IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS
Year: 1884

page_text: of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS" to be as follows, reference
being had to the accompanying drawing in which :—
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the bull of a vessel embodying my
improvement and
Figure 2, a cross section of the same taken on the line xx, Fig. 1 and on an
enlarged scale.
The object of my invention is to increase the buoyancy and speed of steam ships,
being especially designed for application to such vessels of this class as are intended
for passenger transportation only, or for such freight as will pay bigh rates for
quick transit. The invention consists of a new design or conformation of the hull
of the vessel and this shape or conformation may be stated in a general way as
approximately that of the capital letter T in the cross section of the hull.
In the drawings A represents the hull of a steam ship embodying my invention,
it being shown here only in the simplest outline. The upper portion a of the hull,
above the water line B, may be of any ordinary conformation and of usual
proportions; but just below the water line the sides of the hull are contracted
rapidly, being carried inward on the lines a¹ as far as consistent with good results
and sea worthyness nearly or quite a third of the beam on each side; and then the
lines of configuration are carried almost straight downward, as shown in Fig. 2 of
the drawings, making the lower portion a³ of the hull very narrow as compared
with the upper portion as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings which represents a
section taken amid-ships. I intend that the vessel of this form shall have, when
equipped for service with the exception of coals, passengers and their baggage, &
draft about the same as any ordinary steam ship of like dimensions in the upper
portion of its hull. It is obvious then that a steamer built after my model will
have much less displacement than one of ordinary construction having the same
draft. I have shown by the dotted lines C, Fig. 2 of the drawings, the approximate
outline of the hull of a steamer of the usual model, the section being taken
amid-ships on the same line as Fig. 2 in full lines is taken. It will be seen at
once on comparing the full lines and dotted lines of Fig. 2 that with my improve-
ment a steamer of the same draft will have a displacement but little more than one

page_text: third that of a steamer of the usual shape shown by the dotted lines. The two
vessels having equal draft and equal beam at the water line, these vessels would of
course have substantially equal passenger room above the water line; but, with the
small displacement in a steamer of my improved model, greater buoyancy is
obtained and a great increase of speed, the latter being relatively according to the
amount of displacement saved. The longitudinal lines of the ship may be those
of the best approved models and the relation of length to beam may be of any
approved proportion and the material such as is generally used for vessels of this
class, all these details of construction being no part of my invention. It will be
seen of course that a vessel of this improved form will have little room for freight,
comparatively speaking and so steamers of this build will be adapted particularly
for fast passenger travel and such small quantity of valuable freight as seeks quick
transit at high rates. The narrow portion of the hull must of course be adapted
to contain the machinery and ballast, if the latter is necessary.

page_text: "
I, THEODORE WILLIAM PHINNEY, of Chicago in the County of Cook and State
of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM SHIPS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to steam-ships, and has for its object to increase their
buoyancy and speed, being especially designed for application to such vessels of this
class as are intended for passenger transportation only, or for such freight as will
pay high rates for quick transit. The invention consists of a new design or con-
formation of the hull of the vessel, and this shape or conformation may be stated
in a general way as approximately that of the capital letter T in the cross section
of the hull.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the hull of a vessel embodying my
improvement, and
Figure 2, a cross section of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale, on the line x, x,
Figure 1.
A represents the hull of a steam ship, it being shown here only in the simplest
outline. The upper portion a of the hull, above the water line B, may be of any
ordinary conformation and of usual proportions; but just below the water line the
sides of the bull are contracted rapidly, being carried inward on the lines a¹, as
far as consistent with good results and seaworthiness, nearly or quite a third of
the beam on each side; and then the lines of configuration are carried almost
straight downward, making the lower portion a³ of the hull very narrow as
compared with the upper portion, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, which
represents a section taken amid-ships.
.
*I intend that the vessel of this form shall have, when equipped for service, with
the exception of coals, passengers and their baggage, a draft about the same as
that of any ordinary steam-ship of like dimensions in the upper portion of its hull.
It is obvious then that a steamer built after my model will have much less displace-
ment than one of ordinary construction having the same draft.
I have shown by the dotted lines C Figure 2 of the drawing, the approximate
outline of the hull of a steamer of the usual model, the section being taken amid-
ships on the same line as Figure 2 in full lines is taken. It will be seen at once
5 on comparing the full lines and dotted lines of Figure 2 that with my improvement
a steamer of the same draft will have a displacement but little more than one third
that of a steamer of the usual shape shown by the dotted lines. The two vessels
having equal draft and equal beam at the water line, these vessels would have
substantially equal passenger room above the water line; but, with the small
O displacement in a steamer of my improved model, greater buoyancy is obtained
and a great increase of speed, the latter being relatively according to the amount
of displacement saved. The longitudinal lines of the ship may be those of the
best approved models and the relation of length to beam may be of any approved
proportion and the material such as is generally used for vessels of this class, all
these details of construction being no part of my invention.
It will be seen that a vessel of this improved form will have little room for
freight, comparatively speaking, and so steamers of this build will be adapted

page_text: particularly for fast passenger travel and such small quantity of valuable freight as
seeks quick transit at high rates. The narrow portion of the hull must be adapted
to contain the machinery and ballast, if the latter is necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The peculiar construction of the hull of a steam ship, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated th
1001