IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC BEAMS OR BRACINGS, AND METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES, APPLICABLE TO THE BUILDING OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE LIGHTNESS AND STRENGTH ARE REQUIRED
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Radford, of Buckingham Street, in.
the County of Middlesex, Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Navy, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC
BEAMS OR BRACINGS, AND METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES, APPLICABLE TO
THE BUILDING OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE LIGHTNESS
AND STRENGTH ARE REQUIRED."
Sealed the 14th June 1853, and dated the 6th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Radford
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th April 1853.
I, WILLIAM RADFORD, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
5 vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METALLIC BEAMS OR
BRACINGS, AND METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES, APPLICABLE TO THE BUILDING
OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE LIGHTNESS AND STRENGTH ARE
REQUIRED," to be as follows:-
.
This Invention relates; firstly, to an improved manufacture of beams
0: and bracings to be used in place of angle iron. In constructing, for
example, the framing of a ship according to this Invention, I form
compound beams and bracings by first rolling metal bars into the.

page_text: required lengths, or by welding short pieces together to form the
required lengths; and while hot I give the required curves or figure to
these bars; I then fit them together in any convenient way; and within
the irregular or other shaped figures formed by these bars or beams
when put together I place other bars or beams in close proximity
thereto, the contact surfaces of the compound beams or bracings thus
produced being such that the outer and inner system of beams and
bracings shall interlock. For this purpose I form a rib on the inner
face of the outer beams, and a corresponding recess in the contact sur-
face of the inner beams; and I either rivet the two together, or leave
them unconnected by bolts, but forming essentially a compound framing.
To cover or enclose this framing, and complete the hull of the ship, I
employ plates which, when put together, will form in appearance a butt
joint, and possess the security of the ordinary lap joint. For this purpose
I roll plates with one or both of their edges recessed or bent back to
the form of a returned right angle, such recess being equal in depth to
the thickness of the metal plates employed. When the counter plates
are recessed at both edges flat plates are fitted thereto, and secured
by bolts.
It will be obvious that this construction of bracings and pannelling,
or plates, is applicable to a great variety of purposes, as bridge building,
the framework and beams of heavy machinery, &c.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Radford, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 6th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM RADFORD, of Buckingham Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and

page_text: grant unto me, the said William Radford, Her special licence that I, the
said William Radford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Radford, 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
METALLIC BEAMS OR BRACINGS, AND METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES, APPLICABLE
TO THE BUILDING OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE LIGHTNESS AND
STRENGTH ARE REQUIRED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Radford, 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 William Radford, 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 here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
This Invention of "improvements in the construction of metallic
beams or bracings, and metallic sheets or plates, applicable to the building
of ships and other structures where lightness and strength are required,"
relates, firstly, to an improved manufacture of beams and bracings to
be used in place of simple angle iron. In constructing, for example, the
framing of a ship according to this Invention, I form compound beams
and bracings, by first rolling metal bars of the form hereafter more
particularly described into the required lengths, or by welding together
pieces of moderate length, so as to form the required lengths; and while
hot I bend or otherwise give to the said bars the required curves or figure,
to form the ribs or other part of the ship or structure. I then fit or
connect the bars together in any convenient way, and within the irregular

