Improvements in Naval Construction.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Naval Construction.
I, ROWLAND BROTHERHOOD, of Cambria House, Chepstow, in the County of Mon-
mouth, Civil Engineer, do hereby declaro the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of ships' hulls, and has
more particular reference to the prevention of rolling. The same devices which I
use to effect the above purpose of my invention, or an amplication or modication
thereof, are also applicable to temporarily increasing the flotation of vessels, so that
its use will have the effect of raising a ship out of the water and of thereby
enabling her to get over, say, a harbour bar, which her normal draught would prevent
her clearing.
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange a series of pipes or chambers along
the vessel's sides, preferably between its two skins. These pipes are blind at their
upper extremities, while their lower and open ends are well beneath the water line.
For the purpose of preventing the ship rolling, my invention acts in the following
manner. As the ship rolls over, the air in the pipes is necessarily in a position for
being compressed in proportion to the extent of the roll. It is the natural resistance
of the air to comprossion which is the operative agent, according to my invention,
in preventing the roll and keeping the ship on a level keel; and in so far as the
resistance of the water to the passage through it of the bodies of air compressed as
above described and the incompressibility of the air balance each other, will the
stability of the ship be improved.
The pipes have a rake to the stern of the ship, so that as little resistance as possible
is offered to the passage of the ship through the water.
With respect to the further application of my invention above mentioned, the pipes
or chambers are pumped full of air, the capacity of said pipes or chambers being
adapted to receive as large a volume of air as may be required to increase the
flotation of the ship to the necessary extent.
The air pipes or chambers may be continued below the ship's bottom.
Suitable non-return valves are used where necessary.
Dated this 19th day of November 1889.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Naval Construction.
I, ROWLAND BROTHERHOOD, of Cambria House, Chepstow, in the County of
Monmouth, Civil Engineer, 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 to improvements in the construction of the hulls of ships, of
floating batteries, pontoons, and such other analogous structures of which it is required
that they shall be capable of flotation with or without capacity for motion, progressive
or retrogressive, in the water.
Speaking generally, the nature of my invention consists, by the use of special
devices, in nullifying the rolling tendency in ships, and other high floating naval
structures, as well as in regulating the specific gravity of the particular naval con-
struction to which the invention is applied-that is to say, the same devices which I
use, according to my invention, for the purpose of preventing a ship rolling, or an

page_text: into the chambers E with the effect of raising the structure out of the water until
the water seal yields before the resilience of the volume of compressed air.
When the air exhausts are opened the structure will sink to its normal draught-line
when the said exhausts are to be closed.
I wish to draw attention to the fact that the air chambers are according to my
invention always within the outer skin of the structure as distinguished from the air-
tight cylinders, pontoons, and equivalents hitherto used, all of which have been
external to, and distinct from, the structure to be raised, and have been used by first
sinking them and afterwards replacing the water contained in them by forcing air
into them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
The combination with a naval structure of air chambers open at their bottom and
suitable machinery and devices for injecting air into them and of exhausting it
therefrom at will, as and for the purpose set forth.
110
1
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.