In- PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR. PREVENTING THE FOULING OF IRON AND OTHER SHIPS' BOTTOMS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Smith, of Compton Road, Islington, in.
the County of Middlesex, Shipowner, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR. PREVENTING THE FOULING OF IRON
AND OTHER SHIPS' BOTTOMS."
Sealed the 12th March 1869, and dated the 17th. September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th September 1868.
I, ROBERT SMITH, of Compton Road, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PREVENTING THE FOULING
OF IRON AND OTHER SHIPS' BOTTOMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a new mode of preventing the fouling of the
bottoms of iron ships or ships sheathed with zinc or copper- by means
of what I term the atmospheric remedy. For this purpose I place a
pipe along one or both sides of the keel, stem, and stern post of the
ship to be protected. These pipes I fill with a compound generating or

page_text: producing a strong gas or vapor capable of destroying all barnacles,
animalcula, or other animal or vegetable life liable to foul the ship's
bottom. The gas escaping through perforations in the above-mentioned
pipes mingles with the air in the surrounding water, and by destroying
all animal or vegetable life in the vicinity of the ship effectually prevents
the fouling of the bottom.
The ingredients of which the composition above mentioned is com-
posed are as follows:-Sulphur, rosin, and fish or other oil in about
equal proportions; for rosin, raw turpentine or pitch may be substituted
if desired.
The above ingredients are mixed together by heat, and roduced to a
plastic mass, which is placed in the pipes above mentioned.
In order to facilitate the action of the gas or vapor produced by the
said compound I also place a quantity of limo or chalk in the said
perforated pipes containing the compound above mentioned in alternate
proportions therewith.
The compound may be employed alone without the lime or chalk if
desired, and instead of placing it in pipes I may apply it to the ship's
bottom in the usual way by means of a brush, in which case the chalk
may be first applied to the ship's bottom by rubbing or otherwise if
desired.
SPECIFICATION i pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;
filed by the said Robert Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT 2
SMITH, of Compton Road, Islington, in the County Middlesex,
Shipowner, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty- 3
second year of Her reign,. did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Smith, Her special licence that
I, the said Robert Smith, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: or such others as I, the said Robert Smith, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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
THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PREVENTING THE FOULING OF IRON AND OTHER
SHIPS BOTTOMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing. under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Robert Smith, 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.:-
The means I employ for preventing the fouling of ships' bottoms
when constructed of iron, or when sheathed with zinc or copper, consists
in what I term the atmospheric remedy. For this purpose I place a
pipe or pipes along one or both sides of the ship, beginning at the
keel. This pipe, or these pipes, I fill with a compound generating or
producing a strong gas or vapour capable of destroying all barnacles
or other animal or vegetable life capable of fouling ships' bottoms. The
gas is to be allowed to escape through an opening or openings in the
above-mentioned pipe or pipes, and mingle with the air and water
surrounding the ship, and by the destruction of all animal or vegetable
life in the vicinity thereof effectually prevent the fouling of the bottom.
The said pipes may in some cases he arranged one above the other
against the bottom of the ship.
The composition above mentioned is composed of the following
constituent substances:-Sulphur, rosin, and fish or other oil or fatty
substance, in about equal proportions; raw turpentine or pitch may
be substituted for the rosin if desired.
The above substances have to be mixed together by heat, and reduced
to a plastic mass, and the compound is then supplied to the pipes

page_text: above mentioned by pipes or ducts leading from suitable receptacles
placed on the ship. or vessel, or by other convenient means or arrange-
ments.
With the view to facilitate the action of the gas or vapour produced
by the said compound I use lime or chalk, which I apply to the ship's
bottom or sido by means of a brush. or otherwise. The compound may
be employed alone without the lime or chalk if desired, and instead
of placing it in pipes I can apply it by means of a brush or other-
wisc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my :
said Invention, and in what manner the same may be performed,. I
hereby declare that I claim, the Invention the nature whereof is
described in this Specification, it being understood that I do not
claim the details described, except as constituent parts of my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ROBERT SMITH.
(L.8.)
ALEX. P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.