CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS NAVIGATING ON WATER
Year: 1849

page_text: JORDAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Second day of November, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Jordan, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said John Jordan, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others.
as I, the said John Jordan, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,.
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad,
and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my In-
vention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS NAVIGATING ON WATER;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said John Jordan, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, to particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Jordan, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention consists of Improvements in the Construction of Ships and
other vessels navigating on water.
First, for the combination of an iron frame with an external covering of
timber planking for the sides, bilges, and bottoms.
Secondly, for the peculiar manner of making the butt joints of the external
covering of timber planking.
Thirdly, for the construction of an iron frame with a timber keel.
Fourthly, for the combination of an iron frame with a timber stem.
Fifthly, for the combination of an iron frame with a timber stern post.
Sixthly, for the peculiar manner of constructing an iron frame adapted
to a covering of wood for the sides, bilges, and bottoms, and combining with
the frame a timber stem, a timber keel, and a timber stern post.
Seventhly, for the peculiar manner of constructing the keel plate, the stem
plate, and the stern plate.
Eighthly, for the peculiar manner of constructing the keelson or keelsons.
Ninthly, for the peculiar manner of constructing the vertical and horizontal
stringers.
Tenthly, for the application of rolled iron of a bridge form, similar to a
"bridge rail" as ribs, in the construction of the iron frame of vessels navigating
on water, built of iron, or iron and timber combined.
Eleventhly, for coating the bottoms of vessels navigating on water with a
mixture of gutta percha and black lead, and also such parts as are made
of iron.
:
In order that my Invention 'may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the means to be pursued in carrying out
any of my improvements, reference being made when required to the accom-
panying Drawings.
For carrying out my first improvement, a suitable iron frame is to be con-
structed, to which an external covering of timber planking for the sides, bilges,
and bottom will be fastened by means of rivets, bolts, or any known or suitable
fastening. I make no claim to the shape of the iron used in the 'frame, as it
may be constructed of angle iron, T iron, flat or bar iron, or iron of any
suitable shape. The vessel may have one or more thickness of timber

page_text: planking, and may be sheathed with copper and felt, or zinc and felt, or gal-
vanized metal and felt, for the purpose of keeping the bottom of the vessel
from fouling, for which sheathing I make no claim.
For carrying out my second improvement, I make the butt ends of the
timber planking with an iron plate placed inside to cover the vertical joints,
the iron plate being of sufficient length and thickness to be fastened to the
ends of the abutting planks; and between the timber planking and the iron
plate I place a thickness or layer of felt, gutta percha, or. india rubber. In
this manner I add strength to the planking, and at the same time make a
water-tight joint. (The horizontal joints or scams between the planks will be
caulked in the usual manner in which the planks of timber-built vessels are
usually caulked,. viz, with oakum, for which. I make no claim.)
•
For the carrying out my third improvement, I make an iron plate of any
suitable form run the whole length of the bottom of the vessel, to which I
fasten a keel made of timber, with bolts or rivets, or any other suitable
fastening.
T
And for carrying out my fourth and fifth improvements, I cause the iron
plate forming the keel plate to be continued up the bow of the vessel, and also
up the stem of the vessel, to which I fasten a stem made of timber at the bow,
and at the stern I fasten a stern post made of timber, by means of bolts, rivets,
or any. suitable fastening.
For the carrying out my sixth improvement, to construct an iron frame adapted
to an external covering of timber planking for the sides, bilges, and bottoms,
and for a timber keel, timber stem, and timber stern post, I make an iron
plate form the keel plate, laid the whole length of the bottom of the vessel,
and continued up the stem and stern. To this plate I fasten the keel, stem
and stern post, made of timber, 'as just described. The plate is to be bent so
as to form an apron or holding for the ends of the external planking of the
sides, bilges, and bottom. Across the keel plate iron ribs are to be fastened,
and floorings of iron are to be fastened to the iron ribs. On the top of the
floorings I place the keelson made with plate and angle iron, or rolled iron,
and fastened to each floor at each extremity of the vessel; the keelson is
made to assume a curvilineal form, or portion of an inverted arch, to keep the
ends of the vessel from drooping. The deck beams, both upper and lower,
will be placed and fastened in the manner usually adopted in iron-built vessels,
that is to say, fastened to the sides, and if necessary, where convenient to the
ribs. In the wake of the upper and lower deck beams I place on the outside
of the ribs stringers of plate iron, or plate-iron binding strakes all round the
vessel, and fasten the same to each rib, and also to the stem plate or apron
:

