IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS AND VESSELS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF SHIPWRECK OR FIRE AT SEA
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Burch, of Crag Hall, near Maccles-
field, in the County of Chester, Carpet Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS AND VESSELS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF SHIPWRECK
OR FIRE AT SEA."
Sealed the 5th January 1853, and dated the 15th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left, by the said Joseph Burch at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th October 1852.
I, JOSEPH BURCH, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS AND VESSELS FOR THE PUR-
POSE OF SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF SHIPWRECK OR FIRE. AT
SEA" to be as follows:-
My Invention for saving lives and property at sea consists in con-
structing vessels in two distinct parts, but having the appearance, when
together, of a perfect vessel; the larger part to be the great body of the
ship, containing the whole length of keel, main and fore masts, hold,
space for machinery, stowage, &c., and which, for the sake of distinction,
I shall call the parent or principal part; the lesser or escape part to
contain the berths, saloon, victualling stores, treasury, &c. The escape
part, to have the form of and to be a perfect vessel of itself, is to carry

page_text: the mizen mast, and is to occupy the space of, and be a substitute for,
the quarter and after decks of the perfect vessel, running from the stern
up to about the main mast, and down to or level about with the water
line, and so arranged and fixed upon the parent part of the vessel that
in cases of shipwreck or fire it may with ease be launched off the stern
of the principle or parent body of the ship. The mizen mast is to be
fixed in the escape vessel, the stem of which is to form the stern or
counter of the perfect ship, and everything is to be so arranged that a
launch may be effected on the shortest notice. To facilitate the launch-
ing, I propose that the parent part of the vessel should be divided by
one or more water-tight bulk heads, having in the stern division water
plugs, which in cases of wreck or fire, and when all hope of saving the
perfect vessel is lost, are to be drawn; the after part of the parent
vessel will immediately fill with water and sink, and the escape part,
without difficulty, will easily, when loosened from her fastenings, float
off the wreck. I do not propose that the quantity of water let into the
hold of the parent vessel shall sink it entirely, as it will be necessary to
admit only sufficient to enable the escape vessel to float, as it is possible
the parent vessel might afterwards be saved, the escape part re-adjusted
on its stern, the water pumped out, and the whole taken safe into port.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said, Joseph Burch in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J,
JOSEPH BURCH, of Crag Hall, near Macclesfield, in the County of:
Chester, Carpet Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the year
of our, Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Burch, Her special license that
I, the said Joseph Burch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Joseph Burch, my executors, administrators,

page_text: 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING
SHIPS AND VESSELS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY IN
CASES OF SHIPWRECK OR FIRE AT SEA," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Burch, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-:
formed, 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 Joseph Burch, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):
:
The nature of my Invention consists in a mode of constructing.
vessels in two distinct parts, but having the appearance, when together, of
one perfect vessel; the larger or parent part to be the great body of the
ship, containing the whole length of keel, main and fore masts, hold,
space for machinery, stowage, fore cabin, berths, &c. &c.; the lesser or
escape part to contain berths, saloon, victualling stores, treasury, &c. The
escape part to have the form of and to be a perfect vessel of itself. It
is to carry the mizen mast, and is to occupy the space of, and be a sub-
stitute for, the quarter and after decks of the parent vessel, occupying
the deck space from the stern up to about the main mast, and down to
or level about with the water line, and so arranged and fixed upon the
parent part of the vessel that in cases of shipwreck or fire it may
without difficulty be launched off the stern of the parent ship. The stem
and bows of the escape vessel form the stern and counter of the parent
vessel. In order to make a secure berth for the escape vessel while on
board the parent vessel, and also to protect it from the force of the
waves, the sides of the parent vessel are to be raised above the water.
line up to about the gunwale, forming a kind of trough, which may ter-
minate obliquely about the sternpost of the parent vessel; and in this

