CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS OF CRAFTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, WHEREBY SUCH VESSELS OR CRAFTS MAY BE BENDERED MORE DURABLE THAN THOSE HERETOFORE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF. NAVIGATION
Year: 1821

page_text: DICKINSON'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I; ROBERT
DICKINSON, of Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of.
Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting..
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth..did:
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date at Westminster,
the Fourteenth day of July, in the second year of His reign, give and grant
uuto me,.: the said Robert Dickinson, my exors,. admors, and assigns, .His>
especial licence,' full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Robert:
Dickinson, niy exors, admors, and assigns, during the term of years therein:
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and: yend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, iny Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS OF CRAFTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, WHEREBY
SUCH VESSELS OR CRAFTS MAY BE BENDERED MORE DURABLE THAN THOSE HERETOFORE
CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF. NAVIGATION;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso,.. that: if I; the said Robert Dickenson, shall not.
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of'my said Invention, and in.
what manner the same is to be performed, by an: instrument in writing.
under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's.
High Court of Chancery, within six::calendar months next and immediately.
after the date. of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent,

page_text: and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease,
determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Dickinson, do hereby declare that the nature of my aforesaid Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be practised and carried into effect,
is fully described and ascertained in the following description, and the expla-
natory Drawing or Figures thereunto annexed:-
My Invention consists, in the first place, of the appropriation of much moro
durable, flexible, tenacious, and serviceable materials than have hitherto been
used for the construction and formation of the hull or body of the vessel or
craft, for in lieu of the perishable substance wood, I substitute iron, copper,
or copper with an alloy.
Secondly, of a new arrangement of parts, both as to form and the means of
framing and uniting them together, suited to the materials which I so adopt, as
aforesaid.
And, thirdly, of the means which I make use of for the purpose of finishing
the whole, and making the joints close and water-tight, and protecting the
materials (wherever it may be necessary), both internally and externally, from
the effects of rust, corroson, or decay, as well as from external violence.or.
accidents.
And, fourthly, of the method of sheathing or covering iron vessels with
sheet copper, which is now first discovered.
. The construction which I use and adopt in forming ships, vessels, or other
craft, and which is now first applied to this purpose, consists in forming the
sides or walls of such vessels of shallow trays or boxes, formed so as to suit
the shape of that part of the vessel which they are to form, and of a thickness
or strength proportioned to the size of the vessel of which they form a part,
the bottoms or largest surfaces forming what in a wooden vessel would be the
planking, while their sides form flanches, by which such boxes are united
together by rivets or bolts and nuts, in manner herein-after particularly.
described.
Figure 1. of the annexed Drawing shows one of these metal boxes in its
separate and detached state, and Figure 2 represents three of such boxes,
showing the manner in which. they are placed together for the purpose of being:
rivetted or fixed in their places, and likewise shewing one of the transverse:
plates, and part of a rib placed between them for making the joints tight, as
herein-after described. Figure 3 shews an entire rib, made of the same meta!
of which the boxes are formed, and if made in one piece, having the same

page_text: shape and dimensions as to length as the height of the side of the vessel of
which it is to form a part. These ribs may be in separate pieces, but their
joints in this case must not coincide with the horizontal joints of the boxes
herein-after mentioned. This rib is turned up at its inner edge, so that a
section of it would appear. like Figure 4, which is supposed to be a section of
the rib Figure 3, through the line A, B. The lower end of the rib, as C, is
bent at right angles to its main length, or any other angle that may be neces-
sary for the purpose of rivetting or bolting it to the keel; and as a principal
use of these ribs is to make the joints between the boxes water-tight, the ribs
need not in any case exceed one quarter or three-eighths of an inch in thick-
ness. The boxes or trays for forming the sides of the vessel, as aforesaid, may,
for small vessels and such as are not liable to concussion, be formed of cast
iron, in which case the ribs and transverse plates must be of wrought iron;
but for all large vessels, and such as are built for strength and sea service, the
boxes, trays, ribs, and transverse plates must all be of malleable iron, or of cast
or rolled or hammered copper, or an alloy of copper with about one-thirtieth
part of tin, and spelter or zinc, which latter compound metal may be cast and
afterwards hammered, to give it greater solidity. Care must be taken that
all the boxes be of precisely the same width, so as to permit the ribs to be
parallel to each other, and to come into close contact with the sides of the
boxes in all parts of the vessel, when such an arrangement is necessary, as in
the sides; but towards the head and stern, where the ribs cannot be parallel,
the boxes must be cast or otherwise formed so as to fit in correctly between
them. The manner of putting these boxes together, for the purpose of forming
a vessel, will be understood by inspecting Figure 2, in which d, e, e, f, represents
part of a rib, as before described; g, h, i, three of the metal boxes, before
described; and k, k, a transverse plate, of the same thickness and material as
the rib placed between the boxes. Holes are punched, drilled, or otherwise
formed in the sides of all the boxes, so as to correspond with each other, and
similar holes being formed in the flat surface of the ribs, as shewn in Figure 3,
rivets are passed through the whole three, so as to unite the box g to the box h,
with the rib d, e, f, between them. The box i is then in like manner united
by rivets to the rib, a small space being left between it and the box imme-
diately below it; and in this. way the boxes are fixed one above another to any
convenient height, taking care that their external sides or flanches range and
are perfectly flat, in order that another rib may be applied and fixed to them
in like manner, one. such rib being fixed between each vertical tier of boxes.
This done, the transverse plates k, k, Figure 2, 7, and 8, are introduced into
the spaces left between one box and. another, as aforesaid. These transverse

