IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR STEADYING FLOATING BODIES OR VESSELS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Cooke Farquhar, of 24 and 25, Long
Acre, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR STEADYING FLOATING BODIES OR VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Cooke
Farquhar at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August
1881.
JOHN FREDERICK COOKE FARQUHAR, of 24 and 25, Long Acre, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR STEADYING
FLOATING BODIES OR VESSELS."
This Invention has for its object to reduce the extent to which floating bodies or
vessels are rendered unsteady by the action of waves, and the improvements are
applicable to steam and sailing vessels, floating fortresses, light ships, beacons,
buoys, floating pontoons, and such like.
To obtain this end I fix below the bottom of the vessel, out of reach of the
action of the waves, a horizontal plate, or preferably, a series of horizontal plates
one above the other, and at a distance apart so that water may enter and pass
freely between them.
The sizes of these plates are governed by the dimensions of the floating body,
and the extent of the rigidity and steadiness required. Where great rigidity is
required, several of these plates should be used, and they should equal or exceed
the largest horizontal dimensions of the floating body.
Where less rigidity is required a less number of plates can be used, and of smaller
dimensions.
The result of this arrangement is, that when the floating body gets acted upon
by a wave, it is impossible for it to rise to it quickly, as the horizontal plate or
plates underneath cannot be moved upwards without putting into movement a
large body of water.
This applies also in the contrary sense, for when the wave leaves the floating
body, it will not be able to fall quickly into the trough of the wave.

page_text: The tendency of the floating body to roll in a heavy sea is also greatly
diminished, as before it can do so the horizontal plates have to put into movement
an enormous weight of water.
In order to lessen the force of the waves on the floating body, I prefer to
construct it in such a form as will offer the least resistance to the waves, and will
allow them to pass over or under it in any direction.
For this purpose I therefore construct the floating body in such a form as would
bo represented by two slightly hollowed circles or ovals joined together at their
edges, so that when floating horizontally in the water, it will always present a fine
edge in every direction to meet the waves, which will pass over or under it as
the case may be.
In cases where the floating body is propelled or drawn through the water, such
as in the case of steam ships, one or more. vertical plates can be fixed to the
underside of the floating body, and to and between the horizontal plates. The
lengths of these vertical plates will be determined by the length of the floating
body, and they will be placed lengthways in the line of propulsion, sufficient space
must be left between them to allow a free passage for the water.
The object of these vertical plates is to still further diminish the tendency of the
floating body to roll, and as the edges of these plates, as also those of the horizontal
plates, will be fine, they will impede as little as possible the passage of the floating
body through the water.
At a suitable height above the top surface of the floating body, a deck or staging
can be formed for passengers; this will be supported by suitable columns and rods
fixed to the floating body.
As the waves will break over the floating body, these columns should be made
so as to offer the least resistance possible to the waves consistent with the requisite
strength.
The floating body can contain the engines, boilers, and stores necessary for its
propulsion, and can be rendered habitable by means of ventilation through the
columns and funnels, the air being admitted from above the upper deck.
The propeller can be fixed above or between the horizontal plates at any suitable
depth. It can also be worked in the centre or in any other part of the
construction.
In cases where the floating body is not required to be propelled, such as for
buoys, light vessels, floating fortresses, &c., &c., the horizontal plates can be made
slightly conical or dish shaped in form, so that they shall retain a still greater hold
on the water.
For light vessels, a skeleton or other form of tower can be fixed on to the top
surface of the floating body, which will carry the lantern and light apparatus or
beacon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Frederick Cooke Farquhar in the Great.Seal Patent Office
on the 10th February 1882.
JOHN FREDERICK COOKE FARQUHAR, of 24 and 25, Long Acre, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR STEADYING
FLOATING BODIES OR VESSELS,”
This Invention has for its object to reduce the extent to which floating bodies or
vessels are rendered unsteady by the action of waves, and the improvements are
applicable to steam and sailing vessels, floating fortresses, light ships, beacons,
buoys, floating pontoons, and such like.
To obtain this end I fix below the bottom of the vessel, out of reach of the action
of the waves, a horizontal plate, or preferably a series of horizontal plates one
above the other, and at a distance apart so that water may enter and pass freely
between them.
