IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON SHIPS, BOATS, BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Burns, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Iron Ship Builder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON SHIPS, BOATS, BOILERS, AND
OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES"
Sealed the 29th September 1858, and dated the 12th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Burns at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,, with his Petition,
on the 12th July 1853.
I, ANDREW BURNS, of, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Iron Ship Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING IRON SHIPS, BOATS,
BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES " to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a system of economising labour and time
in fitting the sizes of plates and the situations of the rivet holes in
building iron ships, so that these operations may be performed with
superior facility, whilst the 'finished work will be more accurate and
better done than hitherto.

page_text: For this purpose an adjustable wood or metal frame is used, con-
structed somewhat similar to an ordinary parallel ruler. This frame
is simply a parallelogram, capable of being set to any angle, either in
breadth or length, by cross and diagonal expanding stays secured by
screws, the cross bars put on to suit the frames of vessels to be built
with two grooves, and moveable washers put on to find the place of the
rivet holes in the frames.
In the wood or metal frame the holes are to be pitched as thought
proper to suit double or single landings. When there is double land-
ing, a reverse frame will be required; but when single landing, one
frame only is necessary. The longitudinal sides of the frame are to
be pitched to suit cach different vessel. In taking the butts of the
ends of plates a bevel is adjusted on the end of the frame with screws,
and by the template being adjusted on the vessel, and the screws
tightened. By thus setting the frame to the shape and rivet details of a
plate the latter may be shaped from it, and the holes punched in it
with the greatest possible accuracy, without the trouble of hoisting
back and forward the actual plates to and from the ship frame.
The longitudinal frame bars are made in sections, and let into one
another, so as to be capable of expansion at pleasure, to suit the
curvature of the plates on the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Burns in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 12th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ANDREW BURNS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Iron Ship Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, 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 Andrew Burns, Her special licence
that, the said Andrew Burns, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew Burns, my executors,
administrators, or 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
CONSTRUCTING IRON SHIPS, BOATS, BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew Burns, 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 Andrew Burns, do hereby de-
clare 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 accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
My said Invention relates to a system or mode of economising
labour and time in the construction of iron ships and other metallic
structures and vessels by the use of an arrangement for setting out
and marking the correct situations of the rivet or bolt lioles in the
plates and frames, together with the exact shape of the plates used in
works of this nature. According to the ordinary and general system
of constructing iron vessels, the workman finds it necessary to take
cach individual plate intended for the actual shell of the vessel to its
allotted place in the vessel as the building proceeds, and he there tem-
porarily fastens the plate, and then ascertains the intended accurate
finished shape of the plate and the position of the rivet or bolt holes
by such actual fitting or adaptation to the structure in progress. And
having thus set off and marked the required points he disengages the
plate and conveys it from the vessel or structure to the punching and
shearing machine; and having cut and punched the plate as required,
he reconveys it to its proper position in the vessel, where it is finally
fixed.

page_text: . This routine of construction is well known to be attended with very
considerable loss of labour and time; and as the pitching or setting
out of the holes is committed to different workinen, errors and irregu-
-larities in the pitching are of frequent occurrence.
Now, according to the system which I pursue according to my
Invention in constructing an iron ship, I commence the structure with
the regular pitching of the holes through the frames which hold the shell
plates, using a template or guide frame of wood or metal arranged in
the form of an open parallelogram. This template is capable of being
set to any angle, either in length or beneath, by cross and diagonal
-expanding stays secured by screws. It is delineated under various
:
modifications in-my Sheet of Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1, on my Sheet of Drawings is a face elevation or plan of an
adjustable template set for straight parallel work. It is composed of
four main frame bars with additional transverse bars, and a diagonál
tie. Figure 2, is an end or edge view of the template; and Figure 3,
is a similar view looking on the longitudinal edge. Figure 4, is an
elevation of a somewhat similar template, set for curved or differentially
shaped work. Figure 5, is an elevation of a third arrangement,
wherein the main frame bars are solid, with cross and diagonal pieces
fitted on. Figure 6, is an edge view of this template. Figures 7, and
8, are elevations of modified forms of templates as adapted to the
frames of a vessel. In Figure 1, the main longitudinal or side
pieces A, are made up of a series of separate lengths or sections of
metal plates, placed end to end, and overlapping each other. These
lengths are bolted together by lateral overlapping picces B, the bolt
holes in which are elongated to admit of a slight longitudinal adjust-
In the upper longitudinal bar the lengths are shewn bolted
together, whilst in the lower bar the bolts are supposed to be removed.
Figure 1, represents the under face of the template, that is to say, that
side which is applied to tlic frames of the ship. The immediate contact
of the template with the ship. frames is by means of the pieces C,
riveted to each length of the longitudinal bar A, and made of a thick-
ness sufficient to keep the beads of the junction bolts D, from touching
the ship frames. The longitudinal bars A, are each pierced with one
er more rows of holes corresponding to the holes along the edge of the
ment.

