Structures on Board Ship.
Year: 1885

page_text: Structures on Board Ship.
I, REGINALD HARRISON, of 38 Rodney Street, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, do hereby declare the nature
of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' BERTHS, CATTLE PENS, AND
OTHER STRUCTURES ON BOARD SHIP to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the increase of comfort or the lessening of the
discomfort of passengers, horses, cattle, and the like at sea.
In carrying out my invention I support the berths, horse-boxes, and pens for
cattle, sheep, and other animals on trunnions or their equivalents at each end, at
points somewhat above the centre of gravity of the combined structure and its
occupant. To effect this without the occupant receiving a pendulous motion, and
to cause the suspension line and the centre line of the occupant or occupants to
approximately coincide, I weight the lower side of the pen, berth or horse-box in
any convenient manner. By this means, while the centre line of the occupant is
nearly on the suspension line, the centre of gravity of the entire mass is much
below the said suspension line. The berth or other structure is always therefore
strongly impelled. to find its own level, and stand with its cross section in one
constant position relative to the vertical, no matter at what angle the ship
may roll,
415
P
1000
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: (
Structures on Board Ship.
I, REGINALD HARRISON, of 38 Rodney Street, Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons 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 the increase of comfort or the lessening of the
discomfort of passengers, horses, cattle, and the like at sea.
The invention is best explained by the aid of the accompanying drawings, which
set forth an apparatus for supporting a berth on my principle. The cattle pens are
supported in precisely similar manner, the only difference being that the apparatus
is made rather stronger to allow for the increased weight, and as the centre of
gravity is higher with a beast standing up than with a man lying down, the floor
of the pen is relatively to the centre of oscillation, considerably lower than the
surface of the mattress in the berth. It is therefore only necessary to describe my
invention in relation to the berths to enable those skilled in the art, to adapt it to
the other structures to which it is applicable.
Referring to the drawings;
Figure 1, is a vertical side elevation of the end of the bertb, and its supporting
mechanism.
Figure 2, section through A. B. Figure 3.
Figure 3 vertical longitudinal section through centre line.
In these C is the bottom or floor of the berth, D end of same, E a stout projecting
pin preferably of iron, steel or brass, secured to the end of the berth in any con-
venient manner preferably by bolts and flanges, F a circular flange on the end of
the berth concentric with the trunnion or pin E. In the drawings E and F are
shown formed in one casting bolted to the end of the berth, which in light
structures will be found a convenient form. They may however be made inde-
pendently one of the other; G a series of rollers or runners free to revolve on their
spindles H, and bearing against the flange F. It will be observed that these
rollers are unequally spaced, being closer together at the top, as the greatest strain
comes there. I casting fixed into the wall of the stateroom preferably from the
outside as. shewn. If desirable, as in the case of a series of berths, end to end with
only a partition between, this casting can be formed with a flat surface, and simply
bolted to the partition. .J handle or boss on said casting, K screw pressing against
the end of E and thus keeping the flange F from coming in contact with the
partition or casting I. At one end of the berth, preferably at the head, is fixed a
bolt L, and in the casting I, or other plate affixed for the purpose is a series or ring
of holes into which the point of the bolt L can be shot to retain the berth steady
in any given position. It is especially useful when the occupant is getting into
the berth.
The mode of action is as follows.
The berth is fitted up as shewn. It is temporarily bolted at L by the bolt and
the anaunant rata in and withdraws the balt The centre of gravity of the berth

page_text: and its occupant being below the centre of oscillation (EK) the berth rotates with
the motion of the vessel and remains level laterally no matter how much the vessel
may roll. If desirable, the berth could be suspended by a small solid trunnion at E
in ball bearings (or other antifriction bearings capable of acting in a similar
manner) By this means while the centre line of the occupant is nearly on the
suspension line, the centre of gravity of the entire mass is much below the said
suspension line. The berth or other structure is always therefore strongly impelled
to find its own level, and stand with its cross section in one constant position
relative to the vertical, no matter at what angle the ship may roll.
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
'
1st The improvements in ship's berths, cattle pens, and other structures on board
ship, which consists in supporting the structure on a trunnion or its equivalent at
each end on a line passing above the centre of gravity of the structure, but at
about the centre of gravity of the occupant, substantially as described.
2nd The apparatus for supporting ship's berths cattle pens, and other structures
on board ship, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1885.
W P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.