Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS OR VESSELS AND FOR STRENGTHENING THE SAME
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Leslie, of Hebburn Quay, Gateshead, in
the County of Durham, Iron Ship Builder, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS OR VESSELS AND FOR
STRENGTHENING THE SAME."
Sealed the 2nd March 1860, and dated the 14th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Leslie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th December 1859.
I, ANDREW LESLIE, of Hebburn Quay, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Iron Ship Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS OR VESSELS
AND FOR STRENGTHENING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of iron ships or vessels, and to the
strengthening the same at those parts where the strain is most felt, by running
a side and middle box stringer or tube along the entire length of the vessel at
the side on the top of the main deck, and in large vessels on the top of the
lower decks and along the centre of the vessel over the kelson.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I first secure a plate
on to the top of the beams of the vessel, this plate being run entirely round
the vessel and serving as a base or foot plate upon which I construct a
wrought-iron box stringer extending along each side of the deck or decks, and

page_text: from stem to stern of the vessel. These box stringers are composed of plates
of iron rivetted together and connected to the base plate by angle irons. The
base plate may be made considerably wider than the stringers so as to project
inwards towards the deck, and the outside plates of the stringers are carried
up some distance above the top of the same for the purpose of securing the
stanchions thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Leslie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
LESLIE, of Hebburn Quay, Gateshead, in the County of Durham, Iron Ship
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Andrew Leslie, Her special license that I, the said Andrew
Leslie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Andrew Leslie, my executors, administrators, or 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS OR VESSELS AND FOR
STRENGTHENING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Andrew Leslie, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Leslie, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what mauner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the construction of iron ships or vessels and to

page_text: the strengthening of the same at those parts where the strain is most felt by
means of wrought iron, steel, or other metal box girder stringers or tubes,
such box girder stringers being placed on the top of the main spar or lower
deck beams at the sides of the vessel, or placed under or between the main
spar or lower deck beams at or near the centre line of the vessel, or at the
sides of the hatchways. The whole or any of these stringers may be continued
throughout the entire length of the vessel or extend along any part thereof as
may be desired.
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention 1 propose first to
secure a plate A, as shewn in the Drawing annexed (which represents a
transverse section of an iron ship constructed according to my Invention) on
to the top of the beams B of the vessel, this plate extending entirely round the
vessel and serving as a base or foot plate upon which the wrought-iron box
girder C is constructed. This box girder stringer extends along each side of
the upper and lower decks D and E, (when two decks are used) and runs
from stem to stern of the vessel or along any part of the length thereof.
These box girder stringers C, C, are composed of wrought iron, steel, or other
metal plates bolted, rivetted, or welded together and connected to each other
and to the base plate by flanged plates or angle iron as shewn. The base
plate A may be made considerably wider than the stringers so as to project
inwards towards the deck for the purpose of having the water way bolted
thereon, and the outside plates of the stringers may be carried up some
distance above the top of the same, as shewn at F, F, for the purpose of
securing the stanchions thereto. G, G, are the middle or intermediate box
stringers or tubes also composed of wrought iron, steel, or other plates, and
extending from stem to stern of the vessel or over any part of the length
thereof, being secured to the beams B. If found desirable these box girder
stringers may be provided with suitable air valves in the top, bottom, or side
plates for the purpose of ventilating the hold of the vessel, as it is found that
the extension of the box girder stringers round the vessel admits of the gases
produced by some cargoes being readily collected and carried off.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of iron ships with a view
to the strengthening of the same as herein-before described and illustrated by
my Drawings

page_text: Second, the application and use to and in the construction of iron ships
and vessels of hollow box girder stringers composed of wrought iron, steel, or
other metal plates for the purpose of strengthening the same in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Leslie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty.
ANDREW LESLIE. (L.S.)