IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON STRHAT
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bedder, of Saltash, in the County of
Cornwall, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRHATIAN An
An
Sealed the 13th October 1865, and dated the 18th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bedder at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
April 1865.
I, WILLIAM BEDDER, of Saltash, in the County of Cornwall, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS, OR CARS TO FLOAT ON WATER," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in supporting a car or vessel above the water level on
axles or shafts passed through hollow rotating drums or cylinders, which are
caused to revolve on their axles by steam or other motive power.
In carrying out my Invention I propose to use two pairs of drums or
cylinders, one pair being placed at the fore end, and the other pair at the rear
end of the structure. The car or vessel to carry the passengers and freight is
supported by its ends, on the axles of the drums or cylinders, which by their
buoyancy keep the car or vessel suspended above the level of the water. By
communicating motion to the drums or cylinders the latter will rotate on the
water while the car is suspended above it, so that the water will offer no
resistance to it, and therefore but little power will be required to propel the

page_text: vessel along. If a vessel of large capacity be required I prefer to form it in
two parts, which can be jointed together and supported at the junction by an
additional pair of druins or cylinders. If desired all the drums may have
rotary motion communicated to them, or only one or more sets may be
actuated.
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Bedder in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BEDDER, Merchant, of Saltash, in the County of Cornwall, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Bedder, Her special licence that I, the said William Bedder,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Bedder, 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 OR VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Bedder, 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 William Bedder, 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 (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in supporting a car or vessel above the water level
on axles or shafts passed through rotating hollow air-tight drums or cylinders
which are caused to revolve on their axles by steam or other motive power.
The car or vessel to carry passengers and freight is supported by the axles or

page_text: shafts of the drums or cylinders which by their buoyancy keep the car or vessel
suspended above the level of the water. By communicating motion to the
drums or cylinders they will rotate on or through the water, while the car or
vessel is suspended above the water in a sufficient degree to prevent the water
offering any resistance to it, and therefore comparatively but little power will
be required to propel the vessel along. The number of drums or cylinders,
their size, shape, and mode of construction, as well as that of the car or vessel
to which they are attached, will depend on the requirements, skill, and taste of
the naval architect or engineer. If a large amount of carrying power is
required, then instead of putting two drums or cylinders to one axle or shaft,
I should place as many as may be deemed advisable.
The materials suitable for its construction present a variety, but I prefer
iron, although wood. can be employed, or any other suitable materials, either
alone or in combination.
The advantages sought to be obtained by this Invention are, increased
speed at a comparatively less expenditure of power and fuel; greater safety
from danger, such as shoals, mud or sand banks, and sunken rocks; and by
requiring so small a draught of water to effect an immense saving in the cost
of constructing docks, deepening channels, and other water ways.
The accompanying Drawing and explanatory description of same will better
illustrate the nature of my Invention, but I do not bind myself to this par-
ticular form and detail of construction..
EXPLANATION OF DRAWING.
Figure I. represents the side view of a complete vessel; the letter A
shews the car or vessel; B, B, the drums or cylinders; b, b, the ends of smoke
funnels; C, the funnel, which lays horizontal. I prefer placing it in that
position for the purpose of preventing all possible obstruction from the air,
and as it is intended for the vessel to go either way as required, so also will
the smoke escape from that end of the funnel nearest the after part of the
vessel when in motion. The blue line represents the water line when the
vessel is loaded.
Figure II. represents an horizontal section of Figure I., excepting the engine,
&c., part only of the drums or cylinders are shewn. The letter D shews parts
of the drums or cylinders; E, the space for the engine, boilers, coals, &c. ;
F and G, room for passengers and freight; H, the axles.
Figure III. represents the interior framework and axles of the drums and
cylinders as well as the mode of construction.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, what I claim is, the

page_text: principle of employing rotary hollow air-tight drums or cylinders attached to
shafts or axles for the propulsion of all kinds of vessels, ships, boats, barges,
or other description of floating craft as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bedder, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
EDW". SNELL.
W. BEDDER. (L.S.)