page_text: plate, and by which the latter is riveted to the one next to it.. The
ends of the plate are defined by the two end plates E, bolted to the
longitudinal plates A, which have lateral projections F, for the purpose.
The holes G, for the bolts in the end plates E, are considerably
elongated to allow the longitudinal plates A, to be set at any required
distance asunder, and the bolt holes in the projections -F, are also
elongated for the purpose of longitudinal adjustment.. The sections of
the longitudinal plates A, correspond in length to the distances between
the ship frames, and each section is provided with a cross bar H, which,
whilst it serves to stiffen the entire template, is chiefly for the purpose
of taking off the positions of the holes on the frames, by means of
which the plates are attached to the frames. The cross bars H, are
slofted longitudinally, both for adjustment upon the longitudinal plates
A,-by bolts, and for the adjustment of the marker plates I. These are
short plates, with slots at one extremity for bolting to the cross bars H,
and with round holes at the other end, which being set over the holes
in the ship frames, and then fixed in such position, 'serve to mark the
corresponding holes in the plate. To prevent the angular working of
the template a diagonal stay J, is bolted to any diagonally disposed
points of connection of the longitudinal plates A. The stay J, is made
in two or more pieces, united by bolts and slots, so as to be adjustable
in length, and two or more of such diagonal stays may be employed. In
setting the template, the various connecting bolts being loosened, the
cross bars H, are applied to the edges of the ship frames, and the dif-
ferent parts being shifted, as the case may require, the bolts are screwed
tightly up, and the entire teniplate frame is removed from the ship's side,
and applied to the plate to be punched and cut, when the outline and
the various rivet holės may be marked off with the greatest facility.
The template represented in Figure 4, is similar in general details to the
one I have just described, but is better adapted for the taking off the
shape of curved plates. I may, however, remark that the template repre-
sented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, is quite adaptable to this purpose in cases
where the curve is sliglit. Where a sharper curve is necessary I
make the longitudinal plates A, of shorter lengths, as in Figure 4, wliere
the portions between each frame consist of two overlapping pieces

page_text: jointed together, as at B. The holes at these points for the connecting
bolts are in the form of T slots, to admit of a slight adjustment both
transversely and longitudinal. This template is represented as sct
for a plate with curved sides; and although the edges and rivet holes
are in straight or nearly straight lengths, yet tlie number of joints
causes these edges and holes to coincide sufficiently nearly with the
true curves of the work. In Figures 5, and 6, is represented a simpler
form of template, chiefly applicable to plates with straight edges. In
this modification the longitudinal bars A, are in single rigid picces,
each pierced with holes to correspond to the rivet holes to be given to
the plate. These longitudinal pieces are connected together by the
expanding cross bars B. The cross bars are in two or more slotted
portions capable of adjustment as to length. Two diagonal expanding
stays C, are provided to preserve the angle of the template frame;
these are likewise in two or more slotted portions for the purpose of
adjustment. The cross bars B, and the liagonal stays C, are both
formed with additional slots for the adjustment of marker plates D,
similar to those described in reference to Figure 1, and there marked I.
These marker plates D, serve to define the positions of any rivet or
bolt holes that may be required in the ends or body of the plate. In
the modifications represented in Figures 7, and 8, are comprised several
contrivances for varying the pitch and positions of the rivet or bolt
holes. The frame of the template, as shewn in Figure 7, is similar to
that shewn in Figure 5, but without the diagonal stays, which may, how-
ever, be applied, if necessary. The longitudinal bars A, are formed
with elongated holes for marking the rivets; and the actual positions
of such rivet holes are defined by a plate laid upon the plate A. Such
a plate is represented as detached at B; it is of any convenient
length, such as the space between two frames, for example, and it is
pierced with marking holes arranged in any desired manner. It has
also a couple of slots C; and the longitudinal plate A, is provided with
pins D, at suitable positions, upon which pins the slots of the plates B,
are entered, and the latter is thereby made capable of longitudinal
adjustment upon the plate A, so that the positions of the rivets may be
determined in the best manner. The plate B, is represented with two

