IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING BRIDGES, SHIPS, OR OTHER STRUCTURES OF IRON OR OTHER METAL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the
City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING BRIDGES, SHIPS, OR OTHER STRUCTURES OF IRON
OR OTHER METAL."-A. communication from abroad by Richard Mont-
Americe
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th December 1860.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING BRIDGES, SHIPS, OR OTHER STRUCTURES OF
IRON GR OTHER METAL," (a communication to me from abroad by Richard
Montgomery, of New York, United States of America), to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in the use or application of peculiarly con-
structed metal beams for such purposes, such beams being formed or
constructed according to an Invention for which I have this day filed a petition
for Letters Patent, and which said Invention was also communicated to me

page_text: from abroad by the said Richard Montgomery; and secondly, this Invention
consists in certain details of construction consequent upon and rendered
necessary by the employment of such beams for constructive purposes.
In constructing a bridge according to this Invention each span of the bridge
consists of a certain number of systems of arches supported on suitable abut-
ments.
Each of these systems of arches is composed of two arched or curved
beams, the curve of the lower one having a longer radius than that of the
upper one.
Each arch or arched beam is made of corrugated metal, and con-
structed according to the Invention before alluded to, the corrugations of the
two arches being so arranged that at the ends where the two arches meet they
shall fit one into the other. The ends of each of these systems of arches rest
on bed plates projecting from the upper surface of the abutments, and these
bed plates have vertical projections which fit into the lower sides of the corru-
gations of the arched beams, and blocks are also provided with suitable recesses
so as to fit over the corrugations of the arched beams. Through the ends of
the-arched_beams and through the blocks and bed plates bolts pass into the
abutments. Between the abutments, and at equal distances apart, the two-
arched beams are furnished with three or more blocks each, and three or more
bottom plates, the former being placed above the upper beam and the latter
below the lower beam, and these two and the two beams are connected
together at each point by bolts passing through them, and thus the two arches
of each system are united in such a way that their relative position is
unchangeable. The different systems of arches thus formed are connected
together by cross rails (also formed of corrugated metal) and these cross-rails
rest with their ends on the flanges of the lower arched beams immediately.
over the above-named bottom plates so that the same bolts pass also through
them and hold all together securely. These cross rails serve to support the
floorings of the bridge, while at the same time they tend to steady and hold
the said arches together.
In constructing ships according to this Invention, the ribs or framework, deck
beams, and other fundamental parts of the hull of the vessel are also constructed
of corrugated metal beams made according to the Invention above named,
the flanges of such beams forming the necessary margins by and to which the
outer planking or plates and deck planking are fastened. The knee joints by
which the decks' beams are fastened to the ribs or outer framing may be made
of cast iron, and must be formed with projections to interlock with the corru-
gations of the beams. At those parts of the beams where bolts pass through,'
filling pieces of wood or metal are to be employed to strengthen and stiffen

page_text: the corrugated metal. The bottom of the hull may be supported and
strengthened, if desired, by means of a longitudinal corrugated iron beam or
keel. The entire hull may be divided transversely into separate water-tight
compartments by means of vertical corrugated metal plates, the edges of which
being fitted into the corrugations of the beams and properly caulked, require
no rivets or other means of fastening.
It will be evident that this same principle of forming or building metal
structures by means of corrugated metal beams constructed as before men-
tioned, in combination with suitable details for joining or connecting the same,
according to the requirements of the case, may be extended or applied to the
building of churches, houses, barns, store-rooms, and other structures com-
posed of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, and that such principle of
construction presents the great advantages of economy, strength, and lightness
combined.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George Davies,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Davies, 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
BUILDING BRIDGES, SHIPS, OR OTHER STRUCTURES OF IRON OR OTHER METAL," being
a communication to me from abroad by Richard Montgomery, of New York,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Davies, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my, or their, or one of their bands 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 calender months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, 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 fol-
lowing statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say:
This Invention consists, firstly, in the use or application of peculiarly con-
structed metal beams for such purposes, such beams being formed or
constructed according to an Invention for which I have obtained Her
Majesty's Letters Patent, dated 15th December 1860, No. 3086, which said
Invention was also communicated to me from abroad by the said Richard
Montgomery; and, secondly, this Invention consists in certain details of con-
struction consequent-upon-and-rendered-necessary by the employment of such
beams for constructive purposes.
In constructing a bridge according to this Invention, each span of the
bridge consists of a certain number of systems of arches supported upon
suitable abutments.
Each of these systems of arches is composed of two arched or curved beams,
the curve of the lower one having a longer radius than that of the upper one.
Each arch or arched beam is made of corrugated metal, and constructed
according to the Invention before alluded to, the corrugations of the two
arches being so arranged that at the ends where the two arches meet they
shall fit one into the other. The ends of each of these systems of arches rest
on bed plates projecting from the upper surface of the abutments, and these
bed plates have vertical projections, which fit into the lower side of the
corrugations of the arched beams; and blocks are also provided with suitable
recesses, so as to fit over the corrugations of the arched beams. Through the
ends of the arched beams, and through the blocks and bed plates, bolts pass
into the abutments. Between the abutments and at equal distances apart the
two arched beams are furnished with three or more blocks each, and three or
more bottom plates, the former being placed above the upper beam and the
latter below the lower beam, and these two and the two beams are connected
together at each point by bolts passing through them, and thus the two arches
of each system are united in such a way that their relative position is un-
changeable. The different systems of arches thus formed are connected

