IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF STEAM VESSELS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Merrit Singer, of New York, in the United
States of America, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF STEAM VESSELS."
Sealed the 5th March 1861, and dated the 15th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Merrit Singer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th October 1860.
I, ISAAC MERRIT SINGER, of New York, in the United States of America,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF STEAM VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The chief object of this Invention is to prevent the rolling of sea-going
vessels, by providing them with a breadth of beam that will practically
neutralize the action of the waves when striking the side of such vessels. This
arrangement will also enable me to increase the accomodation for passengers!
To this end I propose to group three hulls of suitable shape, side by side, and
to connect them together by suitable bracings above, and if necessary below the
line of flotation, leaving sufficient space between the hulls to afford good
passage ways for the water. Between the hulls I propose to mount a pair of
paddle wheels, which will be driven by engines contained in the middle hull,
and the rudder I propose to fit to the stern of this hull. I may also find it
desirable to build the middle hull longer than the others, so that while the
sterns of all range in a line with each other, the head of the middle hull will

page_text: be sufficiently in advance to divide the water (while the vessel is being pro-
pelled) and deflect the stream beyond the bows of the side hulls; athwart these
hulls I propose to arrange lines of saloons or state cabins, which will bridge
over the spaces between the hulls. If thought desirable for the sake of speed,
stern screw propellers may be fitted to the side hulls, and also paddle wheels at
the outer sides thereof, which will be driven from engines in the side hulls
or in the middle hull, and may be made to unship in case of a storm coming
on, the propulsion of the ship being then kept up by the paddle wheels between
the hulls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Merrit Singer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
MERRIT SINGER, of New York, in the United States of America, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, 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
Isaac Merrit Singer, Her special license that I, the said Isaac Merrit
Singer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Isaac Merrit Singer, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF STEAM VESSELS," upon, the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Merrit Singer, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Isaac Merrit Singer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The chief object of this Invention is to prevent the rolling of sea-going
vessels; this I propose to effect by providing them (in a manner that will not
detract from their sailing qualities) with a breadth of beam sufficient practically
to neutralize the action of the waves when striking the side of such vessels:
This-arrangement also enables me to increase the cabin and saloon accommo
dation for passengers, and by means of appliances to be presently described *I
am also enabled greatly to facilitate the propelling and steering operations.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews my improved steam vessel in
sectional plan-view; and Fig. 2 is longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 8
is a cross section taken in the line 1, 2, of Figures 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a
cross section taken in the line 3, 4, of the same Figures.
To form the hull of the vessel, I group three long narrow hulls A, A', A³,
together side by side, making by preference the head and stern of the middle
hull project somewhat beyond the side hulls; these hulls I connect together by
suitable bracings B, B, above the line of flotation, and, if necessary, employ
additional bracings, not shewn in "the Drawing, below the line of flotation,
leaving sufficient space between the hulls to afford good passage ways for the
water. Between the hulls, at about the middle of their length, I mount a
pair of paddle wheels C, C, which I drive by means of steam engines contained
in the middle hull (see Fig. 3). In some cases I propose to continue the
paddle-wheel shafts through and beyond the side hulls for the purpose of
receiving side propellers C*, C. As the ordinary mode of steering vessels by
a rudder at the stern may not suffice for this novel construction of compound
vessel, more especially when moving in narrow waters, I provide at the
opposite ends of the central hull a pair of engines D, D, for driving respectively
a propeller shaft mounted in a line with the keel of the hull. These shafts I
fit each with a paddle wheel or other propeller, the same being intended to
steer the vessel, either singly or simultaneously, as desired. When the vessel
is at sea, it will be desirable to raise one and occasionally both of these steering
paddle wheels out of the water. To facilitate this operation, I joint the
steering wheel shafts at a, Fig. 2, and provide chains and windlasses, which
are set in action by the rotation of the paddle shafts communicated to the
windlass barrels by a worm and worm wheel. The barrels are thus caused to
baul up the steering wheels into the inclined position shewn by dots in
Fig. 2. When, however, the vessel is required to be steered into and out of
harbour the simultaneous action of the steering wheels at the opposite ends of
the vessel will be found most efficient, enabling the vessel to be turned round

page_text: in nearly its own length. By building, the middle bull longer than the others,
I am enabled so to advance the head of that bull that it will divide the water
(while the vessel is being propelled), and deflect, the, stream beyond the bows of
the side hulls. Athwart these hulls on a platform formed by the lower
bracings B, B, I arrange lines of saloons or state cabins E, E, E, which bridge
over the spaces between the hulls; these saloons are shewn as arranged in two
tiers and in parallel lines over the whole of the available deck or platform
space, the centre of the vessel being occupied for engine room, ships, stores, &c.
These saloons are approached by a central passage F, F, provided with stair-
cases for reaching the upper tier of saloons. Leading off from these saloons
are the small cabins or sleeping berths G, G, G, for the passengers, each
saloon being provided with a row of cabins on either side, except where the
space is unavoidably occupied for facilitating access to the hulls of the vessel.
If thought desirable for the sake of speed, stern screw propellers may be fitted
to the side hulls, as shewn at H, H, (Fig. 1), and driven from engines in the
side hulls or in the middle hull. These screw propellers, and also the side
paddles, when the same are used, may be made to unship in case of a storm
coming on, the propulsion of the ship being then kept up by the paddle wheels
between the hulls.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
the Construction and Fitting of Steam Vessels," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent; I claim constructing and fitting steam
vessels, as above described, whereby I am enabled to a great extent to prevent
the rolling of such vessels, and at the same time provide spacious and convenient
accommodation for numerous passengers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Merrit Singer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness.
C. WINTERSGILL,
66, Chancery Lane.
1. M. SINGER. (L.S.)