IMPROVEMENTS IN CON- STRUCTING AND PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hamilton, junior, of the Windsor Foundry
and Iron Works, Liverpool, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CON-
STRUCTING AND PROPELLING VESSELS."
Sealed the 27th July 1860, and dated the 29th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hamilton, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
March 1860.
I, JOHN HAMILTON, junior, of the Windsor Foundry and Iron Works,
Liverpool, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing and pro-
pelling vessels. For these purposes in order to use paddle wheels at the ends
of vessels more advantageously than heretofore, each vessel is constructed
double at the end-where the paddle wheel is to come, and the two parts are at
such a distance apart as to admit of a paddle wheel between them, the bearings
for the shaft of the paddle wheel being carried by the two parts of which the
vessel is constructed. The upper parts of these two structures are decked
over, and a paddle box rises from such deck and passes over the paddle wheel,
leaving a space on the deck to admit passing on either side, and the deck

page_text: extends beyond the paddle wheel, so that there is a free passage all round.
The rudder is placed beyond the paddle wheel and its axis is supported in a
suitable bearing or bearings on deck, no stern post being used. The body of
the vessel where it joins, the two parts of the body, which come at the two
ends of the paddle wheel are curved or inclined, so as to make a suitable form
for the reception of the paddle wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hamilton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HAMILTON, junior, of the Windsor Foundry and Iron Works, Liverpool,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Hamilton Her special licence that I, the said John Hamilton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Hamilton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING AND PROPELLING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Hamilton, 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 John Hamilton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing and pro-
pelling vessels. For these purposes in order to use paddle wheels at the ends
of vessels more advantageously than heretofore, each vessel is constructed
double at the end where the paddle wheel is to come, and the two parts are at
such a distance apart as to admit of a paddle wheel between them, the
bearings for the shaft of the paddle, wheel being carried by the two parts of
which the vessel is constructed. The upper parts of these two structures are
decked over, and a paddle box rises from such deck and passes over the paddle
wheel, leaving a space on the deck to admit of passing on either side, and the
deck extends beyond the paddle wheel, so that there is a free passage all
round.
The rudder is placed beyond the paddle wheel, and its axis is supported
in a suitable. bearing or bearings on deck, no stern post being used. The
body of the vessel where it joins the two parts of the body which come at
the two ends of the paddle wheels, are curved or inclined so as to make a
suitable form for the reception of the paddle wheel.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews the after portion of a vessel which is constructed and has a
paddle wheel and rudder applied according to my Invention; Figure 2 shews
a plan of the same. The main or forward portion of the vessel is constructed
as one body, but the after end of the vessel is divided into two bodies B, B,
each connected with the fore or main body of the vessel. The paddle wheel C
is placed between the two parts B, B, and it will be seen that the hinder part
of the main or forward body is inclined or rounded off at bottom, so as to
facilitate the water getting freely to the paddle wheel. The paddle box D
rises from the sides and deck and passes over the paddle wheel, leaving a free
passage all round. The two parts B, B, constituting the after part of the
vessel are decked over, and such deck extends beyond the after end of the
paddle box, so that a free passage is made all round the paddle boxes. E is
the rudder which is suspended in a suitable bearing on deck, as shewn. The
paddle wheel has the float boards to feather, as is shewn, but other arrange-
ments or constructions of paddle wheels may be employed, and the engines
are arranged to work on an incline in each of the two parts B, B, but the
construction and arrangement of the engines forms no part of my Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
construction of a vessel combined with the application of a paddle wheel and
rudder at one end herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEORGE ANDERSON.
JOHN HAMILTON, JR. (L.S.)