IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON CLAD VESSELS FOR WAR OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY DE BURGH LAWSON, of Gatherley Castle, near Richmond, in the
County of York, Baronet, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON CLAD VESSELS FOR WAR OR OTHER
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
My invention relates more specifically to armour clad war vessels (but is also in
part applicable to vessels of other sorts). It is designed to produce a vessel of
a high rate of speed, of great stability, and steering capabilities, the motive
mechanism of which shall be remote from danger, and which shall be almost
unsinkable.
Such vessels are constructed with three or more keels, which afford great
resistance to the rolling of the vessel. In the passages between these keels
(which passages are curved as to their roof, so as to give a maximum strength
of construction) is situated the propelling mechanism. This mechanism consists of
a series of propellers, each revolving in an air tight chamber built in the roof of
the passage and between the keels. The chambers are supplied with compressed
air or gas, the propellers thus working on the water in the passages at the bottom
of the ship, grasping the water in a more favourable condition for propulsion thau
near the surface, and thus obtaining proportionately greater power.
These paddle
wheels, being conveniently situated at opposite sides of the longitudinal and
horizontal axes respectively of the vessel, give great steering power. The floats
are so placed on the wheels relatively to one another, that one set of floats is
entering the water as another is leaving it, so as to give a continuous, in place of
an intermittent, propulsive thrust.
These paddle wheels when desired may be supplemented by screw propellers
either in the passages (when the blades must be short, so as not to project beyond
the keels) or externally.
The chambers are fitted with suitable pipes leading from the closed uptake of
the boilers, or alternatively direct from an air forcing apparatus.
When in connection with the uptake of the boilers, the air forcing apparatus is
utilized to force a draught through the furnaces.
In addition to the great advantage of an increase of draught in the furnaces thus
obtainable, all products of combustion or steam may be delivered into the upper

page_text: parts of the propeller or other chambers, to maintain the required water level
therein for most effective propulsion. In order to maintain any definitely required
level in the said chambers, I may vary the proportion of air, steam, or gases,
delivered into the propeller chambers, and thus the air pressure maintained therein,
sending the excess of smoke and gas through a separate delivery pipe into the
water, or through a filtering apparatus.
But preferably I fit an upward escape pipe to each of the propeller chambers, the
open mouth of which is adjustable telescopically or in other convenient way, so
that it may be set to the level of the water required to be maintained in the said
chambers. When the level of the water has been driven below the opening of the
said pipe, the gas or air will escape upwards through the said escape pipes, being
caused to pass through a certain depth of water, or a suitable filtering apparatus,
so as to issue as noiselessly and invisibly as possible from the surface of the water.
The shafts of the paddle wheels or other propellers are provided with watertight
packed glands at the point where they pass through the walls of the propeller
chambers.
This packing I prefer to be either cup leathers or metallic spring ring packing,
pressed upon the shaft surface by the internal water or gaseous pressure itself, so
as to ensure a pressure of the packing proportional to that of the water or gas
seeking to escape.
I further provide that whatever leakage of water may occur, whilst the air or
gas engines are not in operation, shall collect in a special chamber through which
the excess gas, air, or smoke, has to pass, which will thus discharge any accumula-
tion of water as soon as and whilst the engines are running.
I also provide suitable manholes, with intermediate closed air or water chambers
and suitable valves, to enable workmen to obtain access to the propeller chambers,
when the latter are filled with air at sufficient pressure to drive out the water.
Access can be obtained by this means also to the said propeller chambers when full
of water, if the workman is provided with a suitable diving dress.
Repairs can thus be effected to the propelling mechanism without the least
exposure to an enemy's shot or observation.
Now as regards vessels intended for warfare:-
I make the hull in a series of chambers, the inner and outer skins being separated
by girder ribs decks etc. The said chambers are made air-tight and provided with
suitable passages manholes and doors for the entry of the workmen for examination
and repairs. Some of the spaces or chambers may be left empty or filled with
cork etc. The armour plating will be of laminated steel and iron with elastic
backings of gutta-percha, rubber, compressed paper, cellulose etc, or even wood.
The whole structure is surmounted by an armour plated turtle deck on which
the ship may be worked.
One great advantage incidental to my construction of vessels is, that if they
should ground the multiple keel construction and the full length divisions of the
hull will give great strength to resist damage and the tendency to break in two
parts, and at the same time the propelling mechanism will be wholly protected
from danger.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: improvements in the Construction of Iron Clad Vessels for War
or other Purposes.
I, HENRY DE BURGH LAWSON, of Gatherly Castle, near Richmond, in the
County of York, Baronet, 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 statement :-
My invention relates more specifically to armour-clad war vessels, but is also,
in part, applicable to vessels of other sorts. It is designed to produce a vessel
of a high rate of speed, of great stability, and steering capabilities, the motive
mechanism of which shall be remote from danger, and which shall be almost
unsinkable.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Like letters refer to like parts in the different figures.
Figure 1 is a general sectional elevation of my improved iron clad.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through the mid-ship propeller chamber.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the forward propeller chamber which is
approximately similar to the after propeller chamber.
Fig. 4 is a detail of my propeller.
I construct my improved vessel with three or more keels A (figures 2 and 3)
which afford great resistance to the rolling of the vessel. The passages between
the keels are closed by curved roofs a, a, so as to give a maximum strength of
construction. The propelling mechanism consists conveniently of a series of
paddles B, each revolving in an air tight chamber, built in the roof of the passage,
and between the keels. These chambers are supplied with compressed air or gas,
as hereinafter more fully described, the propellers thus working on the water in
the passages at the bottom of the ship, grasping the water in a more favourable
condition for propulsion than near the surface, and thus obtaining proportionately
greater power.
The paddle wheels B, being conveniently situated at the opposite sides of the
longitudinal and transverse axes respectively of the vessel, give great steering
power. The floats 6 are so placed as shewn at Fig. 4 on the propeller frame
relatively to one another, that one float is entering the water as another is leaving
it, so as to give a continuous, in place of an intermittent, propulsive thrust.
To effect this, I prefer to place three floats on each propeller equally spaced
over the outer circumference of the propeller frame. I also preferably construct
each float with a double concave surface back to back so as to better grasp and
retain their hold upon the water.
These paddle wheels, when desired, may be supplemented by screw propellers.
either in the passages, (when the blades must be short so as not to project beyond
the keels) or externally abaft at either quarter.

