in
Year: 1898

page_text: Communicated to me by GEORGE REEVES, Store Keeper, of Chascomus, Buenos Ayres,
Argentine Republic, South America.
I, GEORGE HENRY RAYNER, of 37, Chancery Lane, London, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in and in connection with ships has for its object
an improved method of ship building by which a greater accommodation is obtained
together with greater comfort and steadiness and a higher speed can also be obtained,
there is less liability to sink in case of collision or from explosion or other cause,
less ballast is required, ventilation can be effected in a better manner and the draught
is reduced in proportion to the tonnage of the vessel so.that a less depth of water is
necessary.
According to this invention a ship is constructed having several hulls each
extending for the whole length of the vessel. These hulls of which there may
be three, four, five or any suitable number are connected at the upper portions so
as to form one main deck.
It will, therefore, be seen that the several hulls each float in the water and support
the deck and superstructure of the vessel. Each of these hulls can be divided up
according to the requirements of the vessel and suitably arranged for cargo and the
like, and above the main deck a series of upper decks may be arranged. On each side
of these decks state rooms and cabins and other deck houses may be placed, and it
will, therefore, be seen that a very large number of passengers can be accommodated.
The use of several hulls causes the vessel to float very steadily on the water and there
will therefore be less rolling of the vessel and consequently less sea-sickness of the
passengers.
Ships constructed in accordance with this invention will be useful as troop ships and
other like purposes where a large number of passengers require to be carried. Also, if one
of the hulls should be damaged by collision, explosion or from other cause, the vessel
is not liable to sink as the other hulls will serve to float it. The hulls do not require
to be loaded with ballast to such an extent as at present, and additional space is there-
fore gained for cargo.
As the cabins and other buildings of the vessel are arranged on the several decks
each deck may be complete in itself, and also owing to the regular arrange-
ments, ventilation can be better effected. Especially is this the case when cattle
and sheep are carried.
The greater part of the vessel will be above water level and the draught of the
vessel can be greatly reduced so that a less depth of water is necessary for floating
The doors and other openings formed in the side of the vessel are preferably arranged
alternately for the various decks so that the strength of the sides of the vessel is not
greatly effected.
The propellers employed are preferably provided with a series of floats somewhat
after the style of a paddle wheel. These are arranged not only on the outsides of the

page_text: vessel but between the various hulls. Screws may also be fitted at the rear of the
vessel to each hull.
Din 6th day of Contambor 1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Communicated to me by GEORGE REEVES, Store Keeper, of Chascomus, Buenos
Ayres, Argentine Republic, South America.
I, GEORGE HENRY RAYNER, of 37, Chancery Lane, London, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with ships and provides a
construction which allows greater speed to be obtained, provides a large accomodation
for passengers and goods with great economy of space, gives greater safety and steadi-
ness in travelling and reduces the draught.
In carrying out my invention I propose to construct a vessel with several hulls of
which there may be 3, 4, 5, or even a larger number. These hulls are all united to
form a single vessel and are in no way independent but provide a peculiar shape of
bottom which is of channelled form and of great width. A single series of decks
covers all the hulls, a number of decks being placed one under the other, cabins and
state rooms and other accomodation being provided on each deck filling up all the
available space.
In order that this invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to the
accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a vessel constructed according to my invention, having
three hulls.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a plan. The drawings are all diagrammatic and show no details of
construction.
A A are the hulls of which as above mentioned three are shown in the drawings,
the central one being of greater length than those at the sides. The upper part or
superstructure B of the vessel connects the hulls together so as to form a single
vessel or hull. The arrangement enables a vessel of great width to be produced
giving increased stability and safety without interfering with its speed as the upper
part of the vessel is clear of the water or nearly so while the hulls support the vessel.
The vessel has a very shallow draught owing to its great width and can thus run in
shallow water.
The lines CC in Figs. 2 and 3 indicate longitudinal bulk-heads which extend
through the superstructure above the three hulls. The decks D D into which the
superstructure is divided allow a large number of compartments to be divided off for
cabin, storage and other purposes.
The superstructure B of the vessel is divided up in a convenient manner into
cabins, state rooms, saloons and other accommodation for passengers, attendants and
cargo, and owing to the great space available and the form of the vessel a very large
accommodation can be provided for any purpose for which the vessel is designed.
Should an injury be received by one part of the vessel there is no danger of the
vessel sinking even if the injury were very serious as the remaining parts would keep

page_text: it afloat, and the cargo can be shifted to one side to steady the vessel and bring it to
a proper level. Each subordinate hull should extend well up into the superstructure
so that it is relatively independent of the others although united by the super-
structure.
The lines E shown in Fig. 3 which extend diagonally across the superstructure
indicate diagonal bulk-heads which give a support to the vessel and render the super-
structure rigid. The vessel can be propelled by any ordinary form of propeller placed
between the hulls or at the stern in the usual manner, and as room is provided for
a large number of propellers a high speed can be obtained.
It is to be understood that this invention does not relate to the well known form of
vessel in which two hulls are connected together by a deck. Such vessels have
practically two independent hulls but in my improved construction the superstructure
forms a single vessel.
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 :-
:-
An improved construction of ship, consisting of a superstructure forming the body
of the vessel and divided by decks and partitions for cabin and other accommodation
and a number of hulls carried by the said superstructure placed side by side, substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 21st day of War 1800
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.