IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING VESSELS
Year: 1852

page_text: Scaled the 2d March 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Wright at
the office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his petition, on
the 1st October 1852.
I, RICHARD WRIGHT, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING VESSELS" to be as follows:--
My Improvement in constructing vessels consist of forming a ship or
vessel with three floating parts parallel with each other, having channels
between them; also, the vessel being formed with three floating parts,
means are provided for ejecting the leakage water from each by an air-
pump; the air presses upon the surface of the water, discharges it
through pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Richard Wright, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RICHARD WRIGHT, of Greenwich, send greeting.
year of
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth,
Her reign, did for Herself, Her. heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Richard Wright, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Wright, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Richard Wright, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Wright,
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 Richard Wright, 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):
The improvements in constructing vessels consist in forming a ship
or vessel with three floating parts, parallel with each other, having
channels between them.
Also, the vessel being formed with three floating parts, means are
provided for ejecting the leakage water from each by an air pump;
the air presses upon the surface of the water, and discharge it through
pipes.

page_text: The said vessels being designed for lightness and celerity, either on
fresh or salt water, are constructed for the peculiar situation in which
they may be placed, the strength and security of those intended for
long and hazardous voyages being amply sufficient for the preservation
of the cargo, and for all purposes of a life ship.
Plan No. 1, a side view of the vessel with a hurricane deck.
Plan No. 2, a transverse section (midship), in which the floats are
marked A, A, A, the channels B, B, the dotted lines in the floats
showing the form of the cylinders which rest upon the bottonis and
press against the sides of the floats. These are laid lengthways of the
vessel for the purpose of increasing its strength, being of sufficient
cubical extent to support the vessel and cargo in case of leakage.
The said cylinders being furnished with man-holes for the purpose of
admitting stores, &c. &c.
Section No. 2, also shows the course of the metallic plates of which
the vessel is formed. Plan No. 3, a ground section of the vessel.
The dotted lines describe the horizontal position and forms of the three
floating parts. A, A, A, contain the cylinder when used for sea and the
channels B, B.
The ends of the floats E, are air-tight receivers of the bilge water,
having a valve or valves marked (x) opening into them, also a pipe
(o) fixed near the bottom of E, through which the said water is
expelled by the pressure of air on the surface of the water through
the said pipe (o) from the receivers, by air pump or pumps, wrought
by engine or manual labour, and conveyed by pipes to the receivers E.
A frame is formed over the whole of the floats and channels, a portion
of which is shown.
C, C, the partitions. D, D, the braces.
The bottoms of the partitions are formed to the curves of the
cylinders and arches over the channels; the ends are fixed to the
external sides of the floats, and to the framing of the sides of the
hurricane deck.
The said partitions also extend to the upper deck, which they
support.

page_text: I claim under this Invention the constructing vessels formed with
three floating parts having channels between them, also the expelling
the bilge water from vessels by forcing air on its surface, as above
described.
The partitions are composed of planks placed edge-ways over each
other, the sides of which are covered with sheet iron, and secured by
rivets (which pass through the plates and timber of the partitions),
by nails, or other means of securing the same.
Between the partitions c, c, are diagonal braces D, D, on which the
deck joists are fixed. Upon the main deck is raised a hurricane
deck, for general accommodation of passengers, stowage of cargo,
&c. &c.
The plan annexed to this Specification shows a vessel built of iron
and perfectly sea-worthy. They are designed to be propelled by
wind, steam, or other power, and may also be constructed of wood.
In vessels destined for river traffic the cylinders are omitted, and
the partitions descend into the floats.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Wright, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of April in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
RICHARD WRIGHT. (L.S.)
Witness, S. CARPMAEL.