IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF RIGGING, PROPELLING, AND STEERING THE SAME, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S TOY SHIPS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Atkin at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th January.
1867.
I, ROBERT ATKIN, of Sheffield Gardens, Campden Hill, Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER
NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF RIGGING, PROPELLING, AND STEERING THE
SAME, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S TOY SHIPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in constructing ships and other navigable
vessels upon a novel and improved principle, of which the following will serve
as an example:-Having determined on the dimensions of the vessel I then
proceed to form the deck which is in the form of a segment of a circle at the
gunwale from end to end or stem to stern; I then determine upon the
distance the ribs of the vessel are to be apart, and having set off such distances
along the centre line of the deck I proceed to draw lines across or at right
angles to the centre line of the deck, and then measure the diameter of each
rib in succession and describe a portion of a circle from the centre line of the
deck so that each rib shall fit into its respective place when attached to the
keel of the vessel. By the above mode of setting out the ribs the bottom of
the vessel is of the same curvature as the sides thereof at the deck, so that
every part of the vessel below the deck forms a segment of a circle. The
ribs may be affixed to the keel in the ordinary way. The deck of the vessel,

page_text: if desirable, may be covered or it may be fitted in the ordinary way. In
constructing steamers, rams, or other ships of war,
propose to cover the
entire length of the vessel with a conical-shaped roof of iron starting from a
point at the stem and stern of the vessel and rising to any desired height in
the centre of the vessel, and fitted with a small pilot tower at the top. The
dead wood of vessels constructed as above described, instead of being curved
and of varying thickness will be of nearly the same thickness throughout so
as to present a thin surface and offer as little resistance as possible to the
water. I also propose to fit centre. boards or slip keels in the dead wood at
each end of the vessel so as not to interfere with the ribs, and I connect one
end of the said slip keel by a bolt to the dead wood, and to the other end I
connect a chain for raising or lowering the outer end of the slip keel, which
may be accomplished from the deck of the vessel.
I now proceed to describe my improved method of steering ships and
other navigable vessels as follows:-I place a rudder in an opening made
through the dead wood at one or other or both ends of the vessel; across this
opening I fix one or more stays or bars according to the size of the rudder,
the said stays having each a hole to receive the centre or axis of motion of
the rudder; I also form the rudder in separate parts or pieces, each fitting
between the aforesaid stays. A rudder thus constructed may either be used
separately or in conjunction with an ordinary rudder.
I now proceed to describe the improved method of propelling vessels above
mentioned, which consists in adapting four screw propellers, two at each end
of the vessel, at any suitable distance from the stem and stern, or I employ
three screw propellers, two placed at one end of the vessel and one at the
other end as may be found most desirable in practice, or five or six screws
may be employed; for example, two screws may be placed at each end of the
vessel, as above described in the arrangement of the four screws, and one at
each end of the vessel, working in the dead wood and near to the stem
and stern.
I now proceed to describe the mode of rigging and propelling under
sails according to this Invention. As regards the masts, instead of having
them fixed as hitherto practised in sea-going vessels, I hinge or otherwise
connect them in trunks on the deck to enable them to be lowered down fore
and aft the deck, the mast to be made of sliding telescopic tubes of metal. The
sails I propose to make in the shape of a fan either wholly of steel or of steel
and canvass or other suitable materials combined, and hinge the said fan sail
to the head of the lower mast. When not required to use the sails they fall
down against the mast into a small compass; a mail or war steamer thus

page_text: rigged can lower down her masts at pleasure, thereby offering no resistance to
the wind or shots.
-
I now proceed to describe the mode of constructing children's toy ships as
follows propose either to cut or form them out of a solid piece of
material or to build them in pieces; they may be rigged, steered, and
propelled as above described with reference to large ships or by the ordinary
method.