IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS AND SAILING VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE BETTER ACCOMMODATION OF PASSENGERS ON BOARD SUCH
Year: 1870

page_text: 65
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, in the
City of London, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS AND SAILING VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR THE BETTER ACCOMMODATION OF PASSENGERS ON BOARD SUCH
TT
Sealed the 3rd May 1870, and dated the 24th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th February 1870.
I, HENRY BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS AND SAILING VESSELS,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE BETTER ACCOMMODATION OF PASSENGERS
ON BOARD SUCH VESSELS AND FOR LESSENING OR PREVENTING SEA-SICKNESS," to
be as follows:-
My present Invention consists chiefly in the construction and arrange-
ment of saloons, cabins, rooms, and platforms on board steam and

page_text: sailing vessels in such manner that the floors thereof (which are heavily
weighted) are retained by their gravitating action in a horizontal
position or nearly so notwithstanding the rolling and pitching motion
of such vessels when at sea. When applying these improvements to
paddle wheel steamers I prefer to employ two pairs of paddle wheels and
engines, each pair being placed so far apart from each other as to adimit
of the construction of the saloons or cabins in the central portion of the
vessel midway between the two pairs of paddle wheels and engines,
this intermediate space being separated from the rest of the vessel by
water-tight bulkheads extending upwards from the keel to the deck
and in order to give sufficient strength and stiffness to such structures
I prefer to form the sides of the vessel into strong box or plate girders
which extend far enough lengthwise of the vessel to give support to
the shafts of both pairs-of-paddle-wheels, the-girders-being-of-con-
siderable depth and at the ends thinning off into and forming part of the
regular plating of the vessel. When steam vessels fitted with saloons
or cabins according to my present Invention are to be employed to
convey passengers for short distances, such as crossing the English
channel, I prefer to construct the vessel of considerable length, the
deck and bulwarks not extending quite the whole length from stem to
stern, the parts beyond the bulwarks having a low and sloping freeboard,
thus giving to the vessel a tendency to cut through rather than ride
over the crest of a wave and consequently to reduce the angle to
which the vessel pitches. I should prefer to use for such channel
service vessels from 300 to 400 fect in length and from 3000 to 5000
tons burthen more or less, and as the pitching of such vessels even at
their extreme ends would not be very great the angle formed at the
central part occupied by the cabins would be very small and the
motion would also be very slow, I therefore in some cases make pro-
vision only for preventing the transmission of the rolling motion of the
vessel to the saloons and cabins. For this purpose I form a number of
curved ribs or rails fixed crosswise of the vessel at its lowest internal
part, the axis or centre of their curve coinciding as near as practicable
with the axis of the rolling motion of the vessel. I then fit up a
platform or floor on wheels somewhat similar to a flat railway truck
having several pairs of wheels and axles and also guide wheels. The
wheels of the platform or floor rest on the curved rails, and the whole
structure necessarily gravitates to the lowest portion of the hollow
or curved rails, and will continue to occupy that position, preserving

page_text: the floor nearly horizontal however much the vessel rolls over on.
either side.
In lieu of using wheels and axles as described, rollers in a ring or
frame may be employed and be constructed after the manner known
as "live ring," in which case I make each of the rollers of two different
diameters to suit different diameters of the two curved surfaces between
which they have to move, guide rollers being also employed to
prevent lateral motion, or the floor or platform may be supported on
trunnions at each end, so that by its own gravity it may be suspended
in a horizontal position, the axes being as before described coincident
with the centre of the rolling motion of the vessel. It will be readily
understood that in cases where it may be desired the saloons or cabins
may be also given freedom of movement by either of the methods
herein described in a direction at right angles to the line of the keel,
and thus prevent the transmission of the pitching motion of the vessel
and the salons or cabins. It will also be understood that the self-
adjusting horizontal floor or platform may be applied to any rooms
or cabins in a steam or sailing vessel as a simple self-adjusting floor, but
I nevertheless prefer to use such floor or platform as the base only
of a more complete structure and to form a cabin or saloon complete in
itself, divided for first and second class passengers if needful, and fitted
with sleeping berths, dining rooms, or other chambers as may be required.
Those cabins or saloons that are supported on rails may be entered at all
times by a doorway situated at or near the point about which the vessel
rolls, and in other cases it will be necessary to give to the saloons or cabins
the same motion as the vessel at the time of ingress or egress by means
of a break acting on the wheels or rails, thus rendering the platform
moveable only with the general motion of the vessel for the time being.
In other cases I dispense with the wheel and rail arrangement and
obtain the desired amount of steadiness and horizontal position of floor
by means of floatation, that is, the floatation of a small structure
within the vessel.
In carrying out this modification of my Invention I prefer to
construct a hemispherical vessel of rivetted iron quite smooth on the
inside, and I fix it as near as may be by preference in the centre of
the vessel. A similar basin is formed in like manner plain and smooth
on its exterior surface and a little less in diameter than the hemi-

