IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER FLOATING CRAFT For MERCANTILE, WAR, OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Lucop at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th Sep-
tember 1873.
I, CHARLES Lucor, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER FLOATING CRAFT For
MERCANTILE, WAR, OR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and
construction of steam ships and other floating craft in such manner that
the upper part or superstructure can be readily detached from the hull
or main portion of the vessel, which it is preferred to make in the form
of a comparatively flat tube having corresponding conical or curved
ends. The upper part when detached constitutes an independent vessel
formed with a flat bottom and curved or conical ends, being furnished
with berths and other requisites for the accommodation of passengers or
valuable cargo. It is also provided with suitable appliances for sailing
or other means of propulsion.
The hull or body of the vessel may be described as a rectangular body,
the proportions of which are in width about one-fourth of its length, and

page_text: in depth about one-fifth of its width, a centre line dividing the width
and a similar line dividing the depth. The body is rounded and tapered
from given lines, and points towards the two centre lines to enable the
said body to pass or be propelled through the water with a minimum of
resistance. It will thus be seen that if the rounding and tapering is
commenced at the same points and lines, and carried towards the centre
lines before-named and with the same curves, both ends and both sides
of the body both in width and depth will be precisely alike.
The advantages of this form of ship are great displacement with light
draught, absence of rolling on account of great width of beam, there 1
being little if any pitching on account of this improved form of vessel
offering little or no resistance to the passing waves.
'
The greatest speed is obtained with a given amount of power on
account of the shape of the hull. Great strength is obtained with a
given amount of material, together with facility for rendering the ship
unsinkable under ordinary circumstances by means of water-tight com-
partments, also safety of navigation on account of light draught.
At sea the ship would be hermetically sealed with the exception of
the trunk staircase to the engine room from the deck house. The
construction of the vessel I prefer to be chiefly of iron, and the means of
propulsion twin screws.
For war purposes or when extreme speed is required twin screws may
be applied at both ends, this application in the former case would give
great facility of handling, as the ship could be turned in her own length
and could advance or retire with equal advantage.
According to my improvements the ship is constructed with a deck
house or superstructure arranged to occupy about half the extreme
width of the vessel and about five-ninths of its length, the height being
about eight-tenths of the depth of ship and tapered at either end, similar
to the hull of the ship, the sides by preference being vertical. This
deck house or superstructure is built entirely distinct from the hull or
body of the ship proper, being a flat bottomed ship within itself
furnished with an ordinary wood deck, the approach to the engine room
being made as before named through the deck house by means of a
water-tight trunk way.
The deck house or superstructure is secured in position upon the hull
of the vessel by means of moveable bolts and levers or other suitable

page_text: mechanical appliances which could be readily released so as to launch
the deck house or superstructure into the water, such superstructure
containing the saloons and berths of passengers and crew, provisions,
water, and the most valuable portion of the cargo, such as specie or
other valuables; the deck house or superstructure thus detached from
the hull or body of the ship from whatever cause forms a perfect
construction of life raft furnished with every convenience and comfort
for passengers and crew, and capable of being navigated by sails, oars,
or otherwise.
In cases where the deck house is not fitted for passengers it can be
utilized as a lighter for conveying goods from the ship up rivers or other
places where very light draught is required.
The hull or body of the ship proper is furnished or constructed with
two or more hatchways on either side of the deck house or superstructure
for taking in and discharging cargo and being hermetically sealed when
at sea, the boats being secured to davits from the deck house or
superstructure in the usual manner.