IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M and Wm Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the county of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of vessel whereby a very
high speed heretofore unattainable or economy of motive power at moderate speeds
may be attained. The essential feature of the Invention is the combination of a
broad flat body and of a narrow sharp body the former being very slightly
immersed and sliding on the water by planes very slightly inclined to the horizontal
plane or water line and the latter being constituted by very sharp lines with regard
to the vertical plane.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sheer plan and figure 2 a whole
breadth plan, figures 3 and 4 are cross sections and figure 5 is a body plan
illustrating the improved construction of vessel. E F G in figure 1 represents the
line of the upper body in vertical projection and in figure 2 A, B, C, D, represents
the lines of the lower body in horizontal projection. These two systems of lines
are connected by curved surfaces and the whole terminates at the fore end by a
sharp stem adapted to cut through the water.
Figure 3 shows that the body is in fact constituted by two hulls one inside the
other tho flat body N O P Q being intersected by the vertical body J K L M.
Besides the very sharp lines obtained by that combination a very strong structure
is formed having great facility for division into watertight compartments. The
vertical or lower body has vertical walls and a flat bottom whereby great facility
is afforded for placing the boilers and heavy weights low down thus increasing the
stability and capacity of the vessel.
The vessel can be propelled by paddle wheels which can be conveniently located
at either side of the lower or vertical body but the drawings show the use of twin
screws upon two shafts driven by inverted compound engines as represented in
figures 2 and 4 the shafts and the screws being supported by bearings projecting
from either side of the vertical body.
Dated this first day of January 1884

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, -of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM-SHIPS " and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to an improved construction of vessel whereby a very
high speed heretofore unattainable or economy of motive power at moderate speeds
may be attained. The essential feature of the Invention is the combination of a
broad flat body and of a narrow sharp body, the former being very slightly
immersed and sliding on the water by planes very slightly inclined to the horizontal
plane or water line, and the latter being constituted by very sharp lines with
regard to the vertical plane.
In the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a sheer plan and figure 2 a whole breadth
plan, figures 3 and 4 are cross sections and figure 5 is a body plan illustrating the
improved construction of vessel. EF G in figure 1 represents the line of the
upper body in vertical projection and in figure 2 A, B, C, D represents the lines of
the lower body in horizontal projection. These two systems of lines are connected
by curved surfaces and the whole terminates at the fore end by a sharp stem
adapted to cut through the water.
Figure 3 shows that the body is in fact constituted by two hulls one inside the
other, the flat body N O P Q being intersected by the vertical body J K L M.
Besides the very sharp lines obtained by that combination, a very strong structure
is formed having great facility for division into watertight compartments. The
vertical or lower body has vertical walls and a flat bottom whereby great facility
is afforded for placing the boilers and heavy weights low down, thus increasing the
stability and capacity of the vessel.
In order to make the fore part of the vessel light and to diminish the resistance
when the vessel has to make head against huge waves the prow is constituted by
a protruding part X C, figures 1 and 2, watertight all round which can go through
the water and afford a small resistance in the motion of emersion and immersion
by being constituted with angular surfaces at top and bottom. The vessel can be
propelled by any propeller, paddle wheels can be conveniently located at either
side of the lower or vertical body, but the drawings show the use of twin screws
upon two shafts driven by inverted compound engines as represented in figures 2
and 4, the shafts and the screws being supported by bearings projecting from either
side of the vertical body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1º, A vessel constituted with a combination of two bodies, the upper hull
(N O P Q, figure 3,) being flat or shallow, the lower J K L M, narrow and deep,

page_text: so affording a great sharpness of lines and the facility for lowering the centre of
gravity and making the ship fast and steady.
2. A vessel with a prow X C (figures 1 and 2) watertight in all its parts,
substantially as shown and described, adapted to cut the water either in its way
5 forward, or in the pitching motion as before stated.