page_text: rows of holes, but it is obvious that such a plate may be formed with
only one row, if necessary. Where there are two rows of rivet holes
it will often be desirable to adjust one row independently of the other.
In this case two plates will be required. Such plates are represented
as detached at E, F, each being provided with longitudinal slots G, for
adjustment upon corresponding pins H, on the longitudinal plate A.
The end plates I, J, of the template represented in this Figure 7, are
fitted with rivet hole markers of a varying pitch. These markers
consist of a series of short plates K, articulated together, and made
with tubular joints, which serve as marking holes for the rivets. The
extremities of this series or chain of plates are jointed to a projection L,
on the two adjacent ends of the longitudinal plates A, and a pin is
fixed to the centre of the under side of each plate K, which pin works
in a guide groove in the end plates I, J. The end plate J, is shewn
with the chain markers removed. At M, is the guide groove for the
central pins of the plates K.; and on either side are two slots N, which
lie immediately below the tubular joints of the plates K, and admit of
the rivet holes being marked through them. The plates K, are dis-
posed in a zigzag manner, the joints being alternately over the two
slots N. By this arrangement the pitch of the holes adjusts itself to
the width of the plate; for, as the longitudinal plates A, of the template
are brought nearer together, the zigzag chain contracts, and so reduces
the pitch of the holes. If, on the other hand, the longitudinal plates
A, are set further apart, the zigzag chain will be elongated, and the
pitch of the holes correspondingly increased. The slots N, are made
sufficiently wide for the lateral variation of the tubular joints, which is
in proportion to the variation in the chain's length. The template in
Figure 7, is represented as applied to the frames O, of a ship, and the
marker pieces P, on the cross bars Q, are supposed to be set for the
bolt holes on the frame. In the modification represented in Figure 8,
the longitudinal bars A, are similar to those represented in Figure 4;
but the upper one has elongated marking holes. This form may be used
in combination with the plates marked B, E, and F, in Figure 7, or in
combination with a series of adjustable hole markers, one of which is re-
presented in vertical section in Figure 9, and in plan in Figure 10. This

page_text: marker consists of a short collared tube A, which is entered through
the slot in the template B, and is secured by a collar C, screwed upon
the end projecting through the plate. These markers can be set and
screwed in any position, and may be employed in combination with
slotted longitudinal; cross, or diagonal bars in any of the modifications of
template I have described. Two tubular markers are shown in position
at R on one of the longitudinal plates A, in Figure 7. In Figure 8,
two forms of cross bar are shewn. In one; B, the hole markers and
the entire bar are formed in one piece, and this plan is applicable
where the frame holes are of uniform pitch. The bar is formed with
slots for adjustment to the longitudinal bars, as in the previous ex-
amples. In the other plan of cross bar the bar C, is made in two or
more overlapping pieces, slots being provided for adjustment as to
length, and elongated openings for marking the frame holes. Such
cross bars will be more peculiarly applicable in cases where the plates
become gradually narrower, as at the bow and stern of a ship. At D,
are the frames of the ship to which the template is supposed to be
applied. In Figure 11, I have represented a form of template in
which the distance asunder of the longitudinal plates A, is varied by
altering the angularity of the jointed end cross pieces B. These cross
pieces are jointed to the ends of the longitudinal plates A, and to cach
other at the centre C, at which point is also jointed a longitudinal
bar D. All these bars are slotted for the purpose of adjustment, and
the bar D, passes to the other end of the template, which is broken
away and not shewn in the Drawing, but is precisely similar in con-
struction to the end shewn. The angle of the end cross pieces B, is
regulated by means of a slotted segment E, capable of being set by
screws. Stays F, are jointed to the longitudinal plates, A, at various
points, and have their free ends secured to thic, central bar: D. These
stays serve to stiffen the fraine, for which purpose, they are set
diagonally, and they also serve to mark holes.
Marker plates may be fixed as at G, at any point on the central
bar D. In this arrangement the longitudinal plates A, are set more
or less assunder by making the inclination to each other. and to the
plates.A, lesser or greater. The longitudinal plates A, are sliewn with

page_text: elongated marking holes to be used in combination with the tubular
markers already described, or with the other described: modifications.
And I would remark that I have only shewn some of the combinations
of which the various details I have described are capable, but what I
have described will enable the practical ship-builder to make such com-
binations as the peculiaritics of any case may require. I would also
remark that I find it advantageous in building iron ships to take the
lines of the ship as the base or foundation of the setting out of the
plates. By this system I am enabled to set out the whole or most of
the plates of a ship, without regard to the placing of any plates upon
the framing; and, in addition to this, I can prepare and set out the
whole or most of the plates of a hull with accuracy and certainty. before
attempting the actual plating.
Having 'now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First. The general arrangement of mechanism, apparatus, or means
to be used in the construction of irou ships, boats, boilers, and other
vessels, as herein-before described.
Second. The application and use in the construction of iron ships
and other structures of templates or guide frames, with a series of guide
holes or a series of repeats of guide holes pitched in the frame bars,
contrived to expand, diverge, or bend, to suit the curvature or irregu-
larities in the work.
.
Third. The system or mode of constructing iron ships and other
structures wherein a series of plates are marked or set out from the
lines of the vessel or the Drawing of the structure in a continuous
operation prior to attaching the plates upon the framing.
"
Fourth. The application and use in constructing iron ships and other

page_text: structures wherein the template or guide is set and pitched, without
reference to any of the actual plating at the commencement of the
structure.
Fifth. The application and use of templates or guides for setting off
the plates from the lines of the vessel or the drawings of the
structure.
Sixth. The application and use of zigzag links or reverse angular
connections for expanding the templates and varying the pitch of the
lioles.
Seventh. The system or mode of constructing templates with elon-
gated pitch holes, fitted with adjustable tubular collar pieces for varying
the pitch.
In wituess whereof, 1, the said Andrew Burns, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.