Improvements in Ships.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
Improvements in Ships.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS CROOKE of Leamington Road, Gravelly Hill,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
:-
My invention has for its object improvements in ships which are principally
applicable to ships designed for war purposes and of the heavier class. Great
difficulty has been found in constructing ships of large displacement with sufficient
speed while. carrying a sufficient amount of protecting armour to withstand
penetration from large guns. It has also been found difficult to keep such ships
afloat after collision with the ram of another ship as in the case of the "Victoria."
Now my invention is specially designed to meet this need in the heavier class of
war ships" but I do not confine its application to such as it may be applied to
other classes of vessels. The absence of rolling is a particular feature.
66
I form my ships in cross section with three main thicknesses. The outer one is
composed of heavy armour plating, if for war purposes, which is the class of
vessel I now propose to describe. This outer side consists of the armour plating
with its framework and backing and inner lining forming one main outer thickness
calculated to resist the attack of the heaviest guns or of the ram if need be.
Then follows a space which may be either partly or wholly divided into water-
tight compartments but I prefer the lower portion only being so arranged. Then
follows the next thickness, which may be constructed of any watertight material
such as steel, iron, or wood. Then follows the second space and lastly the inner
skin or third thickness. This second space is open at the bottom part to the
water which rises to a limited level at the crown which may be fitted underneath
on the sea-side with cork or other similar substance and the upper portion beyond
may be either used as cabins or formed into a second or inner row of watertight
compartments. This arrangement is of course the same on both sides of the ship.
The centre part is then formed to any convenient section to carry the engines,
boilers, guns, coal and other requisites for the particular kind of ship being built.
Such ships may be formed with a centre keel only or a centre and two side keels
or without a centre keel. It will thus be seen that the inside skin of the ship is
almost entirely independent of the two outer thicknesses which might both be
pierced without greatly interfering with either the stability, safety or fighting
powers of the ship. The external configuration may be greatly varied but a
circular outer skin is preferred as the strongest to resist collapse but this will
naturally be varied according to the purpose to which the ship is to be applied.
I prefer to use twin screws, i.e. a screw each side but there may be several of
these on each side or feathering paddle wheels may be used in the water space, as
the best adapted to the design as they may be conveniently hung in the second or
water recess. It is claimed that ships of this class would be specially stable in
rough seas so that the guns could be fought with much greater certainty and the
ship could be safely fought when the outer thickness was completely shattered.
The bow may be formed for ramming purposes or not but generally they would
be most suitable for battery ships which could be rapidly manipulated almost

page_text: around their own centre but which would not be intended for racing purposes as
are fast cruisers.
Dated this 26th day of February 1894.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS CROOKE, of Leamington Road, Gravelly Hill,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this 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 has for its object, improvements in ships which are principally
applicable to ships designed for war purposes and of the heavier class. Great
difficulty has been found in constructing ships of large displacement with sufficient
speed while carrying a sufficient amount of protecting armour to withstand
penetration from large guns. It has also been found difficult to keep such ships
afloat after collision with the ram of another ship as in the case of the "Victoria."
Now my invention is specially designed to meet this need in the heavier class of
war ships but I do not confine its application to such as it may be applied to other
classes of vessels. The absence of rolling is a particular feature.
I form my ships in cross section with three main thicknesses A, B, C, .as
indicated on the annexed drawing. The outer one A is composed of heavy
armour plating, if for war purposes, which is the class of vessel I now propose to
describe. This outer side consists of the armour plating with its framework D
and backing E and inner lining F forming one main outer thickness calculated to
resist the attack of the heaviest guns or of the ram if need be. Then follow
spaces G, H, which may be either partly or wholly divided into watertight
compartments throughout the length of the ship but I prefer the lower portion H
only being so arranged. Then follows the next thickness B which may be
constructed of any watertight material, such as steel, iron, or wood. Then follows
the second spaces K and lastly the inner skin or third thickness C. This second
space is open at the bottom part to the water as represented which is free to rise
to a limited level at the crown M which may be fitted underneath on the sea-side
with cork or other similar substance and the upper portion beyond such as K, K,
I may be either used as cabins or formed into a second or inner row of watertight
compartments. This arrangement is of course the same on both sides of the ship.
The centre part or parts N are formed to any convenient section to carry the
engines, boilers, guns, coal, and other requisites for the particular kind of ship
being built. Such ships may be formed with a centre keel only or a centre and
two bilge or side keels, or without a centre keel. It will thus be seen that the
inside skin C of the ship is alınost entirely independent of the two outer
thicknesses B and A which might both be pierced without greatly interfering with
either the stability, safety, or fighting powers of the ship.
The external configuration may be greatly varied but a circular outer skin is
preferable as the strongest to resist collapse but this will naturally be varied
according to the purpose to which the ship is to be applied.
I prefer to use twin-screws i.e. a screw each side of the stern but there may be
several of these. on each side, or feathering paddle wheels may be used in the
water space, as the best adapted to the design, or they may be conveniently hung
in the second or water recess. It is claimed that ships of this class would be
specially stable in rough seas so that the guns could be fought with much greater

page_text: certainty and the ship could be safely fought when the outer thickness A was
completely shattered.
The bow may be formed for ramming purposes, or not but generally they would
be most suitable for battery ships which could be rapidly manipulated almost
around their own centre, but which would not be intended for racing purposes as
are fast cruisers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvement in ships as hereinbefore described and substantially as
represented consisting of armour plated exterior A on a distinct frame F, partitioned
spaces G, H, K, between said frame A and the skin C of the ship proper, as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In a ship provided with armour plated exterior and water tight spaces G, H,
apart from the actual skin of the ship, the second portion or space K
open at
bottom for the entry of water and serving as a buoyant cushion above and under
the crown of the space (chamber) K, as described.
The 71
1004
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Thomas Crooke.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Thomas Crooke.