US334295A - shields - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

JnSHIELDS.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING OIL UPUN THE SEA AT` HARBORS, DOGKS, cinc. No. 334,295. PatentedJan. 12, 1886.

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APPARATUS POR DIISTRIBUTING OIL UPON THE SEA AT HARBORS, BOOKS, &o.

No. 334,295. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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PATENT APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING OIL UPON THE SEA AT HARBORS, DOCKS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,295, dated January 12, 1886.

Application filed June 24, 1885. Serial No. 169,644. (No model.) Patented in England March 8, 1882, No. 1,112, and in France March 29, 1882. No. 148,160.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SHIELDs, of the city and county of Perth, Scotland, have invented Improved'Means or Apparatus for Distributing Oil upon the Sea at Harbors, Docks, and other Places, (for which I have received Letters Patent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 1,112, dated March 8, 1882, and also of the Republic of France, N 0. 148,160, dated March 29, 1882,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved means or apparatus for distributing oil upon the sea at harbors, docks, and other places, and has reference to the discharging of oil onto the surface of the sea, so as to produce a liquid surface which is not broken by the action of the wind, as is the case when the wind acts violently upon the surface of the sea itself. To accomplish this, one or more pipes are laid at a suitable point upon the bottom of and across the entrance to a harbor or other part of the sea, estuary, inlet," or river. Each such pipe is provided at intervals with openings closed by valves opening outwardly, so that the weight of the valves and the pressure of the water thereon causes their closure when their pipes are not in use for distributing oil. From the distributing pipe or pipes a conveyingpipe leads to an oil tank or reservoir so arranged or combined with means adapted to give sufficient head or force to the oil owing therefrom to force open the valves against their own weight and pressure of the water thereon. This will be better understood by reference to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a portion of a harbor or other body of water in section fitted with `devices for practicing the invention; Fig. 2,

a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a cross, and Fig. 5 alongitudinal, section of the distributingpipe, and a valve for one of its apertures on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4, a side view of the same.

Tn these drawings, A indicates a tower, upon which is mounted a tank or reservoir, B, for the oil to be used. From this tank proceeds a single conveying-pipe, C, which, following the conformation of the harbor and its boundaries, lies upon the bottom thereof. At

some point readily accessible for operation is interposed a stop-cock, D, for permitting or stopping the flow from the tank or reservoir through the pipe C. This conveyingpipe C extends to the point or points where it is deemed best to apply the oil, where it is connected to one or more distributing-pipes, E, extending across the' mouth of the harbor or body of water to be freed from wave action, or across so much thereof as is deemed sufficient to insure the result aimed at. Such distributing pipe or pipes E are perforated upon the upper side at one or more points, each perforation being furnished with an outwardlyopening valve. A convenient and desirable form of such valve is shown in Figs. 3, 4t, and 5, wherein the pipe E is shown as perforated, the perforation being screw-threaded for reception of the valve-seat. The valve-seat a, ground to lit the valve F, has a screw-threaded depending fiange, h, by which it is secured in the perforation of E. Spider-arms y eX- tend inwardly from the periphery of h and support a hub, e, through which passes a rod, c, attached to the valve F. At its free end this rod cis provided with a nut or other stopping device, d, limiting the amount of movement of the valve from its seat and preventing its being thrown therefrom. The weight of these valves and the head or force given the oil flowing from the reservoir are so adj usted relatively to each other and to the pressure of the water upon the valves, due to the depth of their submergence, that such force or pressure of the oil, when allowed to flow, will lift the valves and permit the escape of the oil to the surface, as shown in Fig. 1.v

While an elevated tank or reservoir is here- Iin shown as the means for giving to the flowing oil the force necessary to lift the valves, it is evident that a suitable pump might be substituted therefor as the means for giving to the oil such force. Again, while, as herein shown, the tower A and tank B are located'upon the shore adjacent to the harbor, it is evident that this location is not essential to the successful use of the invention, that the tower might be located in the harbor or body of water itself, or if a lighthouse-tower were convenient that 'the tank could be placed within it.

l am aware that it has been proposed to lay IOO a series of pipes upon the bottom of a body of Water, connected to a pump, so that infiammable liquids could be forced therethrough, which, being then ignited, should form Va defence or protection against the approach of a hostile vessel or Heet, and hence I do not claim such.

rIhe use of oil for quieting or lessening Wave action is only needed at intervals, upon theIoccasion of heavy storms, and when needed it is needed urgently and immediately. If the pipes beneath the water become full of Water, the oil, owing to its lighter specific graVity,Will not flow therethrough and thereout unless sufficient additional force be given it to displace the Water therein, which would require, especially .in a large or extended system of pipes, a great force or pressure, so great as often not to be readily or conveniently attained. The use of the peculiar kind of valves described obviates this, as, from their weight and vthe pressure of the superincumbent water, they automatically close and prevent the ingress of water to the system of pipes. Then Whenever the cock D be opened the oil flows through the pipes and escapes at the valves, the only eXtra force needed being such as is sufficient to raise the valves. Vhen the cock is turned to stop the 110W of oil, the valves instantaneously close, and the system of pipes from D to the valves is left filled With oil, ready for immediate discharge upon reopening of the cock D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an oil tank or reservoir, a conveying-pipe leading therefrom, one

or more perforated distributing-pipes connected thereto, and automatically operating- Valves, one at each perforation in the distributing-pipes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the distributingpipes of a system for distributing oil upon the surface of a harbor or body of Water, of

outwardly-opening valves automatically closing the apertures therein against the ingress of Water, but permitting the escape of oil therefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the conveying and distributing -pipes of a system for distributing oil upon the surface of a harbor or body of water, of' outwardly opening-valves automatically closing the openings in the distributing-pipes against the ingress of water, and means, substantially as described, for giving to the flowing oil force suiiicient to open said valves. substantially as set forth.

4. rIhe combination, of an oil tank or reservoir, a conveyingpipe connected thereto, one or more perforated distributing-pipes connected to the conveying-pipe, outWard1yopening automatic valves, one at each perforation in the distributing pipe or pipes, and a stop-cock in the conveying-pipe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\ JOHN SHIELDS.

Vifitnesses:

WILLARD B. WELLs, U. S. Consul, Dundee, Scotland. WILLIAM MOINTYRE, U. S. Vice and Deputy Consul, Dundee, Scotland.

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