IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS a communication from Edward Swindell of
Apalachicola, state of Florida, United States of America, Gentleman and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has relation to a certain improvement in the construction of
ships and is intended more particularly for the construction of armour clad vessels
of war although it is applicable also to vessels adapted for the carrying of passengers
and freight. The object of said invention is two fold viz first to provide for the
thorough protection of the propellers and so arrange said propellers as to greatly
increase the speed of the vessel; and secondly so to construct the upper works of
the vessel that they shall form a life raft adapted to detach itself from the body of
the vessel in the event of the sinking of the latter. To these ends this invention
consists in the detailed construction of the vessel as hereinafter more fully described
reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an armoured vessel of this improved construction.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan or top view.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross section on the line X. X. Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the upper works
of the vessel which constitute the detachable raft.
Figure 6 is a bottom view of the vessel.
Figure 7 is a vertical cross section on the line indicated by 3. y. Figure 6 and
Figure 8 is a similar view taken through the line z. z. in Figure 6.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In the several figures on the drawing the letter A designates the hull or the
body of a vessel of this improved construction. B is the keel which is composed
of a series of sections C. C. made tapering at their front and rear ends and provided
with longitudinal bearings for the shafts D on which the screw propellers E, E, are
Drine R71

page_text: mounted as shown between the several sections of the keel there being one screw
propeller also in rear of the rearmost section. Usually two engines will be
employed so arranged as to drive the separate shafts D D by means of cranks upon
the latter, but with regard to the number of engines and shafts required and their
relative arrangement and method of operation may be modified in various ways
according to the size and the nature of the vessel to which this improvement is
applied without deviating from the spirit of this invention.
The hull of the vessel is provided with longitudinal laterally extending com-
partments or bulkheads having flat bottoms on a level with the bottom of the hull
or vessel proper. These bulkheads which are denoted by the letters F. F. on the
drawing may be used as coal bunks fresh water tanks or for storage purposes
generally.
The several tapering sections of the keel may if desired be connected at their
lower edges in any suitable manner so as to form practically a continuous keel.
Changes or modifications in the construction and arrangement of details may be
resorted to so long as these do not depart from the spirit of this invention.
By the construction of the keel and the arrangement of the propellers in the
manner herein before described many important advantages are gained among
which are the following: all the propellers will be always under water no matter
what the inclination of the hull may be and thus be in a position to operate
effectively.
The overhanging bulkheads and the flat bottom effectually protect the sectional
keel and the propellers against injury by ramming the vessel as well as against
injury from shot and shell; and in case of injury to any one of the engines the
remaining engine or engines will always be able to propel the vessel; and even if
by any possibility one or more of the propellers should be disabled from any cause
the remainder will be found sufficient for the effective working of the vessel the
several screw propellers and their shafts being so arranged that they may either be
operated singly or in connection with one another.
Although the hull of the vessel is so constructed that it will be practically
impossible to sink the same by ramming or by firing into the bottom under the
water line yet means are provided for the safety of the crew in the event of any
accident happening to the hull which would disable the same and cause it to sink
or if by stress of weather the vessel should founder at sea or run upon a lee shore.
These means consist in the construction of the top part or upper works of the
vessel in the form of a detachable saloon or life raft shown at H which forms the
top of the deck rooms R. On an armoured vessel this upper part H is supported upon
the raised stem and stern of the vessel and the intermediate turret or turrets in which
the guns are mounted. By reference to Figures 1. 2 and 3 of the drawing it will
be seen that the forward and rear ends of this roof or top part H is made tapering
or pointed and that the said pointed ends rest in recesses G. G. in the top of the
forward house R.and the rearward house R¹. In other words the roofs or top part
of these houses are so constructed that they will form bearings or receptacles for
the tapering ends of the removeable raft H. The latter is provided with a raised
keel I which under normal conditions forms its roof; but if from any cause the
hull of the vessel should sink then the moment the under side of the raft reaches
the water line it will be lifted off of its bearings G. G. detach itself from the sinking
vessel and right itself by turning over so as to immerse its keel I in the water the
flat under side J forming the deck or top of the raft.
It is preferable to construct the central part or body of this removeable raft
square in cross section as shown in Figures 4. 5. 7 and 8 and construct the inside
parts with berths or bunks M which swing upon a longitudinal shaft N so that as
the raft rights itself when it reaches the water these bunks will swing around their
centre N and assume their proper position. The raft is also constructed with
laterally extending flanges forming the flat deck. J and inside of these flanges or
lateral projections compartments K are arranged which form water tight air
ehambers preventing the raft from sinking and which also aid materially in causing

