IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS. AND IN MASTS AND SPARS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Sharpe, of Hanwell Park, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SHIPS AND VESSELS. AND IN MASTS AND SPARS FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 11th November 1862, and dated the 16th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Sharpe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
May 1862.
I, BENJAMIN SHARPE, of Hanwell Park, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND IN MASTS AND SPARS FOR THE SAME," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of ships
and vessels, and in masts and spars for the same. In constructing ships and
vessels of which the framework is principally of wood, in order to secure
firmly the one to the other, the several pieces of timber which go to form each
frame, and also to give great lateral strength, I place on one or on each side
of each timber frame a plate of metal of corresponding form, and passing from
one end to the other of the frame, so as to cover all the joints; and I secure
the plate of metal 'to the timber by bolts. These metal plates hold the pieces
of timber securely in their places, whilst the timber serves to keep the metal
plates from buckling. I prefer to keep the metal plates out of immediate
contact with the wood, by interposing tarred felt or other suitable substance.
In order to give additional lateral strength to ships I arrange the deck
beams in two sets, and to pass diagonally from side to side of the ship. The two

page_text: sets are made to incline in opposite directions, so that together with the sides
of the ship they form a series of triangles; these I prefer to be equilateral,
or nearly so.
In order to give to the ship strength in a vertical direction, I connect the
keel and deck together, so as to form a deep and very stiff beam running
from end to end of the ship, and I make this connection by means of inclined
struts of timber and ties. The struts incline in opposite directions, so as to
enclose between the keel and deck a series of triangles, similar to those
-enclosed by the deck beams. In constructing transverse bulkheads, in order
to add to the strength of the ship, I make the frame of the bulkhead of
hexagonal form, and divide it up by interior framing into six equilateral
triangles, meeting in the centre of the hexagonal frame.
In this manner
great strength is obtained; this method of framing bulkheads is applicable
both for wood and iron.
In constructing iron ships, I make them, as has in some cases been hereto-
fore practised, with a double skin, with a space between the two divided up
by partitions into cells. These cells have, however, heretofore, been made
rectangular, or as nearly so as possible, the partitions being fixed vertically to
the skins. Now, according to my Invention, I arrange the partitions so as to
incline to the skins, and enclose cells of a triangular section, the partitions
inclining alternately in either direction.
In armour plating ships I employ plates or bars of iron, each having
a surface of shear steel welded on to it, and for the purpose of lightening these
plates or bars, and without reducing their strength, I make longitudinal or
transverse grooves in them. These grooves I prefer to be hyperbolic in
section, and I employ them also to receive and hold the heads of the bolts, used
for securing the armour plates or bars to the other parts of the ship.
In arranging ships of war (as has in some cases been heretofore practised),
I employ slides to support the gun, carriages; the slides are fixed on pivots
immediately behind the ports, so that the slide may incline or train with the
gun, and the gun in running in and out traverses on the slide. Now,
according to my Invention, I mount on the slide by preference; immediately
over the pivot, a strong shot-proof shield, capable of stopping any shots which
may enter by the port. The shield has a narrow slit in it, through which the
gun is discharged.
In constructing the masts and heavy spars of ships, I make them tubular,
and of alternate plates of wood and metal, separated by tarred felt or. other
suitable material; the plates are arranged to radiate from the centre, so that
their width forms the thickness of the side of the mast or spar. They are

page_text: secured together by metal hoops. In war vessels I render the masts, and it'
may be other spars, shot proof, by dropping over them iron rings having a
surface of shear steel.
I also in some cases arrange a lighter spar, so as to be capable of descending
into the hollow tubular spar; the lighter spar will then be protected from shot,
besides which it is a convenient way of working it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Sharpe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the.
15th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN*
SHARPE, of Hanwell Park, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign;:
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Benjamin Sharpe, Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, my'
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin
Sharpe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree*
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel'
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND IN MASTS AND SPARS FOR THE SAME," upon."
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:
statement thereof, that is to say:-
In constructing ships and vessels of which the framework is principally of*
wood, in order to give greater strength and security to the several pieces of
timber which form the frame and other parts of the ship, I place on. one or