page_text: forward, and to the stern plate aft the vessel; the ends of the deck beams are
fastened-these stringers. There will also be stringers on top of the ends of
the beams, lying horizontally fastened to each rib, to each beam, and, if neces-
sary, to the stringers outside of the ribs. For the horizontal stringers on the
top of the ends of the deck beams I make no claim. There may be also other
stringers introduced inside the ribs, if necessary, for which I make no
claim.
The keelson or keelsons may also be constructed in the following manner,
in carrying out my seventh and eighth improvements.-On the top of the keel
plate before describe the keelson will be placed, and the ribs will abut and be
fastened to the keelson and also to the keel plate; the floorings will abut and
be fastened to the keelson, and in the usual manner to the ribs. Drawings on
Sheet No. 2 will shew this method of construction, see Figures 5 and 6. The
other method of constructing the keelson on the top of the floorings has been
described before.
For carrying out my ninth improvement, I place vertical stringers outside
the ribs fastened to each rib and to the ends of the beams, and also, if
necessary, to the horizontal stringers, as before described in the description of
the frame.
My tenth improvement is for the application of rolled iron of the bridge
form, similar to a bridge rail in the construction of the iron frame of vessels
navigating on water, built of iron, or iron and timber combined. The iron
plates or timber planking may be fastened by any known means to the flanges
of the bridge rib, or the bridge rib may, be reversed, and the iron plates or
timber planking fastened by any known means to the top of the bridge rib,
and the ceiling or linings fastened to the two flanges of the bridge rib. By
this mode of construction the whole of the iron work will form a complete
frame, to which the wood work will be attached.
My eleventh improvement is for the application of a mixture of gutta percha
and black lead for coating the bottoms of vessels either of wood or iron, to
prevent fouling, and also for coating such other parts as are made of iron, to
prevent corrosion. The gutta percha is to be dissolved in spirits of turpentine,
naptha, or any other solvent, for which I make no claim, and the black lead
is to be mixed with the solution to any consistency required, and applied hot.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed and carried into effect, I would have it
understood that I make no claim for any of the parts separately, but only
when in combination to carry out my said Invention; but what I do claim as
of my Invention are,-

page_text: Firstly, for the construction of ships and other vessels that navigate on
water with an iron frame, combined with an external covering of timber
planking for the sides, bilges, and bottoms."
Secondly, for the making of the butt joints of the external covering of wood,
as described.
Thirdly, for the combination of an iron frame with a timber keel.
Fourthly, for the combination of an iron frame with a timber stem.
Fifthly, for the combination of an iron frame with a timber stern post.
Sixthly, for the construction of iron frames for ships or other vessels navi-
gating on water, adapted to an external covering of timber planking for the
sides, bilges, and bottoms, as described.
Seventhly, for an iron keel plate continued up at each end of the vessel to
form the stem and stern plates, to which the timber keel, the timber stem, and
the timber stern post are fastened.
Eighthly, for two methods of constructing the keelson. The first as
described on the top of the floorings, with the extremities of a curvilineal
form, and fastened to the stem and stern plate to keep the ends of the vessel
from drooping; for the second method of putting the keelson down upon the
keel plate abutting the ribs, so as to fasten the keelson to the keel plate, also
abutting the floorings so as to fasten the keelson to the ribs, as shewn in
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet No. 2.
Ninthly, for the external vertical stringers or binding strakes fastened to the
ribs, beams, stem and stern plates, and also to the horizontal stringers on the
top of the ends of the beams, as described and shewn.
Tenthly, for the application of rolled iron of a bridge form in the con-
struction of the iron frame of ships or other vessels navigating on water.
Eleventhly, for the application of a mixture of gutta percha and black lead
to the coating of the bottoms of vessels navigating on water, and such other
parts as are made of iron.
REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS SHEETS 1 AND 2.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in each Figure.
Figure 1 is a plan of part of a vessel.
Figure 2 is a section of the timber stem or stern post, shewing also the.
section of the iron apron to which the ends of the planks, the ends of the iron
stringers, and the wood stem or stern post, are fastened.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of a vessel with part of the deck removed,
shewing the midship frame.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of one end of a vessel.

page_text: Figure 5 is a section, and Figure 6 is a plan, shewing a second method of
constructing the keelson, ribs, and floorings. (a), upper deck beams; (b),
lower deck beams; (c), stanchions; (d), deck; (f), iron-plate floorings; (9),
iron ribs; (h), timber keel; (h'), keel plate; (k), iron keelson; (l), vertical
iron-plate stringer under hold beams; (m), horizontal plate stringer above
hold beams; (n), iron plate binding strakes or stringers outside ribs; (n¹),
upper iron plate binding strake or stringer outside the ribs; (0), garboard
strake; (p), timber planking of the sides, bilges, and bottoms; (r), covering
plate or horizontal stringers on top of upper deck beams; (s), timber stem or
.stern post bolted or fastened to the iron plate (h'), which plate is a continuation
of the iron keel plate.