IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS OR FLOATING RESERVOIRS FOR THE CONVEYANCE AND DISCHARGE OF SLUDGE OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM SAMUEL PAGE of Elm Lodge St Johns Road East Putney in the
County of Surrey Wharfinger and Lighterman do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS OR FLOATING
RESERVOIRS FOR THE CONVEYANCE AND DISCHARGE OF SLUDGE OR OTHER
FLUIDS " 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 said Invention is to construct Vessels or Reservoirs to be
propelled by steam or otherwise and so arranged as to be capable of receiving
conveying and discharging Sludge or other fluid matter with economy and dispatch
-I accomplish these results as follows:-
Instead of being carried at the bottom of the Vessel in the ordinary manner the
Cargo is carried in the space or hold between the upper and lower decks which is
divided longitudinally and transversely by water tight bulkheads into a series of
compartments. The Cargo is received on board through man holes in the upper
deck which can be securely closed as each compartment is filled and thus prevent
the emission of effluvium therefrom to the annoyance of the Crew or passing
Vessels.
The lower or cargo deck is placed at the light water line of the Vessel and formed
on an incline from the centre of the Vessel to each side.
I have found that an inclination of from 3 to 4 feet on the half breadth of a
Vessel of 60 feet beam sufficient-In the sides of the Vessel at the bottom of the
Cargo hold or other convenient position are placed sluices worked in the ordinary
manner by means of which and of the incline of the Cargo deck the Sludge or other
fluid Cargo discharges itself by its own gravity.
The Cargo space when filled gives a head of 5 to 6 feet above the load line and
as the Sludge, discharges through the open Sluices the Vessel rises by its own
buoyancy and this head is thereby maintained during the whole operation or until
the Sludge is wholly discharged and thus the whole quantity of the Sludge is
discharged without the application of pumps or other mechanical means.
By reason of the before mentioned structural arrangement for carrying the
Sludge between the decks I am enabled to construct the said Vessel with a breadth
וני..מי

page_text: of beam much greater than would be prudent in an ordinary Vessel of the same
tonnage and so to obtain a lighter draught of water with increased carrying
capacity and stability.
In order to more particularly describe my said Invention I have annexed hereto
a sheet of Drawings in each of the figures of which the same letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts-Figure 1 represents a longitudinal view of a Vessel
such as I have mentioned in this Specification of the burthen of 5000 tons
displacement 300 feet in length and with a beam of 60 feet.
A represents the lower hold or space under the Sludge deck with four compart-
ments on each side of the midship bulkhead-B represents the Sludge or Cargo
hold C C C C represent the Sluices of which.I have shewn four on each side of
the Vessel but I do not confine myself to that number.-The Sluices are raised and
lowered in the ordinary manner-D D D D represent the manholes on the main
deck through which the Sludge is received on board-On the man holes are
hermitically closed covers for closing after the Cargo is on board and preventing
effluvium escaping.-The lower dotted line on the longitudinal Section represents
the light water line at which the inclination of the Sludge or Cargo deck from the
centre to the sides of the Ship terminates as will be readily understood by reference
to figure 2.
And figure 2 represents a Midship Section of the said Vessel taken through the
line Y Z.
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
The construction of Vessels for transporting Sludge having a sloping Iron deck
at the light water line fitted with Sluices for the self discharge of the Sludge-by its
own gravity substantially as described.