AN IMPROVED SHIP OR VESARY SPECIALLY ADDLICABLE POD RADED THA SHIP OR VESERY SPECIALLY APPLICABLE POD RADED TRANG WA PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION OR SEL SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR RAPID TRANSIT ON WATER
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hosack, of Montpelier, in the Colony
of Jamaica, but at present residing in Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SHIP OR VESARY SPECIALLY ADDLICABLE POD RADED THA
SHIP OR VESERY SPECIALLY APPLICABLE POD RADED TRANG WA
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hosack at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th July 1869..
I, WILLIAM HOSACK, of Montpelier, in the Colony of Jamaica, but
at present residing in Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN
IMPROVED SHIP OR VESSEL SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR RAPID TRANSIT ON WATER,"
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to an arrangement and construction of
ship or vessel specially intended for use in cases where rapid sea or river
passage is required, such as for carrying mails and to be used in war-
fare or naval purposes, consists of different combinations of a tubular

page_text: structure (which constitutes the body or hull of the ship) and revolving
drums or cylinders, which combine both the buoyancy or flotation and
are the propelling instruments of the ship or vessel.
Under one modification the ship or vessel consists of a series of tubes
placed together longitudinally, which contain the engines, boilers,
stowage capacity, and the usual fittings of a ship or vessel according to
the purpose for which it is to be used. A framework is attached to
these tubes, in which are fitted bearings for the axes or shafts of the
floating or propelling drums or cylinders, these being situated trans-
versely to the axis of the ship. There are sufficient drums or cylinders
employed to prevent the ship or vessel sinking too deep in the water,
and they may or may not be fitted with propelling blades.
Under a second modification the tubes in lieu of being placed above
the drums are situated between rows of them, by which means a steadier
ship or vessel is obtained on account of the centre of gravity of the total
weight being thereby lowered.
Under a third modification the combined floating and propelling
drums or cylinders are arranged longitudinally with the axis of the ship,
and have either entire or partial helical or spiral blades attached to the
circumferential surfaces, so that when the drums or cylinders are put in
motion (that is rotated) the ship or vessel is propelled by the action of
the helix or spiral on the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Hosack in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HOSACK, of Montpelier, in the Colony of Jamaica, but at present
residing in Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,.
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the 33d
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Hosack, Her special license

page_text: that I, the said William Hosack, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Hosack, 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, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Mau, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SHIP OR VESSEL SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOB RAPID TRANSIT ON WATER," upou
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Hosack, 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 same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Scal 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 Hosack, 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 accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
My said Invention, which relates to an arrangement and construction
of ship or vessel specially intended for use in cases where rapid sea or
river passage is required, such as for carrying mails, and to be used in
warfare or naval purposes, consists of different combinations of a tubular
structure (which constitutes the body or hull of the ship) and revolving
drums or cylinders, which combine both the buoyancy or flotation and
are the propelling instruments of the ship or vessel.
Under one modification the ship or vessel consists of a series of tubes
placed together longitudinally, which contain the engines, boilers,
stowage capacity, and the usual fittings of a ship or vessel according to
the purpose for which it is to be used. A framework is attached to
these tubes, in which are fitted bearings for the axes or shafts of the
floating or propelling drums or cylinders, these being situated trans-
versely to the axis of the ship. There are sufficient drums or cylinders
employed to prevent the ship or vessel sinking too deep in the water,
and they may or may not be fitted with propelling blades.
Under a second modification the tubes in lieu of being placed above
the drums are situated between rows of them, by which means a steadier

page_text: ship or vessel is obtained on account of the centre of gravity of the total
weight being thereby lowered.
Under a third modification the combined floating and propelling
drums or cylinders are arranged longitudinally with the axis of the ship,
and have either entire or partial helical or spiral blades attached to the
circumferential surfaces, so that when the drums or cylinders are put in
motion (that is rotated) the ship or vessel is propelled by the action of
the helix or spiral on the water.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say:-
On Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal
section of the first modification of my present Invention, and Figure 2
is a part end elevation at the stern and part transverse section on the
line A, A, Figure 1. In the different Figures corresponding parts are
indicated by the same letters of reference.
The hull or body of the ship or vessel consists of a wrought-iron
casing A, A, seen in end elevation and in transverse section at Figure 2.
The hull or body A, A, contains the engines K, boilers, and usual
fittings of the ship or vessel according to the purpose for which it is to
be employed. The hull or body of the vessel A is strengthened above
and below by a series of rectangular tubes or longitudinal cells B, B,
and it is also by preference fitted with lattice girders C, C, as shown, in
order to ensure greater stiffness. To the bottom of the hull or body
the framings D are attached by means of the angle irons a, which
framings support the bearings for the axes or shafts E of the hollow
circular floating drums F and of the propelling drums or paddles G,
which floating and propelling drums F and G respectively are situated
transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ship or vessel, and these by
preference are charged with gas of less specific gravity than air, in order
to give the drum a greater degree of buoyancy; a sufficient number of
these hollow floating drums or cylinders being employed to prevent the
ship from sinking too deep in the water. To propel the ship or vessel
it is preferred to furnish two or more of the drums or paddles
with
floats, and these are actuated by the pitch chains H, H, which are
rotated by the pitch wheels J actuated by the engines K; the pitch
chains H, H, also pass round the pitch pulleys L, L, keyed on the shafts

