An Improvement in the Construction of Cargo Steamers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, suth Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1898-Accepted, 2nd July, 1898
Date of Application, suth Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1898-Accepted, 2nd July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Cargo Steamers.
CHARLES BLIAULT, 32, Henrietta Street, Swansea, Glamorganshire, Master
Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement consists of water tight compartments running each side of the
ship and are marked A on the plans-and are for the purpose of carrying more
water ballast than as at present carried in the double bottom marked C without
interfering with the hold space marked B also giving greater stability and strength
and making the ship easier in a seaway. The spaces can also be used for cargo or
bunkers.
Dated this 29th day of December 1897
An Improvement in the Construction of Cargo Steamers.
I, CHARLES BLIAULT, of 32, Henrietta Street, Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The object of this invention is to provide a better method of ballasting cargo
ships or steamers than has hitherto been adopted.
It is necessary with modern steamers of shallow draft and great beam to have
a different arrangement for steadying the ship than is required for the old fashioned
type of vessel with great draft and comparatively small beam. It has been found
in practice, that a considerable weight can be carried above the water line upon the
deck of the vessel and upon the extreme sides near the skin of the ship, the farther
away from the centre the better, in fact, it is generally recognised at the present
day that a considerable amount of ballast upon the decks is indispensable to render
them stable and seaworthy.
According to my invention I propose to construct a vessel, or to adapt my
invention to existing ships, by applying thereto a system of ballast tanks, either
built into the ship, or attached thereto as may be found most convenient. In con-
structing a new vessel upon this principle I make a series of tanks, or one or two
long ones if preferred, disposed along the port and starboard sides of the ship for
any convenient distance fore and aft. These tanks may extend the entire length
of the vessel or be arranged in such a way as to occupy various positions in short
lengths distributed at intervals throughout the extent of the vessel; or one short
tank on either side may be employed.

page_text: These tanks may be used for other purposes besides that of containing water
ballast. For instance, they may be divided by means of water-tight bulkheads,
anto any number of compartments, and each or either compartment may be used
for any necessary purpose, such as,-crew accommodation
space, cabins for
passengers, bunkers, stores, cargo, or in fact any purpose for which space is
required. Access can be had to any of these compartments by means of suitable
water-tight companions or hatches, and hatches and coamings can be fitted into
the floors, or sides of any of the compartments, so as to communicate with the hold
or holds situated below.
In order that my invention and its scope may be fully comprehended, I will
now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
Figure 1 is an outline plan of an ocean steamer fitted with my improved arrange-
ment of ballast tanks.
A is the tank fitted upon the port side of the vessel, and B the tank fitted upon
the starboard side. C, D, E, F, G, and H, are divisions or bulkheads which may
be placed anywhere along the length of the tanks.
Figure 2 is a midship section at elevation in which the tanks A and B are shown
upon the main deck I. The bridge deck J, forming the tank tops, the inner
sides K being curved in such a way as to allow of the cargo being trimmed into
the holds with the least possible impediment, so that coal or grain or similar cargo
might be shot into the remote corners under the tank with a minimum amount of
trimming.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the tanks fitted as a side bunker. L, L,
are bunker hatches with their coamings M, M, and covers N, made watertight and
easily removable when necessary. O, is the side plating of the vessel and P, the
frames.
The advantages I claim for my invention are as follows:-
The longitudinal tanks thus made upon what is necessarily the weakest part
of the ship, converts the top sides of the vessel into a pair of longitudinal box
girders, thus making a ship of immensely increased strength, a necessity arising
out of the shallow nature of modern vessels.
A ship built in this way would reduce to a minimum, amongst other things,
the breakage of propeller shafting and other accidents arising from the springing
of the vessel in a seaway. The ballast being placed in the position named would
reduce the excessive rolling of the ship when light, without adding appreciably
to the weight carried upon the vessel, as the sides of the tanks would only corres-
pond to the longitudinal plating already in existence.
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-
1. In a cargo steamer water-tight ballast tanks or compartments either built
into or secured to the vessel, disposed above the water line along the port and
starboard sides for any convenient distance fore and aft, the said tanks extending,
as desired, either continuously the entire length of the vessel or being distributed
in short lengths at intervals, substantially as described and set forth.
1
1-11
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.