Improvements in Steam Ferry-boats.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Ferry-boats.
I, ANDREW BROWN, of London Works, Renfrew, in the County of Renfrew,
Engineer and Shipbuilder do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:
The object of my invention is the construction of apparatus to be attached to a
steam ferry-boat for the purpose of steadying the said boat against the effect of
a current, tide, or wash of passing vessels, and holding it securely in position, either
when embarking or disembarking vehicles, passengers, or goods, or at other desired
times.
The said apparatus consists of a series of beams, or spars, each one sliding in a
socket pivotted to the side of the vessel, or otherwise so connected to the vessel that
they can be moved from a horizontal to a vertical position, and are also capable of a
sufficient amount of vertical adjustment. When not in use the said beams or spars
lie horizontally against the side of the vessel, and may serve the purpose of fenders,
but when the vessel is to be secured they are swung round to the vertical position
and then allowed to drop until they touch the bottom. The ends of the spars may
be provided with spikes, or otherwise suitably shod according to the nature of the
ground to give them a firm hold. Any suitable arrangement of mechanism may be
employed to operate the said beams or spars, the said mechanism being worked by
steam, hydraulic, manual or other suitable power, and in cases where the bottom is
hard, means may be provided to force the beams or spars into the ground.
I do not confine myself to the use of any particular number of the said beams on a
vessel, and in practice I prefer that when in use, they shall slant outwards from the
vessel, so that they serve as struts, and are in the most efficient position for offering
resistance to the action of the tide or current.
My invention is more particularly intended for application to ferry-boats having
elevating decks or platforms, constructed in accordance with the Letters Patent
No. 1088 of March 13th 1876 granted to William Simons.
་་
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Ferry-boats.
I, ANDREW BROWN, of London Works, Renfrew, in the County of Renfrew,
Engineer and Shipbuilder 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:-
The object of my invention is the construction of apparatus to be attached to a
steam ferry-boat, for the purpose of steading the said boat against the effect of a
current, tide, or wash, of passing vessels, and holding it securely in position, either
when embarking or disembarking vehicles, passengers, or goods, or at other desired
times.
The said apparatus consists, according to one mode of carrying out my invention,
of a series of spuds, beams, or spars, each one sliding in a socket pivotted to the
side of the vessel, or otherwise so connected to the vessel, that they can be moved
from a horizontal to a vertical position, and are also capable of a sufficient amount
of vertical adjustment. When not in use, the said spuds, heams, or spars, may lie
IDO037

page_text: horizontally against the side of the vessel and thus serve the purpose of fenders, but
when the vessel is to be secured, they are swung round to the vertical position and
then allowed to drop until they touch the bottom or bed of the river. The ends of
the spars may be provided with spikes, or otherwise suitably shod according to the
nature of the ground to give them a firm hold. Any suitable arrangement of
mechanism may be employed to operate the said beams or spars, the said mechanism
being worked by steam, hydraulic, manual, or other suitable power, and in cases
where the bottom is hard, means may be provided to force the beams or spars into the
ground.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of a steam ferry-boat, having my invention applied thereto;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation to an enlarged scale of one end of the boat, shewing the
apparatus more clearly in detail, and Fig. 4 is a half cross-section, through the
line Y Y in Fig. 3. In Sheet 2, Fig. 5 is a plan of a steam ferry-boat, Fig. 6 is a
side elevation to an enlarged scale, and Fig. 7 a half cross-section through the line ZZ
in Fig. 6, shewing a modified arrangement of my invention.
In the
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the drawings.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1, A is the ferry-boat provided with four spuds or
spars B, B, B, B, outside the hull of the vessel. Each of these spars is fitted to slide in
a socket (, which swivels in a bracket D, attached to the side of the boat.
drawings the said spars are shewn in the vertical position with their lower ends in
contact with the river bed.. When not in use they are swung up into a horizontal
position, and lie along the side of the vessel and they then serve
required.
as fenders if
The mechanism for operating the spars is not shown in these Figs., but as before
mentioned any suitable arrangement may be employed for the purpose.
The spars adjust themselves vertically to the depth of the water, by sliding in the
sockets C.
In cases where it may, for any reason, be objectionable to place the spars B B BB
outside the huil, I may arrange them inside, as shewn in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 2.
In this case I provide for a vertical movement only, the spars sliding in tubular
guides E, fixed within the vessel. The means shewn for raising and lowering the
spars, consists of a pinion F rotated by a winch H, either directly or through the
medium of suitable gearing, and working in a rack J fixed to the spar. A rack and
pinion may be applied to both sides of the spar, as indicated by the dotted circles in
Fig. 7, or only one of the said circles may represent a pinion, the other being a roller
or friction wheel to take the thrust. This arrangement enables the spar to be forced
into the ground when necessary.
Although in the drawings, I have in each case shewn four spuds or spars, I do
not confine myself to the use of any particular number on a vessel, and although I
have shewn them as standing perpendicularly when in use, I may, if preferred,
arrange them to slant outwards, so that they will serve as struts and be in a more
efficient position for offering resistance to the action of the tide or current.
My invention is moro particularly intended for application to ferry-boats, having.
elevating decks or platforms, constructed in accordance with the Letters Patent
No. 1088 of March 13th 1876, granted to William Simons, but its use is not
necessarily confined thereto, being well applicable to steam ferry-boats of nearly all
descriptions.
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
1. In a steam ferry boat, spuds, or spars attached thereto in such manner that
they can be let down into the water and rest on the river bed to steady or hold the
boat securely in position against the action of the current, tide, or wash of passing
vessels, substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: 2. In a steam ferry boat, spuds or spars B B B B arranged in the manner and for
the purposes substantially as herein described and shewn with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a steam ferry boat spuds or spars B B B B arranged in the manner and for
the purposes, substantially as herein described and shewn, with reference to Figs. 5, 6,
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of Jonno 1900
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.