page_text: together by cross-rails (also formed of corrugated metal), and these cross-rails
rest with their ends on the flanges of the lower arched beams immediately
over the above-named bottom plates, so that the same bolts pass also through
them and hold all together securely. These cross-rails serve to support the
floorings of the bridge, while at the same time they tend to steady and hold
the said arches together.
In constructing ships according to this Invention, the ribs or framework,
deck beams, and other fundamental parts of the hull of the vessel are also
constructed of corrugated metal beams, made according to the Invention
above named, the flanges of such beams forming the necessary margins by and
to which the outer planking or plates and deck planking are fastened. The
knee joints by which the deck beams are fastened to the ribs or outer framing
may be made of cast iron, and must be formed with projections to interlock
with the corrugations of the beams. At those parts of the beams where bolts
pass through, filling pieces of wood or metal are to be employed to strengthen
and stiffen the corrugated metal. The bottom of the hull may be supported
and strengthened if desired by means of a longitudinal corrugated iron beam
or keel. The entire hull may be divided transversely into separate water-tight
compartments by means of vertical corrugated metal plates, the edges of which
being fitted into the corrugations of the beams and properly caulked require
no rivets or other means of fastening.
It will be evident that this same principle of forming or building metal
structures by means of corrugated metal beams constructed as before
mentioned, in combination with suitable details for joining or connecting the
same according to the requirements of the case, may be extended or applied
to the building of churches, houses, barns, storerooms, and other structures
composed of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, and that such principle of
construction presents the great advantages of economy, strength, and lightness
combined.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "Improvements
in Building Bridges, Ships, or other Structures of Iron or other Metal," I will
proceed to describe the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same may be
distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto Four Sheets of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with Figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is
to say:-
In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective
view of part of a bridge constructed on this improved plan; Figure 2 is a

page_text: cross section through the blocks C, C, C, parallel with and immediately in
front of the bolts I, I; and Figure 3 is a similar section through the central
blocks D, D, immediately in front of the bolts E, E.
The bridge in the Drawings represents a single span between two abut-
ments J, J, and consists of three parallel systems, A, B, M, N, but it will be
understood that any other number of the systems of arches may be used.
Each of these systems of arches is composed of one arch A, B, and another
arch M, N, of larger radius below the first one. Both arches of each of these
systems are made of corrugated metal, the peculiar corrugation of which is
plainly shewn in Figures 2 and 3. The corrugations of the lower arch M, N,
are such as to fit into the corrugations of the upper arch A, B, at both ends,
which rest on the abutments J, J, and where the two arches meet. The ends
of each of these systems of arches rest on bed plates F projecting from the
upper surface of the abutments. These bed plates have vertical projections
which fit into the bottom part of the corrugations of the arches M, N, and
blocks C are provided with suitable recesses, so as to fit over the corrugations
of the arches A, B,-as-seen-in-Figure 1 and 2, and bolts I pass through the
blocks C, through the ends of the arches A, B, and M, N, and through the
bed plates F into the abutments, the whole forming a most substantial con-
nection of the ends of the arches. Between each two of the blocks C, C,
belonging to one system of arches are three or more blocks D at equal
distances from each other, and similar in shape to the blocks C, so as to fit
over the corrugations of the upper arches A, B, whilst each of the blocks D
has a corresponding bottom plate G underneath, and fitting into the corruga-
tions of the lower arches M, N. Through the upper and lower arches and
the blocks D, D, and through the bottom plates G the bolts E, E, pass, the bolt
heads H being below the bottom plates G, all as represented in Figures 1 and 3.
Thus the two arches of each system are united in such a way that their
relative position is unchangeable, and so that they form a superstructure of
arches represented in the Drawings, and are connected by cross-rails K, L,
which are also formed of corrugated metal similar to the arches. These cross-
rails rest with their ends upon the flanges of the lower arches M, N, immedi-
ately above the bottom plates G, and the bolts E pass through their ends, so
that they will actually be supported by the said bolts, as will be seen in
Figures 1 and 3. These rails K, L, serve to support the floorings of the
bridge, whilst at the same time they tend to steady and hold the said arches
portions a, a, of the corrugated
together. It will also be observed that the
arches are thicker than at the sides b, b, (see Figure 3,) so that the greatest
strength is obtained with a given weight of metal.

