IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS & BOATS TO PREVENT SEASICKNESS & DANGER BY COLLISON AT SEA
Year: 1884

page_text: VAA
EDWIN ROLLASON Designer & Draftsman 31 White Friars Lane in the City of
Coventry in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS & BOATS TO PREVENT
SEASICKNESS & DANGER BY COLLISON AT SEA to be as follows:―
Place two ships parallel to each other with a space between, continue the bow of
each vessel in a curve untill they unite in the centre, forming into one stem or
bow, then join the aft ends of both vessels into one stern, above the waterline.
Draw a line from the bow straight through the intermediate space to the stern,
this central keel will be the backbone of central bilge under intermediate
space. Both vessels as well as intermediate space will be divided into compart-
ments or cells by watertight bulkheads the whole to be covered by a flush or
promenade deck, on which are placed seven masts.
Take two ordinary ships or vessels and place them side by side parallel to each
other with a space of sea between them varying from a few inches to twenty or
thirty feet according to the requirements of the trade she is designed to follow.
Draw a straight line from stem to stern between the two ships or vessels this being
the meridian or central keel remove the bows of each ship or vessel from the stem
to the straight as shewn in Fig (1) by dotted lines from A. to B.
Then continue the outside lines or sides of each ship or vessel forward from the
straight at B in an elongated curve untill both lines strike the meridian or central
keel at the same point forming the outside stem or bow continue the inside lines
or sides of each ship or vessel forward in like manner from the straight at B in an
elongated curve and parallel. to the outside lines untill both lines strike the
meridian or central keel at the same point forming the inside bow, thus uniting
both ships or vessels with one stem or bow, and making the form of a very
elongated horse-shoe with a very sharp pointed peak or bow.
A screw propeller and rudder will be placed at each of the stern ends or arms of
the elongated horseshoe thus giving double propelling as well as steering power the
keel or backbone of each arm of the elongated horseshoe, beginuing at the
propeller will be carried up the centre of each arm in the same curvelinear form as
the outside and inside lines untill they strike the meridian or central keel at the
same point halfway between the outside and inside lines of the stem or bow.