page_text: spherical tank, into which I place it with sufficient water between to
float the inner chamber. A flat floor is formed in the latter and the
top is covered with a dome or a flat surface. If intended to form a
deck platform occasional contact between the floating and fixed portion
of the apparatus may be prevented by a soft buffing roller or by metal
guides. The large floating chamber thus arranged may be divided
into separate cabins or berths and be warmed and ventilated in any
convenient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer, my exc-
cutors, 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 Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS AND SAILING VESSELS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE BETTER ACCOMMODATION OF PASSENGERS ON BOARD
SUCH VESSELS AND FOR LESSENING OR PREVENTING SEA-SICKNESS,'
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
وو

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
My present Invention consists chiefly in the construction and arrange-
ment of saloons, cabins, rooms, and platforms on board steam and
sailing vessels in such manner that the floors thereof (which are heavily
weighted) are retained by their gravitating action in a horizontal
position or nearly so notwithstanding the rolling and pitching motion
of such vessels when at sca. When applying these improvements to
paddle steamers I prefer to employ two pairs of paddle wheels and
engines, each pair being placed so far apart from each other as to admit
of the construction of the saloons or cabins in the central portion of
the vessel midway between the two pairs of paddle wheels and engines,
this intermediate space being separated from the rest of the vessel by
water-tight bulkheads extending upwards from the keel to the deck,
and in order to give sufficient strength and stiffness to such structures
I prefer to form the sides of the vessel into strong box or plate girders
which extend far enough lengthwise of the vessel to give support to
the shafts of both pairs of paddle wheels, the girders being of consider-
able depth and at the ends thinning off into and forming part of the
regular plating of the vessel.
a is
Figure 1 represents a portion of a paddle wheel steam vessel in ləngi-
tudinal vertical section; Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the same
taken on the line A, B, of Figure 1, the saloons and shell of the vessel
in Figure 2 occupying relatively the position they would assume when
the vessel is in a state of rest; Figure 3 is also a vertical cross section
taken on the line C, D, of Figure 1, the saloon and cabin showing their
relative position to the vessel when the latter is rolling heavily.
the outer shell of the central portion of the vessel; this central part is
separated from the fore and aft portions by strong, iron bulkheads b, the
space between which is occupied by the saloons cand cabins d and e
which form a single structure mounted on several pairs of flanged
wheels, which rest on the curved rails. g, these rails are fastened on
to and form part of the massive curved ribs. or girders g*, which serve
to give great strength and stiffness to the sides of the vessel, which
would otherwise be deficient in strength from the absence of inter-
mediate decks or floors as used in the ordinary construction of vessels.

page_text: It will also be observed that there is no upper or main deck to that.
portion of the vessel lying between the bulkheads b, b. In the absence
of deck beams at this part I strengthen the sides of the vessel by
means of two massive box girders , h, to the under sides of which the
ribs are. securely rivetted. The box girders h, h, not only extend
entirely along both sides. of the vessel as far as the bulkheads b, b, but
passes beyond them and serve along to support both of the paddle
wheel shafts when two pairs of paddle wheels are employed. The
position of the paddle shafts are shown at i, i, the dotted lines j indicating
the line described by the tips of the paddles.
When steam vessels fitted with saloons or cabins according to my
present Invention are to be employed to convey passengers for short
distances, such as crossing_the_English-Channel,-I-prefer-to-construct
the vessel of considerable length the deck and bulwarks not extending
quite the whole length from stem to stern, the parts beyond the bulwarks
having a low and sloping free board, thus giving to the vessel a tendency
to cut through rather than ride over the crest of a wave and conse-
quently to reduce the angle to which the vessel pitches. I should prefer
to use for such channel service vessels from 400 to 450 feet in length,
and from 3000 to 4000 tons burthen more or less, and as the pitching
of such vessels even at their extreme ends would not be very great the
angle formed at the central part occupied by the saloon or cabins would
be very small and the motion would also be proportionably slow. I
therefore prefer in most cases to make provision only for preventing the
transmission of the rolling motion of the vessel to the saloons and
cabins as represented on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed. The
curved ribs or rails are fixed crosswise of the vessel at its lowest
internal part, the axis or centre of their curvature coinciding as near as
practicable with the axis rolling motion of the vessel. I then fit up a
platform or floor on wheels somewhat similar to a flat railway truck
having several pairs of wheels and axles and also guide wheels when
necessary. The wheels of the platform or floor rest on the curved rails
and the whole structure necessarily gravitates to the lowest portion of
the hollow or curved rails, and will continue to occupy that position,
preserving the floor nearly horizontal however much the vessel rolls
over on either side. Beneath the floor of the saloon and cabins I form
several strong cross girders k having axle, boxes fitted in them, in
which the axles ? of the wheels f revolve. The girders k not only