page_text: plates are formed of the same metal, as the boxes themselves; they are made
slightly wedge form, and their length is precisely equal to that between rib
and rib where they are, introduced, which is done by driving them in with a
mallet until they become quito, tight.. Should the spaces between the boxes
not be parallel, these plates. must be. made to fit them; and they must be of
such width that when driven in, their outer edges may still project à sufficient
distance beyond the outer surface of the vessel to. admit of their being caulked
or rivetted, as herein-after, particularly described. The plates being so intro-
duced or driven in, holes are to be punched or formed through them, corre-
sponding with the holes in the end flanches of. the boxes, when they are to be
rivetted together, with, theso, transverse plates.between them, as shewn at m,
Figure 2, and fixed; in every respect. the same as the sides of the boxes, with
a rib between them. It, will be observed, that although. the length and
breadth of the boxes, is arbitary, and must, be suited to the strength and
size of the vessel to be constructed, yet in putting them together boxes must be
used at the top and bottom of each alternate tier which are about half as long
again as those in the tiers which are adjacent, to them on either side, for the
purpose of what is, technically called breaking the joints. Thus it. will be seen
that the box g is half as long again as the box h, consequently its flanch or side
n extends as far as the middle of the box i,. instead of falling in a line with the
joint m. This example may serve to shew the manner of uniting the boxes
together, and fixing the ribs and, transverse plates between them;. and it will
be needless to say that, in the actual building of a ship. or other vesse!, tlio
operation must begin at the bottom from the keel (when one is used) and
proceeds upwards...
Figure 5 represents, part of the, side of a vessel, consisting of three rows of
boxes fixed between four ribs, as above described, and from which it will easily
be seen how the compleat exterior of a vessel may be formed. In this Figure,
g,g, are the long boxes disposed between two vertical tiers of shorter ones of equal
length; f, the face or flat surface of one of the ribs, showing the holes for the
rivets to connect it, with the sides or flanches of the tier of boxes h, h; c, e, is
that part of the ribs, which is turned up so as to be at right angles with their
faces, as before described, not only to give addition strength and stiffness to the
whole vessel, but likewise to form flat surfaces, to which the internal lining
may be fixed...This lining is formed of long and thin parallel plates or planks
of iron, copper, or other metal, or may be of wood plank, as shewn at o, p,
in Figure 5, the same being fastened to the ribs by screws or rivets to the
faces e, e, of the ribs.
Figure 6 represents a longitudinal section of part of the side of a vessel