page_text: on each side of each frame or piece of timber a plate of metal of corre-
sponding form, and passing from one end to the other of the frame or piece of
timber so as to cover all the joints, and I secure the plates of metal to the timber
by bolts; these metal plates hold the pieces of timber securely in their places,
whilst the timber serves to keep the metal plates from buckling. (Figures 1
and 2 of the Diagrams.) I prefer to keep the metal plates out of imme-
diate contact with the wood by interposing tarred felt, paper, or other suitable
substance, and also the coating the iron with another metal by the process
termed galvanizing. In order to give additional strength to ships I arrange
the deck beams so as to form a series of hexagons and equilateral triangles,
or nearly so. I do not claim a mere diagonal arrangement of the beams in
separate courses as has been heretofore practised, but that intimate relation
of all parts to each other as will be seen in one way of working my plan in
Figure 3 of the Diagrams, which represents a portion of the gun-deck beams
of a vessel of war of seventy-four guns. When greater powers of resistance
are required, as in steam rams, I add second and third sectional beams, so that
any amount of strength up to a solid mass, can be given.
My system when carried out in its full integrity is to have a series of un-
broken, or as I term them continuous beams extending from side to side of the
ship, and forming a series of equilateral triangles, or nearly so with the star-
board and port longitudinal beans, these beams are crossed by the inter-
mediate beams which are tied by the first longitudinal beams, and these are
in like manner succeeded by the first sectional and second longitudinal beams,
the whole being worked level both on the upper and under sides, as may be,
seen at a, Figure 4 of the Diagrams. The different beams are connected with
dowells at the junction, and secured with a plate of metal above d and below e.
Figure 5 shews my mode of connecting the deck beams with the ship's side,
by which I gain great additional strength these beams are cut so as to form
a dovetail, which is inserted between the starboard or port longitudinal
beams b, and a water-way piece c; the beams are again further secured by a
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straight metal knee d, which latter may be again seen at b, Figure 4. The
knees of the two beams being there shewn with a filling piece of wood c
between them to prevent them from buckling.
Figure 6 shews the manner in which I construct ships beams and other
pieces of timber (where great length and strength are required), by inserting
thin plates of metal a, a, between the wood of which the beams are formed.
I consider two slips of metal to be generally sufficient, but any
number may
be used, and they may be placed on the outside of the beam as well as the
inside, but I prefer the former; timber may be thus formed into any curve.

page_text: In order to give the ship strength in a vertical direction I connect the
keel, and different decks together in a manner similar to that already.
described for the deck beams, and so in like manner for transverse, bulk-
heads.
In constructing iron ships I make them as has in some cases been heretofore
practised with a double skin, the space between the two skins being divided
up by partitions into cells. These cells have, however, heretofore been made
rectangular, or as nearly so as possible, the partitions being fixed vertically
to the skins. Now, according to my Invention I arrange the partitions so as
to incline to the skins, and enclose cells of a triangular section, the partitions
inclining alternately in either direction.
:
Figure 7 of the Diagrams shows a section of my system of constructing
hollow masts and spars, and which are far stronger than those which are
made solid as heretofore practised. a, a, are thin metal plates inserted between
pieces of wood b, and the whole are secured together by hoops of iron having.
a thin outer surface of shear steel. These are placed close together when the.
masts are required to be protected from the effects of shot, but for ordinary.
purposes hoops may be placed at the usual distance apart; this plan admits
of another mast to slide up and down on the inner side. In forming bowsprits
I occasionally make them in two pieces like the legs of shears, having the
lower parts to slip into moveable sockets, or into a piece of wood placed across;
the deck, so that the whole may be brought into a vertical position, and guns.
fired abead between the two parts of the bowsprit..
In armour plating ships I employ plates or bars of iron, each having an
outer surface of shear steel welded or otherwise attached to it (a, Figure 8,
and a, Figure 9,) and for the purpose of lightening these plates or bars, and,
without reducing their strength, I make longitudinal or transverse grooves in:
them (b, Figure 9,) these grooves I prefer to be hyperbolic in section, and I.
employ them also to receive and hold the heads of the bolts used for securing.
the armour plates or bars to the other parts, of the ship d..
In arranging ships of war (as has in some cases been heretofore practised.).
I employ slides to support the gun carriages (Figure 10, and Figure 13 of the
Diagrams), the slides are fixed on pivots immediately behind the ports so that,
the slide may incline or train with the gun, and the gun in running in and
out traverses on the slide. Now, according to my Invention I mount on
the slide or attach to the slide by, preference a strong shot-proof shield
(Figures 10, 11, and 12, of the Diagrams), capable of stopping any shots
which may enter by the port. The shield has a narrow slit in it through.
which the gun is discharged, and this slit is closed when required by an iron