page_text: serve as a support for the axles of the wheels, but in conjunction with the
longitudinal girders form a strong framing or floor on which the saloon
and cabins are constructed. There are other girders * similar in form
to the girders k to which the counterbalance weights q are suspended
by the rods and diagonal braces s, for the purpose of causing the
whole structure to gravitate and remain at rest on the lower part of the
curved rails, while the latter roll from side to side with the vessel beneath
the wheels which support the cabins, as represented in the cross section
Figure 3. The structure mounted on wheels may consist of a single
apartment having a curved top and central skylight extending along
the entire length, I however prefer to divide the structure in such
manner as the nature of the service may require. In the annexed
Drawing I have shown three principal divisions, the two end ones d and e
may be fitted up as first and second class, or as gentlemen's and ladies'
cabins. The sides are formed of thin plate iron or preferably of steel
as shown at:t and strengthened by T or angle ribs. The compartments
are lighted by the row of casements above as shown at u, and have
cushioned seats v extending along each side of them. The central
apartment may be fitted up as a dining saloon also lighted in the same
manner, and having along each side a range of lower cabins with glass
doors w and a gallery at x leading to an upper series of sleeping berths
which are lighted by an inclined glass screen'y. I prefer to make a flat
roof to the saloons and cabins as shown at z surrounded by a light hand-
rail and forming an extensive promenade deck open to the breeze and at
an agreeable height above the ordinary deck which covers the other
part of the vessel and in which the engine rooms, coal bunks, and sailors'
berths are situated. These cabins or saloons supported on rails may be
entered at all times by a doorway situated at or near the point about
which the vessel rolls. If the doorway be not thus situated it will be
necessary to give to the saloons or cabins the same motion as the vessel
at the time of ingress and egress by means of a break acting on the
wheels or rails, thus rendering the platform moveable only with the
general motion of the vessel for the time being, or in place of locking
the main saloons or cabins with the vessel in this way, which might be
inconvenient, a separate cabin or platform similarly mounted may be
provided for this purpose.
The first and most simple arrangement is shewn at Figure 1, where A
are steps leading from the deck to a landing B on a level with another
landing C which is formed at the top of the staircase D at one end. of

page_text: the cabin. The landings B and C are placed on a line coincident with
the centre of the curved rails g, so that however much the vessel rolls.
the landings B and C will only present a slight difference of angle to
each other on each side of the centre of their width, and they at all
times allow passengers to pass up to the deck or down from it as desired.
The other mode of gaining access to the cabins' is shown at the opposite.
end, where E, E, represent two sets of steps leading from the deck, and
by means of a doorway at b* through the bolt head b, allowing the
passengers to alight on the floor of a platform G which is mounted on
wheels I resting on the curved rails H, and is free to move thereon in a
manner similar to the main saloon and cabins. A break and lever
handle not shewn in the Drawings will enable an attendant to lock the
platform G either to the end of the cabin e, or to the bulkhead b. Now
_if_we_suppose_the_platform_G_to be in connection with the fixed bulk-
head a passenger may descend the stairs and alight on the platform G,
which like the stairs will partake of the general movements of the
vessel; the breaksman will then by means of his lever handle disengage
the platform from the bulkhead and lock it to the end of the cabin e,
the platform will then cease to be influenced by the rolling of the vessel
and will become steady like the cabin, and thus allow the passenger to
pass quietly through the doorway leading into the cabin e, from which
passengers may return in a similar manner as they may desire. Suitable
doors are provided by means of which access is obtained from one main
cabin or saloon to another.
It will be readily understood that in cases where it may be desired the
saloons or cabins may be also given freedom of movement by the method
herein described in a direction at right angles to the line of the keel,
and thus prevent the transmission of the pitching motion of the vessel
to the saloons or cabins ; curved rails may for this purpose be mounted
on the beams k and at right angles to them, and on these rails the cabin
would be supported on wheels.
It will also be understood that the self-adjusting horizontal floor or
platform may be applied to any rooms or cabins in a steam or sailing
vessel as a simple self-adjusting floor, but I nevertheless prefer to usc
such floor or platform as the base only of a more complete structure,
and to form a cabin or saloon complete in itself divided for first and
second class passengers if needful, and fitted with sleeping berths, dining
rooms, and other chambers as hercin-before described.