page_text: constructed as above, and which may be supposed to be taken in the direction
of the line q, q; Figure 5: In Figure 6, h, h, represent sections of the bottoms
or flat surfaces of the boxes forming the outside of. the vessel, and 1,1, their
sides or flanches ff; ss; the ribs interposed between thein; and e, e, their
internal or turned down surfaces; r; r, are the bolts or rivets passing through
the flanches of the boxes and the ribs between them; and o, p, is the internal
lining:
.*Having thus described my method of constructing vessels, whether of iron,
copper, or mixed metal, and the forms of the several parts that compose the
same, Ishall next proceed to describe the means which I adopt for finishing
and rendering them perfectly sound and water-tight. For this purpose all the
faces or flat surfaces of the ribs and transverse or caulking plates are made so
wide that, when the upper edges of the sides or flanches of the boxes are in
contact with the back of the returne, e, of the ribs, the face of such rib may
stand out or project beyond the bottom of the boxes on each side of it, as may be
seen at din Figure 2, and more distinctly at s, s, in the section, Figure 6.
The dotted line t, t,t, Figure 3, likewise shews: how far the boxes cover the rib,
the part between this line and the outer edge being that which projects. The
transverse or caulking plates likewise project in a similar degree to the ribs, as
shewn at k, Figure 2; the consequence of which is that, when the vessel
is first put together, its outside presents an appearance like Figure 7, that is to
say, the whole of the. ribs and transverse plates project out from what would
otherwise be the smooth outside of the ship. The whole of these projecting
edges are next to be rivetted or spread by the hammer until they become flat
or nearly so, as shewn at D, D, in the section Figure 6. The joining of the
Keel to the lower ends of the ribs and lower boxes' is effected in the same
manner. It has already been noticed that the lower ends of the ribs return or
turn back at right angles to the ribs themselves, or at such other angles
as may be necessary, as shewn at c, Figure 3. The length of these returns
must be guided by the distance the ribs are asunder, since the extreme end of
cach. return must come into contact with that rib which is next to it, as shewn
at 'c, c, c, Figure 5. Upon the face or flat surface of these returns the keel
is to be applied, and the same arrangement having been made for the opposite
side of the vessel; the whole is to be bolted or rivetted through the keel,
as shewn in the transverse section, Fig. 8, in which is the keel; u, w, the
lower part of two ribs, "the returning ends c, c, of which form the necessary
caulking or rivetting plates between the keel and ribs, the side next w shewing
the form of a part of a rib and its return before it has been caulked or rivetted
down, and w, a similar rib and return on the opposite side of the keel after it

page_text: has been caulked or rivitted and finished to make the joint tight. The keel
itself consists of three plates of iron, copper, or mixed metal firmly rivetted,
together, as shewn at F, F, G, Figure 5, of sufficient depth from F to G
to form the kecl below the vessel and the kelson to support the floor of the
hold within it. Three separate plates are used in the keel, on account of the
impossibility of forming one piece of metal of sufficient length for a keel; but.
by using three the joints may be broken, as at a, a, b, b, and to insure greater.
strength each length may be dovetailed into that which is next to it, as at b, b.
Felt, flannel, or fearnouglit, steeped in tallow and pitch, or in such butuminous-
materials as will resist water and prevent decay, may be laid between these
plates, before they are rivetted together, along the interior of the sides of the
vessel. Where the beams for the support of the decks are to be attached,
I place a sufficiently strong angular bar, of the form seen in section at Figure 4,
and corresponding in situation with it; on the outside is to be put another
strong flat bar, running in the same manner lengthways of the vessel, and
these two are to be firmly held together by bolts passing through them and
through the sides of the ship; to the projecting flange of the inside bar I fix
the ends of the beams by bolts or knees, or by both, or by spreading and
enlarging their surfaces; nevertheless, I do not intend to claim anything
belonging to the decks or beams, or manner of attaching them to the sides.
As the building of the vessel proceeds, the whole interstice or space between
the outside of the vessel and its internal lining may be filled up to above tho.
water line of such vessel with some resinous substances, such as melted pitch,
or pitch mixed with cork shavings or broken fragments of cork, or with pitch
and tallow, or any other substance capable of being melted by heat and not
by water, and which will consequently not only render the whole vessel.
impervious to water, but will preserve the metal of which it is formed from
oxidation or rust; and to promote this effect, and assist in this preservation,
particularly if made of iron, I recommend that such filling up should take place
as often and as speedily as possible after any part of the vessel is put together;
and if each separate piece of iron, while new and before it begins to rust,
is coated or painted with pitch, tar, or some resinous varnish or paint, its
preservation. will be much promoted. In vessels of war it may be expedient to
fill the whole space to the top with resinous or bituminous materials, as afore-
said.
i
Such is the general nature and outline of my aforesaid Invention; and
the description already given will enable any competent workman to proceed
in its exccution, either in iron, copper, or mixed metal, for it applies equally to
them all; nor is it necessary for me to describe more minutely the manner of

