An Improvement in or Connected with Ships and other Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept.. 1888
Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or Connected with Ships and other Vessels.
1, ALEXANDER MILBURN WELLINGTON SAMSON, of Northolt, near Southall in the
County of Middlesex, Lieutenant Colonel Retired, 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:-
The primary object of my invention is to reduce to a minimum, the rolling of ships
and other vessels when in a sea way, whereby, among other advantages, I obtain a
steadier platform for guns, passengers or cattle, combined or accompanied with greater
speed and bulk than heretofore.
According to my invention I bring the bilge down to a point midway between the
keel and a vertical line drawn to coincide with the side or beam of the ship or other
vessel and on a level with the base of the keel and from this midway point I carry the
floor to the apex or top of the keel in an angular line and without any perceptible
curve therein, as distinguished from the usually convex form given to the bottom from
the keel to the bilge.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will further describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross or midships section of so much of a ship constructed
according to my invention as will be necessary to explain the same, and Figure 2 is a
plan view of the underside, Figure 3 is a diagram view to illustrate the difference in
form, between the bottom of a ship constructed according to my invention, and that
of a ship as usually male. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the
figures.
Referring to the midships section, A B shew the two points midway between the
keel C (which latter may be laid down of any required or ordinary depth as circum-
stances may suggest or require) and vertical straight lines (Figure 3) drawn down
from, or coinciding with, the sides F G of the ship or vessel. The apex of the keel
is indicated by the letter C, while C B and C A are the angular lines or sections so
that the distance between C and B, and B to beam starboard side is equal, and from
Cand A to port beam is also equal.

page_text: From the two points D and E I lower the bilges to points A and B in line with
the base of the keel, then from the apex of the keel to the two points A and B
(A being the centre of the port side, and B the centre of the starboard side) the two
direct angles C B and CA in opposition to the roll are formed. In Figure 2 the
angles are shewn to diminish in length on approaching the Bows, but the channels or
water-way between the keel remains intact up to the vanishing points at the Run aft
marked and to within a given number of feet forward from the stem marked J.
The actual construction or mode of building will be the same as in the present type of
ships only with this difference, that in my invention the bottom being built in an
angular form (direct angles) as shewn and in accordance with the depth of keel,
instead of being convex as in the present type of ships.
In the diagram view Figure 3 the old style or shape is shown by the full lines, the
dotted lines indicating my improvement of lowering the bilge to the point B and from
that point to the apex of the keel the straight line C B is, or forms, a direct angle of
resistance to the roll of the ship or vessel, before the roll takes place. The lines of
bottom may be fashioned so that the stem and stern may be alike and the invention
is thus rendered particularly applicable to the construction of torpedo boats and other
vessels where a reduction at any rate of roll is of such great importance.
By my invention the angles from C to B and from Cto A, slight as they may be,
are or will be the means of greatly reducing the rolling of a ship or other vessel, for if
on either side the action of the sea should cause a roll there would be an opposite angle
of resistance, because the water would have a free run under the upper angle striking
against the depressed angle with full force and thus immediately checking or reducing
.tlie roll.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
In ships and other vessels lowering the bilge to a point midway between the centre
of the base of keel and a vertical line drawn from, or coinciding with, the beam or
the sides, and from this midway point forming the floor in angular lines to the apex
of the keel substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of September 1888.