page_text: In order that the way in which I propose to fit up floors or platforms
may be fully understood, I have given a vertical cross section of such
an arrangement at Figure 4 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings. The
vessel is fitted with curved rails and strengthened by box girders as
before described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. The platform or
floor J has raised sides extending a few feet upwards and is provided
with a seat K all around it; it is simply covered by an ordinary upper
deck L and skylight M; such an arrangement would be very convenient
as a dining room in ordinary steam or sailing vessels, or it may be used
for other purposes.
In some cases I dispense with the wheel and rail arrangement, and
obtain the desired amount, steadiness, and horizontal position of floor
by means of floatation, that is, the floatation of a small structure within
the vessel. In carrying out this modification of my Invention I prefer
to construct a hemispherical vessel of riveted iron quite smooth in the
inside, and I fix it as near as may be by preference in the centre of the
vessel. A similar basin is formed in like manner plain and smooth on
its exterior surface and a little less in diameter than the hemispherical
tank; I place this basin in the tank with sufficient water between to float
it. A flat floor is formed in the latter and the top is covered with a dôme,
or a flat surface if intended to form a deck platform. Occasional
contact between the floating and fixed portion of the apparatus may be
prevented by a soft buffing roller or by metal guides. The large floating
chamber thus arranged may be divided into separate cabins or berths,
and be warmed and ventilated in any convenient manner.
At Figure 5 of the annexed Drawings I have shewn a vertical cross
section of a vessel fitted up with a floating cabin. The vessel may be
of the ordinary construction with the exception of a portion enclosed
between bulkheads at or near the centre of its length; in this space I
construct a hemispherical tank or basin N smooth on the inside and
externally supported by ribs or girders P which radiate from the lowest
part of the tank, some of them joining the sides of the ship as shewn
at P*, and others securely riveted to the bulkheads, so that the tank is
firmly supported in its position. The box girder Q extends entirely
around the tank and also some distance along the sides of the vessel,
by which means the whole structure is much strengthened. The cabin
or saloon R is in figure a portion of a large hollow spherical chamber
constructed of plate iron ribbed internally and smooth and even on its

page_text: •
external surface; it is placed in the tank N, and is of such size as to
leave a few inches space all around it which is filled with water or
with other fluid. The interior of the saloon may be fitted up in any
convenient manner. In the example shewn at Figure 5 a gallery S
extends around the largest diameter leaving a space Z to be fitted with
berths if necessary, beneath the floor U is also a space that may be
similarly utilized; the upper part is formed into a flat floor or promenade
deck T with a light handrail around it; the windows Y serve to light
and ventilate the cabin. At W a mass of iron is fixed to ballast the
cabin and cause the floor of it to constantly assume a horizontal position
however much the vessel pitches or rolls. To prevent contact at any
time between the floating cabin and the containing tank friction rollers
may if needful be employed, or vulcanized rubber or other elastic balls
may float on the surface_of_the_water_in_the_space_X. Or_an_clastic_
packing ring or a hollow inflated elastic tube may be employed to close
in the annular space at the surface of the water and prevent its being
displaced, and also to prevent contact between the floating chamber and
the tank, and thus quietly maintain the saloon in a level position at all
times.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is, the construction of steam and sailing vessels with a central
indecked space for receiving a moving platform with cabins formed upon
it, such space being partitioned off from the other parts of the vessels by
watertight bulkheads and strongly framed with longitudinal girders
connecting together transverse girders on which the platform with cabins
runs.
I also claim the combination with a steam or sailing vessel of a cabin
mounted on wheels running on curved rails or guides transverse of the
vessel and concentric or nearly so with the rolling motion so that this
motion of the vessel may not be communicated to the cabin.
I also claim the combination with a steam or sailing vessel of a
platform arranged in the hold of such vessel beneath a deck, such
platform being mounted on wheels running on curved rails or guides,
transverse of the vessel, and concentric or nearly so with the rolling
motion, so that this motion may not be communicated to the platform.
I also claim the arrangements for passing to and from such moving
platforms carrying cabins or otherwise by forming the gangway and

page_text: entrance at the centre of motion or by combining locking apparatus with
the main or secondary platform so that it may be locked to and roll·
with the vessel when it is desired to enter upon it.
I also claim the construction of a steam or sailing vessel with a tank
in the central part approximately of a semicircular form in section and
floating in this tank a basin or chamber of corresponding shape with a
cabin or cabins formed within it.
I also claim the general arrangement of steam and sailing vessels
and apparatus employed for the better accommodation of passengers
on board such vessels, and, for lessening or preventing sea-sickness,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.