Improved Method of and Means for the Protection of Ships and other Submerged Structures from the Effects of Moisture, Applicable also to the Construction and Decoration of Buildings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. .
Improved Method of and Means for the Protection of Ships and other
Submerged Structures from the Effects of Moisture, Applicable
also to the Construction and Decoration of Buildings.
I THOMAS HUGHES Mechanical Engineer 53 Pepler Road, Old Kent Road
London S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out my invention for submerged substances such as all description of
sailing or steam vessels built of wood iron or steel I use sheets of specially prepared
glass which I apply in such sizes, thickness and shape as may be found needful and
specially in the case of its adaptation to ships and submerged substances I use for
bending and fixing such glass sheets either to the inside or outside of such vessels the
following.
I take a plain piece of wood of the form and smoothness required and at each corner
I fix a nut to receive thumb screws which project through the wood and in the centre
of the wood is also a larger nut through which a screw works and which screw forms
a handle, I then take a piece of thin saw plate or tempered steel plate of the same
size as the wood and to the middle of which is fixed the end of the aforesaid larger
screw; in bringing this into operation the frame pressed with the solid steel plate
inwards against the curve of the ships side, the screws are then turned until the steel
plate of the frame exactly fits the convex curve of the ships plates.
In the case of the other frame for the concave curves the four thumb screws are
connected in such a manner to the steel plate that whilst turning in the nut freely
they draw the four corners of the steel plate away thus forming a concave, surface
which is the exact curve of the ships plate; in the application of the glass plates
they are heated by such means as may be found most suitable or convenient, after
which they are pressed between the two frames above mentioned until they are of the
same shape as the frames when they will fit exactly that segment of the ship to which
the frames have been applied.
My mode in affixing said plates to the sides of ships and other structures or to the
decks of same is through and by the use of a material manufactured and known as
wire wove roofing or a similar preparation without the wire in a liquid state or rolled
into sheets composed of different qualities of india rubber one description of which is
imported from Africa, also gutta percha gum lac, acetate of amyl celluloid, ozokerite
and different descriptions of bitumen or other pitch as also an East India fibre or
plant named Rami which I use and mix in such proportions as may be required for
the purposes of these "industries" also the same material and application I use in
the fixing of yellow metal copper or vitrified iron plates or other description of plates
to preserve ships from fouling, as also for the perfect preservation of the hulls inside
and outside and the decks whereby the same will be kept cool and free from the
sticky nature of other compounds used which injure the feet of the crews when at
work.
In the case of roofing or buildings where I may use the materials described I
apply a special pigment or celluloid which after application becomes quite hard or
solid on the surface of the sheet material rendering it equal if not better in durability
or lasting qualities to galvanized iron and in such colors that it can be made orna-
mental and in the special white becomes a great protection from the heat of warm
climates; these plates sheets or material can be fixed in any size or thickness by the
means of any description of metal or other screws or nails specially made for the
purpose as also by the liquid or solution only.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for the Protection of Ships and other
Submerged Structures from the Effects of Moisture, Applicable
also to the Construction and Decoration of Buildings.
THOMAS HUGHES Engineer 53 Pepler Road Old Kent Road London S.E. 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: —
In carrying out my Invention for submerged substances and all descriptions of
sailing or steam vessels built of wood iron or steel 1 use sheets of specially prepared
glass which I apply in the size thickness or shape found needful and especially in the
case of its adaptation to ships and submerged substances I use for bending and
fixing such sheets either to the inside or outside of vessels the following method.
In
I take a plain piece of wood of the form and smoothness required and at each corner
I fix a nut to receive thumb screws which project through the wood and in the
centre of the wood a larger nut through which a screw works & which screw forms a
handle. I then take a piece of thin saw plate or tempered steel plate of the same size
as the wood to the middle of which is fixed the end of the aforesaid large screw.
bringing this into position the frame is pressed with the plate inwards against the
curve of the ships side. The screws are then turned until the plate exactly fits the
convex curve of the ship or vessel. In the case of the other frame for the concave
curves the four thumbscrews are connected in such a way to the steel plate that whilst
turning in the nut freely they draw the four corners of the steel plate away thus
forming a concave form corresponding to the convex curve of the vessels or ships side
or hull. In the application of the glass plates they are heated by such means as may
be found most suitable after which they are pressed between the two frames above
mentioned until they are of the same shape as the frames when they will fit exactly
that segment of the ship to which the frames have been applied. My mode in affixing
such plates to the sides & hulls of ships and other structures or to the decks of ships
is by use of a material used & known as wire wove roofing or a similar preparation
without the wire in a liquid state or rolled out in sheets by solution also of different
qualities of rubber one description of which is imported from the coast of Africa also
gutta percha acetate of amyl celluloid ozokerit and different kinds of bitumen as also
an Indian fibre or plant named Ramie. These I use & mix in such proportions as
may be required for the different purposes of the Invention. I use and apply the
same material in fixing yellow metal, copper, & vitrified iron plates & other description
of plates. In the case of roofing buildings when using the material described I
apply a special pigment of celluloid which after application becomes quite hard &
solid on the surface of the sheet rendering it equal in durability to galvanized iron
and I produce the sheets in such colors as cause them to be ornamental those in white
being adapted for use in hot climates for resisting the power of the suns rays when
covered with a liquid known as "Thomsons Decorative Enamel" which would over-
come any pernicious effect usually arising in the working of all industries where acids
or chemicals are used in any manufactures. The plates would be applicable to sugar
refineries & could be fixed in any size or thickness by means of screws or nails or by
the liquid solution only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Chiefly the adaptation of glass plates vitrified iron plates copper or yellow metal
plates to ships bottoms & for any submerged substances & for roofing purposes the
adhesion of all these plates being effected by the means above fully described.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1890.
THOMAS HUGHES.