page_text: •
The compressed air or gas, to prevent the propeller chambers from becoming
water-logged, may be supplied in either of the following alternative methods.
A direct air forcing apparatus, C, (figure 1) of any known construction, such as
a centrifugal or reciprocating pump, may be employed to deliver compressed air
direct to the said propeller chambers.
Or, the air forcing apparatus D may be utilised to force a draught through the
furnaces, the uptake may be closed, and the products of combustion carried through
a suitable pipe d into the upper part of the propeller chamber.
In addition to the great advantage of an increase of draught in the furnaces
thus obtainable, all products of combustion or steam may be delivered into the
upper parts of the propeller chambers, to maintain the required water level therein
for most effective propulsion. In order to maintain any definitely required level
in the said chambers, I may vary the proportion of air, steam, or gas delivered into
the propeller chambers, and thus the air pressure maintained therein, sending tho
excess of smoke and gas through the ordinary uptake or chimney E, or through a
separate delivery pipe into the water, or through a filtering apparatus F into
the water.
As a further means of more accurately and automatically adjusting the level of
the water in the said propeller chambers, I fit an upward escape pipe G (figure 1)
to each of the propeller chambers, the open mouth of which is adjustable telescopically,
or in other convenient ways, so that it may be set to the level of the water
required to be maintained in the said chambers. When the level of the water has
been driven below the opening of the said pipe G, the gas or air will escape
upwards through the said pipe G into the uptake E, or through the water, or
suitable filtering apparatus, so as to issue as noiselessly and invisibly as possible
from the surface of the water.
The shafts H of the paddle wheels B (figures 2 and 3) are provided with air-
tight and watertight packed glands h, at the point where they pass through the
walls of the propeller chambers.
This packing I prefer to he either cup leathers or metallic spring ring packing,
pressed upon the shaft surfaces by the internal water or gaseous air pressure
itself, so as to ensure the pressure of the packing proportionally to that of the
water, air, or gas seeking to escape.
I further provide that whatever leakage of water may occur whilst the air or
gas engines are not in operation shall collect in a special chamber K, through which
the excess of gas, air, or smoke has to pass, which will thus discharge any accumu-
lation of water as soon as and whilst the engines are running.
I also provide suitable man holes L (figure 1) with intermediate closed air or
water chambers, 1, (figure 1) and suitable valves or doors, to enable workmen to
obtain access to the propeller chambers, when the latter are filled with air at
sufficient pressure to drive out the water. Access can be obtained by this means
also to the said propeller chambers, when full of water, if the workman is provided
with a suitable diving dress.
Repairs can thus be effected to the propelling mechanism, without the least
exposure to the shot or observation of an enemy.
Now as regards vessels intended for warfare :-
I make the hull in a series of chambers N N, the inner and outer skins being
separated by girder ribs, decks, etc. The said chambers are made air tight, and
provided with suitable passages, man holes, and doors m, for the entry of the
workman for examination and repair. Some of the spaces or chambers may be
left empty or filled with cork, as at N. The armour plating P will be of laminated
steel and iron, with intermediate elastic skins or backings of gutta percha, rubber,
compressed paper, cellulose, or even wood.
The whole structure is surmounted by an armour plated turtle deck Q on which
the ship may be worked.
One great advantage incidental to my construction of vessels, is that if they
should ground, the multiple keel construction and full length divisions of the hull

page_text: will give great strength to resist damage, and the tendency to break into two
parts; whilst at the same time the propelling mechanism will be wholly protected
from danger.
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
1st The construction of vessels with three or more parallel keels and propellers
working in air chambers between the said keels, access for repairs etc. to the said
chambers being provided through an air-tight compartment and suitable doors,
substantially as described.
2nd The combination with such propeller chambers of an air or gas forcing
apparatus of any known construction, used either to supply air direct to the said
chambers, or for first forcing a draught into the boilers, the gaseous supply to the
propeller chambers being in this case taken from the closed or partially closed
up-take, substantially as described.
3rd The regulation of the water level in such propeller chambers either by direct
regulation of the supply or pressure of the gas or air forced thereinto, or, auto-
matically by an adjustable air or gas escape pipe in the said chambers, to permit
escape of excess air or gas, after a certain level of water has been attained,
substantially as described.
4th The construction of an iron clad vessel, provided with such keels and
propeller chambers, with the hull constructed in a series of water-tight chambers,
which are maintained empty, or full of cork in time of war, and to which access is
provided by suitable passages and doors, the skin of the hull being composed
of laminated layers of steel and iron, with interposed backings of elastic material,
such as gutta percha, rubber, compressed paper, or woody fibre, substantially as
described.
Doted this 1141 1
1007
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.