CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION OF IRON AND OTHER VESSELS FOR NAVIGATION ON WATER
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
KENNEDY, of the firm of Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, and THOMAS VERNON, of the same place, Iron
Ship Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fifteenth day of April, in the seventh year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said James
Kennedy and Thomas Vernon, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said James Kennedy and Thomas Vernon, our
exors, adiňors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said James Kennedy and
Thomas Vernon, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of fourteen
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the
Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, our Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION OF IRON AND OTHER
VESSELS FOR NAVIGATION ON WATER;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso obliging us, the said James Kennedy and Thomas Vernon,

page_text: by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us, to particularly describe and ascertain the nature of our
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
James Kennedy and Thomas Vernon, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the peculiar shape or form
of beams and frames, ribs or bars, manufactured of iron rolled solid in one
piece or made in two or more pieces of rolled iron, as will be hereafter set
forth and described, to be used in the construction or building of vessels for
navigation on water, whether such vessels be built of wood or iron, or wood
and iron combined, or of the combination of any other materials. The first
form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made of rolled iron in one piece, and has a
flange on one edge projecting on both sides, to which the planks, plates, or
linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel are fastened, and a
rib on the other edge projecting on both sides for the purpose of strengthening
such iron beam, frame, rib, or bar. The second form of beam, frame, rib, cr
bar is made of rolled iron in one piece, and has a flange on one edge pro-
jecting on one side, to which the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck,
sides, or bulkheads of the vessel are fastened, and a rib on the other edge pro-
jecting on one side for the purpose of strengthening such iron beam, frame, rib,
or bar. The third form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made of rolled iron in one
piece, and has a flange on one edge projecting on one side, to which the planks,
plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel are fas-
tened, and a rib on the other edge projecting on both sides for strengthening
the said beam, frame, rib, or bar. The fourth form of beam, frame, rib, or bar
is made of rolled iron in one piece, and has a flange on one edge projecting on
both sides, to which the planks, plates, or linings, forming the deck, sides, or
bulkheads of the vessel are fastened, and a rib on the other edge projecting on
one side for strengthening such iron beam, frame, rib, or bar. The fifth form
of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made of rolled iron in one piece, and has a
flange on both edges and projecting on both sides; to either or both of the said

page_text: j
flanges the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of
the vessel are fastened. The sixth form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made
of rolled iron in one piece, and has a flange on each of the edges, one projecting
on one side and the other on the other side; to either of the said flanges the
planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel are
fastened. The seventh form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made of rolled
iron in one piece, and has a flange on one edge projecting on one side only,
and a flange on the other edge projecting on both sides. To either of the
said flanges the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads
of the vessel are fastened. The eighth form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is
made with two pieces of rolled iron; one piece has a rib on one edge projecting
on both sides for strengthening the iron, and on one side of the other edge is
bolted or rivetted a flange of angle iron for the purpose of fastening the planks,
plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel. The
ninth form of beam, frame, rib, or bar is made with three pieces of rolled iron;
one piece has a rib on one edge projecting on both sides for strengthening the
iron, and on the sides of the other edge are bolted or rivetted two flanges of
angle iron for the purpose of fastening the planks, plates, or linings forming
the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel. The tenth form of iron beam,
frame, rib, or bar, is made with two pieces of rolled iron; one piece has a rib
on one edge projecting on one side for strengthening the iron, and on the side
of the other edge is bolted or rivetted a flange of angle iron for the purpose
of fastening the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads
of the vessel. The eleventh form of iron beam, frame, rib, or bar is made
with three pieces of rolled iron; one piece has a rib on one edge projecting on
one side for strengthening the iron, and on each side of the other edge are
bolted or rivetted flanges of angle iron for the purpose of fastening the planks,
plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the vessel.
The twelfth form of iron beam, frame, rib, or bar is made with two
pieces of rolled iron; one piece has a rib on one edge projecting on both
sides for strengthening the iron, and on the side of the other edge is bolted
or rivetted a piece of T iron for a flange or flanges, for the purpose of fastening
the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the
vessel. The thirteenth form of iron beam, frame, rib, or bar is made with
two pieces of rolled iron; one piece has a rib on one edge projecting on one
side for strengthening the iron, and on the side of the other edge is bolted or
rivetted a piece of T iron for a flange or flanges, for the purpose of fastening
the planks, plates, or linings forming the deck, sides, or bulkheads of the
vessel. The planks, plates, or linings of the deck, sides, or bulkheads may be

page_text: fixed to the beams, frames, ribs, or bars, by any known means of fastening
the same, for which we make no claim; and the beams, frames, ribs, or bars
may be bent to suit the form of the vessel, and united to each other by any
known means, for which we make no claim; nor do we make any claim for
rolling or manufacturing the iron into the forms set forth and described in this
Specification; nor do we claim the use of angle iron or T iron used separately,
but only in combination with other bars having ribs for strengthening the iron,
as set forth in this Specification. But what we do claim is,-
First, for the introduction of iron rolled solid in one piece, having a flange on
one edge projecting on one or both sides, and a rib on the other edge projecting
on one or both sides, for strengthening the iron for beams, frames, ribs, or bars,
in the building or construction of vessels for navigating on water, built of iron
or of wood, or of iron and wood combined, or of the combination of any other
materials.
Secondly, we claim the introduction of iron rolled in one piece, having
flanges on each edge projecting on one or both sides, for strengthening the iron
and fastening the planks, plates, or linings, in the construction of vessels for
navigation on water, built of iron, or of wood and iron combined, or of the
combination of any other materials.
Thirdly, we claim the introduction of iron rolled, with a rib on one edge
projecting on one or both sides for strengthening the iron, in combination with
angle or T iron rivetted or bolted on to the other edge on one or both sides
in the building or construction of vessels for navigation on water, built of
iron or of wood, or of iron and wood combined, or of the combination of any
other material; and,
Fourthly, we claim the formation of keelsons, with one or more bars of
rolled iron, of any of the forms set forth and described in this Specification, to
be rivetted or bolted together in the form required.
In order that the forms or shape of the beams, frames, ribs, or bars, we have
described in this Specification may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we have given an illustration of each form in the Drawing
hereunto annexed; but we do not confine ourselves to the particular configu-
ration or proportions as shown in the said Drawings; and also illustrations
showing the application of the beams, frames, ribs, or bars, in the construction
of a vessel.

