CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA-GOING VESSELS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Brodie, of Bow of Fife, in the County
of Fife, North Britain, Clerk, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA-GOING VESSELS."
Sealed the 9th April 1853, and dated the 23rd October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brodie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd October 1852.
I, JAMES BRODIE, Clerk, of Bow of life, in the County of Fife, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CER-
TAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA-GOING VESSELS" to be as
follows:-
First. The employing of two or more vessels joined together at the
side, but placed at such a distance from each other as will allow the
water they displace to pass freely between thein.
Second. The building of vessels with their bottoms so flat, and the
sides in their vertical section so nearly straight, that at their junction
they form an angle or corner, while the stem and stern in their horizontal
section are sharp.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Brodie in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES BRODIE, of Bow of Fife, in the County of Fife, North Britain,
Clerk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Ier reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Brodie, Her special license that I, the
said James Brodie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Brodie, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SEA-GOING VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said James Brodie, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 James Brodie, 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 Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of "Certain Improvements in the Construction of Sea-

page_text: going Vessels" relates both to the arrangements of such vessels in
portions, or distinct vessels united together to form one vessel, and also
to the mode of constructing such separate vessels, or portions, to be
united or not, as desired. And the various parts of the Invention may
be used either in combination or separately.
The first part of my Invention consists in employing two or more
vessels joined together at the side, but placed at such a distance from
each other as will secure their stability as floating bodies, and allow the
water they displace to pass freely between them. A space equal to at
least the breadth of one of these vessels will be necessary for these
purposes. One or more of these vessels must be of such a size and
form as to contain the crew by which they aro navigated, with such
portion of the cargo to be carried as may be desirable, while one or
more may be of smaller dimensions, and be principally designed to serve
the purpose of giving stability to the others. The vessels are connected
together by means of spars or beams of wood or rods or bars of iron.
When it is desired to give greater strength to the structure, some of
these beams or bars are affixed to the upper part of the vessels, while
others are affixed below.
The disposal of these means of connection may be varied in different
cases, so as to adapt them to the purpose of giving strength to the
structure in such parts as may most require it. The connection thus
formed between the vessels may be more or less permanent, and the
size of the vessels thus united may be different, provided that in all
cases the objects before specified shall be attained (that is to say):
First, stability or steadiness in the water; secondly, the free passage of
the water between the vessels; thirdly, their adequate capacity for
containing a crew, and, if required, a cargo; and, fourthly, strength of
structure. The space between these vessels may be either left open or
covered with a netting, or, if preferred, a deck or platform of wood may
be formed thercon. This covoring is not essential to my Invention,
which in that respect is different from a raft or platform of wood sup-
ported by boats or floating vessels underneath it, which has been
proposed by others. The vessels themselves may be covered with decks
of wood or with coverings of canvas.

page_text: This part of my Invention, however, may be more fully understood
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1, is a trans-
verso vertical section, shewing two vessels with the mode of connecting
them; and Fig. 2, is a diagram or partial plan or horizontal view of
the same, giving a general idea of some of the principal parts in the
structure. A, A, are the two vessels, united by means of the framework
and bracings, as shown. These vessels are formed with supporting
beams or bars of wood or iron a, a, extending from stem to stern,
such beams or bars each consisting of one or more picces, as circum-
stances may require, and together constituting the main longitudinal
framework of the vessels. These beams or bars are connected together
by the vertical standards c, c, and by the horizontal stretchers or tie beams
d, d, and thus is formed or constituted the framework of the whole vessel,
which is covered by planking e, e. This planking may be grooved and
tongued, or caulked, or rendered water-tight by any other convenient
means. The vessels so constructed are united by means of beams or
bars of wood or iron f,f. firmly fastened to the frames of the vessels
(see Fig 1, and 2); 9,9, (Fig. 1,) are iron strengthening rods or knees,
to increase the firmness of connection of these parts; h, h, (Fig. 2,) are
diagonal braces, fixed as shewn, in order to give additional strength to
the structure; i, i, (Fig. 2,) are rods or bars of iron for connecting the
vessels together at the upper part; 2, (Fig. 1,) are rods or bars of
iron for connecting the vessels together at the lower part. These rods
or bars have shoulders upon them, by means of which, together with
screw nuts k, k, the vessels are kept apart, and other screw nuts 1, 1, are
employed to keep the vessels from separating.
The second part of my Invention consists in building vessels of such
a form as to avoid the ordinary curvature of the sides and bottom of
the vessel, and to substitute in lieu thereof a formation of the sides
nud hottem relatively disposed in such a manner as to form an angle
the one with the other, that is to say, the bottom being flat or nearly
flat, and the sides rising from it in a straight line or nearly so. Also,
these vessels have their stem and stern so formed as to be sharp in
their horizontal section. Vessels of this form are shewn at A, A,
Ti 1 and 2.

page_text: The mode in which such vessels are constructed may be varied, but
the mode which I have found convenient for the purpose has been
already described in reference to Fig. 1, the peculiar feature in such
mode of construction being the longitudinal beams at top and bottom,
united by vertical standards, and connected together by horizontal
stretchers or tie beams, and in this manner forming a framework, to be
covered with planking, as above described. Decks also may be formed
on such vessels in the usual manner. These vessels may, however, be
constructed otherwise, if preferred, so long as the angular formation be
combined with the sharp stem and stern, as above described.
And the third part of my Invention consists in adapting and applying
to vessels, whether of the form above described or of other forms, a move-
able stem or cutwater, in place of the ordinary fixed stem or cutwater.
It is fitted to the fore part or bows of the vessel in such a manner
as to admit of its being raised out of its place, and lowered down into
it again, as occasion may require. For instance, it may be convenient
to raise the stem or cutwater when the vessel approaches the shore, in
order to protect it from the liability to injury by coming in contact
with any hard substance or obstruction; and when the vessel puts out
to sea it is desirable that the stem or cutwater should be lowered down
to its position in order that it may facilitate the passage of the vessel
through the water. The exact mode of fitting the stem or cutwater to
its position and securing it therein is not material, provided it be made
to fit in its place so as to carry on the line of the vessel on each side to
the point of the cutwater, without obstruction to the passage of the
water on each side, as it is divided by the progress of the vessel through
it. One mode of accomplishing this object may be by forming the
back of the cutwater hollow, and fitted to the part of the vessel
against which it is placed, and uniting them by means of screws
or bolts.
I would here remark that the several parts of my Invention above
described may be variously combined either with each other or with
different arrangements, as may be found convenient in practice; as, for
instance, the first part of my Invention is not confined to vessels of the
form herein-before described, and the moveable stem or cutwater may

page_text: also be adapted and applied to vessels of other forms besides thoso
described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that
what I claim as of my Invention is,-First, the mode described of
employing two or more vessels joined together at the side, in order to
combine the several properties of stability or steadiness in the water,
the free passage of the water between the vessels, their adequate
capacity for containing a crew, and, if required, a cargo, and strength of
structure. Secondly, the construction of sea-going vessels of such a
form as to combine the above described angular shape in the transverse
vertical section, with the stem and stern sharp or pointed in the
horizontal section. Thirdly, the adaptation and application to vessels of
a moveable stem or cutwater, as described. And, lastly, the combination
of the various parts of the Invention above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Brodie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.