IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAMERS AND OTHER SHIPS, BOATS, AND VESSELS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Marks, of 36, Crutched Friars, in the City
of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEAMERS AND OTHER SHIPS, BOATS, AND VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION, left by the said William Henry Marks at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY MARKS, of 36 Crutched Friars, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAMERS, AND OTHER SHIPS, BOATS,
AND VESSELS."
"
I construct my ship more in the form of a raft than of a ship built according to
the ordinary method. The upper part contains the decks, cabins, engines, and other
parts, and to this upper part are attached a number of perpendicular supports
holding up a frame. To this frame I attach a series of air tight drums, two, three,
or more abreast, as may be convenient, and any number of these pairs or rows
fore and aft " as inay be necessary These drums, being airtight, float the frame
supporting the superstructure. The drums are provided with "Hoats," similar to the
floats of ordinary paddle wheels. In some cases I make the floats also hollow and
airtight, forming an additional floating power. Any one, two, or more of these
drums can be connected by gearing with an engine placed in the superstructure,
this engine being driven by steam or any other motive power. The drums not
used as propellors are allowed to run loose, so that they revolve with the resistance
of the water as the ship moves. The great buoyancy of these air tight drums
prevents almost entirely the pitching and rolling motion so disagreeable to many
persons. This buoyancy also renders the foundering or sinking of a ship
provided with these drums almost impossible, as the flotation can be made so great
by using a sufficient number of them, as to float a very great weight.
The drums used as propellors may also be make to work independently of each
other, so that the ship can be steered without a rudder by using one or other
wheel. A ship constructed on this principle would be able to enter bar-harbours,
rivers and other shallow waters, where an ordinary deep keel vessel would be
unable to go. The construction of the ship being of the nature of a raft, even if
all the drums should be by accidentd disabled, the superstructure would still float
as well as any ordinary raft, unless it also should be disabled.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Marks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1882.
"
WILLIAM HENRY MARKS, of 36 Crutched Friars, in the City of London.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAMERS AND OTHER SHIPS, BOATS,
AND OTHER VESSELS."
"
"
I construct my ship more in the form of a raft than of a ship built according to
the ordinary method. The upper part contains the decks cabins engines and other
parts and to this upper part are attached a number of perpendicular supports
holding up a frame A. To this frame I attach a series of air tight drums B, two
three or more abreast as may be convenient and any number of these pairs or rows
fore and aft as may be necessary. These drums being air tight or filled with
cork or other light floating material float the frame supporting the superstructure.
The drums are provided-with-floats similar_to_the_floats of ordinary paddle
wheels. In some cases make the Boats also bollow and air tight forming an
additional floating power. In some cases instead of making the floats project
beyond the circumference of the drum I make them in the form of a sort of
indentation within the circumference of the drum as shewn at Fig. 2.
two or more of these drums can be connected by gearing with an engine placed in
Any one
the superstructure. This engine being driven by steam or any other motive power.
The drums not used as propellers are allowed to run loose so that they revolve
with the resistance of the water as the ship moves. The great buoyancy of these
drums prevent almost entirely the pitching and rolling motion so disagreeable to
many persons. This buoyancy also renders the foundering or sinking of a ship
provided with these drums almost impossible as the floatation can be made so great
by using a sufficient number of them as to support a very great weight.
drums used as propellers may also be made to work independently of each other so
that the ship can be steered without a rudder by using one or other wheel.
constructed on this principle would be able to enter bar harbours rivers and other
A ship
shallow waters where an ordinary deep keel vessel would be unable to go.
The
The construction of the ship being of the nature of a raft even if all the drums
should by accident be disabled the superstructure would still float as well as any
ordinary raft unless it also should be disabled.
My Invention is also applicable to life boats (Fig. 3) the propelling wheels C in
centre being of less diameter than the side drums D so that the latter act as rollers
when the boat is required to be beached.
My Invention is also applicable as fishing boats the drums not used as propellers
(E) being perforated and einployed as fish tanks.
Having now described my Invention for improvements in the construction of
steamers and other ships boats and vessels what I claim as novel and original and
desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent is the Invention as set forth and
described in the above Specification and Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Henry Marks have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 8th day of June 1882.