page_text: port attached by hinges to one of the sides. In order to moderate the recoil
of the gun on the slide (Figure 13 of the Diagrams), I attach two metal
bolts a, a, to a plate of metal 6 which presses against the under part of the
slide when the weight of a portion of the gun is made to act as a lever; the
gun is run out on the two fore trucks, and two moveable wheels d, into
sockets attached, to which handspikes are placed, and the weight of the gun'
taken off, the compresser ; 'e is another kind of compresser for moderating the
recoil of the gun on the slide g. Figure 14 shews the manner in which two
moveable iron plates f, f, are pressed against the sides of the slide by means
of a screw. In forming the slide I bring the two sides of it rather closer at
the inner end which increases in a very great degree the power of the com-
presser. Figures 14* and 15 show the manner in which I ascertain the
position of the gun when on the slide in reference to the plane of the sea.
Figure 14 describes a pendulum which is made to traverse round a circular
board a, which is secured to the deck overhead by four large screws (Figure 15
at 6). The circular board a, Figure 14*, has its edge graduated to the points
of a circle, and the vertical board b, which moves freely on two pivots c, c
has degrees 'd on 'both the extremities of each of its sides; there are similar
hands on each side of the vertical board b; connected together at e, the pivot,
and f the weight. Figure 16 is for the same purpose as Figures 14* and 15,
it is made of glass; and is partially filled with coloured spirit a, a, and quick-
silver b; it is attached to an upright board, which has a scale on it marked to
degrees, and this board is made to turn round on a circular board on which
the points of a circle have been marked. Figure 17 and Figure 18 show the
manner by which a gun can be pointed to any part of the arc, the base of the
triangle a being kept parallel with the deck beams while the vertical board b
is pressed against the outer part of the rear axletree of the gun; the are c is
marked to points; d is a screw for tightening. Figure 19 and Figure 20'
describe two views of a tangent sight for a gun, which I cause to remain in a
perpendicular position while a ship is rolling and pitching by means of two
axes a, Figure 19 and 6 Figure 20, on which the sight works freely; c is a
hollow brass tube with a narrow slit on each side of it for the two ends of one
of the axes to pass through, and marked to degrees which is made to move up
and down by means of a female screw d. Figure 20, c, e, are holes for screws'
to fasten the sight to the gun; f is a piece of metal working on a hinge for
preventing the sight moving whenever it is required to be kept steady. In
place of the arrangement described above, the sight may be mounted on
ordinary gimbals.
Figure 21 and Figure 22 describe a frame for ascertaining the curves of a

page_text: ship's side for armour plates or other purposes. a is a moveable frame with
notches for inserting a measure; Figure 22, by which every portion of the
curve can be measured and registered. Figure 22 is a moveable leg
which is extended or shortened until all the four legs of the frame press
equally against the ship's side. Figure 23 describes the manner in which
I take the vertical curves. a is a wooden frame with notches on each of its
sides, which is kept upright by a plummet, and 6 is a measure by which
the distance of the frame from the ship's side is measured and the curve
ascertained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
B. SHARPE. (L.S.)