IMPROVEMENTS IN AP- PARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLEANSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry James Cole, of Wandsworth, in the County of
Surrey, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AP-
PARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLEANSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th March 1877, and dated the 1st January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry James Cole at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1877.
HENRY JAMES COLE, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, Mechanical
Engineer.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLEANSING THE
BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus connected with cleansing
the bottoms of ships and vessels, and consists in employing two " vaucauson" chains
held at a given distance apart at the top and bottom ends by cross pieces, one of
which is attached in any suitable manner to a frame fitted upon the top rail or
combings." In combination with the above is a winch apparatus. upon the deck,
the winch apparatus being capable of rising and falling by screw or other struts to
suit the height for the proper working of the apparatus used for cleansing. The
upper part of the winch framing has link connections to enable it to be strapped to
the ship's side. The "vaucauson" chains support between them a framework, in
which a brush and scraper drum is fitted, which drum is caused to rotate by an
ordinary chain from the winch either as the brush drum travels up or down upon
the "vaucauson" on which the drum frame is caused to stand still, which can be
effected by paul gearing. One end of the ordinary chain is fastened to the top of
the brush frame, and is carried up over guide pullies to the winch barrels on which
it wraps, say to the right. The other end of the chain is connected to the bottom
of the frame, and is led round a pulley upon the bottom cross piece of the vaucauson
chain, and from thence up to the winch barrel, upon which it is wrapped to the
left. The bottom cross piece of the vaucauson chain when in position rests against
the keel of the vessel under the pull of a chain from the opposite side, which pull
can be relieved by springs on the heads of the vaucauson chains or their upper
cross piece.

page_text: The vaucauson chains in the above arrangement are fixtures for the time, but.
they may be endless, so to speak, that the brush frame may not only travel up or
down, but the brush be made to rotate at an increased speed by gearing on the
ends.
By this Invention the whole apparatus occupies little space on board when
packed up, and can be easily thrown over a vessel's side, and set to work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry James Cole in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th June
1877.
HENRY JAMES COLE, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, Mechanical
Engineer. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLEANSING THE
BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
26
According to this improved system of cleansing the hulls of vessels from sea weed,
etc., the operation is conducted from on board the vessel itself by means of a brush
(furnished or not with scrape blades), being caused to rotate in contact with the
hull, and also to travel down and up from high water line to keel under control of
a winch on the deck and a block at the keel. The brush frame is held by two
"vaucanson" chains arranged at fixed distances apart at top and bottom. The block.
is held by a rope or chain from over the opposite side of the vessel, and the
necessary tension or extra strain put upon the chain when the brush travels over
the bilge portion is taken up by a spring or by weights. The brush frame is held to.
the ship, and is caused to travel, and the brush to rotate by teeth on a spindle
engaging into the links of a ladder or vaucanson "chain (one on each side) sus-
pended from the inboard winch. The keel block has rollers upon it to bear against
the keel, and also on the ship's bottom to enable the blocks to be moved along
endways to accommodate the brush when desired to act upon and cleanse a fresh
part. The winch can also be moved to a corresponding distance by. loosening the
legs, which are telescopic, and then by jamming the frame up against the ship's
rail, the legs having tightening and expanding screws or toggles for the purpose.
An apparatus of a similar character for being moved to and fro or up and down
against a vessel can be constructed and employed.
"
The accompanying Drawings represent my system. Figure 1 is a side view, and
Figure 2, a face view.
"
A is the ship; B, B, are ladder or vaucanson" chains running over pulley blocks
E, E, mounted at top upon a shaft F.
The chains terminate in springs, as in Figure 3, the straps or boxes of which have
links to fasten them to the cross bar D¹ forming part of the frame G which straddles
the "top rail" of the vessel. H is a hand lever to cant the pulley end of the
frame to enable the necessary tension to be put upon the chains prior to their being
fixed in tension by pins being passed through levers D and against the under side of
the ship's rail: Jis a rope or light chain attached at one end to the barrel K of the
winch (see Figure 4) and with its end fastened to the brush frame L to drag the brush
up the ships's side, the pull-down action being effected by a similar rope M from
the opposite side of the vessel. The brush frame L has legs d, d, with rollers e, e,
on the ends to roll against the ship. The legs may however be dispensed with.
The rotation of the brush is accomplished by a semi-wrap of the "vaucanson" chains
upon toothed wheels on the brush spindle arm, Figure 5. N is a block to ride against
the keel and against the ship's bottom when hauled upon by ropes fore and aft. The.
block carries rollers, and is kept in contact by the rope P from over the opposite
side of the vessel. The pull down of the brush against the ship is effected by the
rope M, which is wound upon a drum barrel of a winch on the opposite side of the
ship upon the deck under the gunwale, as in the one already described, and as shown,
+

