IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Long, of 73, Islingwood Road, Brighton, in_the_
County of Sussex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 8th April 1879, and dated the 9th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Long at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1878.
JAMES LONG, of 73, Islingword Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex:
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of ships and
vessels.
I support the body or hull of the ship or vessel upon pontoons or airtight metal
chambers. These chambers I take of cylindrical form; they are of large diameter,
and they are arranged around the body or hull with their axes horizontal and
approximately at right angles to the length of the ship or vessel.
There are also similar pontoons beneath the bottom of the body or hull, and all
pontoons are connected by a frame, so that they form a cradle in which the body or
hull of the ship or vessel is carried above the surface of the sea.
Ships or vessels of this construction are unsinkable, as any water which may be
thrown in by the waves is able at once to run out.
The pontoons being numerous, injury to a few of them will not compromise the
safety of the ship or vessel. These ships or vessels are propelled by screws; the
engines are contained in the body or hull. The screw shafts are inclined, and pass
over the top of or between the stern pontoons.
In place of screw propellers I sometimes employ paddle wheels; these are carried
on either side of the body or hull outside of the pontoons.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Long in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th May 1879.
JAMES LONG, of 73, Islingwood Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of ships and
vessels.
I support the body or hull of the ship or vessel upon pontoons or airtight metal
chambers. These chambers I make of cylindrical form; they are of large diameter,
and they are arranged around the body or hull with their axes horizontal and
approximately at right angles to the length of the ship or vessel.
These ships or vessels are propelled by screws.
In place of screw propellers I sometimes employ paddle wheels; these are carried
on either side of the body or hull outside of the pontoons.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan, partly in section; and Figure 3 is a transverse section of a
ship or vessel constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, a, are the cylindrical chambers which I form or apply around the hull of the
vessel, for supporting it in the water. Such cylinders are very easy of construction,
and they impart great buoyancy to the ship or vessel to which they are attached, or
of which they form part; they support the body or hull, and protect it from injury.
The ship or vessel is thus rendered safe and unsinkable.
b, b, is a wooden shelf beneath the cylinders a, supporting wooden blocks or filling
pieces c, c, between the lower halves of the cylinders, forming a fair surface to pass
through the water. Sometimes, in place of employing the filling pieces C, I so form
the pontoons or chambers a that they lie close together up to the water line of the
vessel.
d is a guard plate in front, forming a fair surface from the cut water to the first
cylinder.
The bottom of the vessel is double or cellular, as is clearly seen in Figure 3.
What I claim is supporting the body or hull of a ship or vessel upon pontoons or
chambers of cylindrical form arranged around the body or hull with their axes
horizontal and approximately at right angles to the length of the ship or vessel,
substantially as described.
I also claim supporting the body or hull of a ship or vessel upon pontoons or
chambers arranged around the body or hull, outside the same, or exterior to the skin
plates, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Long, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.