In- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET IRON AND OF IRON PLATES DAN LIED ARVERD En Dunn FORRSSSELS, BUILDINGS OTHER LIKEPURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wye Williams, of Liverpool, in the
County Palatine of Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET IRON AND OF IRON PLATES
DAN
LIED ARVERD En Dunn"
Sealed the 15th December 1853, and dated the 15th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wyc
Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th June 1853.
I, CHARLES WYE WILLIAMS, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine
of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET IRON AND
OF IRON PLATES USED FOR BOILERS, VESSELS, BUILDINGS, AND OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES" to be as follows:
My Invention relates to a peculiar mode of manufacturing wrought
iron sheets, and of iron plates, usually called "boiler plates," so that they
shall present a series of ribs on one or both sides, by which means I
materially increase their strength, and when used in the construction

page_text: of boilers they present on their ribbed side an enlarged heating
surface.
For the better understanding of my said Invention I shall now pro-
ceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, in which the same
letters refer to similar parts in each.
Fig. 1, is a view of the upper surface of a boiler plate A, with its
ribs B, running longitudinally.
Fig. 2, is a view of the upper surface of a boiler plate A', with ribs
B¹, running transversely.
Fig. 3, is a transverse section of the ribbed plate A, Fig. 1; and B,
the ribs.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section of the ribbed plate A', Fig. 2; and
B, the ribs.
I would here observe, that although I have thus described only two
figures or forms of my improved boiler plates and sheet iron, that I do
not restrict myself to rows of ribs or ridges of metal formed on one
side by suitable rollers running from end to end or from side to side of
such plates, as the said ribs may be variously modified; neither do I
confine myself to any particular configuration, size, thickness, length, or
number of such ribs on the surface of iron plates or sheets, as these
must be regulated by the convenience and object of the manufacturer;
thus, iron plates, broad and shallow ribbed, may be more suitable for
iron ship building, but deeper and narrower ribs will be preferable for
promoting the conduction of the heat to the water in steam boilers.
The number of ribs on each plate or sheet must also vary according
to circumstances, from a single rib upwards, in either direction, or
sometimes single or more ribs, waved or otherwise figured. And what
I do claim as my Invention is, namely:-
The peculiar arrangement of ribs or ridges on one or both surfaces
of sheet iron and of iron plates, called "boiler plates," as described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Wye Williams in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 15th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CHARLES WYE WILLIAMS, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of
Lancaster, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Wye Williams, Her special
licence that I, the said Charles Wye Williams, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Wye
Williams, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET IRON AND OF IRON
PLATES USED FOR BOILERS, VESSELS, BUILDINGS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Wye
Williams, 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 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 Charles Wye Williams, 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 following statement :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar mode of manufacturing
wrought iron sheets, and also the iron plates usually called "boiler
plates," so that they shall present a series of ribs or ridges on one or
both sides, by which means I materially increase their strength, and

page_text: when used in the construction of boilers, with their ribbed sides
exposed to the fire, they present an enlarged heating surface.
For the better understanding of my said Invention I will now
proceed to describe the details thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, in which the same letters indicate like
parts throughout
plate
A, with ribs B, running longitudinally.
Figure 2, is a plan or view of the upper surface of a boiler plate A',
with ribs B', running transversely.
Figure 3, is a transverse section of the ribbed plate A, Figure 1;
and B, the ribs.
Figure 4, is a longitudinal section of the ribbed plate A', Figure 2;
and B, the ribs.
Figure 5, is a series of sectional diagrams of different forms of ribs,
as No. 1, square and flat; Nos. 2, and 3, conical; No. 4, broad, shallow,
and circular; Nos. 5, and 6, blunt and broad based; No. 7, small close
reeled ribs No. 8, a repetition of No. 1, but hollow ribs instead of
solid, a mode of manufacture applicable to all the foregoing and other
forms of ribs.
I would here observe, that although I have thus described particular
figures or forms of my improved boiler plates and sheet iron, that I do
not restrict myself to rows of ribs or ridges of metal formed on one
side, or running from end to end, or from side to side of iron plates or
sheets, as the said ribs may be considerably modified; neither do I
confine myself to any particular configuration, thickness, length, con-
tinuity, or number of such ribs or ridges, as these must be regulated
by the convenience of manufacture, and the object desired to be
attained, whether strength, heating surface, or mere ornamental effect
thus, iron plates with broad and shallow ribs may be found most
suitable for iron ship building, the ribs being on the inside of the
vessel, but deeper and narrower ribs will be preferable for promoting
the conduction of heat to the water in steam boilers and boilers
generally, the ribbed face of the plates for such purposes being on the

page_text: outside, and the plain one inside. The number of ribs on each plate
or sheet must also vary according to circumstances, from a single rib
upwards, or sometimes single or more ribs, waved or figured, and
made by suitable rollers, grooved, or grooved and ribbed, according as
the ribs on the sheets or plates are desired to be produced, whether on
one side or on both sides of such sheets or plates.
Having thus described my said Invention, I wish it to be understood
that the ribs may be raised on the surface of the iron to from one six-
teenth to three quarters of an inch, which I recommend not being
exceeded, in consequence of increased difficulty in rolling the plates,
and afterwards in bending them to cylindrical and other forms. When,
however, the ribs are raised on one surface by indenting the opposite
surface, leaving a certain space of flat metal between each, then the
depth of the ribs may be readily increased, and such ribbed plates
would be desirable for constructing buildings and for other similar uses.
Iron plates having the solid shallow ribs on one side are most suitable
for ship building, and for all boiler purposes, they being easily bent,
without injuriously heating the plates for that purpose, which would be
the inevitable result with plates having thick deep ribs; whereas iron
plates having shallow ribs do not present practical difficulties to their
general adoption. And I do declare that what I claim as my Inven-
tion is, namely:-
The manufacture of ribbed sheet iron and ribbed iron plates, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wye Williams, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in
the mean I 10:0
CHA. W. WILLIAMS. (L.S.)