Improvements in Plugging Devices for Ships' Boats and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plugging Devices for Ships' Boats and the like.
I, JOHN CHARLES SCOFIELD, of 2, Northcote Road, New Malden, in the County
of Surrey, Marine, 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:-
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This invention relates to improvements in plugging devices for ships boats and
the like, and has for its object to provide automatic means for closing, and keep-
ing closed, the plug-holes in boats, in order that while such boats are in the
water the said plug-holes will be rendered watertight, while when the said boats
are lifted out of the water, on to a ships davitts, for instance, the said plug-holes
will be automatically opened for the discharge of any water that may have
accumulated in the boats, or for other similar purposes.
In order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheet
of illustrative drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the plugging device in its inoperative or
open position in the bottom of a boat, taken through line X-X of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 being a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan of an essential part of the plugging device, while
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a detail of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout the various figures, a represents a circular plate
having a central opening a¹ and a depending flange & surrounding such opening,
the said flange being flared as at b.
A second plate c of wood, metal or other suitable material is situated beneath
the said plate a, such plate c having a central opening through which the circular
flange b passes, the flared edges b₁ of same passing beneath the said plate c and
holding same up against the top plate a.
The said second plate Ր provided with a number of depending guides c
situated in an opening in the timbers or bottom of the boat. A float d, of cork
or other suitable material, is provided such float having a flat upper side, and
being provided with a metal or other band e around its periphery. The said
band e is provided with horizontally projecting eyes el through which the afore-
said depending guides ¹ pass, and by means of which the float is guided up and
down in a vertical manner.
The opening in the top plate a (which is secured to the timbers of the boat by
screws) is provided with a grating f, the bars which compose same being
rectangular in cross-section.
The object of this grating is to prevent damage to or displacement of the
elements composing the plugging device, should such top plate a be stepped
upon, or under similar circumstances.
In operation, when the boat provided with my plugging device is afloat, the
pressure of the water beneath the bottom of the boat raises the float d and seats
it firmly against the mouth of the central opening or plug-hole a' and thus con-

page_text: stitutes a valve, effectually preventing the admission of water into the boat
through the said opening or plug-hole.
When the boat is lifted out of the water, the upward pressure upon the said
float is removed, and such float falls to its normal or lowest position, the vertical
guides e, in both cases, causing it to maintain its proper horizontal position.
Instead of forming the top flanged plate a and plate c separately as shewn in
Fig. 1, I may cast or otherwise form same integral as shewn by Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
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1. In plugging devices for boats, the arrangement of a floating valve, so
arranged and disposed as to be forced by the pressure of the water up against the
mouth of the plug-hole in order to close same, and to fall down and so open such
plug-hole when the boat is removed from the water, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In plugging devices for boats, the top plate having a central opening in
same surrounded by a flange having its lower edge flared to engage beneath a
second plate having a coinciding opening, said second plate having depending
guides passing through eyes in lugs upon a band surrounding a float which is
capable of a vertical movement in an opening in the bottom of the boat, the said
float being raised by the pressure of the water beneath same tightly up against
the mouth of the said central opening in order to close same, and being caused to
fall by gravity and resume its normal position when the pressure of the water
is removed, all arranged, combined and operating, substantially as described, and
as illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of May 1899
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.