IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1864

page_text: of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th Septem-
ber 1864.
I, WILLIAM COPPIN, of the Strand Foundry, Londonderry, Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of ships
and vessels.
In constructing ships and vessels according to this Invention, I divide the
bottom of the ship or vessel into two or more sections or parts by one or more
longitudinal channels or water spaces, which are open at the bottom and run
from end to end of the vessel; at the two ends of the vessel the water spaces
are also open at the top. At the midship part of the vessel the channels
or water spaces for about one-half the length of the vessel are decked over,
and the two or more parts into which the vessel is divided by the channel or
channels are thus connected together, the under side of the deck or cover of
the water channel or channels being made to come considerably above the load
water line of the vessel. Each of the two parts into which the vessel is
divided by the channel or channels is made with similar curved lines on each
of its sides, its inner side which forms the side of the water space being of a
similar form to its outer side, and the lines of the sides may be made much
finer than it is practicable to make the lines of vessels constructed in the
ordinary manner. Each of the parts into which the vessel is divided is made

page_text: of its greatest depth in the centra or amidships, and to taper to a point or
nearly so at each end; each part of the vessel will thus resemble in form an
arched beam or girder. The lower portion of the bottom of each of the parts
into which the vessel is divided is, by preference, made semicircular in cross
section, and, as before stated, the lowest point of the bottom of these parts is
amidships with the bottom, sloping upwards towards the two ends, and the
curvo of this slope is, by preference, made the same as tho curvo to which the
sides of the parts are formed. The line of the top of the midship portion of
the vessel where the channel or channels are decked or covered over is made
to form a continuation of the curvo to which the upper edge of the ends of the
parts which are separated by the channel or channels is formed, and the form
of this curve will depend upon the height of the vessel; by forming the parts
of the vessel in this manner great strength will be obtained, at the same time
the sido surfaces of the ends of the vessel that are exposed to the action of the
waves of the sea will be much reduced. Each of the parts or sections into
which a vessel is divided may be divided up by any suitable number of decks.
The central portion of the vessel that is above and which connects together the
parts that are separated by the channel or channels may also be divided up
horizontally by one or more decks. This central portion of the vessel is also
divided up by strong transverse bulkheads, so as to compensate for the loss of
strength consequent on the formation of the longitudinal water channel or
channels. The two ends of the parts or sections into which a vessel is divided
are covered over at the top so that no water may enter into those parts. These
parts may thus at times be covered with water.
Vessels constructed as above describod may be propelled by sails or by
paddle whools, screws, or other propellors, and when paddle wheels aro used
they may not only be placed on the exterior sides of the vessel, but also in tho
longitudinal channel or channels which run from end to end of the lower part
of the vessel.