IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN STEERING THE SAME."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Mills, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Scotland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN STEERING THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Mills at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1854.
I, GEORGE MILLS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Scotland, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN STEERING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists, in the first place, in constructing such vessels as
twin vessels with straight inner sides fixed at a suitable distance from each
other, with a waterway between them in which the propeller may be made to
work.
The twin vessels may be united either by means of strong braces or stays,
or by a continuous or intermittent flooring, stretching from the one to the
other under water, at or near the keel or the bottom of the vessel.
The mode of adapting and applying the propeller may be varied in different
cases, as also the distribution and arrangement of the steam engines or other
prime mover, but in all cases such distribution and arrangement should be
regulated so as to preserve as nearly as possible the balance of the twin vessels
in the water.

page_text: And my Invention consists, in the second place, in adapting and applying to
such vessels paddle wheels, to be worked at right angles or nearly so to the
line of the keel, for the purpose of steering or manouvering them.
The paddle wheels may be worked either from the prime mover of the vessel
or by means of separate power applied thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MILLS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Scotland, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Mills, Her special license that I, the said George Mills, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Mills, 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 CONSTRUC-
TION OF STEAM VESSELS, AND IN STEERING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Mills, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 George Mills, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Steam Vessels, and
in Steering the same," is intended to combine therein speed with facility of

page_text: .
turning or manoeuvring, and consists, in the first place, in constructing such
vessels as twin vessels with straight inner sides fixed at a suitable distance
from each other, with a waterway between them in which a propeller may be
made to work.
These twin vessels may be united either by means of strong braces or stays,
or by a continuous or intermittent flooring stretching from the one to the other
under water, at or near the line of keel or the bottom of the vessel.
The mode of applying the propeller may be varied in different cases, as also
the distribution and arrangement of the steam engines or other prime
mover, but in all cases such distribution and arrangement should be regulated
so as to preserve as nearly as possible the balance of the twin vessels in the
water.
And my Invention consists, in the second place, in adapting and applying to
such vessels paddle wheels, to be worked either way, at right angles or nearly
so to the line of the keel or longitudinal section of the vessel, for the purpose
of steering or manoeuvring them. These paddle wheels may be worked either
from the prime mover of the vessel, or by means of separate power applied
thereto.
In order, however, that my Invention may be fully understood, I will pro-
ceed to describe the accompanying Drawing, which represents a mode in which
be carried into effect. The Drawing does not represent
my Invention may
the vessels in detail, as my Invention does not relate thereto, but only to the
general construction and arrangement herein described.
Fig. 1 is a transverse view of the twin vessels at one of the ends, shewing
one of the steering or manoeuvring paddle wheels placed in the channel or
opening between their straight sides. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the
twin vessels near the centre, shewing the paddle wheel for propelling the
vessel forwards or backwards; Fig. 3 is a plan or horizontal view; and Fig. 4
is a longitudinal view of the same.
a, a, are the twin vessels formed so as to constitute one vessel when united,
according to my Invention, and with straight inner sides at a*. These twin
vessels are united by means of strong braces or stays b, b, fixed to the inner
sides of the hulls at suitable intervals under water, leaving spaces c, c, between
them. These stays or braces may be varied in number, or a flooring may be
substituted for them. d is the propeller of the vessel, which is intended to be
driven by steam engines suitably disposed. e and f are the steering or
manoeuvring paddle wheels placed at each end of the vessel in such a manner
as to be capable of working in a direction at right angles or nearly so to the
line of the keel. These paddle wheels may be connected by means of

page_text: suitable gearing and shafting so as to be worked by the prime mover of the
vessel, or they may be driven by a separate power. The water line is shewn
at g.
It will be evident that the twin vessels a, a, may be varied in their lines
and proportions, and may be combined at different distances apart. But I
prefer that the proportions should be about the following:-Length, one
hundred and fifty feet; breadth of each hull at the centre, ten feet; breadth
of channel or opening between the hulls, ten feet. By means of such pro-
portions in the hulls, with a channel or water way between them, the
lateral displacement of water would be less than in vessels of the ordinary
construction.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not mean or
intend to confine myself to the precise forms, proportions, and arrangements of
the parts represented and described. Neither do I claim as of my Invention
any particular mode of constructing the twin vessels. But what I do claim as
of my Invention is,―
First, the construction of twin vessels of suitable form with straight inner
sides, and their combination in such a manner as to constitute one vessel with
a water way through its centre, as described.
And, secondly, in the adaptation and application to such vessels of paddle
wheels for steering or manoeuvring them, as described..
hand
In witness whereof, I, the said George Mills, have hereunto set my
and seal, the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN MILLER,
Wittness.
GEORGE (L.S.) MILLS.