page_text: of the propelling drums G, G, as shown, and thereby communicate
motion to the said propellers or paddles; or any other suitable
mechanism for actuating the propellers or paddles may be employed.
Instead of two propelling drums or paddles being used, as shown, a series
of these drums or paddles may be arranged at intervals along the
bottom of the hull or body of the ship or vessel A, A, it being under-
stood that I do not confine myself to employ any particular number of
propelling drums or paddles, or to any particular method of actuating
It is preferred to construct the propeller G in the -manner
shown on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, as by charging the
drum with air or gas a greater floating power is obtained, but an
ordinary paddle wheel may also be employed, and in place of using fixed
floats feathering floats may be used.
the same.
On Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings is shown an example of
the second modification of my present Invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; Figure 2, an end elevation; and
Figure 3, a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 1. In the
different Figures corresponding parts are indicated by the same letters
of reference.
The hull or body of the ship or vessel A, A, is constructed substantially
similar to that shown on Sheet 1, and need not be further specified, with.
the exception that the upper and lower tubes marked B, B, on Sheet 1
are in this case dispensed with. To the lower part of the hull A, A,
transverse girders B, B, are attached by means of the angle irons
marked x, x, as shown. To the girders B, B, brackets C are bolted,
which support the bearings of the shaft or axes of the drum propellers
D, D. The propellers D must be sufficiently far apart to carry the
hull A, A, safely, and may be entirely submerged if desired for protection
are constructed of a series of hollow metallic drums provided with spiral
or other blades, which propel the ship or vessel by their action on the
circumjacent water, thus constituting a combined floater and propeller.
The drum screw propellers D, any number of which may be employed,
are actuated by the pitch chains E, which pass round the chain pulleys F
of the propeller D, and are caused to rotate by the chain pulleys G which
are actuated by the engines marked H. Instead of pitch chains E being
used, any other suitable mechanism may be employed to actuate the
propelling drum D. To give the hull of the ship or vessel greater
strength the sides may be iron plated, and bow strung lattice girders K, K,

page_text: are placed parallel to its longitudinal axis, as shown. Hollow drum
screw propellers like those shown in Sheet 3 marked H for the lifeboat
may be used and covered with shields externally.
On Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings is shown another modi-
fication of my present Invention. Figure 1 is a plan; and Figure 2,
a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 1, of my combined floating
and propelling drums as it is intended to apply them to the lifeboats of
ordinary ships or vessels. In these Figures corresponding parts are
indicated by the same letters of reference.
The lifeboat marked A is of tubular construction, and consists of a
series of air-tight compartments B, which are charged with gas or air in
order to give the lifeboat greater floating power.
The boat is also
provided with a false bottom marked D, and seen particularly in transverse
section at Figure 2, which is also intended to be charged with gas or
air in order to still further increase its buoyancy. In the centre of the
boat A and between the air-tight compartments B there are spaces
marked E in which the persons sit.
Under the seats in the spaces E
lockers F, seen particularly at Figure 2, are fitted up, in which water,
provisions, and other necessaries for a sea voyage are constantly kept, so
that in case of emergency the lifeboat A may be launched away at once.
The spaces E may or may not be provided with 'covers or hatches.
In the accompanying Drawings they are shown provided with those
covers or hatches marked G, which are drawn off in order to show the
driving mechanism underneath. To the sides of the boat A brackets P
are attached, which support the bearings for the shafts of the hollow drum
screw propellers H. The men in the spaces E by working the cranks I
cause the bevil wheels J and K, situated respectively on the crank
shafts M, and the shafts N of the hollow drum screw propellers H to
rotate, the spiral blades of which acting on the circumjacent water
cause the lifeboat A to move in a forward or backward direction as
required.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I con-
sider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the general
arrangement and construction of ships, vessels, or boats in which
the hull of the ship is of a tubular structure and the propelling and

page_text: floating apparatus consists of revolving drums arranged either longi-
tudinally with or transversely to the axis of the ship, substantially as
herein-before described and shown in the three annexed Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hosack, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of November One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM HOSACK. (L.S.)