Improvements in Vessels' Rams.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels' Rams.
I JOHN FROTHINGHAM WARD of 291 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, County
of Hudson, State of New Jersey, United States of America, Civil Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of vessels'
rams, and more particularly of the type of ram for which I have obtained Her
Majesty's Letters Patent No. 3854 of 1888. My said former invention as described
and claimed consisted in the novel arrangement and construction of a vessels' ram
extending transversely of the bow for example like the end of a chisel held
horizontally and provided with two oppositely located attacking edges or corners.
The object of my present invention is to provide for the strong construction of the
ram, so that it shall be able to withstand all shocks and strains without breaking
away and without damage to the vessel itself. With this object I make the ram of
a heavy plate built into the frame-work of the vessel, and extending through the
plating. The rear end of this plate may be braced by means of angle pieces bolted
to the rear end of the plate and to the frame-work of the vessel; but as a means
of securing the ram, I rely principally upon a shaft, tail, or extension which passes
through the ram plate and also through a series of bracing bars or plates on each
side of it and secured to the frame-work of the vessel. In case the ram plate is
to be applied to a vessel already built, these bracing bars or plates are fitted to
the existing frame-work and are arranged in pairs so that one bar of the pair shall
be bolted or riveted by angle irons to the frame-work of the vessel on one side of
the bow, while the other bracing bar of the pair is similarly secured to the frame-
work on the other side of the bow of the vessel. Where the invention is applied to
new vessels, single bracing bars or plates extending entirely across should be used to
take up the strain upon the aforesaid shaft tail or extension.
1 also prefer for additional security, to unite the ram plate to the frame of the
vessel by means of angle irons. The improved construction has the effect of rendering
the connection between the vessel and the ram intimate and complete so as to
increase the strength both of the ram and of the part of the vessel to which it is
attached.
Dated this 20th do CM1000
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels' Rams.
I. JOHN FROTHINGHAM WARD of 291 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, County
of Hudson, State of New Jersey, United States of America, Civil Engineer 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 state-
ment and accompanying drawings
---
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of vessels'
rams, and more particularly of the type of ram for which I have obtained Her
Majesty's Letters Patent No. 3854 of the year 1888. My said former invention as
described and claimed consisted in the novel arrangement and construction of a
vessels' ram extending transversely of the bow (like for example the end of a chisel
held horizontally) and provided, with two oppositely located attacking edges or corners.
The object of my present invention is to provide for the strong construction of the
DC1

page_text: ram, so that it shall be able to withstand all shocks and strains without breaking
away and without damage to the vessel itself. With this object I make the ram of
a heavy plate built into the frame-work of the vessel and extending through the
plating. The rear end of this plate may be braced by means of angle pieces bolted
to the rear end of the plate and to the frame work of the vessel; but as a means of
securing the ram, 1 rely principally upon a shaft or column which passes through
the ram plate and also through a series of bracing bars or plates on each side of it
and secured to the frame-work of the vessel.
My Invention is clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
In the said drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bow of a vessel provided with a ram of the form
set forth in the Specification of my previous invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section drawn to a larger scale, of a part of the bow provided
with my present improvements.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.
It will be seen on reference to Fig. 1 that the ram A on the bow B of the vessel
extends transversely like the end of a chisel held horizontally, as in my former
invention, but my present improvements may also be applied to other formations of
vessels' rams.
I make the ram A of a heavy plate built into the frame-work of the vessel, and
extending through the plating of the same. The rear end of this plate A may be
braced by means of angle pieces a bolted to the rear end of the plate and to the
framework of the vessel; but as means for securing the ram A I rely principally
upon a shaft or column S which passes through the ram plate and also through a
series of bracing plates or bars D arranged on each side of the said shaft and
secured to the framework of the vessel. In case the rain plate is to be applied to a
vessel already built, these bracing plates or bars are preferably made of the shape
more fully illustrated in Fig. 3 and are arranged in pairs so that one plate of a pair
shall be bolted or rivetted by angle irons d to the frame-work of the vessel on one
side of the bow, while the other bracing plate of the pair is similarly secured to
the frame-work on the other side of the bow of the vessel, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
Where the invention is applied to new vessels, single bracing plates or bars D
extending entirely across may with advantage be used as shown in the modification
Fig. 5 to take up the strain upon the shaft or column S.
I also prefer for additional security, to unite the ram plate A to the frame of the
vessel by means of angle irons d' as shown in Fig. 4. The improved construction
has the effect of rendering the connection between the vessel and the ram intimate
and complete so as to increase the strength both of the ram and of the part of the
vessel to which it is attached.
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. The combination of the bow of a vessel and its ram plate, with a shaft passing
through the ram plate and bracing bars or plates secured to the frame-work of the
vessel, and through which the shaft also passes, substantially as described.
2. The ram A the shaft or column S and the plates or bars D built into or applied
'to the bow of a vessel or ship substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
indicated.
Dated this Third day of February 1800
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.