Improved Design of War-vessels, whereby Water-tight Bulkheads are Practically Kept Intact and Water-tight Doors Reduced to a Minimum.
Year: 1895

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL
כי
Improved Design of War-vessels, whereby Water-tight Bulkheads
are Practically Kept Intact and Water-tight Doors Reduced to
a Minimum.
I, DAVID FEATHERS BLACK 88 Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne in the County
of Northumberland, Naval Architect do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of war vessels
so that the integrity of water-tight bulkheads longitudinal or transverse is
maintained as water-tight doors are very greatly reduced in number, the only
doors which are fitted being in the machinery compartments, and as these are
under the direct control of the engineering staff and such doors although of the
usual pattern are further fitted by double automatic closing doors which are self
closing so that in the remote case of any of the machinery compartments being
flooded they will act. The object is gained by altering the internal sub-division
of the vessel principally by removing the coal bunkers from the side as at present
arranged in water-tight compartments, to compartments for coal non-watertight in
the middle of the ship open to the boiler rooms. The coals thus arranged will
also in a large measure be protected from shell fire, and further should the ship's
side be perforated the water thus admitted would be confined to wing compartments
outside of watertight longitudinal bulkhead and the chances of sinking would thus
be greatly reduced, as there being a greater number of transverse bulkheads
carried well above the water-line and doors being dispensed with in them, except
as before described, the entrance to compartments beyond the machinery spaces
being by suitable trunkways from above instead of as at present from below the
water-line.
The usual horizontal flats or decks are in a large measure dispensed with in the
end compartments a tubular form of construction being adopted thereby affording
a larger measure of protection against the inflow of water.
Tinned steel spheres are also claimed in this design for water excluding
purposes.
This invention claims that by a combination of the foregoing arrangements war-
vessels can be made less liable to founder after being holed than in the case of
existing ships, and at the same time the habitability of the vessel, its fighting
efficiency and other important qualities are kept unimpaired.
Dated this 16th day of March 1895.

page_text: war-vessels, whereby water-tight Bulkheads
are Practically Kept Intact and Water-tight Doors Reduced to
a Minimum.
I, DAVID FEATHERS BLACK 88 Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne in the County
of Northumberland Naval Architect 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 has for its object improvements in the construction of war vessels,
so that the integrity of water tight bulkheads longitudinal or transverse is main-
tained, as watertight doors are very greatly reduced in number. The only doors
which are fitted below water being for intercommunication between the machinery
compartments, and thus under the direct control of the engineering staff besides
being arranged to work from deck, and such doors although of the usual pattern
have in addition double automatic self closing doors, which would act in the remote
case of any of the machinery compartments being suddenly flooded.
The object is gained by altering the internal subdivision of the vessel from the
methods now followed, principally by arranging the coal bunkers in the centre of
the vessel as marked B on the drawings, and having no ammunition passage in the
case of battle ships below armoured deck. The coal bunkers thus arranged would
be above and below the armoured deck the former being built of thick steel
bulkheads, made watertight to protect the coal from ignition by shell fire, and the
latter would be built not watertight, and arranged either in fore and aft, thwart-
ship bunkers or a combination of both. The letter A on drawings indicates steel
tioned spheres introduced for water excluding purposes. C. indicates the stokehold
in the case of battle ship type. D the passage way for intercommunication
between the machinery compartments in battle ship type. E. E. indicates double
automatic doors fitted to the said passage way, in addition to the usual pattern door
as shewn.
By the adoption of the above arrangements, the integrity of the watertight
bulkheads in the main body of the vessel is maintained and entrances to the
end compartments, would be from above through suitable trunkways, and in the
case of battle ships the hand up for ammunition for secondary armament would
be under cover of redoubt armour, and from thence to the guns under protection
of thin side armour, and not as at present under water line.
The bulkheads would by the above arrangements be practically kept intact,
and in the event of the vessel receiving injury under water, the water thus
admitted would be confined to the compartment injured, the quantity of water
admitted being further limited by the tubular form of construction as well as by
the steel tinned spheres formerly mentioned.
On drawing herewith is indicated the general arrangement of the double
automatic watertight doors along with a detail half size of hinge, rubber
strips &c.
Letter A shews sectional elevation where water is admitted on one side and
indicated by E which by impinging against the air vessel D, on the under side
of the door, causes the door to rise and close automatically instantly the water is
admitted, the other side working in a precisely similar manner.
B. shews plan view of both doors, C. detail half size through door hinge;
F. rubber strips for door to close against.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is,
That by a combination of the foregoing arrangements war vessels can thus be
built much less liable to founder, after being holed than in the case of existing
ships, and at the same time the stability, habitability, fighting efficiency, and
other important qualities are kept unimpaired.
D
LNT 1005
D. F. BLACK,
88 Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne.