IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Clough, of Liverpool, for the Inven- ..
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS."
Sealed the 27th October 1858, and dated the 18th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Clough at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th August 1858.
I, ROBERT CLOUGH, of Liverpool, do hereby declare the nature of the
Sp
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND
OTHER VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of constructing ships or vessels with two
bilges instead of the usual form, as is indicated by dotted lines in the
Drawing hereunto annexed. By this form depth and stiffness are
given to a ship or vessel, especially those made of iron, which bilges
can be modified as circumstances may occur.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent,
filed by the said Robert Clough in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J,
ROBERT CLOUGHI, of Liverpool, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Clough, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Clough, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Clough, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Clough, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and scal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
sanie was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imine-
liately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Clough, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists of constructing ships or vessels with two bilges
instead of the usual form, as hereafter described, by which depth and
stiffness are given to a ship or vessel, especially those made of iron,
which bilges can be modified as circumstances occur.

page_text: Figure 1, shows a section of a ship or vessel of an ordinary construc-
tion having only one bilge; and Figure 2, shows a section of a ship or
vessel constructed according to my Invention.
I would remark, that the form and positions of the bilges shown in
the Drawing, Figure 2, may be varied without departing from my
Invention so long as two bilges are used.
By thus constructing ships and vessels each with two bilges greater
stability will be obtained, and greater capacity for carrying cargo. The
speed also of such vessels will be greater than when vessels are built
with only one bilge; and other advantages will be found to be possesse‹l
by ships or vessels having two bilges according to my improvements.
And it is the construction of ships and vessels with two bilges
which constitutes the peculiarity of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Clough, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
ROBERT NIGHTINGALE STOTT,
of Seacombe,
ROBERT CLOUGH. (L.S.)
n* Liverpool.