An Improved Apparatus for Stopping Leaks in Ships and Boats.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Stopping Leaks in Ships and Boats.
I, NEIL MCEACHRAN STEVENSON DOUGLAS, of Mango Grove, Upper Poozudoung,
Rangoon, Burma, India, Marine Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to a simple, effective and quickly operated device for
stopping leaks or holes in ships and boats caused by impact with rocks, gun
shots or the like.
The device consists of a central metal rod on which is placed a wooden sleeve,
to this sleeve is attached at its outer end the centre of a folding waterproof
cover.
When closed, the device resembles an inverted umbrella and in this position
the outer end of the cover is enclosed in a cylinder tapering into a cone which
is hereinafter called a cap.
When the apparatus is to be used the cover end is thrust through the hole in
the ship's side, the conical cap is removed by striking it off the cover with the
central rod. Up
Upon the removal of the cap the pressure of water will at once open
the cover and flatten it out over the hole against the side of the ship.
To hold the device firmly from inside, a cross-bar on the wooden sleeve is
brought up tightly against the inside of the wall of the ship, and fixed in position
upon the sleeve by a tightening screw.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which.
Fig. 1 shows the leak stopper closed.
Fig. 2 shows same open as in use.
Fig. 3 shows an end view of the cross-bar.
Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the cap.
Fig. 5 shows an inside end view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shows an end elevation of half of the cover as seen from inside.
Fig. 7 shows an enlarged section of the method of fastening the ribs of the
cover in place, and also shows a modification hereinafter described.
Fig. 8 shows a sectional end view of a ship with the leak stopper in
position.
a is a metal rod which passes through the centre of the device, and one end of
this rod is preferably cranked as at a and furnished with a ring a² by which the
stopper may be hung up when not in use. Upon the rod a is placed a sleeve b
preferably made of wood and to the outer end of this is attached the cover c.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 the cover c consists of one or more layers of
waterproof canvas or like fabric. Three layers c¹³ are shown and they are
attached to and supported by a number of radial ribs d.
The method of fastening these ribs to the outer end of the sleeve b is shown
clearly in Fig. 7.
The inner end of each rib d is furnished with an eye through which is passed

page_text: a metal ring. This metal ring is held in position by a number of copper or
other suitable wire loops d¹.
The loops are drawn through holes in the end of the sleeve b and their ends
wound in opposite directions around screws or pins in the sleeve 6 for the
purpose of making them secure. Each loop end is finally twisted up or plaited
with the end of the next loop as shown at midway between two of the loops.
The twisted portion is preferably hammered down snugly into a recess in the
sleeve 6. Two of such loops are shown in Fig. 7, one in section and the other in
elevation.
The three layers c, c², c³, of the cover c are stitched together as shown in
Fig. 6 at e, e¹.
The ribs are concealed in the layers of waterproof material for the greater
portion of their lengths but the outer ends come through and, outside the cover
as shown in Fig. 2.
The outer end of the metal rod a is provided with a dished washer a³ and a
lock nut a to firmly support the centre of the cover.
When the leak stopper is closed a cap f of conical form shown in Fig. 1, 4
and 5, is placed over the outer end of the cover o which is folded back like an
inverted umbrella.
When the stopper is to be used, it is thrust through the hole in the ship's side,
cap foremost as far as the inner end of the cover. Then the device being held
by the sleeve, the inner end of the metal rod a is struck smartly which has the
effect of knocking off the cap f
But while same is being pushed off, water will rush into the cap f, through
the orifices f, and thus tend to open the cover and as soon as the cap is removed
and rod is pulled back the cover will immediately expand by the pressure of
water and be tightly pressed against the side of the ship round the leak or hole
thus stopping further inrush.
To hold the apparatus firmly in position a cross-bar j, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8 is
mounted on the sleeve b. The centre of the bar j is provided with an eye j
by which the bar j may be placed on the sleeve b. When the position of the
leak-stopper is adjusted and the lever nut a screwed up behind the sleeve b
the crossbar is slid up the sleeve till the ends of the cross-bar touch the inside
of the wall of the ship, where it is fixed by the tightening screw 2.
The eye is made slightly oval to give play to be bar j when necessary.
As a modification, the sleeve b may be fitted with two covers c, g. The
cover which is smaller in diameter is provided with ribs g¹ as shown in Fig. 7.
The ribs are held at their inner ends on a metal ring h, preferably embedded in
the sleeve b. To allow the ribs sufficient play to open and shut each rib works
in a longitudinal slot cut in the sleeve b.
It will be seen that the device above described forms a very effective leak
stopper for ships boats and the like of simple construction yet easily and quickly
applied.
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:-
1. A leak stopper for ships, boats and the like, consisting essentially of the
metal rod a, sleeve b, folding cover c, conical cap f, and crossbar j, provided
with a central eye and a tightening screw 2, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a leak stopper for ships, boats and the like, the combination of the cover,
consisting of three layers c¹, 2, and 3 of suitable fabric, the ribs hinged on
metal ring and the means shown for attaching the ring and ribs to the wooden
sleeve b, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a leak stopper for ships, boats and the like, the second or inner cover g、

page_text: and the means for attaching the ribs g¹ in same, to the sleeve b substantially as
shown and described, with reference to Fig. 7.
4. In a leak stopper for ships, boats and the like, the matter claimed in the
foregoing claims, in combination with dished washer a³, nut a, lever nut a
and the orifices f¹, in the conical cap f substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1899.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.