page_text: the raft to right itself after it shall have been immersed into the water. .In order
to provide for the steadiness or stiffness of the raft in a beaway the outer edges of
the laterally extending wings or Bangès J. J. are constructed with downwardly
projecting hollow ribs O. O. divided into air tight compartments and which also
operate to greatly increase the bearing capacity and buoyancy of the raft.
Under normal conditions this raft is retained by its own weight in its proper
position forming the top part or upper works of the vessel with its ends resting in
the recessed bearings G. G. Stairways or other suitable means are provided
whereby the interior of the raft may be reached from the deck of the vessel so that
this part of the vessel may be used the same as any other part for the accom-
mmodation of passengers for the storage of freight or for any other purpose. Thus
it will be seen that this raft is not an incumbrance upon the deck of the vessel as
is the case with life rafts generally but that it forms a part of the vessel proper
and is occupied for use as a saloon or cabin under ordinary circumstances thus
greatly increasing the carrying capacity of the ship. If desired those ends of the
raft which rest in the recesses G may be fastened by any suitable means in such a
manner that the fastenings can readily be undone or cut in case of accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. As an improvement in the construction of ships a keel consisting of a series
of sections connected in any suitable manner and tapering at their front and rear
ends substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. As an improvement in ships the combination with the hull of a vessel of a
keel consisting of a series of sections made tapering at their front and rear ends
and having longitudinal inside bearings for the propeller shaft or shafts substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. As an improvement in the construction of ships a keel constructed of a series
of sections made tapering at both ends and having longitudinal inside bearings for
a propeller shaft or shafts in combination with the screw propellers mounted upon
the said shaft or shafts between the said several keel sections at the rear end of the
rearmost section substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. As an improvement in the construction of ships the combination of the hull
having longitudinally laterally extending bulkheads F the bottoms or underside of
which are on a level with the flat bottom of the hull; the keel composed of a series
of sections each section tapering at both ends; the propeller shaft or shafts
journalled centrally and longitudinally in the said sections and the screw propellers
mounted upon the said shaft or shafts between or at the rear ends of the several
keel sections substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. As an improvement in the construction of ships a detachable superstructure
forming a part of the vessel proper and adapted to be permanently occupied as
such, and forming a detachable life raft in case of emergency substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
6. As an improvement in the construction of ships, the combination of the hull;
the fixed deck structures constructed with the recesses or bearings G and a suitable
detachable superstructure resting with its ends in the said recesses, and adapted
to form a life raft in case of emergency substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
7. As an improvement in the construction of ships the combination of the hull
having permanent deck structures the tops or roofs of which are provided with
suitable bearings or recesses G with the detachable superstructure or raft comprising
a central longitudinal body and laterally extending wings or flanges said wings or
flanges being divided by suitable water tight bulkheads into closed air compartments
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. A detachable superstructure or raft for vessels consisting essentially of a
central longitudinal body and laterally extending buoyant wings or flanges the said

page_text: central part or body being divided into suitable compartments or state rooms
within which swinging bunks are or may be mounted upon centrally arranged
shafts or bearings substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. As an improvement in the construction of ships the combination of a hull
having laterally extending bulkheads, the fixed saloon or turret structures built i
upon the deck and forming fixtures of the body of the vessel, and a detachable
superstructure or raft mounted detachably in bearings or recesses upon the roofs of
the said fixed deck structures and having suitable means of communication with
the deck of the vessel and with the permanent structures arranged thereon
substantially as set forth.
1
10. The combination with the hull or body of a vessel of suitable construction of
a detachable raft or superstructure having interior communication with the body of
the vessel and fitted for permanent occupancy under normal conditions but adapted
to detach itself from the hull in case of accident and to right itself upon its keel
on reaching the water line the interior of the said detachable superstructure being 1
arranged to form compartments which are provided with swinging bunks adapted
to swing upon their centres as the raft rights itself substantially as and for the
purpose specified.