page_text: fastened by any of the well-known means, and at the lower edge of the
beam there is a rib b projecting on each side, the object of which is to
strengthen the beam. Figure 2 shews a transverse section of a beam, well
adapted to those parts of the deck of ships or other vessels where hatchways
are required. This beam is made with a flange a and rib b, both of which
project from the same side of the beam. Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, shew
transverse sections of different forms or modifications of beams, frames, ribs,
or bars, all of which we prefer to be of rolled iron, and then bent in the
direction of their length to the required curve, by any of the well-known
means now in use.
Our improvement in beams, frames, ribs, and bars, as above described, con-
sists in having the rib of iron formed at one edge, and marked with the
letters b, b, b, rolled in one piece and solid with the other part or parts of the
beams, frames, ribs, or bars, not confining ourselves to the peculiar form;
shape, or proportion of such rib, which may be all on one side, as shewn at
Figure 2, or on the other side, as at Figure 4, or the same may be on both
sides, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. The flanges a, which we prefer to be rolled
solid with the beam, frame, rib, or bar, may also be either wholly or one side, as
shewn at Figures 2, 3, and 7, or on both sides, as at Figures 1, 4, and 5, and
of such proportions as may be deemed advisable, which will entirely depend
upon the purposes to which such beams, frames, ribs, or bars are to be applied.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 18, shew transverse sections of beams, frames, ribs,
or bars, having projecting ribs on one side, as at b, Figures 10, 11, and 13, and
also on both sides, as at b, Figures 8, 9, and 12; the flanges in this case, which
consist of angular pieces of iron, are bolted or rivetted to the beams, some of
the flanges being on one side of the beams, as seen at Figures 8 and 10,
whilst at Figures 9 and 11 they are attached to both sides, as will be clearly
understood on referring to the Drawing. Figures 12 and 13 shew. beams
similar to those above described, having a flange made in the form of a T,
bolted or rivetted to the edge of the beam. Figures 14, 15, and 16, represent
horizontal sections of a portion of the sides of vessels, shewing the application
of the forms of iron shewn by Figures 1, 2, and 3; Figure 14 shewing the
frame as at Figure 1, Figure 15 as at Figure 2, and Figure 10 as at
Figure 3. Figure 17 represents a transverse section of a bulkhead of a vessel,
shewing the application of the form of iron beam, as seen at Figure 1.
Figure 18 represents a longitudinal section of a portion of the deck of a vessel,
shewing the application of the forms of iron beams shewn by Figures 1 and 2,
where c denotes the side of a hatchway. And we here remark that any of the

page_text: other before-mentioned forms of iron beams, frames, ribs, or bars may be
employed in the same manner. Figure 19 represents the midship section of
an iron steam vessel, with the form of iron as shewn in Figures 3 and 7
applied for the side frames only, from a to b, terminating at the bilge on each
side of the vessel. The bottom frames from c to d may be made of common
angle iron.
c, a, and d, a, are the scarfs by which the side frames are con-
nected with the bottom frames. h are stringers, placed flat against the side
frames of the vessel, and passing round from stem to stern. i are keelsons,
which may be made of plate or angle iron, or of any of the beams or bars
described in our Specification. e and fare deck beams made with the form of
iron as shewn in Figures 27 and 28. g are knees for the deck beams, which
are made by the ends of the beams being split open horizontally, and opened
out for a short distance, and angle plates of iron rivetted to the sides of the
beam, and to the side frames or ribs. Figure 20 represents a horizontal
section of a vessel at line k, l, in Figure 19. Figure 21 represents a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the deck at line a, b, in Figure 20. Figure 22
represents a midship section of a vessel, the same as Figure 19, with the
exception that the form of iron shewn in Figures 25 and 26 is applied for
both the sides and bottom frames, that is, down the sides and across the bottom
of the vessel. Figure 23 represents an elevation of a bulkhead, strengthened
with the form of iron, as shewn in Figures 1 and 5, applied in a vertical
position, as shewn at a, a. Figure 24 represents a horizontal section of a
bulkhead taken on the line a, b, in Figure 23.
In these Drawings, Figures 19 to 23, it is shewn how the connections are
formed at the joinings of the deck beams and side frames, and how the bulk-
heads are stiffened by the application of the improved form of iron. It is also
shewn that keelsons are not necessarily made with any of the improved forms
of iron, when it is used for the side and bottom frames. We have also
given Drawings at full size of the proportions and shapes of the beams,
frames, ribs, or bars that we have found most advisable to use. Figures 27
and 28 are two sizes of deck beams; and Figures 25 and 26 are two sizes of
frames or ribs.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Kennedy and Thomas Vernon,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
forty-four.
JAMES (L.S.) KENNEDY.
THOMAS (L.S.) VERNON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid James Kennedy and Thomas
Vernon came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Specifi-
cation aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made
for that nurnace