Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
1 RICHARD SAXTON WHITE, of Millbrooke Walker-on-Tyne in the County of
Northumberland Shipbuilder do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows viz.
--
My invention relates to the structural arrangement of cellular double bottoms for
the safety of the vessel in stranding, and also for containing the water ballast in Iron
and Steel Ships.
The present usual mode of constructing cellular double bottoms is, by the adoption of
floor plates, the full depth of the double bottom, having an angle iron on bottom and top
edge to form frame, and reverse frame, and spaced from 21 to 30 inches apart
according to the size of the vessel viz. :-one floor to each frame of the Ship. Each
floor is supported in its vertical position by an intercostal keelson placed about
midway between the centre line keelson plate and the tank side plate; in the
case of large vessels two such intercostals are fitted to give the necessary support
to the floors.
Or alternatively; the cellular double bottom may be constructed on the longitudinal
system of fore and aft girders, the full depth of the cellular double bottom, and
placed 3 to 4 feet apart, according to the size of vessel; these girders are supported
in place by solid intercostal floor plates, or bracket plates placed on alternate, frames
or, about 3 to 5 feet apart according to size of vessel; the intermediate frame being
unsupported by any floor or bracket plate.
By the first arrangement named, owing to the close spacing of the floor plates
and access to each space being only attainable through small manholes, the
construction or repairing of these cellular bottoms is very difficult and therefore
costly.
By the alternative arrangement named; the bottom shell plating of the vessel and
the top plating of the cellular bottom is insufficiently supported to withstand heavy
local strains, from grounding in the one case, and from weight of cargo in the other,
vis., in the space between the alternate solid intercostal floors or bracket plates

page_text: where the plating is only supported by the single frame or reverse frame angle
respectively, and accessibility is gained at the cost of strength to resist heavy local
strains.
The average thickness of plates used in these constructions is about " of an inch
in iron andths of an inch in Steel and for angles about 7ths of an inch in iron
and ths of an inch in steel.
The object of my invention is to arrange and construct these cellular double bottoms
by the adoption of angles of special sizes supported by bracket and intercostal plates
in such manner that, without increasing the weight of the whole, the thicknesses of
the angles and plates may, if considered necessary, be increased; to allow for the
serious loss of strength caused by neglected corrosion and the scouring action of the
water ballast; also to obtain a more rigid support to the shell plating, and
the top plating of the cellular double bottom than is obtained by the longitudinal
system and also to make the double bottom more accessible, thereby facilitating
their construction or repairs and their proper inspection and protection against undue
corrosion.
The construction being more accessible facilitates the adoption of hydraulic riveting
instead of hand riverting, and thereby a much stronger job is also obtained at
less cost.
In carrying my invention into effect instead of providing solid floors, with ordinary
frame and reverse frame spaced 21 to 30 inches apart, I adopt angles in Iron
or Steel of special size, about 9 to 15 inches on the vertical flange, and 3 to 4 inches
on the moulded flange, and of suitable thickness; spaced 21 to 30 inches apart.
These form respectively the top and bottom frames of the cellular bottom. At the
centre line they are connected to each other, and the centre, through plate or centre
keelson by means of bracket plates, and vertical angles of ordinary scantling in
vessels having a centre through plate with flat plate keel; In the case of vessels
with flitch plate or drop keel, then the bar forming the bottom frame may be
scored through the centre-through plate, forming solid bottom frame from bilge to
bilge.
At the side or bilge, the top and bottom frames are connected to each other, and
the tank side plate, by a short piece of angle iron or steel of the same special scantling
as the frames.
In small vessels there is one, and in large vessels two or, if necessary in vessels
of exceptional size, three bracket plates fitted to tie the top and bottom frames
together; and at the centre of each bracket plate is fitted an intercostal plate, and
angles of usual scantlings from frame to frame, to support the frames and brackets
in their vertical position.
By this arrangement, no part of the shell plating, or the top plating of cellular
bottom, is left unsupported for a greater distance than the normal spacing of frames
(viz. 21 to 30 inches according to the size of vessel) or an equal support to that
obtained, by the ordinary system of solid floors on every frame; and the
arrangement has even greater accessibility than that obtained by the longitudinal
girder system with alternate solid floors without the objection of leaving large spaces
of the shell and top plating of cellular bottom insufficiently supported to withstand
heavy local strains.
The reduction in the total quantity of material employed by this arrangement as
compared with the solid floor plate or longitudinal girder systems, enables me, if it be
considered necessary to increase the thickness of the frames and brackets etc., from
the usual thicknesses according to the size of the vessel, without increasing the weight
of the whole.

