Improvements in Metallic Vessels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Vessels.
I HERBERT MERWIN GRIFFITHS of New City, New York County and State
of New York United States of America Shipwright do hereby declare the nature
of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in metallic vessels the object being to
increase the capacity, reduce the weight, and increase the strength and thus diminish
the cost of construction of vessels together with a corresponding decrease in the
number of parts and quantity of material necessary in the manufacture of the
vessels. With this end in view my invention consists in plates of iron, steel or
other metal rolled with a bulb or rib on one edge and rabbetted or recessed out to
receive the opposite edge of the adjoining sheet whereby one continuous sheet is
formed with one smooth side and one ribbed side, the former to constitute the
outside and the latter the inside, the ribs or bulbs serving as transverse or longi-
tudinal braces as the case may be thus dispensing with the use of half the ordinary
rivets required, and doing away with frames and ordinary angle and Z-bars. The
invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations
of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a detail showing a portion of my improvement.
Fig. 2 shows a portion of a vessel in horizontal section with the plates extending
transversely.
Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section of a vessel in which the plates extend
longitudinally.
Fig. 4 is a detail.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the deck, and
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the crossing braces.
A, A, represent a series of plates which constitute the hull or body of
the vessel. These plates are made in narrow strips flat on one side and on the
opposite side and near the edge cach plate is provided with a longitudinal
bulb or rib. This edge is rabbetted or recessed for sufficient depth to receive the
opposite edge of the adjacent plate and also two or more rows of rivets 2, 2, if
need be to hold them rigidly together at their contiguous edges to constitute a con-
tinuous sheet of metal. The thin straight edge 3 opposite the bulb edge on each
plate enters the rabbet of the next plate as indicated.
The sheet thus formed is arranged so that the plates either extend longitudinally
of the vessel from bow to stern in which instance the bulb or ribs take the place
of ordinary longitudinal keelsons and distribute the strength throughout the
structure equally, the atwarthship bulkheads taking place of angle or Z-bar frames,
and thus dispensing with the framework which ordinarily are indispensible in the
manufacture of vessels, or else they extend transversely or vertically, the bulbs or
rivets in this instance also taking the place of the usual braces or angle or Z-bars
constituting the frame. In either case the bulbs or ribs perform the important
function of bracing the structure and equalizing the structure throughout the entire
hull of the vessel.
The decks are constructed on beams 5, 5, running diagonally across the vessel
preferably at an angle of 90 degrees more or less from center line of deck. These
beams are held together at the crossings by the cast, wrought, steel or other metal
connections 6, 6, to the four arms of which the beams are riveted or otherwise
secured. The ordinary decking is placed on top of this frame-work. The frame
is further braced and furnished with diagonal plates 7, 7, crossing each other
TDC

page_text: In the
through the longitudinal center of the vessel as shown in Fig. 2 and when necessary
connecting with the boiler and engine keelsons in fore and aft directions.
event that vessels are constructed on this principle the plates 7, 7, preferably are
made to extend from the bottom to the lower deck thereby dividing the vessel into
water tight compartments which may be used for the storage of freight thus
preventing the shifting of cargo and rendering the vessel buoyant and proof against
sinking. Vessels of this construction combine strength, simplicity, efficiency and
economy of construction. They are easily made and extremely durable as well as
capable of being easily repaired or reconstructed.
It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrange-
ment of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of
my invention and hence 1 do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction
herein set forth, but
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 :-
1st. A vessel constructed of plates or strips of metal one edge of which is
provided with an integral rib or bulb and provided with a recess and the opposite
edge being thin and adapted to enter the recess of the adjacent plate for strip,
substantially as set forth.
2nd. A vessel composed of plates of metal having one thin edge and one recessed
or rabbetted edge with a bulb or rib thereon the recesses adapted to receive the
thin edges of the adjacent plates and the ribs adapted to form braces in the interior
of the vessel, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a vessel, the combination with metal strips or plates provided with ribs
or bulbs on one edge and a recess inside of the latter to receive one edge of an
adjacent plate or strip, of a deck constructed of beams secured to the inner walls
of the vessel and crossing one another, substantially as set forth.
4th. The combination with metal strips or plates provided on one edge with a rib
or bulb and a recess back of said rib or bulb adapted to receive one edge of an
adjacent plate or strip, of diagonal plates located on the bottom of the vessel and
crossing each other, said diagonal plates connected. at their ends and along their
lower edges with the body of the vessel, substantially as set forth.
5th. A metallic vessel composed of plates secured together, and diagonal plates
on the bottom of the vessel connected at their ends with the body of the vessel and
crossing one another on the longitudinal center of the vessel, thereby dividing
the bottom into compartments, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of June 1801
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.