page_text: versa.
tr
O om barrel, and vice
"
vaucanson
"
Figures 6, 7, and 8 represent views similar to Figures 1, 2, and 4, except that.
the ladder or vaucanson" chains B, B, are doubled with a "bight" at top upon the:
pullies E, E, and at bottom over other pullies upon the block N. The chains B, B,
in this plan travel, and the brush R, which is caused to rotate by them, is so
arranged that it revolves at a slightly greater speed through multiplying gear fitted
between the frame and the brush spindle. In fitting a travelling
chain, I purpose having washers: QQ, upon the cross pins, as in Figure 9, to serve
as rollers to roll upon the vessel's side to prevent abrasion, the rollers Q, Q; being
so arranged that the teeth of the toothed wheels can pass between them. As the
work of cleansing progresses, the whole of the apparatus can be shifted along by
ropes led fore and aft of the vessel, and by loosening the winch supports; the
winch frame is mounted upon telescopic legs' a, a, which can be adjusted to suit the
height of the ship's rail to enable the winch to be fixed in position, and for its easy
removal.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent the brush backs as having springs S attached
by which they can yield upon the axles or shaft b when undue strain is put upon
them.
The brush drum, if it be so to speak in one, I fix the cane or bass in strips with
intervening inetal blades c, as in Figures 2, 5, and 7, or the blades may be in spiral
order upon the exterior, and with a continuous strip or blade of metal c intervening,
as shown in Figure 12, or the blades, which act as scrapers to remove hard bodies
from the ship, which the brush itself might escape, may be in sections, as in Figure
12, or the blades can be dispensed with, and cane, bass, or other convenient body
can be used alone.
"
vaucanson
"
Another adaptation of the "vaucanson
chain for ship cleansing purposes is
represented in side view and in plan in Figures 13 and 14 of the Drawings. Here
the brush frame L supports between the side bars (marked T) the "
chain pullies E, E, which receive rotation from a central drum U put into contact
with the vessel when the apparatus is drawn to and fro or up and down, as in
Figure 15, which represents a vessel with a cleansing apparatus near the bows for fore
and aft cleansing, through the pull of the ropes J, M, from inboard, the pull ropes being
passed through sheave blocks V, W, lashed to the vessel by guys X, X, and loop ropes
Y, Y, and Z, Z. The apparatus by this plan acts upon the vessel in stages dependent
from the depending rope f, which supports it, and prevents the sag of the pull ropes
interfering with the operation.
The apparatus shown near the stern of the vessel, in Figure 15, is supported by
the top rope J, which is also a pull rope for the upward travel of the apparatus,
the lower rope M passing under the keel up to the other side of the vessel to be
acted upon from in board.
The cleansing apparatus, shown in Figures 13 and 14, is so constructed that the
drum U is kept in contact with the vessel while at work to ensure the rotation of
the brushes. The rotation of the drum is effected by the bite or adherence of
india-rubber, or other rings, as ribs upon its periphery.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
the same is to performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. Fitting two "vaucanson or ladder chains on or upon a vessel's side, said
chains being held at a fixed distance apart at top and bottom by cross pieces, and
having a rotating brush attached by which the hull can be cleansed, as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The combination of appliances, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
annexed Drawings, and as described for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of appliances, shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the
annexed Drawings, and as described for the purposes set forth.
Fourthly. Constructing skeleton cylindrical brushes with intervening metal strips
'

page_text: or blades in spiral order, as described and substantially as shown in Figure 12 of
the annexed Drawings.
Fifthly. I claim fitting or attaching springs in skeleton cylindrical brushes made
in sections, with or without metal blades, as described and substantially as shown in
Figures 10 and 11 of the annexed Drawings for the purposes set forth.
Sixthly. The apparatus shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the annexed Drawings,
and as described for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Cole, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven,
HENRY JAMES COLE. (L.S.)