Improved Forms of Plates and Bars for use in Shipbuilding.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1897
44th Enab 1000 Accented 14th May 1808
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Forms of Plates and Bars for use in Shipbuilding.
We, JOHN HENRY BELL, Iron Works Manager, of Netherhall Villa, Lenzie, in
the County of Dumbarton, and WILLIAM ROCKLIFFE, Engineer, of 8, Clarence
Crescent, Whitley, in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:.
Our invention relates to improved forms of plates and bars for use in shipbuild-
ing and refers to the formation of the coaming plates, the hatch rest bars and the
cleats with the object of obtaining economy in construction and fitting and
increased efficiency in use.
Hitherto it has been customary to secure the coaming plate to the deck plate
by an angle bar, thus necessitating at least two rows of rivets and the caulking
of two edges, and at its upper edge rivet an angle or similar bar to serve as a
support for the hatch cover, while to prevent chafing of the supplementary cover
or tarpaulin a bar to form a moulding has been riveted to the outside of the plate,
all this entailing a large amount of time and labour, to obviate which, to some
extent, it has latterly been prevalent to form the angle bar and moulding in one
piece thus constructing a combined rest for the cover and moulding for the tar-
paulin, this combination being riveted to the outside of the coaming thereby
obtaining a clear hatchway. The cleats hitherto used have always been made
specially, thus causing additional expense.
The present invention consists in forming the coaming plate with an integral
part as a substitute for the said angle iron and in some cases recessing or shaping
its upper extremity to receive and support a superposed part or plate, and in so
forming the combined rest bar and moulding that it acts both as an efficient rest
bar and, when cut to the requisite length, as a cleat, and making the rest bar and
coaming plate in one piece instead of separately, whereby the disadvantages at
present existing are obviated and improved results accrue.
To this end, in producing the coaming plate we provide it, at the end or any
intermediate part, with a flange or projecting member of suitable area adapted to
be riveted to the deck and so secure the plate thereto, thus performing the func-
tion of the usual angle bar with a saving of time, labour and material.
When the hatch is required to be of increased height we make its side of two
plates the lower one being suitably secured to the deck beams or other part or
parts and the other furnished at its bottom edge with the integral securing flange
aforesaid or this flange may be formed at an intermediate point on the lower plate
and the upper edge of same set back, joggled, or bent to serve as a rebate or seat
for the superposed plate; if more than two plates are employed the lower of any
pair is joggled. Alternatively the lower edge of the super-posed plate may be
joggled to receive the plain edge of the plate next below.
We form the combined rest bar and moulding of the usual double angle with
curved back or similar section, but make its horizontal part of greater width than

page_text: hitherto, thus forming an efficient seat for the cover, while we make its upper
and lower vertical parts respectively longer and shorter thereby admitting of its
use as a cleat when cut to the required length and facilitating the use of scrap
with the resulting economy. This form of bar is also very useful as a moulding
and protection for the ends of wood decks apart from hatch covers.
Instead of making the coaming plate and rest bar separate as described, we can
produce them in one piece in several forms; in one, the lower vertical part of the
rest bar is merged into the coaming plate provided with its integral securing flange;
or, in the event of the hatch side consisting of more than one plate, by one way,
the rest bar is combined with the upper plate which would thus consist of a central
web with the integral securing flange at or about one end and the outwardly and
upwardly projecting horizontal and vertical parts forming the hatch support at
the other, such a section or form being also specially applicable as a coaming for
a low hatch, or these two parts might be formed on the end of the upper plate
fitting into the seated end or over the edge of the plate next below.
When the rest bar and coaming plate are separate, we may, instead of riveting
the former to the outer side of the latter, joggle the edge of the plate as above
and secure the bar into the seat so formed thereby obtaining great strength while
still maintaining the advantage of a clear hatch-way.
Sometimes space does not permit of the cleat, as usually arranged, being fixed
to the coaming plate or convenience prevents same, and in such cases, for the pur-
pose of fastening the tarpaulin, we prefer to secure the usual wood wedge and iron
batten by means of an angle bar or bars fixed to the deck plate or to secure the
tarpaulin by a metal batten fitting and secured by a nut upon a stud fixed to the
coaming plate, but other means of a suitable nature may be employed.
