Year: 1886

page_text: I, DEMING JARVES, of Detroit, in the County of Wayne and State of Michigan,
one of the United States of America, Gentleman; 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 certain new and useful improvements in the means for
quickly stopping, or partially stopping the inflow of water through the sides of a
steamer or other marine vessel, where such side has been broken through by a
collision or other cause, whereby a leak is produced.
It is a well known practice among sailors, when such an accident occurs, to draw
a heavy sail over the hole as soon as possible; this is accompanied with great delay,
much trouble and labor, as ordinarily done. My invention is designed to accom-
plish this work with facility, and comparatively little labor or trouble.
The invention consists in having a rectangular piece of heavy sail cloth, or of
heavy rubber cloth, or other suitably flexible material, with one edge thereof firinly
secured to a heavy roller, while the other or opposite edge is provided with means,
such as hooks, clamps, or other suitable appliances by means of which the cloth or
shield can be quickly and firmly secured to the rail of the vessel; the roller is also
supplied with a suitable rope or cable, by means of which when the shield is
properly suspended it may be wound up on the roller.
Figure 1, represents my improved shield for stopping or decreasing the inflow of
water when supported from the rail of a vessel.
Figure 2, is a view of the same rolled up and ready for use.
In the drawings, A, represents the shield, made of heavy canvass, rubber cloth,
or other suitable material having sufficient pliability to allow it to be tightly rolled
around a roller B; this roller is securely attached to the lower edge of the shield,
which latter may be of any desired size; the roller must be heavy enough that
when necessary, and the shield is properly supported from the rail of the vessel, it
will rapidly unwind and carry the shield down over the break in the side of the
vessel, and against the resistance caused by the inflowing water; to the upper
edge of the shield there are securely attached a series of hooks C, clamps, or other
suitable appliances, by means of which the shield may be quickly attached to the
side rail of the vessel; D, is a rope or cable designed to run around the roller in
the opposite direction to the wind of the shield, so that the latter may be rolled up
on the roller, when desired. This device can be stowed out of the way, in the

page_text: scuppers, or any other suitable place on the vessel, where, in case of necessity, it
can be brought into immediate use, by simply attaching the same to the rail,
immediately above the break, and letting the roller fall out-board, so that it will
carry the shield down over the break, the pressure of the water crowding it against
the break, so that the inflow will be immediately stopped or so largely checked, as
to prevent foundering.
D' is a guy rope or leading line, one end of which is secured to a swovel a on
the end of the roller B, while the other end is carried in-board, when the shield
is in use, and by means of which the position of the lower end of the shield may
be changed when desired.
'
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 means herein described for stopping or checking the inflow of water in the
side of a vessel, consisting of a shield of any suitable flexible material, having the
means for attaching the same to the rail of the vessel, and for forcing it down
against the inflow of water, and means for rolling it up, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
T