page_text: .
trough it will be seen by reference to the Drawings, the escape boat or
vessel is securely placed, with her head projecting over the sternpost of
the parent vessel, and always in a position ready to be launched. To
facilitate the launching, under circumstances where this is required,
while the parent vessel still floats, I propose that the hold of the parent
vessel should have a water-tight bulk head division astern, and that the
compartiment thus formed shall be provided with plugs or valves for the
purpose, when necessary, of letting in water; and in the event of the
parent vessel being wrecked or on fire, and all hope of saving her
appears lost, the plugs or valves are then to be opened, when the' after
part of the parent vessel will begin to fill and sink, and the escape part
can then, without difficulty, when loosened from her fastenings, float off
the wreck. I do not propose, by admitting water into the parent vessel,
to' sink it entirely; I would only admit sufficient water to enable the
escape vessel to float olf, or sufficient in cases of fire to drown the
flames. And to avoid the loss of the larger vessel, while a hope remains
of saving her, I would recommend the employment of self-acting
valves, which should close in sufficient time to prevent the vessel from
sinking; for, after all, she might escape the threatened danger; the
éscape part could again be re-adjusted on her stern, the water pumped
out, and the perfect ship reach her destination in safety.
In respect of the fastenings by which the two vessels must be bound
together, I need not say that these must be of the simplest kind, in order
that a separation may be made within a few moments after the order to
let go is given; at the same time strength is required in order to keep the
escape vessel well secured in heavy, stormy weather. Various modes may
be adopted, but that which appears to me amongst the simplest and most
éffective is shewn in the Drawings. It consists of strong hook bolt fasten-
ings attached to each side of the stern of the escape vessel, and corre-
sponding fastenings fixed to the deck of the parent vessel; and by means
of short noosed cables with tightening blocks and falls, the two vessels
may be securely held together. The same means may be adapted at the
sides, if necessary, but as the rising trough sides of the parent vessel
will be exposed to and receive the pressure of the sea, the stern fasten-
ing may be found sufficient, and although the stem and bows of the
escape vessel will be exposed to the sea, her own weight will probably

page_text: be found sufficient to keep her down; should she lift, liowever, the
result will not be disastrous, for the water will immediately rush up the
trough between her and the parent vessel, and act as a water buffer
as she again settles in her place. Under all circumstances, I recom-
mend rope fastenings, and where they are placed. I would have a small
hatchet chained, so that in case of any entanglement of the ropes all the
noozed cables might be simultaneously severed at a moment's signal.
In cases of shipwreck from fire, or striking on sunken rocks, such as
the loss of the Amazon" and "Birkenhead," I do not hesitate. to say
that had those vessels been provided with this means of escape almost
every person who then perished would have been saved; and during the
late wreck of the Queen Victoria its services would have been equally
effective. The captains and crews of vessels, having the means of escape
at hand for themselves and passengers, will lose neither energy nor
presence of mind; there will be no scrambling into, launching, and
swamping unseaworthy boats; every effort will be made to save the
parent vessel, which in some instances' need not be abandoned until
she even sinks away from the escape part. Of course, there are cir
'cumstance in dreadful storms, when no human aid or contrivance could
rescue the doomed vessel and her unhappy living freight, the mercy of
Providence alone can then save; but from such disasters at-sea as firé,.
leakages, striking on sunken rocks, shoal waters, sand banks, collisions,
and many other casualties by which so many vessels and lives have
lately been sacrificed, and so much valuable property lost, I venture to
hope that this Invention may prove under these circumstances, a sure
means of escape. It will also be found useful in the Arctic regions,
and likewise in exploring rivers, where, in shallow waters, the parent
vessel could not float. It may be constructed to receive, a small
engine, and thus be made available for many other useful purposes.
I will now further describe my Invention by reference to the Draw-
ings. Fig. 1, exhibits a side clevation of the parent and escape ves-
sels, presenting the appearance of a perfect ship. A, is the parent
vessel; B, the escape vessel... Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of a
perfect vessel, shewing the parent and escape vessels. Fig. 3, is a deck
plan of the two vessels as one ship. Fig. 4, side elevation of escape
vessel. Fig. 5, stem view of escape vessel. Fig. 6, stern view of

page_text: escape vessel. Fig. 7, stern view of a parent vessel, shewing the trough
in which the life or escape vessel is to be placed. Fig. 8, side view of
the stern part of a parent vessel without the escape vessel.
Having now described the nature of this my Invention, and a way in
which it is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine the use of it to any particular description or form of vessel, as
it may be fitted to either steam or sailing vessel; neither do I construct
the escape vessel of any particular fashion, material, or dimensions:
neither do I confine myself to the details herein described, so long as
the peculiar character of my Invention be retained. I also assume that
I have the right to build and fit it upon any plan, embracing all that is
practised or known in ship or boat building up to the date of this
Invention, save and except patented Inventions. Therefore, what 1
claim as my Invention is,-First, I claim the mode of so combining, con-
structing, and fashioning two distinct vessels, that when together they
shall have the form of a perfect ship. Secondly, I claim the mode of
constructing vessels in two distinct parts, as herein called the parent
vessel and the escape vessel, on the principle and manner and for such
like purposes as are herein described. Thirdly, I claim the mode of
using ships and vessels having life boats or escape parts, as herein
described, and also for employing and using the escape vessels for such
and other purposes to which they may or can be usefully or conveni-
ently applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burch, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
Patent Agent,
73, Chancery Lane.
JOSEPH BURCH. (L.S.)