The improved forms of plates and bars are made of any suitable material cast,
rolled or pressed to shape."
Dated this 9th day of September 1897.
Improved Forms of Plates and Bars for use in Shipbuilding.
We, JOHN HENRY BELL, Iron Works Manager, of Netherhall Villa, Lenzie, in
the County of Dumbarton, and WILLIAM ROCKLIFFE, Engineer, of 8, Clarence
Crescent, Whitley, in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improved forms of plates and bars for use in shipbuild-
ing and refers to the formation of the coaming plates, the hatch rest bars and the
cleats with the object of obtaining economy in construction and fitting, and
increased efficiency in use.
Hitherto it has been customary to secure the coaming plate to the deck plate
by an angle bar thus necessitating at least two rows of rivets and the caulking
of two edges, and at its upper edge rivet an angle or similar bar to serve as a
support for the hatch cover, while to prevent chafing of the supplementary cover
or tarpaulin a bar to form a moulding has been riveted to the outside of the plate,
all this entailing a large amount of time and labour, to obviate which to some
extent, it has latterly been prevalent to form the angle bar and moulding in one
piece thus constructing a combined rest for the cover and moulding for the tar-

page_text: paulin, this combination being riveted to the outside of the coaming thereby
obtaining a clear hatchway. The cleats hitherto used have always been made
specially thus causing additional expense.
The present invention consists in forming the coaming plate with an integral
part as a substitute for the said angle iron, also in so forming the combined rest
bar and moulding that it acts both as an efficient rest bar and, when cut to the
requisite length, as a cleat, and lastly in making the improved coaming plate and
rest bar in one piece instead of separately whereby the disadvantages at present
existing are obviated and improved results accrue.
We will fully explain our invention with the aid of the accompanying drawings,
all in vertical section, referring to them as occasion arises.
In producing a coaming plate in accord with our improvements, we provide it
at the end or any intermediate part with a flange or projecting member of suitable
area adapted to be riveted to the deck and so secure the plate thereto thus per-
forming effectually the function of the usual angle bar but with a decided saving of
time, labour and material. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate two arrangements of a coam-
ing plate of this description: A is the plate, a the flange thereon and co-extensive
therewith and B the deck plating. In the former figure the projecting member a
is at the lower extremity of the plate A while in Fig. 2 it intervenes between the
terminal edges but in both examples it abuts upon and is secured by rivets to
the deck B; the lower part a¹ of the plate A in the latter figure is stiffened by
means of the bracket 6 riveted to it and to the deck beam 6 or otherwise con-
veniently.
When the hatch coaming is required to be of increased height thereby rendering
the use of more than one plate desirable, say two, we apply our improved plate in
conjunction with one of usual formation which may either be the lower or upper
plate. Two examples of such arrangement are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in the
former of which it will be seen that the upper plate A is of the type represented
in Fig. 1 and that the lower ordinary plate C is fastened to the deck beam b¹ by
the bracket b as described in regard to the lower portion a¹ of the plate A in
Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 the lower plate A is of the improved kind illustrated in Fig. 2
and is connected in the same way to the deck B and beam b¹ but instead of leaving
its upper end plain we joggle it in any known manner the resulting seat serving to
receive and support the bottom of the plain plate C secured therein by riveting.
As will be obvious, when circumstances necessitate the employment of more than
two plates, one only need be of our improved pattern, the others being of the
customary form and the lower of any pair joggled to receive the one above, or
alternatively the lower edge of a superposed plate may be joggled to receive the
adjacent plain edge of the plate next below.
According to another part of our invention we form the combined rest bar and
moulding of the usual double-angle-curved-back or similar section but make its
horizontal part of a greater width thus constituting an efficient seat for, and
improving the stability of, the cover while we make its upper and lower vertical
parts respectively longer and shorter all as compared with the corresponding parts
of the usual form of rest bar and cleat thereby admitting of its use as a cleat also,
when cut to the required length. Fig. 5 shows this improved bar so proportioned
as to be adaptable for use either as a rest bar or a cleat and to facilitate its advan-
tages being seen we also illustrate respectively in Figs. 5 and 5* the common form
of a hatch rest bar and a hatch cleat. On referring to these three figures it will
be seen that the horizontal part d, Fig. 5, of our improved bar is of greater width
that the corresponding part in Fig. 5, approximating more to the size in Fig. 5*
but still larger than same, while we make its vertical parts d¹ and a respectively
longer and shorter, to a suitable extent, than the similar parts in Figs 5 and 5*.
