IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS."―
A communication from abroad by Jérome Eugène Farcy, Naval
Lieutenant, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 1st March 1870, and dated the 7th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th September 1869.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the
hulls of all kinds of vessels, either sailing or steam, and whether built of
wood or metal, but more especially applicable to war ships of small.
dimensions, lighters, and boats of all kinds.

page_text: Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings shows a longitudinal section of the
improvements as applied to a gun boat, and Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3
a transverse section of the same; Figure 4 shows both the bow and stern
in end view; and Figure 5 a part plan of the boat. I make the bottom
part of the hull with curved or angular channels running parallel with
the keel and of variable depth, being of the form shown in Figure 3 of
the Drawing. This form of hull serves as an efficient support for the
upper part of the vessel, which may be thus considerably increased in
size, and may carry more weight than usual. This mode of constructing
the hull also facilitates the dispersion of the water at the bow, and
consequently diminishes the resistance in vessels of equal section. I
may by constructing a hull of this form increase the breadth of beam
without augmenting the resistance, and thus diminish the draft of water
with the same tonnage. It would be of great advantage to construct
vessels in this manner which are required to navigate shallow water at
comparatively high speeds. The bow and stern end of the hull may
either terminate in a vertical or inclined line, or be simply rounded
according as it is desired to cleave or glide on the water. The forward
end may unite with the central portion much in the ordinary way, and
may either terminate in an upright bow or have a more or less projecting
spur end, according as it is desired to produce an ordinary vessel or one
intended to carry a heavy bow gun. The channels or hollows in the hull
give efficient support to the same by reason of their hold on the water,
and thus prevent rolling through the increased stability afforded, which
is already augmented by the additional breadth obtained. Boats con-
structed on this principle when provided with water-tight compartments
are incapable of being capsized or sunk. Greater power of the rudder
is also obtained, and facility for manoeuvring by reason of the currents of
water moving directly towards the stern, while as the water passes more
directly to the screws when such propellers are used an increased speed
is obtainable. Notwithstanding the increased breadth of beam and that
the screws are disposed one on either side, these vessels will manœuvre
with greater certainty and rapidity when using two screws.
channels on either side of the keel enable the vessels to keep their
course by the aid of the rudder with one engine and screw only in work.
From the flat form of bottom given to these vessels they may be run
ȧground without fear of capsizing. The water-tight compartments
intersecting each other at right angles, as represented by the blue lines
in Figure 2, are united by means of angle irons or flanges formed on the
The

page_text: plates, so as to divide the vessel into a number of water-tight spaces
serving to render the vessel unsinkable, and also bracing together all
parts of the hull, so as to render it capable of withstanding an enormous
strain, even though thin plate iron be employed, the strain being
uniformly distributed throughout. Vessels may be constructed in this
manner of thin plate iron, much lighter and stronger and consequently
more economically than heretofore. I avail myself of the channeled
hull for applying therein either paddles, screws, or other means used for
propelling purposes. This mode of construction is also applicable to
what are known as water velocipedes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, 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 TRE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Jérome Eugène Farcy, Naval
Lieutenant, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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

page_text: 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 Alexander Melville Clark, 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 Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say)
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the
hulls of all kinds of vessels, either sailing or steam, and whether built of
wood or metal, but more especially applicable to war ships of small
dimensions, lighters, and boats of all kinds.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings shows a longitudinal section of the
improvements as applied to a gun boat, and Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a transverse section of the same; Figure 4 shows both the bow
and stern in end view; and Figure 5 a part plan of the boat. I make
the bottom part of the hull with curved or angular channels running
parallel with the keel and of variable depth, being of the form shown in
Figure 3 of the Drawing. This form of hull serves as an efficient
support for the upper part of the vessel, which may be thus considerably
increased in breadth and may carry more weight. The Drawing shows
an eight-inch gun as mounted on the vessel. This mode of constructing
the hull also facilitates the dispersion of the water at the bow and con-
sequently diminishes the resistance in vessels of equal section. I may
by constructing a hull of this form increase the breadth of beam without
augmenting the resistance, and also diminish the draught of water with
the same displacement. It would be of great advantage to construct
vessels in this manner which are required to navigate shallow water at
comparatively high speeds. The bow and stern end of the hull may
either terminate in a vertical or inclined line or be simply rounded
according as it is desired to cleave or glide on the water. The bow may
be made much in the ordinary form, and may either terminate in an
upright stem or have a more or less projecting spur end according as
it is desired to produce an ordinary vessel or one intended to carry
a heavy bow gun. The channels or hollows in the hull give efficient
support to the same by reason of their hold in the water, and thus
prevent rolling through the increased stability afforded, which is already

page_text: augmented by the additional breadth of the vessel. Boats constructed
on this principle when provided with water-tight compartments are
incapable of being capsized or sunk. Greater power of the rudder is also`
obtained and facility for manoeuvreing by reason of the currents of water
moving directly towards the stern, while as the water passes more
directly to the screws when such propellors are used an increased speed
is obtainable. Notwithstanding the increased breadth of beam and the
distance the screws are disposed apart, one on either side of the keel,
these vessels will manoeuvre with greater certainty and rapidity when
using two screws. The channels on either side of the keel enable
the vessels to keep their course by the aid of the rudder with one engine
and screw only in work. From the flat form of bottom given to these
vessels they may be run aground without fear of capsizing. The water-
tight compartments intersecting each other at right angles, as represented
by the blue. lines in Figure 2, are united by means of angle irons or
flanges formed on the plates so as to divide the vessel into a number of
water-tight spaces, serving to render the vessel unsinkable and also
bracing together all parts of the hull so as to render it capable of
withstanding an enormous strain even though thin plate iron be
employed, the strain being uniformly distributed throughout. Vessels
may be constructed in this manner of thin plate iron much lighter and
stronger and consequently more economically than heretofore. I avail
myself of the channelled hull for applying therein either paddles, screws,
or other means used for propelling purposes. This mode of construction
is also applicable to what are known as water velocipedes. I may also
make the hull in sections to facilitate their transport, the sections being
either longitudinal or transverse. Deck houses may also be provided
and bulwarks erected as a protection from musketry fire, which may be
roofed in of a dome shape. The bulwarks and dome may also be
provided with thin armour plating as a protection from bullets and
grape shot. I may also make the hull in two parts, the lower part or
double hull proper serving to support the upper part or deck. The parts
are fixed or bolted together so as to be readily taken apart. I also
reserve the right of increasing the number of channels in the hull, in
which I place screws or paddle wheels as in the case of the twin hull
before mentioned.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the chief object of the
Invention is the construction of small vessels to be propelled by steam,
more especially adapted for embarking or disembarking troops.

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, con-
structing the hull of all kinds of vessels with a series of curved or
angular channels parallel with the keel and of varying depth, as
illustrated in the Drawings and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
.53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)