Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a roller ship specially characterized by the shape
and arrangement of the rollers and by the shape of the hull of the vessel.
This invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is an axial longitudinal section of the ship.
Figure 3 is a plan of the main deck on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation.
Figure 5 is a view showing three connected rollers.
In these figures :-
A is the hull of the ship, it is as is seen of a special shape; the head a forms a
kind of ram which is completely covered in and due to it the ship is enabled to cut
the water and air with the greatest facility. The hull covering is provided with a
number of shutters a¹ which are closed when the ship is travelling and which may be
opened for working the ship or for loading.
Above the main deck other decks are arranged extending continuously from one
end of the ship to the other without a gap.
The stern and sides of the hull are formed as in ordinary vessels.
B to B are the rollers.
Each of these rollers is formed of two shells connected together and forming a
kind of hollow spherical lens.
The interior of these lenticular rollers is provided with watertight partitions not
shown in the drawings which are suitably arranged for allowing any portion of the
roller in which a hole may be formed to be isolated.
These rollers are preferably arranged as shown, that is to say, the rollers B¹ B* B³
fixed on the shaft & are in front, behind them are the rollers B B fixed upon the
shaft 63, then the rollers B6 B7 B8 fixed upon the shaft 63 and lastly the rollers B⁹ B¹º
fixed upon the shaft b*.
The shafts 61 62 63 64 are driven by means of connecting rods and cranks by engines
of any suitable type. It should be remarked that each shaft is driven by two engines.
The rollers are as seen in Figure 8 outwardly provided with ribs D upon their inner
sides that is to say upon those which are not exposed to the direct action of the waves.
These ribs are not shown in the other figures. These ribs which may be arranged
in any suitable manner and be more or less numerous act as paddles. The ribs are of
triangular form and curvilinear in order to penetrate into the water by the point and
to produce a progressive effect.
It should be remarked that the rollers have no ribs on the outer faces in order to
present less resistance to the waves.
The ship is fitted in the usual way but the details form no part of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that without
limiting myself to the details of carrying out the invention which may be varied as
required what I claim is :-
1. In a roller ship a hull a head forming in front a kind of ram for cutting the
1 Pina ed

page_text: water and air and provided or otherwise with a covering having shutters which allow
it to be hermetically closed.
2. In a roller ship the combination of rollers formed of two shells connected
together and forming a hollow spherical lense the interior of which is provided with
watertight partitions and the inner sides with triangular ribs or paddles having
curvilinear sides.
3. In a roller ship provided with lenticular rollers the method of actuating them
consisting in driving the shafts upon which they are fixed by means of connecting rods
and cranks.
4. In a roller ship the combination of several superposed decks above the main deck
extending continuously from one end of the ship to the other without a gap.
5. The roller ship substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
17 SIDO DO
January 1897.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.