Improvements in the Construction of Vessels, and in Means for Steering the same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr.. 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Vessels, and in Means for
Steering the same.
I, GEORGE HOUGH, of 88 Grove Green Road, Leyton, in the County of Essex,
Inte Master Mariner and Marine Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to increase the floating power, carrying capacity,
speed, and stability of vessels; to give larger and better accommodation for passengers
and crew, to decrease the draught of water by causing the vessel to ride upon
instead of having to plough through the sea, thus reducing the resistance; and, in
steamers, promoting speed without increased consumption of fuel. Vessels built on
my design, of large tonnage, would be enabled to enter ports now only accessible to
very small ships, and when in any small port, or narrow water, where there is not room
to turn the vessel round, would be enabled to be brought out stern first, as they could
be steered in smooth water as well going stern first as head first, and anywhere
could be turned right round in their own length under their own steam. Then again,
when in cold regious, vessels built on my plan could be forced on to the top of the ice
preventing the possibility of their being crushed or wrecked.
In carrying out my design, I make the depth of the vessel very shallow as compared
with the width, the depth being from about one fourth to one fifth of the width-
whilst the length will be from about three to four times the width of the beam.
The hull may be divided longitudinally by plates of iron or steel from stem to stern
and from deck to keelson, also sub-divided into water-tight compartments, which
would not only considerably increase the strength of the vessel but make it practically
unsinkable.
The bottom of my vessel I construct with five, seven, or more keels, preferably
seven, the bottom being almost flat.
The bow and stern are both half circular, being convexed or spherical from the top
ends to the keels, and while the lines of the bow are full, the lines of the afterpart
underneath are very fine, allowing the vessel to drop aft and remain more submerged
than the other part when driven at full speed, thereby securing truer and more
solid water for the propellers to work in, also reducing the danger of the engines
racing to a minimum, or an almost impossibility. I have two propellers and two
rudders, the latter connected to one steering apparatus, one on each side of the centre
keel in line with the second keel from the centre or main keel.
The effect of the construction of vessels upon lines as herein described, with the large
beam, and also, principally, the number and plan of keels, will be to reduce the rolling
of the vessel, give greater stability, better steering and weatherly qualities, give
greater steadiness in a seaway, and entirely do away with the danger of capsizing.
Dated this 24th day of April 1896.
GEORGE HOUGH..

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Vessels, and in Means for
Steering the same.
1, GEORGE HOUGH of 88 Grove Green Road, Leyton, in the County of Essex,
late Mastor Mariner and Marine Surveyor, do bereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to increase the floating power, carrying capacity,
speed, and stability of vessels, to give larger and better accommodation for passengers
and crew, to decrease the draught of water by causing the vessel to ride upon instead
of having to plough through the sea, thus reducing the resistance; and, in steamers,
promoting speed without increased consumption of fuel. Vessels built on my design,
of large tonnage, would be enabled to enter ports now only accessible to very small
ships, and when in any small port, or narrow water, where there is not room to turn
the vessel round, would be enabled to be brought out stern first, as they could be steered
in smooth water as well going stern first as head first, and anywhere could be turned
right round in their own length under their own steam. Then again when in cold
regions, vessels built on my plan could be forced on to the top of the ice proventing
the possibility of their being crushed or wrecked.
In carrying out my design, I make the depth of the vessel very shallow as
compared with the width, the depth being from about one fourth to one fifth of the
width, whilst the length will be from about three to four times the width of the beam.
The hull may be divided longitudinally by plates of iron or steel from stem to
storn and from deck to keelson, also sub-divided into water-tight compartments,
which would not only considerably increase the strength of the vessel but make it
practically unsinkable.
The bottom of my vessel I construct with five, seven, or. more keels, preferably
seven, the bottom being almost flat.
The bow and stern are both half circular, being convexed or spherical from the top
ends to the keels, and while the lines of the bow are full, the lines of the afterpart
underneath are vory fine, allowing the vessel to drop.aft and remain more submerged
than the other part when driven at full speed, thereby securing truer and more solid
water for the propellers to work in, also reducing the danger of the engines racing
to a minimum, or an almost impossibility. 1 have two propellers and two rudders,
the latter connected to one steering apparatus, ono propeller, being on each side of
the centre keel in line with the second keel from the centre or main keel.
The effect of the construction of vessels upon lines as herein described, with the
large beam, and also principally the number and plan of keels, will be to reduce the
rolling of the vessel, givo greater stability, better steering and weatherly qualities,
give greater steadiness in a seaway, and entirely do away with the danger of
capsizing.
In the drawings annexed thereto I show in Fig. 1. a broadside view A. being the
bow and B. the stern of my improved ship, the ends being made spherical or spoon-
shaped as already mentioned.
In Fig. 2. I'show'a plan of Fig. 1. C. and D. being the two rudders.-
In Fig. 3. I show an end view of Fig. 1. with five keels marked E.
Fig. 4. shows my improved vessel with one half F. in stern viow, with a propeller G.
on a line with the second keel from the centre, and the other half H. the form of
bow.
Fia 5 gives a mid-shin section of my improved vessel with seven keels.as.at I.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a ship the use of five or seven keels, substantially as described and shown in
drawings.
2. In a ship as described, the use of convexed, spherical, or spoon-shaped bows and
sterns substantially as shown in drawings.
3. In a vessel as described, the use of two rudders attached to two sternposts and
so connected that they work together simultaneously.
4. The improved design of ship substantially as described and shown in drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1897.
GEO. HOUGH.