IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING OR FRAMING LIGHTHOUSES, HOLLOW METAL PILES AND CYLINDERS, AND IN FRAMING OTHER METAL STRUCTURES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Nicholas Douglass, of Dulwich, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING
OR FRAMING LIGHTHOUSES, HOLLOW METAL PILES AND CYLINDERS, AND IN
FRAMING OTHER METAL STRUCTURES"
Sealed the 30th September 1864, and dated the 5th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Nicholas Douglass
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1864.
I, JAMES NICHOLAS DOUGLASS, of Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING
OR FRAMING LIGHTHOUSES, HOLLOW METAL PILES AND CYLINDERS, AND IN FRAMING
OTHER METAL STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
In constructing or framing lighthouses, hollow metal piles, and cylinders, I
employ a series of quadrilateral frames or panels; each frame is complete in
itself, and is made of angle iron or metal of any convenient section, welded up
or otherwise fixed together so as to make rigid frames. If the structure to be
framed be cylindrical, the frames may be similar from end to end, and each
frame is curved to the radius of the cylinder. In forming the structure, the
frames are put together edge to edge, so that the diagonals of each frame run
longitudinally and transversely of the structure. The sides of the frames or
panels are each of them rivetted or fixed to the side of another frame or panel
which is in contact with it, and the angles of the frames so meet that their

page_text: junctions are perfectly fished, the angles of four frames meeting in a pɔint,
and then one pair of frames serves to fish the other pair, thus the sides form
double ribs or webs crossing each other and running continuously and spirally
from end to end of the structure in opposite directions. If the structure is
to be taper and not cylindrical, the frames will not be exactly similar
throughout, but will gradually decrease in size as the structure tapers away.
To a framing thus constructed metal plating may be applied as may be
convenient, being rivetted or otherwise fixed to the webs of the frames. I
prefer that the plates should be of sufficient size to pass over two or more
frames, as the strength of the structure is thereby increased. This method of
framing is also particularly applicable to framing structures to be glazed with
glass; each frame is then conveniently made of metal of the section of half.a
sash bar, so that each rib or web is of the form of a sash bar, and the frame so
made is glazed in the usual manner. In completing structures framed in the
manner above described, triangular frames are employed at the ends or sides.
This method of framing is particularly applicable in constructing the lanterns
and optical apparatus of lighthouses. Other structures either with flat or
curved faces may be similarly formed, as, for example, green houses, ship's
domes, glazed or unglazed, and others.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Nicholas Douglass in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
NICHOLAS DOUGLASS, of Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Nicholas Douglass, Her special licence, that I, the
said James Nicholas Douglass, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Nicholas Douglass, 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 IN CONSTRUCTING OR FRAMING LIGHTHOUSES,

page_text: HOLLOW METAL PILES, AND CYLINDERS, AND IN FRAMING OTHER METAL STRUC-
TURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Nicholas
Douglass, 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 James Nicholas Douglass, 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 :-
In'constructing or framing lighthouses, hollow metal piles, and cylinders,
I employ a series of quadrilateral frames or panels; each frame is complete in
itself, and is made of angle iron or metal of any convenient section, welded up
or otherwise fixed together so as to make rigid frames. If the structure to
be framed be cylindrical, the frames may be similar from end to end, and
each frame is curved to the radius of the cylinder. In forming the structure
the frames, are put together edge to edge so that the diagonals of each frame
run longitudinally and transversely of the structure. The sides of the frames
or panels are each of them rivetted or fixed to the side of another frame or
panel which is in contact with it, and the angles of the frames so meet that
their junctions are perfectly fished, the angles of four frames meeting in a
point. and then one pair of frames serves to fish the other pair, thus the sides
form double ribs or webs crossing each other and running continuously and
spirally from end to end of the structure in opposite directions. If the
structure is to be. taper and not cylindrical, the frames will not be exactly
similar throughout, but will gradually decrease in size as the structure tapers
away. To a framing thus constructed metal plating may be applied as may
be convenient, being rivetted or otherwise fixed to the webs of the frames.
I prefer that the plates should be of sufficient size to pass over two or more
fiames, as the strength of the structure is thereby increased. This method
of framing is also particularly applicable to framing structures to be glazed;
each frame is then conveniently made of metal of the section of half a sash
bar so that each rib or web is of the form of a sash bar and the frame so
made is glazed in the usual manner. In completing structures framed in
the manner above described, triangular frames are employed at the ends or
sides. This method of framing is particularly applicable in constructing
the lanterns and optical apparatus of lighthouses. Other structures either