page_text: or other shaped figures formed by these bars or bearers when put together,
I place other bars or beams in close proximity thereto; the contact sur-
faces of the compound beams or bracings thus produced being such that
the outer and inner system of beams and bracings shall interlock.
For this purpose I form a rib on the inner face of the outer beams, and
a corresponding recess in the contact surface of the inner beams, and 1
either rivet the two together, or leave them unconnected by bolts, but
forming essentially a compound beam, of which the ship's framing is
composed.
The second part of the Invention relates to the method of covering
or enclosing this framing, so as to complete the hull of the ship, or the
outside case of any other structure. To effect this purpose I employ
plates having their edges formed in a peculiar manner, so that when
put together the joints will form in appearance a butt joint, and, at the
same time, possess the security of the ordinary lap joint.
In order, however, that the nature, object, and mode of carrying out
my Invention may be more clearly understood, I have shewn in the
accompanying drawings various views of part of the hull of a ship, some
of the parts being also shewn detached, and drawn to an enlarged scale,
in order that their form and construction may be more clearly seen.
I would here observe that, although I have thought it desirable to
refer more particularly to the construction of ships, to which
purpose
I
consider my Invention is more particularly applicable, I do not intend
to confine myself thereto, as the peculiar plan herein-after more par-
ticularly described of constructing vessels or buildings of iron may
be applied with great advantage to a variety of purposes, such, for
instance, as constructing bridges, viaducts, houses, or buildings, and
other similar erections. The method of forming beams may also be
applied to constructing the beams and framework of heavy machinery.
Fig. 1, is a transverse section of part of a ship constructed according
to my improvements. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the same,
shewing a portion of the inside of a ship. Fig. 3, is a cross section,
drawn upon an enlarged scale of the compound bars which form the
beams of which the ribs and framing of the ship are composed.
Figures 4, and 5, shew the two bars separate, of which the compound

page_text: beam is composed; and Fig. 6, is an enlarged edge view of the plates
or sheets of iron with which the sides of the ship are constructed. The
ribs or framing of the ship are composed of two bars a, and b, (Fig. 3,)
which, having been rolled into the required form, as shewn in Figures 4,
and 5, are fitted together, as shewn in Fig. 3, and, if required, may also
be united by bolts or rivets to give greater strength. Fig. 7, represents
a modification of the above, two bars of angle iron being united together
and secured by the hollow bars. The most convenient method of con-
structing ships on my improved plan will be to take iron bars of the
required form, such as those shewn at a, Figures 3, and 4, and of con-
venient length, and weld their ends together, so as to make the rib on
both sides of the ship of one long piece, which must be bent, while hot,
into the required shape to form one of the ribs of the ship. These ribs
may be placed at any required distance apart, according to the size and
strength of the ship or vessel intended to be constructed. These ribs
are strengthened by the application of the second bars b, b, which are
rolled in such a manner as to have a recess or groove on one side
which will fit the projecting feather of the other bar a. Upon rivetting,
bolting, or otherwise uniting these bars a, and b, together, a structure
of immense strength may be produced. It will not, however, always be
necessary to add the second bars b, b, to all the ribs, except for vessels
I therefore propose to adapt them only to every third or
fourth rib, as may be found desirable. The framing of the vessel
having been thus constructed, it will only be necessary to attach to the
sides of the ribs the sheets or plates of iron which will complete the
hull. These sheets or plates of iron are of two kinds: the one are
shewn at c, Fig. 6, and may be called the parallel plates; they are
made of any convenient length, and from twelve inches to two feet
wide; they are rolled with bevelled edges, as shewn at c*, Fig. 6; and
before applying them to the sides of the ship they are placed in a
planing machine; and a flat shoulder, as shewn by dots, is planed away
so as to receive the edge of the next plate d, which is intended to be
of war.
These parallel plates c,
accurately fitted thereto, as shewn at c, Fig. 6.
are rivetted in their places on the ribs of the ship, at certain distances
apart; after which the intermediate plates d, are to be fastened thereon,

page_text: also by bolts or rivets, as shewn in the drawings. By this means all
the advantages of both the butt and lap joints are secured, and a
structure of immense strength is obtained.
Having now described my Invention, and the best means with which
I am at present acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I claim, in
conclusion,―
First, the employment, for the construction of ships or vessels, of iron
bars of the section shewn in the drawing at a, Figures 3, and 4, or at
Fig. 7. I also claim forming the ribs of ships or vessels, or beams for
such or other purposes, of two or more separate bars united together, as
shewn in the drawings.
Second, I claim the method herein shewn and described, or any
mere modification thereof, of adapting, connecting, and fitting together
the sheets or plates of iron c, and d, to form the sides of the ship or
vessel, and whereby the advantages of the butt and lap joint are
combined.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Radford, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of October, in the
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
year of
Witness, FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
W RADFORD. (L.S.)