A bar of these proportions and section is very beneficial, since not only are we
enabled to obtain hatch rests from it, but also employ the scrap, on cutting or
shearing it to the requisite length, to serve as cleats to aid in securing the tar-
paulins or supplemental coverings. Hitherto cleats have almost invariably been

page_text: made specially thus the economy attending the use of our improved bar, which we
obtain without in any way detracting from the necessary efficiency, will be evident.
Further, this form of bar is very useful as a moulding and protection for the ends
of wood decks apart from hatch covers. Figs. 1 to 4 show the application of our
hatch rests and cleats as distinct fittings on the coaming plates to which they are
fixed as usual, D being the rest bar, E the cleat, F the wood cover and G the
tarpaulin.
Instead of making the coaming plate and rest bar separate as just explained we
may produce them in one piece as represented in Figs. 6 to 9 which show this
feature in connection with the forms of coaming illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. In
each case the lower vertical part &, Fig. 5, of the bar is merged into the plate to
which it would be ordinarily secured thus constituting a member or plate having
a seat or recess adapted to receive and support the cover F and at the same time be
secured by the flange a to the deck B without any separate angle iron whereby
great economy ensues. The form of the plate shown in Fig. 6 and also of the
upper plate in Fig. 8 is very useful as a coaming for a low hatch or in places where
space is limited.
When the rest bar D and coaming plate are separate we may, instead of riveting
the former to the outer side of the latter as in Figs 1 to 4, joggle the edge of the
plate and insert and rivet the bar in the seat so formed as shown in Fig. 10 thereby
obtaining great strength while still maintaining the advantage of a clear hatch-
way.
Sometimes space does not permit of the cleat E being fixed to the coaming plate
as in Figs. 1, 4, 6 and 9 or convenience prevents same and in such cases for the
purpose of fastening the tarpaulin we prefer to secure the usual wood wedge and
iron batten by means of an angle bar or bars fixed to the deck, or to secure the
tarpaulin by a metal batten fitting and secured by a nut upon a stud fixed to the
coaming plate. Thus in Figs. 2 and 7 the tarpaulin G is held in position by
the wood wedge H fitting tightly between the batten hand the angle bar Ĵ riveted to
the deck B, or it may be secured, as in Figs. 3 and 8, by the batten h fitting loosely
on the screwed stud K, suitably attached to the plate and upon which the batten h
is moved to fasten and unfasten the tarpaulin on the operation of the nut k on the
etud K. Instead of these devices, to which we lay no claim, other ordinary means
may of course be employed.
Our improved forms of plates and bars are made of any appropriate material
cast, rolled or pressed to shape and by their adoption great economy accrues, for
the plates reduce to a minimum the number of separate parts necessary by the
construction now in vogue thereby diminishing the cost of drilling or punching,
riveting and caulking and also the amount of material employed and consequently
the weight of the structure, while by making the rest bars and cleats from one
bar waste is reduced to a minimum and the production of a special bar to form
cleats entirely obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1 For shipbuilding purposes, a coaming plate provided with an integral flange
or projecting part, such as a, and arranged or adapted for use as described and
illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2/ For shipbuilding purposes, a bar in which the horizontal and vertical por-
tions are so related as to be adaptable for use either as a hatch rest bar or cleat as
herein described in reference to the accompanying drawings.
3/ For use in shipbuilding, a coaming plate comprising the combination in
one plate of a securing flange such as a, and a rest-bar or seat for the hatch cover
as described and shown in the drawings.
4/ For use in shipbuilding, the several improved forms of plates A and bars 1)

page_text: and E as herein described in reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
Fig. 5 and Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Dated this 11th day of February 1898.
Fig. 5 and Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Dated this 11th day of February 1898.
For the Applicants,
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.