugs on the frame being faced to suit the angle of the hinged bolts in such a
manner that when screwed up the bolts cannot slip out of place. The additional
circular strips of india rubber which serve as buffers are fitted between the frame
and the cross strengthening bar for the purpose of reducing the shock when the
ship is struck by a sea or comes in contact with a fender against a quay wall.
The door and frame may be fitted to any part of the ship as desired.
In the annexed drawing
Figures 1 and 2 are transverse sections of my improved water tight door.
Figure 3 is an external view of a portion of the door and frame partly in
section, and
Figure 4 is an elevation of the interior of the door shown detached.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each of the views.
A is the frame to which the door B is hinged at e.
Bolts are hinged between
lugs on the under side of the door B, the nuts of same engaging with the snugs g on

page_text: the inside of the frame A. Between the frame A and the under side of the door
near the edge a circular strip of rubber a is inserted in a recess or groove for
obtaining a tight joint when the nuts of the bolts are screwed up, the amount of
rubber projecting from the surface of the frame A being preferably less than that
in the recess or groove.
The door B is formed with cross stiffening ribs or webs d
for increasing the internal resistance, the ribs being flattened at the ends and resting
or pressing on strips or buffers of rubber carried in the recesses or grooves of the
projections i, similarly to the rubber strip a. It will be obvious that the circular
buffers of rubber a, b, cannot become displaced, whilst, they serve effectually to
maintain a water tight joint and overcome the shock experienced when the door is
struck by heavy seas or comes in contact with a fender on a quay wall. Moreover,
by the use of the snugs g having inclined ends and cast on the frame A. the bolts c
are retained securely in place and are capable of exerting a considerable pressure
on the door B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that as rubber or elastic insertions have, previous to the date of my
Patent, been used between the doors and frames I make no claim generally in respect
thereof, but what I claim is :-
:-
In water tight doors for ships the combination with the frame A of rubber or
elastic cushions or buffers disposed in recesses or grooves as specified, sungs for
holding the hinged bolts and the method of strengthening the doors by means of
Cross ribs or ridges flattened at the ends all as herein set forth.
Dated this 25th day of April 1891.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.