AN IMPROVED NAVIGABLE- VESSEL
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Chapman. Bagot, of Conway, in the County of
Carnarvon, Gentleman, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED NAVIGABLE-
VESSEL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Chapman Bagot at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1880.
HENRY CHAPMAN BAGOT, of Conway, in the County, of Carnarvon, Gentleman.
"AN IMPROVED NAVIGABLE VESSEL."
The object of my Invention is to provide a navigable vessel so borne and propelled
that great speed can be obtained with advantageous steadiness and good steering
qualities.
-
For that purpose I construct three or more spherical propelling buoys, and on'
these, which are hollow and water tight, I support or carry the passenger or cargo
carrying platform or vessel. The said platform or vessel is by preference above the
water, but it may be partially immersed.
To axles or shafts in the said spherical propelling buoys, or some of them, I
couple a steam or other engine. Upon rotating the spherical propelling buoys the.
vessel is made to move or run as it were on rollers on the water.
A vessel of small size constructed in accordance with my Invention has a sufficient
number of spheres to float the platform or vessel and the load, whilst the axles or
shafts of the spheres are still well out of water. A steam or other engine is placed
on the platform or in the vessel, and coupled by connecting rods and cranks or
excentrics to the axles or shafts of the spheres.
For steering, one or more of the spheres may be stopped or moved at one or other
side, according as it is desired, to turn in one direction or the other, or a rudder
placed in the usual position may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Chapman Bagot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st January 1881.
HENRY CHAPMAN BAGOT, of Conway, in the County of Carnarvon, Gentleman.
"AN IMPROVED NAVIGABLE VESSEL."
The object of my Invention is to provide a navigable vessel so borne and propelled
that great speed can be obtained with advantageous steadiness, safety, and good
steering qualities.
For that purpose I construct three or more spherical propelling buoys, and on
these, which are hollow and watertight, I support or carry the passenger or cargo
carrying platform or vessel. The said platform or vessel is, by preference, above
the water, but it may be partially immersed.
To axles or shafts in the said spherical propelling buoys, or some of them; I couple
a steam or other engine. Upon rotating the spherical propelling buoys the vessel is
made to move or run as it were on rollers on the water.
A vessel of small size constructed in accordance with my Invention has a sufficient
number of spheres to float the platform or vessel and the load, whilst the axles or
shafts of the spheres are still well out of water. A steam or other engine is placed
on the platform or in the vessel, and coupled by connecting rods and cranks,
eccentrics, or equivalent appliances, to the axles or shafts of the spheres.
For steering, one or more of the spheres may be stopped or moved at one or other
side, according as it is desired, to turn in one direction or the other, or a rudder
placed in the usual position may be employed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
•
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; and Fig. 3, a plan view
of an improved navigable vessel constructed in accordance with my Invention.
a, framework, decks, cabins, and cargo space carried by hollow spheres; b, Fig. 4,
shows the construction of the bearings by which the spheres bare connected to the
framework a, so as to be free to revolve; c, engines and boilers of any usual or
desired construction, carried by the framework a, and giving motion to the said
spheres b by means of the pulleys and belts or bands d. Instead of giving motion
to the whole of the six spheres b, motion might be given to two or more only. The
vessel has by preference a rudder at each end, and brakes are fitted to the spheres,
so that the motion of one or more of them may be reduced at pleasure to assist in
steering. The weights of the parts and the sizes of the spheres are so adjusted,
when it is desired, to obtain the most advantageous results, and have a swift and
steady moving ship or vessel for passenger traffic that only one eighth of the capacity
of the spheres is immersed.
The supporting axles are fixed to the spheres or to the framework, and the
bearings are in the spheres or on the framework. Jack pulleys or guides are
employed to act on the driving bands or ropes for the purpose of increasing or
diminishing the revolutions of the spheres, and effect steering instead of a
rudder.
Fig. 5 is a plan, Fig. 6 an elevation, and Fig. 7 a sectional view of a circular ship
or vessel constructed under my Invention; the same letters indicate the like parts,
as in Figs. 1 to 4. The above arrangement of parts is specially applicable to cargo
boats and ships of war, where large carrying capacity and small extent of surface is
desirable. The spheres may be arranged so as to swivel, or may be fixed to radial
guides to assist in steering; they may also be fitted so as to allow of vertical motion

page_text: for the purpose of allowing the vessel to become partly submerged, and present in
ships of war reduced surface to the enemies' fire.
Navigable vessels constructed under my Invention may be driven by wind, steam,
or other power, or the action of the waves on the spheres may be taken advantage
of to give motion thereto.
The spheres may be madé in compartments and the ships in independent and
separable segments.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
Navigable vessels constructed substantially as herein setforth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Chapman Bagot, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Sq.,
L'pool.
Witness.
HENRY CHAPMAN BAGOT. (L.S.)