page_text: with flat or curved faces may be similarly formed, as for example green-
houses, ships, domes, glazed or unglazed, and others.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention I will proceed, aided by
the accompanying Drawings, more fully to describe the manner of per-
forming the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1.-Figure 1 is an elevation of the glazed portion of a cylindrical
lighthouse lantern separately from the roof and pedestal; Figure 2 is an
elevation of a single frame; and Figure 3 is a full-size section of the sides
of two adjoining frames shewing the method of securing the glass in the
metal frames.
a, a, a, a, are quadrangular metal frames, which are complete in them-
selves, and are formed by rivetting or welding together iron of the section
shown at 6 in Figure 3, or of other desired section; a cap of metal c is
placed over the outer edge of the metal frames at their junction with each
other, and are united therewith by screwing, rivetting, or otherwise. The
caps of metal c afford additional security to the structure, and facility for
retaining the glass d. The frames a are formed to such a curve, or the iron
of which they are composed is bent to such an angle, that when put
together they shall produce a structure of the form desired. a¹, a¹, a¹, are
triangular metal frames required for the purpose of finishing the structure
and uniting it with the roof and foundation.
Sheet 2. Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a cylinder or side of a ship
which may be plated as shown, or in other convenient manner; Figure 2
is a vertical section; Figure 3 is an elevation of a single frame; and Figure 4
is a section to a larger scale of the side of two adjoining frames with a
portion of the outside plating.
a, a, a, a, are quadrangular metal frames formed of trough iron, but other
sections of iron may be employed as may be found convenient. These frames
are rivetted or otherwise secured together until the structure is obtained
of the size desired. Other metal frames a¹ of a triangular form complete the
upper edge, if for the sides of a ship or other vessel, whilst other metal frames
of a suitable form may be employed to complete the structure; in other
directions iron or other plating b is applied to the outer surface and secured.
thereto in any convenient manner. If a ship for war purposes timber
planking and armour plating may be added as may be found convenient.
Sheet 3.-Figure 1 is an elevation of part of the side of a ship planked
with two or more thicknesses, either diagonally or otherwise, as may be

page_text: found convenient, the outer thickness of planking may be secured to the
inner thickness by copper or yellow metal bolts, and afterwards covered
with copper or yellow metal sheathing; Figure 2 is a vertical section;
Figure 3 is an elevation of a single frame; and Figure 4 is a section to a
larger scale of the side of two adjoining frames with a portion of the outside
planking and sheathing.
a, a, a, a, are quadrangular metal frames; a¹, other triangular metal
frames; and b, 61, two thicknesses of planking applied diagonally or
otherwise, but running in such direction as to cross each other; c is copper
or other metal sheathing applied to the planking by copper or yellow metal
nails as is well understood.
Sheet 4. Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a girder; Figure 2 is.
a vertical section; Figure 3 is an elevation of a single frame; and Figure 4
is a section to a larger scale of the sides of two adjoining frames.
a, a, a, a, are quadrangular metal frames of trough iron or other con-
venient section secured together by rivetting or otherwise, the upper and
lower edges of the girder are completed by uniting therewith, by rivetting
or otherwise, other triangular metal frames a¹. Strips b, 61, of sheet metal,
or it may be of wood, complete the girder at the upper and lower edges.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein shown and described, but what I claim
is, the constructing or framing of lighthouses, hollow metal piles and
cylinders, and the framing of other metal structures in manner substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Nicholas Douglass, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JAS. N. DOUGLASS. (L.s.)