IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS FOR SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir William Snow Harris, of Plymouth, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS FOR
SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th June 1853, and dated the 20th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir William Snow"
Harris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th April 1853.
I, SIR WILLIAM SNOW HARRIS, of Plymouth, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTNING CON-
DUCTORS FOR SHIPS AND VESSELS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of lightning conductors for ships and vessels,
permanently fixed from the highest points of the mast to the sea,
which, whilst admitting of the free motion of the several portions of the
masts, one on the other, is always in place, always ready to meet the
most unexpected danger, is also independent of the officers and crew of
the ship, who will not be required to adjust or handle it in any way, to
their great peril and inconvenience.
The general plan consists in the application of plates of metal in
series, and in a given way, to the moveable portions of the mast, and

page_text: to the head of the lower or fixed mast in connection with other metallic
conductors, also permanently fixed, under a given arrangement, in
series along the shrouds or lower rigging on each side of the vessel, so
as to provide for any variation to which the rigging may be liable, and
finally communicating with the sea by metallic connections fixed to the
ship's side.
This lower series of electrical conductors, in combination with the
series of plates on the higher masts, to consist of hollow metal cylin-
ders, tubes, or half tubes, or otherwise of plates of metal or metallic.
rods or wires, or metallic connections under any form. The connection
with the sea to consist also of either of the above-mentioned metallic
bodies fixed to the ship externally.
The result to be attained is a capacious and permanently fixed and
continuous line of electrical conductors from the highest existing point
of the mast to the sea, which, being once applied, the officers, and
crew of the ship will not be required, as in the less. permanent form
of temporary wires applied as rigging, to handle, place, or replace the
line of conduction in consequence of any necessary movement incidental
to the higher masts, or the removal of either of them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Sir William Snow Harris, in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 19th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
Sir WILLIAM SNOW HARRIS, of Plymouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Sir William Snow Harris, Her
special licence, that I, the said Sir William Snow Harris, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Sir
William Snow Harris, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: 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 LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS FOR SHIPS AND
VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sir
William Snow Harris, 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 Sir William Snow Harris, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of lightning conductors for ships and vessels,
permanently fixed from the highest points of the masts to the sea,
which, whilst admitting of the free motion of the several portions of the
masts, one on the other, is always in place, always ready to meet the
most unexpected danger, is also independent of the officers and crew
of the ship, who will not be required to adjust or handle it in any way,
to their great peril and inconvenience.
The general plan consists in the application of plates of metal in
series, and in a given way, to the moveable portions of the mast, and to
the head of the lower or fixed mast in connection with other metallic
conductors, also permanently fixed, under a given arrangement, in
series along the, shrouds or lower rigging on each side of the vessel, so
s to provide for any variation to which the rigging may be liable, and
finally. communicating with the sea by metallic connections, fixed to the
ship's side.
This lower series of electrical conductors, in combination with the
series of plates on the higher masts, to consist of hollow metal cylin-
ders, tubes, or half tubes, or otherwise of plates of metal or metallic
rods or wires, or metallic connections under any form. The connection
with the sea to consist also of either of the above-mentioned metallic
bodies fixed to, the ship externally...

page_text: The result to be attained is a capacious and permanently fixed and
continuous line of electrical conduction from the highest existing point
of the mast to the sea, which, being once applied, the officers and crew
of the ship will not be required, as in the less permanent form of tem-
porary wires applied as rigging, to handle, place, or replace the line of
conduction in consequence of any necessary movement incidental to the
higher masts, or the removal of either of them.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, shews the section of a vessel fitted with lightning con-
luctors, according to my present Invention. Figure 2, shews a section
of another vessel fitted with lightning conductors as they have hereto-
fore been fitted with lightning conductors, according to my original In-
vention. In such former Invention, the lower part of the lightning
conductor was continued down the lower mast, and through the bottom
of the ship or vessel; and the object of my present improvements is to
arrange the lower parts of lightning conductors in such manner as to
insure, at all times, a continuity of lightning conductor, by fixing the
metal constituting the lightning conductor from the upper part of the
lower masts of a ship or vessel to the outside of such ship or vessel,
thus dispensing with the necessity of passing through the bottom, and
yet retaining the requisite continuity of metal necessary, from the
highest point down to and into the water. Figure 3, and Figure 4,
show the vane spindle, and manner of fixing it. Figure 5, shews the
manner of fixing the lightning conductor to the top-gallant mast.
Figure 6, shews the connections of the top-gallant mast and the topmast
cap. Figure 7, shews the fixing of the metal for the conductor round
the sheave holes. Figure 8, shews part of a lower mast and upper
mast, with the metal connections of the lightning conductor. Figure 9,
shews the mode of fixing the metal for the conductor on the mast
head. I would remark, that the parts shewn by Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9, are such as have heretofore. been employed in constructing
lightning conductors to the masts of ships and vessels. Figure 10,
shows the manner in which the metal of the lightning conductor is

page_text: arranged to pass from the upper part of a lower mast, in order that it
may be fastened to the outside of a ship or vessel. Figures 11, and 12,
show two arrangements for allowing for any lengthening or shrinking
of the rigging. The upper end of the rod, tube, or plate a, is in
metallic contact with the plate b, fixed at the mast-head; and the lower
part of the rod, tube, or plate a, is conducted down to and fixed to
copper plates at the side of the ship, which are fixed at their lower ends
to the coppering of the, bottom of the ship or vessel, the tube c, being
lashed or fixed to the rigging; hence the parts of the metal rod or
plate a, will be in metallic communication, and yet allow for any
irregularities of the rigging; and I would state, that these modes of
connection may be varied without departing from my Invention.
Figure 13, shows the manner of connecting the plates for the upper
masts, and is the same as has heretofore been used.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the details herein given,
nor do I claim the parts separately. But what I claim is, the con-
structing of lightning conductors for ships and vessels in such manner
as to cause the metal from the lower mast to pass outside of the ship,
as herein explained, in place of passing down the lower masts and
through the bottom of the ship or vessel, as was formerly the prac-
tice.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir William Snow Harris, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three
W. SNOW HARRIS.
Witness, MORTIMER J. COLLIER,
of Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
Merchant.