Improvements in Cleats, Wedges, and Hatch Bars for Securing Tarpaulins on Ships' Hatchways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 9th Nov.. 1992
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleats, Wedges, and Hatch Bars for Securing
Tarpaulins on Ships' Hatchways.
FREDERICK JAMES SINNETTE, Woolston Lodge, Woolston, Southampton,
Surveyor of Shipping, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
On account of the comparatively large hatchways that are at present fitted
particularly on board of cargo steamers it is plain that special provision is necessary
in order to ensure that these large openings are rendered watertight and that
during heavy weather there will be no probability of the continual shocks and wash
of the sea against the hatch bar and the large exposed surface of coming starting
back and washing out the wedges and hence setting hatch bar free and thus
allowing the tarpaulins to get adrift and water to pass below to the danger of the
crew the ship and her cargo. In order to carry out my invention I so fashion the
cleat that instead of its face to take the wedges being parallel to the coming as at
present it is not prepared parallel, but to a suitable inclination in order to
accommodate the taper of a single wedge, the upper part of cleat is so fashioned
with a stop or projection on it that a portion of the upper surface of wedge which
is tapered such as the sides sets against the stop, thus not only preventing the
wedge being forced upwards, but while setting the hatch bar in against tarpaulin
it is also set down on it, the wedge being attached to hatch bar as hereafter
described; to suit my method I find it preferable to use at each cleat a single
wedge possessing a double taper, viz. tapered on its sides as at present, but in
addition tapered on its upper side as well and I attach them to the hatch bar
instead of being detached as at present; the hatch bars I find preferable to fit
in two lengths instead of in one as at present, and then to attach the wedges
on one length the opposite way to the wedges on the other length, the cleats
being arranged to suit so that when the wedges and hatch bars are inserted into
the cleats the hatch bars can be drawn toward each other by means of a screw
bolt fitted into their adjoining ends, thus effectually forcing and fixing the
tarpaulins against sides of comings and also down against the cleats, and at the
same time the wedges being attached and locked by cleats thus preventing them
from being lost, started down back or up, and as they are attached to the hatch bars
the hatch bars are consequently also effectually fixed in proper position thus
ensuring tarpaulins being all perfectly watertight, efficient and secure.
Dated this Seventh day of November 1891.
FREDERICK JAMES SINNETTE.
FREDERICA JAMES DINNETIM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleats, Wedges, and Hatch Bars for Securing
Tarpaulins on Ships' Hatchways.
FREDERICK JAMES SINNETTE Woolston Lodge, Woolston, Southampton,
Surveyor of Shipping, 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 :-
In my Provisional Specification I pointed out the object of my invention, viz. to
prevent water passing below through the hatchway openings on board ships and
thus endanger the crew and cargo, also the ship. In order to carry out my inven-
tion I so fashion the cleat that instead of its face to take the wedges being parallel

page_text: to coming as at present, it is not prepared parallel, but to a suitable inclination in
order to accommodate the taper of a single wedge, the upper part of cleat is so
fashioned with a stop or projection on it that a portion of the upper surface of
wedge which is tapered such as the sides sets against the stop see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2,
thus not only preventing the wedge being forced upwards, but while setting the
hatch bar a in against tarpaulin bit is also set down on it, the wedge c being
attached to hatch bar, or the hatch bar being so fashioned as to admit of this being
done without the wedge being attached to it, and to obtain the full benefits of my
method I find it desirable to use at each cleat a single wedge c possessing a double
taper, viz., tapered on its sides as at present but in addition tapered on its upper
side as well see Fig. 1 in order to suit the tapers on cleat f see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2;
the hatch bars I find preferable to fit in two or more lengths instead of in one on
each side of coming as at present, and then to attach the wedges on one length the
opposite way to the wedges on the other length see Fig. 1, the cleats being
arranged to suit, so that when the wedges and hatch bars are inserted into the
cleats the hatch bars can be drawn toward each other by means of a screw bolt d
or bolts fitted into their adjoining ends, thus effectually forcing and fixing the
tarpaulins b against sides of comings e and also down against the cleats and at the
same time the wedges being locked by the cleats they are thus prevented from
being started and as they firmly secure the hatch bars in the proper position the
tarpaulins are also firmly secured in proper position, thus rendering the protection
of hatch bars all watertight efficient and secure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
and
The invention of a hatch cleat having a tapered face that can be used together
with a single wedge for setting inwards and thus affording wedge a proper and
efficient bearing surface extending over the entire tapered surface of face of cleat
instead of wedge bearing only on one edge of cleat as at present and tearing up
forming shoulder on wedge preventing it and hatch bar and consequently tarpaulin
from being tightened up as required from time to time; the cleats to have a tapered
stop or projecting top that will set wedge and hatch bar also tarpaulins downwards,
this tapered stop or projecting top may be formed on the cleats having the tapered
face or without it; for use with the cleats having tapered stop or projecting top
the wedges are tapered on upper side to suit as well as on vertical sides as at
present; for use with cleats the wedges may be attached to hatch bar or used
without being attached to hatch bar, but when attached to the hatch bar it is
preferable to fit hatch bars in more than one length and set up and secure them by
means of screw bolts, all as described herein.
DL: th d Aunt 1902