PATENT STEEL HATCH COVERS

Patent steel hatch covers having direct securing arrangements, e.g. MacGregor Steel Hatches are a great improvement on the portable type previously described and are universally fitted for weather decks. They consist of plated covers stiffened by webs or stiffeners, watertightness being obtained by gaskets and clamping devices.

Securing cleats and cross joint wedges, together with suitable jointing material are to be fitted, the cleats are to be spaced to ensure weathertightness with a minimum of two per panel at the sides and with one arranged adjacent to each corner at the hatch ends. The cross joint wedges are spaced about 1.5 m apart.

The portable sections of folding covers are connected to one another and can easily and quickly be rolled into or out of position, leaving clear hatchways and decks. The normal practice is for the lengthwise opening of patent hatches but sideways opening hatches are found on some particular types of ships, e.g. OBO carriers, see pages 85 and 125. Patent steel hatch covers may be operated manually or hydraulically. The illustration shows a folding patent steel hatch cover.

The wheels at the sides of the hatch sections, eccentric rollers, are used for raising the hatch section clear of the coaming and for rolling it along the coaming trackway. As shown the axles of these wheels are so adjusted that when the hatch is in the closed position the weight is no longer borne by them. The jointing fits tightly on the coaming and the hatch is made completely weathertight by fitting and securing the cleats.

The roller is used when the hatch cover is pulled into its stowage position. It engages on the plate edge at the ends of the hatchway and the hatch section is turned into the vertical. Wires, chains or bars attached to the stub axles of these rollers at the centre of the wheel enable all the hatch sections to be drawn back and forth together.

The cross joints are made weathertight as shown with cross joint wedges.