page_text: Sheets 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings illustrate the application of this Invention
to building ships.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the hull of
a ship complete, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
5 In Sheet 3; Figure 1 is a cross section of the same; Figure 2 is a transverse"
section of one of the frames; Figure 3 is a view of the same with a portion of
the planking attached as seen from the interior of the vessel; Figure 4 is a
corresponding view omitting the central line of bolts and the filling or stiffening
piece; Figure 5 is a corresponding view from the exterior of the vessel, the
planking being indicated by dotted lines; Figure 6 is a plan view of the knee-
joints; Figure 7 is an oblique view of the same; Figure 8 is a plan view of
one of the deck beams, showing its connection with the knee-joint and with
the side of the ship; Figure 9 is a corresponding view with a portion of the
deck planking in its place.
In Sheet 4, Figure 1 is a side elevation with a portion of the planking
removed to shew the corrugated iron ribs and fastening; Figure 2 is a cross
section showing a portion of one of the water-tight partitions; Figure 3 is a
transverse section of one of the frames; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the
knee-joint, and Figure 5 represents oblique and side views of the same."
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the Drawings.
The frame or shell of the hull of the iron vessel is composed of a series
of corrugated iron supports or frames A. These supports A are corru-
gated, as shewn in Figure 2, (Sheet 3), the edges c being flat to form the
necessary margins by and to which the planks or plates E (which form the
covering and sides of the hull) are fastened. The plates E are fastened to
the corrugated supports A by means of rivets b. The corrugated supports A
are all curved, and united at their ends by means of corrugated cross beams B
and knee-joints C. The cross beams B are corrugated in a similar manner to
the supports A, and have flat margins c to which the deck plank or iron plates
can be securely rivetted by bolts passing through holes b. The beains B are
or may be slightly arched, as shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 3. The knee-joints C
may be made of cast iron, and should have projecting sides f, f, and a tongue g,
so that when in place, as shewn in Figure 1 (Sheet 3), they will interlock
with both the corrugated supports A and cross beams B, and to which they are
fastened by rivets or bolts a. The ends of the cross beams B, and the bottom
supports A, may be bevilled off, as shewn in dotted lines, Figure 1, (Sheet 3),
or they may be square, in which latter case it would be best to let the ends of
be cross beams B project over and rest on the ends of the supports A. Into
the central part of the corrugated iron frames A, as also into the corrugated

page_text: iron deck beams B, is to be fitted a filling of wood or metal M, as shewn in
Figures 1 (Sheet 2), Figures 2 and 3 (Sheet 3), and Figure 3 (Sheet 4).
Through these are to be inserted bolts which pass through the corrugated iron
and also through the exterior planks or plates. These bolts serve to fasten
the parts in addition to the rivets b, b; or they may serve as substitutes for
such fastenings. The filling pieces M serve to strengthen and stiffen the
corrugated metal. The bottom of the hull may be supported and strengthened,
if desired, by means of a longitudinal corrugated iron beam or keel. The
entire hull is to be divided into separate compartments by means of corrugated
iron plates or bulkheads D (see Figure 2, Sheet 4,) the ends of which are to
be fitted in the corrugations e of the beams B, and the corrugations & in the
bottom supports A. It will thus be seen that by this mode of constructing
the hulls of iron vessels, the cross beams B and the bottom supports A, by
their peculiar construction and relative arrangement, afford facilities for water-
tight divisions, and that too without the necessity of using rivets to fasten the
ends of the plates D, since all that is necessary to do is to caulk the ends of
the plates in the corrugations.e.and d. By the above mode of constructing the
hulls of iron vessels great strength is combined with a small amount of metal,
whilst, at the same time, the cost of constructing is much less than . by the
ordinary modes of constructing iron vessels.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"Improvements in Building Bridges, Ships, or other Structures of Iron or
other Metal," together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that
I claim as the Invention communicated to me by the aforesaid Richard
Montgomery, the combination for building or constructive purposes of corru-
gated beams with suitable blocks and filling pieces, and with other requisite
details of construction, substantially as illustrated in the Drawings and above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set' my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)