An Elastic or Resilient Covering for Ships' Bottoms.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Elastic or Resilient Covering for Ships' Bottoms.
I, FRANCIS DELAMOTTE MOTT of 165 Fenchurch Street London, E.C.
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invent on and in what manner the
same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to an attachment to the bottoms of ships and has for ite
object the minimizing of the frictional grip of water upon the vessel, and of the
effects of impact of waves and surges, particularly when the vessel is driven at
high speed and in stormy weather, thus conducing to the greater velocity and
steadiness of the vessel, avoidance of vibration, greater buoyancy and carrying
capacity, and protection from leakage and damage to vessel by accidental
concussions.
This attachment consists of a clothing or sheeting of prepared indiarubber or
other suitable elastic material, fitting more or less closely around the sides of the
vessel up to or a little above deep load line. This sheeting is only fixed to the
sides of the vessel around the edges, and around any pipes which may project
from the ships bottom or sides, being fixed thereto in an air tight manuer, leaving
n certain interval between the sheeting or integument and the vessel's outer skin.
Air or gas is pumped into this interval between the sides of the vessel, which must
be air tight, and the elastic sheeting or integument by means of pumping apparatus
which keeps up the desired pressure, regulated cither automatically or at will,
always within the limits of pressure which can safely be borne by the elastic
integument. In addition to this pneumatic cushion, a second integument or skin
may be used, covering the first, and formed of textile or leather like material,
which may be provided with a plush-like nap, resembling the coats of amphibious
animals, lying in the direction of the stern of the vessel, for the purpose of
reducing the friction of the water and retaining a portion of oil. Oil is pumped
in between the two skins and exudes from the outer one, lessening the friction
between the water and the vessel and preventing the breaking of waves on the
vessel. The desired degree of permeability of this outer coat may be obtained in
manufacture by coating it on its inner side with indiarubber or other water- and
oil-proof varnish, and then puncturing uniformly with minute pores, or in any
other suitable manner. This covering must be thoroughly saturated with oil
before floating the vessel. Each of these coverings may be put on as a whole or
in sections; if in sections, these may be made to communicate with each other by
valves, self closing in case of accident to any section, by the pressure of air in the
contiguous undamaged sections, thus giving greater facilities for adjustment and
repairing. With this arrangement, either with the first or both coverings, the
vessel will travel more freely through the water, and will not present a rigid
resistance to the impact of the waves, which will expend their force in compressing
the air contained in the elastic cushion-like coat, the retarding "grip of the
water on the vessel being lessened from the same cause. Vibration of the vessel
is also reduced to a minimum and its stability increased.
The vessel will be capable of carrying a larger cargo as the dis-placement is
greater and the pneumatic covering very light in proportion to its bulk or
displacement. The bottom and sides will be protected from rust and other
deteriorating influences and leakage would be prevented excepting through
collision or stranding, thus obviating the necessity for painting,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The application to a seagoing vessel, of a coat or integument formed of
prepared indiarubber or other elastic material fixed along its edges and at other
suitable parts to the sides and bottom of the vessel, leaving a space or interval
between it and the outside of vessel which space is filled with air or gas regulated
to a suitable pressure substantially as and for the purposes described.
(2) The combination, with a coat or integument of indiarubber or other elastic
material, fixed at suitable parts to the sides of the vessel and filled with compressed
air or gas, of a second or outer coat or integument made of textile or other
material and enclosing oil which can be regulated to permeate or exude through
such second coat or integument more or less slowly, substantially as described and
for the purposes specificd.
(3) The combination with the first coat or integument filled with compressed
air or gas, of the outer coat or integument containing oil which can slowly exude,
and provided with a plush like nap on its exterior surface, lying in the direction
of the stern of the vessel, substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 0th of MC 1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.