page_text: Improvements in the Structural Arrangements of Cellular Double
Bottoms in Iron or Steel Ships.
I, RICHARD SAXTON WHITE of Millbrooke, Walker on Tyne in the County of
Northumberland, Shipbuilder, 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 :-
My invention relates to the structural arrangements of Cellular double bottoms
for the safety of the vessels in stranding and also for containing the water ballast
in Iron and Steel ships.
The present usual mode of constructing cellular double bottoms is by the adoption
of floor plates the full depth of the double bottom, having an angle iron on top and
bottom edge to form frames and reverse-frames, i.e. one floor to each frame of the
ship, and spaced from 21" to 30" according to the size of the vessel.
Each floor is supported in the vertical position by an intercostal keelson placed
about midway between the centre line keelson plate, and the tank side plate. In
the case of large vessels, two such intercostals may be fitted to give the necessary
support to the floors, or, alternatively; the cellular double bottom may be constructed
on the longitudinal system of fore and aft girders, the full depth of the cellular
double bottom, and placed 3 to 4 feet apart, according to the size of vessel; these
girders are supported in place by solid intercostal floor plates, or bracket plates
placed on alternate frames, or, about 3 to 5 feet apart according to size of vessel,
the intermediate frames being unsupported by any floor or bracket plate.
By the first arrangement named, owing to the close spacing of the floor plates,
and access to each space being only attainable through small manholes, the construction
or repairing of these cellular bottoms is very difficult and therefore costly.
By the alternative arrangement named, the bottom shell plating of the vessel, and
the top plating of the cellular bottom is insufficiently supported to withstand heavy
local strains, from grounding in the one case, and from weight of cargo in the other,
viz., in the space between the alternate solid intercostal floors or bracket plates;
where the plating is only supported by the single frame or reverse-frame angle
respectively, and accessibility is gained at the cost of strength to resist heavy,
local strains.
The average thickness of plates used in these constructions is about 3" of an inch
in Iron and ths of an inch in steel, and for angles about 7" of an inch in Iron
and ths of an inch in Steel.
The object of my invention is to arrange and construct these cellular double bottoms
by the adoption of angles of special sizes, supported by bracket and intercostal plates,.
in such manner that, without increasing the weight of the whole; the thicknesses of
the angles and plates may, if considered necessary, be increased, to allow for the

page_text: serious loss of strength caused by neglected corrosion, and the scouring action of
the water ballast; also to obtain a more rigid support to the shell plating, and the
top plating of the cellular double bottom, than is obtained by the longitudinal system,
and also to make the double bottom more accessible, thereby facilitating their
construction, or repairs, and their proper inspection, and protection against undue
corrosion.
The construction being more accessible facilitates the adoption of hydraulic riveting
instead of hand riveting, and thereby a much stronger job is also obtained at
less cost.
In carrying my invention into effect, and that it may be fully understood I will
now proceed particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference are used to indicate
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents in plan and Figure 2 represents in cross section a part of a
vessel's bottom, constructed according to my invention, the tank top being removed
to shew the construction.
A is the centre keelson, B1 and B2 are the intercostal keelsons, C is the tank
side plate.
Instead of providing solid floor plates spaced at the usual distance apart viz.: 21" to
30" inches, that is one for every frame of the ship, I adopt angles in Iron or Steel
of special size and section ranging from 8" to 15" inches on the vertical flange and
3" to 4" on the moulded flange and of suitable thickness, spaced from 21" to 30" inches
apart, shewn on Figures 1 and 2 by D¹ and D².
These special angles form respectively the frames and reverse-frames, or bottom and
top frames of the cellular bottom.
At the centre line they are connected to each other, and the centre through plate or
centre keelson A by means of bracket plates marked E¹ and double vertical angles of
ordinary scantlings in vessels having a centre through plate with flat plate keel.
In the case of vessels having a flitch plate or drop keel then the bar D₁ forming
the bottom frame may be scored through the centre keelson plate A forming solid
bottom frame from bilge to bilge.
At the tank side plate or bilge the bottom or top frames D1 and D2 are connected
to each other and the tank side plate C by a short piece of angle iron or steel of the
same special scantling as the frames D¹ and D² or, by a bracket plate E and vertical
angle of ordinary scantling.
In small vessels there is one, and in large vessels two, or if necessary in vessels of
exceptional size three, Bracket plates marked E2 and E³ fitted to tie the bottom and
top frames together and at the centre of each bracket plate is fitted an intercostal
plate marked B and B with angles of usual scantlings, from frame to frame, to
support the bottom and top frames and bracket plates in their vertical position.
Figure 3 represents in cross section the solid floor plates as usually fitted and which
I retain under the Engines only, to form a more rigid platform or foundation for the
Engine Seating.
A is the centre keelson, B1 and B2 are the intercostal keelsons and C is the tank
side plate L is the solid floor plate extending full depth of cellular bottom and in one
length from the centre keelson to the tank side plate with man-holes punched out to
give access after the tank top is riveted on.
G is the bottom frame of ordinary scantling or main frame K is the top frame of
ordinary scantling or reverse frame.
By the arrangement above described, no part of the shell plating or the top plating
of cellular bottom, is left unsupported for a greater distance than the normal spacing
of frames (viz. 21" to 30" inches according to the size of vessel) or an equal support
to that obtained, by the ordinary system of solid floors on every frame; and the
arrangement has even greater accessibility, than that obtained by the longitudinal
girder system with alternate solid floors, without the objection of leaving large spaces
of the shell and top plating of cellular bottom insufficiently supported to withstand
heavy local strains.

page_text: The reduction in the total quantity of material employed by this arrangement as
compared with the solid floor plate or longitudinal girder systems, enables me, if it
be considered necessary to increase the thickness of the frames and brackets etc.,
from the usual thickness according to the size of the vessel, without materially
increasing the weight of the cellular bottom as a whole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
"The improvements in the construction of Longitudinal Cellular double bottoms
for the greater safety of vessels in stranding, and for use as water ballast tanks,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1888.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.