IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bilbe, of Nelson Dock, Rotherhithe, in the
County of Surrey, Shipbuilder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 24th December 1856, and dated the 14th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bilbe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th August 1856.
I, THOMAS BILBE, of Nelson Dock, Rotherhithe, in the County of
Surrey, Shipbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," to be as
follows:
My Invention applies to the construction of frame timbers and beams for
ships and other vessels. I bend two angle irons to the proper mould, and
place them at a suitable distance apart, having their edges towards each other.
Into the space left between the projecting edges of the angle irons I bend
wood, so as to bear against their curved backs, thus forming a compound
timber or beam, which may be repeated at proper intervals, and covered
with planking; holes are provided in the curved backs of the angle irons
and the wooden filling up, to permit the passage of bolts or other fastenings for
the planking.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bilbe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BILBE, of Nelson Dock, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, Shipbuilder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Bilbe, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Bilbe, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Bilbe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Bilbe, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Bilbe, 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 applies to the construction of frame timbers and beams for
ships and other vessels. I bend two angle irons to the proper mould, and place
them at a suitable distance apart, having their edges towards each other. Into
the space left between the projecting edges of the angle irons I bend wood, so
as to bear against their curved backs, thus forming a compound timber
or beam, which may be repeated at proper intervals, and covered with
planking. Holes are provided in the curved backs of the angle irons and
the wooden filling up, to permit the passage of bolts or other fastenings for the
planking.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE. DRAWING.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional plans of part of the shell of a vessel con-
structed according to my Invention; and Figure 3 is part of a transverse
-section of the same. I bend angle irons a, a, or iron bars of trough-like
section b, b, to the proper curvature, and fix them as frame ribs. I then bend
timbers c, c, into the recesses between the edges of the iron, and I cover the
frame timbers thus constructed with outside planking d, d, and inside plank-
ing e, e, secured by bolts f. f, at suitable intervals, passing through holes in
the wood and iron, and tightened by means of nuts sunk in the inside
planking.
I claim as my Invention the combination of wood and iron, as above
described, in forming the frame ribs of vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bilbe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
THOMAS BILBE. (L.S.)