The sizes of these plates are governed by the dimensions of the floating body,
and the extent of the rigidity and steadiness required. Where great rigidity is
required several of these plates should be used, and they should equal or exceed the
largest horizontal dimensions of the floating body.
Where less rigidity is required a less number of plates can be used, and of smaller
dimensions.
The result of this arrangement is that when the floating body gets acted upon by
a wave it is impossible for it to rise to it quickly, as the horizontal plate or plates
underneath cannot be moved upwards without putting into movement a large body
of water.
This applies also in the contrary sense, for when the wave leaves the floating
body it will not be able to fall quickly into the trough of the wave.
The tendency of the floating body to roll in a heavy sea is also greatly diminished,
as before it can do so the horizontal plates have to put into movement an enormous
weight of water.
In order to lessen the force of the waves on the floating body, I prefer to
construct it in such a form as will offer the least resistance to the waves, and will
allow them to pass over or under it in any direction.
For this purpose I therefore construct the floating body in such a form as would
be represented by two slightly hollowed circles or ovals joined together at their
edges, so that when floating horizontally in the water it will always present a fine
edge in every direction to meet the waves, which will pass over or under it as the
case may be.
In cases where the floating body is propelled or drawn through the water, such
as in the case of steam ships, one or more vertical plates can be fixed to the under-
side of the floating body and to and between the horizontal plates. The lengths of
these vertical plates will be determined by the length of the floating body, and
they will be placed lengthways in the line of propulsion; sufficient space must be
left between them to allow a free passage for the water.
The object of these vertical plates is to still further diminish the tendency of the
floating body to roll, and as the edges of these plates, as also those of the horizontal
plates, will be fine, they will impede as little as possible the passage of the floating
body through the water.
At a suitable height above the top surface of the floating body a deck or staging
can be formed for passengers; this will be supported by suitable columns and rods
fixed to the floating body.
As the waves will break over the floating body, these columns should be made
so as to offer the least resistance possible to the waves consistent with the requisite
strength.

page_text: The floating body can contain the engines, boilers, and stores necessary for its
propulsion, and can be rendered habitable by means of ventilation through the
columns and funnels, &c., the air being admitted from above the upper deck.
The propeller can be fixed above or between the horizontal plates at any
suitable depth. It can also be worked in the centre or in any other part of the
construction.
In cases where the floating body is not required to be propelled, such as for buoys,
light vessels, floating fortresses, &c., &c., the horizontal plates can be made slightly
conical or dish shaped in form, so that they shall retain a still greater hold on the
water.
For light vessels, a skeleton or other form of tower can be fixed on to the top
Burface of the floating body, which will carry the lantern and light apparatus or
beacon.
The diagram Drawings annexed explain clearly the improvements above
described.
Figure 1 shews the application of the principle to a stationary floating body,
such as a floating beacon, a light ship, or a buoy.
A is the floating body, made circular in plan, as shewn by the plan view below;
B is the centre line of a column rising up from it; C are horizontal plates. The
plates may be secured to the lower part of the central column, and may also be
secured by rods or stays to the underside of the floating body near its circumference.
The plates might be made slightly concave or with a coned rim to give them a
greater hold on the water.
Figure 2 shows a floating body A having a single horizontal plate C. The
floating body is in this Figure represented in a position inclined to the horizontal,
with the object of shewing that if it were ever brought into such a position any
movement of the water along the line E, F, acting to submerge it, would be
counterbalanced by the movement of the water along the line D, G. Consequently,
in addition to the great force required to move the floating body from a horizontal
position (resulting from 1, the great displacement of water which would be
occasioned by any oblique movement of the horizontal plates; and 2, the force
necessary to overcome its equilibrium), the force of the current of water passing
above and below the plates will by itself have an important influence to ensure the
stability of the floating body.
Figure 3 shews the application of my Invention to a steam boat or such like
floating vessel.
A is an oval floating body shewn in cross section and in plan; B, vertical centre
line; C, C, two oval horizontal plates of the same form and dimensions as the
horizontal section of the floating vessel; H, H, are longitudinal vertical plates.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
The combination with floating bodies or vessels of all kinds, whether moveable
or stationary, of a horizontal plate or plates secured to them and maintained at a
distance below their bottom, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Cooke Farquhar, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.