page_text: fixing and putting together the several parts of the vessel, since this admits of
great variety, and my Patent was not obtained for any particular mode'
of fastening pieces of metal together, but for the appropriation of old and well-
known materials under particular forms to a purpose to which they had not:
been before applied, in the manner herein described, namely, the forma-
tion of a regularly framed ship or vessel, and for the production of a new and
superior article, namely, a vessel or craft composed of materials which obviate
many of the inconveniences attendant upon those now generally used, and
possessing all the superior advantages of greater durability and strength to'
resist the effects of the element upon which it is to float, as well as the
various accidents to which it is constantly liable. It may, however, be
necessary to state that the vessel must be built entirely of copper, or entirely.
of iron, or of some ono compound or alloyed metal, as aforesaid, in order to
avoid that corrosion and destruction which is said to arise from electrical or
galvanic effects whenever two dissimilar metals are placed in contact with.
each other, and are subject to become wet or moist. In order to diminish.
the labour of rivetting or putting together a great number of boxes, or when
the boxes are made large, I increase their strength by introducing ribs or false
flanches, either in one or more directions, as shewn at HI, II, I, I, Figure 2.
If the boxes are of cast metal these ribs may be cast in them in the first
instance; but if otherwise, they must be separately formed and afterwards
rivetted in their proper situations, by which means the strength of the boxes
becomes so much increased that they may be made much larger than'
without such assistance. I have before observed that the process of con-
struction herein-before described applies equally to the formation of ships or
vessels of iron or copper, but I prefer the former material, not only on account.
of its superior strength, stiffness, and lightness, but from its being much
cheaper. In a copper ship or vessel, however, when the process of construction
above described has been complied with, it is compleat and fit for service,
while in an iron ship or vessel, from the more perishable nature of the
materials, it becomes necessary (particularly in vessels of magnitude) to coat
or cover their bottoms with sheet copper or some material capable of pro-
tecting them from the effects of the sea, and Figure 6 shews the manner in
which I use and apply the copper so as to prevent its coming into contact
with the iron in any part, as experience has shewn this is always productive of
bad consequences. K, K, is a covering of timber plank, which I prefer making
of beech, fir, or any wood except oak, and which is in every respect similar to
what is usually denominated a timber sheathing, except that instead of being
spiked on to the bottom of the vessel it is fastened as follows:-Iloles, as at

page_text: L, L, are punched or otherwise formed through the outside covering plates or
bottoms of the iron boxes in proper situations, which may be done before
affixing then to the ribs; and when. so fixed the planking K, K, is held or
supported against the outside of the vessel; while holes exactly agreeing in
size with those in the bottoms of the metal boxes are bored with augers or
other tools just fitting such holes from within, through the entire thickness
of such planking; another hole of about twice the diameter of the first is then
began by another tool from withoutside the planking, and this 'stops when it
has got about half-way through it, when a headed iron bolt, shaped in section
like M, M, and previously wrapped with oakum and tar or white lead, is
driven in and fixed with a screw nut or rivet on the inside, when the remaining
cavity of the larger hole is filled up with cork, putty, pitch, wood, or any other
bad conductor of electricity, as at N; or the planking K, K, may be fixed to-
the outside of the vessel by strong screws from within, as shewn at 0, 0, in
the same Figure, but I prefer the first method, and then the copper may be
safely applied to the outside of the planking, and fixed to the same by copper
nails,. as shewn in the Figure, in the usual manner. The ship or vessel above
described is new, not only as being formed of materials never before used in
the manner herein-before described for such a. purpose, but because it is not
subject to that rotting and decay to which wooden ships are perpetually liable;
no rats, worms, or vermin of any description can enter it or destroy it. Its
materials are so ductile, and it can be put together with such strength as to
insure its not falling asunder, éven though it may change its figure, when on
dry land or even on a rock, which is utterly impossible in a wooden ship; it is
at all times easily repaired, and will be water-tight; no splinters can fly from
it in an engagement, nor will it in any case emit those fumes so notoriously
detrimental to the health of the crew, which are inseparable from timber,
which is constantly humid; and it will be much more capable of resisting stress
of weather, and therefore much less liable to wreck, particularly as a great
part of the ballast of the vessel may be formed in itself, by making the lower
boxes proportionably heavy, and consequently it can never shift. But even
admitting that a metal ship is after all but a ship, and not distinguishable from
one of ordinary construction, or that metal ships or vessels may have been
made before, even then my Invention comprises a new mode of manufacturing
that which was before in use, and I use the materials in a manner and form which
have never before been used for a like purpose; I therefore hereby declare my
Invention to be that of ships, vessels, or craft formed of metal boxes or trays,
with ribs and transverse or caulking plates between them, so as to enable
them to maintain their proper figure either when afloat or out of the water,

page_text: and constructed entirely of metal, except as aforesaid; or if the same be
constructed wholly of iron, for the means herein-before described of covering
the same with copper, by the intervention of the now conducting plank covering,
which is interposed between the iron and the copper.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Dickinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in tho year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.