IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PROPULSION OF ARMOUR-CLAD SHIPS AND VESSELS IN GENERAL
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry De Burgh-Lawson, Baronet, of Gatherley Castle,
near Richmond, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PROPULSION OF ARMOUR-CLAD SHIPS AND VESSELS
IN GENERAL.”
"
Sealed the 6th August 1878, and dated the 29th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry De Burgh-Lawson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1878.
HENRY DE BURGH-LAWSON, Baronet, of Gatherley Castle, near Richmond, in the
County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PROPULSION OF
ARMOUR-CLAD SHIPS AND VESSELS IN GENERAL.'
"
The improvements consist in constructing ships of war and vessels generally with
one or more air-tight compartments at or near the keel or keels, and working
therein by one or independent engines, paddles, or screws.
Also, in constructing the skin of vessels of or with cork, paper, gutta percha,
india-rubber, and iron combined, sandwich fashion, or with one or more of such
materials combined with iron or steel.
Also, in discharging the smoke and steam generated by the furnaces and boilers
into and under the water.
The air-tight compartments may be of any convenient shape and form, so con-
structed and situated that when the vessel is immersed they shall be air-tight, the
bottom, or in some cases the sides or ends, being open to and wholly under the
water.
The skin or shell may be built up in layers of convenient sizes, six or more
inches of steel backed by three or more inches of rubber, backed by six inches com-
pressed paper, backed by twelve inches cork, and an inner and last skin of two.
inches of steel would make a good shell for an armour-clad; for other vessels half an
inch of steel backed by gutta percha would give useful results, but the proportions
and materials may be varied considerably.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry De Burgh-Lawson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th September 1878.
HENRY DE BURGH-LAWSON Baronet, of Gatherley Castle, near Richmond, in the
County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PROPULSION OF
ARMOUR-CLAD SHIPS AND VESSELS IN GENERAL"
The improvements consist in constructing or forming ships of war or vessels
generally with curved bottoms, and two or more keels in combination with internal
propellers enclosed in suitable chambers, from which the waters are partially
excluded by atmospheric pressure in a manner analogous to a diving bell, or by
propellers, such as screws placed and worked in the channels formed between the
keels.
Also, in combination with the above improvements constructing the hull of
vessels of a series of chambers made air-tight or filled with cork, and war vessels
with improved laminated sides and ceilings, or decks of steel, cork, iron, gutta
percha, rubber, compressed paper, and air-tight spaces.
And also in the mode of housing the propellers.
And lastly, in taking the smoke and steam from the furnaces and boilers, and
delivering them into the water instead of the air, as at present.
The accompanying Drawings are intended to illustrate a convenient mode of per- 2
forming the Invention, but such mode may be considerably varied to suit special
circumstances without departing from the nature of the Invention.
In the Drawing like letters indicate like or corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; and Figure 2 a plan of lower deck of a war ship;
Figures 3 and 4, and 5 are cross sections of same, excepting that Figure 4 shows 2
an alternative mode of arranging the propellers and their chambers; and Figure 5
shows a turbine propeller used with two keels only.
j
Figure 6 is a section of armour 1, being steel and iron combined; 2, cork; 3, iron
4, gutta percha, india-rubber, and compressed paper in layers; 5, iron skin; 6, ribs ;
7, iron lining; 8, cork or air space; 9, sides of the compartments.
A is a special paddle wheel, so arranged as to be housed when desired; B are
the atmospheric propeller chambers; C, air pumps; D, smoke and steam filter, on a
principle analagous to the Eastern water smoking pipe; P¹ is a pipe for conducting
the smoke and steam into the well or filter D; P is a suction pipe, and P³ the
delivery or force pipe. which may deliver into the air when not required for giving a
pressure in chamber; B, E, are longitudinal water channels between the keels; and
K represents the keels; the paddles may be driven independently of each other by
any suitable means at present in use, or otherwise. T is a turbine propeller; V, VI,
valves for obtaining steering motion or supplying an anti-rolling brake; X are air-
tight or other compartments, which may be filled with cork.
The pressure of air in the propelling chambers may be varied, and the water level
therein changed, so as to suit different classes of propellers or variations of draught
of vessels; also, the propellers are so placed as to work out of sight and in water
of the greatest density available, viz., at the deepest part or bottom of the ship.
4
The use of two or more keels will prevent the rolling and capsizing of the vessel, 4
and help to confine the air during the working of the propellers and consequent
movement of the ship.
Apertures may be sometimes made in the keels, by which an additional effort
against rolling may be exerted or steering facilitated.
To maintain the requisite atmospheric pressure in the propelling chamber one or 5
more air pumps, as shewn, are used, which may derive their supply direct from the
atmosphere or used in combination with the suction draught apparatus for taking.
the smoke and steam from the smoke stack or furnaces and boilers, into and through
the water, instead of their being allowed to escape into the air.

page_text: The propellers and their chambers may be arranged at or near the axis of the
vessel, or at any convenient distance, one on either side of the said axis, as
desired.
The arrangement shown of two paddles in the centre, two at or near the bows,
and two at or near the stern, will, it is contended, afford great and quick facilities
for managing and turning the vessel, as in still water she may be turned as on a
pivot.
Also, the large area of air-tight compartments or spaces to be filled with cork
will render the vessel unsinkable, even when her empty spaces are full of water.
It is further contended that the laminated skin when backed by filling the air-
tight chambers with cork, will render the vessel almost, if not quite, unpierceable.
Also, that the multiple keels and the curved bottom and bulging bilge will help
to prevent rolling, and serve to support the vessel when aground, and to protect
herself and her propellers from injury. Cork may be used between the skin and
ceiling in the upper part of the ship, and Portland cement may be used between
the ribs in the bottom or lower portion of the ship to prevent rust or decay, and in
lieu of ballast. When screw propellers are used they must be especially arranged
with short blades so as not to project below the keels, which latter may in this case
be deepened if necessary.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry De Burgh-Lawson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, A.D. One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY DE BURGH-LAWSON. (L.S.)