page_text: Underneath the intermediate space and between each arm of the elongated horse-
shoe will be the centre bilge, the meridian or central keel being the backbone,
running completely from stem to stern equidistant and parallel to each outside
keel.
The centre bilge will be divided into two parts a little abaft the centre, and
opposite to each engine space will be a depression in the bilge to allow sufficient
space for the paddle wheels to revolve on each side of the meridian or central keel.
The foregoing may be described as the bottom or submerged part of the ship or
vessel having three separate keels, the paddle wheels being placed on each side of
the meridian or central keel so as to give the greatest amount of power and
propulsion in addition to both screw propellers.
In the intermediate space a little abaft the centre of the vessel, opposite each
engine space above the waterline, and exactly above the depression in the centre
bilge, a square opening will be left on each side of the central keel and carried up
to the upper or promenade deck, in each of the openings will be placed a paddle
wheel each revolving independently of the other, so as to obtain additional power
for turning the vessel in her own length.
The outside curvelinear lines or sides of the vessel, or elongated horseshoe above
the waterline will now be carried up to the height required to form the gunwale
or bulwark all round the vessel, and the inside curvelinear lines from the waterline
will be carried in the same manner up to the promenade deck joining both ships or
vessels together in one stem or bow above the waterline.
The stern ends or arms of the elongated horse shoe will now be joined or built
together in one stern end above the waterline and up to the taffrail, for extra
strength to the stern a raised or quarter deck will be carried over the entire
stern end.
The entire vessel over all will be decked over, with one large promenade deck
extending from-the bows to the quarter deck, underneath this deck in the ordinary
manner will be carried the spar and main decks, the intermediate space between
decks can be used either for passengers or cargo as occasion may require.
There will be seven masts, one foremast two main masts two centre masts and
two mizen masts, the main centre and mizen masts will be abreast of each other
and down the centre of each arm of the elongated horseshoe the intermediate space
on deck being left quite clear.
The whole vessel both arms of the elongated horseshoe as well as the inter-
mediate space will be divided into compartments by watertight bulkheads at
convenient distances by which novel arrangement it would be next to impossible
for her to be run down or sunk by collision however great the impact.
With this novel arrangement of her masts and the help of her unique construc-
tion she will sail on an even keel.
I also claim to apply screw propellers and rudder to the meridian or central
keel should it be found from any cause to be more advantageous than the paddle
wheels.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I EDWIN ROLLASON of Hill House Hill Street in the parish of Saint Michael
in the City of Coventry in the County of Warwick Designer for Ribbons do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS YACHTS AND BOATS TO PREVENT SEASICKNESS, AND DANGER BY
COLLISON AT SEA and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Place two ordinary ships side by side parallel to each other with a varying space
of sea between, from their sides touching to twenty or thirty feet according to the
size of the vessel, and also the size required for the centre bilge or bottom which
may vary in size, as required by the trade she is designed to follow.
Draw a straight line from stem to stern between the two ships, this being the
meridian or central keel, commencing at the outside peak or bow, and running
through the middle of the central bilge or bottom being the principal backbone
terminating at the stern end of the central bilge, remove the bows of each vessel.
from the stem to the straight as shewn in Fig 1. by dotted lines from A to B.
Continue the outside lines or sides of each ship or vessel forward from the
straight at B, in an elongated curve until both lines strike the meridian or central
keel at the same point forming the outside stem or bow, then continue the inside
lines or sides of each vessel forward in like manner from the straight at B, in an
elongated curve, parallel to the outside lines untill both lines strike the meridian
or central keel at the same point forming the inside bow, uniting both ships in one
stem or bow, describing the form of a very elongated horseshoe, with a very sharp
pointed peak or bow.
These same inside lines being the longitudinal bulkheads dividing the vessel into
three longitudinal watertight compartments separating the centre bilge or frog in
the middle of the shoe from the outside bilges or rim of the horseshoe.
A watertight bulkhead will divide the bow of the vessel into half running from
the cutwater to the inside bow or point of the centre compartment, being a
continueation of the meridian or central keel and carried up to the saloon or
promenade deck as desired, giving great strength to the bows and dividing the vessel
into three longitudinal watertight compartments to be again subdivided at
convenient distances by watertight bulkheads across the longitudinal compartments,
as shewn in Fig 2.
A screw propellel and rudder will be placed at each of the stern ends or arms of
the outside bilges or bottoms of the elongated horseshoe giving double propelling
as well as double steering power, the keel or backbone of each outside bilge or
bottom beginning at the propeller will run up the centre of each outside bilge in
an elongated curve striking the meridian or central keel at the same point halfway
between the outside and inside curvelinear lines of the stem or bow, as Fig 1.
The centre bilge or bottom will be divided into two parts, a little abaft the
centre and opposite to each engine space will be a depression in the bilge or bottom
to give space for the paddle wheels to revolve on each side of the central keel and

page_text: in the centre of each sluice or race, which occupy the spaces between, and under-
neath the bilges or bottoms, and are constructed to break the force of the waves,
and carry off the surplus head water through the sluices under her bottom,
reducing her up and down head motion to the smallest possible minimum main-
taining a lower alignment, with steadier motion and greater grip upon the water
than any ordinary vessel, thus preventing seasickness the above may be described
as the submerged or bottom part of the vessel.
The outside curvelinear lines or sides of the ship or vessel above the waterline
will be carried up to the height required to form the gunwale or bulwark all round
the vessel, the inside curvelinear lines or longitudinal watertight bulkheads
dividing the bilges or bottoms, may be carried up to saloon or upper deck as
desired.
In the central longitudinal compartment above the waterline, and exactly above
the depression in the centre bilge or bottom below, a square opening will be left
on each side of the central keel, in each of these openings will be placed a paddle
wheel, revolving independently of each other, giving additional propulsion and
capability of turning the vessel in her own length, as shown in Fig 4.
I may also apply. screw propellers and rudder to the meridian or central keel
should they be found more advantageous from any cause than the paddle wheels.
I claim the double bilge triple keel, as shewn in Fig 6, and the double bilge
dummy bilge triple keel as shown in Fig 7 all of which are modifications of the
same idea and principle for building smaller vessels, as yachts, steam launches
and boats.
The positions of the seven masts and the funnels are shewn on the upper or
promenade deck which covers the whole of the three bilges as shown in Fig 3, the
masts are so arranged to prevent any strain and keep the vessel sailing on an
even keel.
The stern ends will be joined or built together, and a quarter deck be carried
over all for strength to the stern of the vessel as in Fig 3.
The midship section will shew the triple bilge construction as in Fig 5.
The midship section will shew the double bilge construction as in Fig 8.
The profile view of the vessel is shown in Fig 9.
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
A vessel constructed with two or three parallel hulls united under water at the
bow and above water at the stern, the whole being decked over, divided into
watertight compartments, and provided with propelling mechanism substantially as
shewn and described.
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