IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEATHING IRON SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Muntz, of French Walls, Bir-
mingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEATHING IRON SHIPS
OR VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th January 1862, and dated the 20th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Muntz
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th August 1861.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK MUNTZ, of French Walls, Birmingham, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEATHING IRON
SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in sheathing iron ships or
vessels. For this purpose I employ yellow metal or copper coated with
vulcanized india-rubber (in the manner described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to T. B. Daft, and dated 22nd November 1859, No. 2643).
I place this sheathing against the side of the vessel, with the india-rubber
surface next the iron, and secure it by pegs or pins of the hard compound of
india-rubber, known as vulcanite or ebonite. In this manner the sheathing,
though firmly secured to the iron ship, is perfectly insulated therefrom, and
the decay of the iron in consequence of electrical action is prevented. In
place of pins or pegs of vulcanite or ebonite, pins. or pegs of other insulating

page_text: Carcharonens next and curately after
Patent.
The un
UT THE SALTS
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Frederick Muntz, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in sheathing iron ships with copper or
"Muntz's
metal" or other suitable compound metal, so as to insulate such copper or
metal electrically by employing fastenings made of non-conducting material,
for which purpose I prefer nails or plugs made of a compound of india-rubber
known as vulcanite or ebonite, and I place between the metallic sheets and
the iron ship sheets of india-rubber, or other sheets of non-conducting
material; these may either be attached to the metallic sheets by "Daft's
patent process," or held in place by merely driving through them the nails or
plugs which are used to attach the metallic sheets to the ship.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I will describe
how I proceed to carry my plan into effect.
I first drill holes in the metallic sheets large enough to allow the shank of
the nail or fastening to pass, but not large enough to permit the head to pass
through, and at such distances apart and so near to each other that the sheets
may be held closely to the ship, in the manner usually required in sheathing
wood ships. I then drill holes in the iron ship to correspond as nearly as
possible with the holes in the metallic sheets (as regards the distances of the
centres of the holes apart), but about one-quarter of an inch in diameter, and
about one-half an inch in depth or deeper, if required, provided that they do
not penetrate through the iron plate of the ship. I then plug these holes with
plugs of ebonite or other suitable non-conducting material, each plug baving a
small hole in the centre, into which a short metal nail will drive tightly, and I
prefer these plugs to stand about 3 part of an inch above the surface of the
iron plate when driven home; I then place the non-conducting sheet above
described, and a sheet of copper or metal drilled (either attached previously to
each other or otherwise) against the ship, taking care to put the metallic sheet
outside or farthest from the iron; I then proceed to drive short nails through
the two sheets into the plugs of ebonite or other suitable material, always
minding to use nails with very little taper, and with rounded points, thus,
T
and particularly observing to have such nails shorter than the ebonite plugs,
so that they may not, on any account, come in contact with the iron in the

page_text: ship. I may observe that plugs or nails made entirely of ebonite may be used,
but I prefer the plan above described as being more convenient.
What I claim is the use of fastenings for attaching metallic sheeting to
iron ships made of a non-conducting material, so as to obstruct and prevent
as far as practicable a current of electricity.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Muntz, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
G. F. MUNTZ. (L.S.)