IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Coppin, of the Strand Foundry, London-
derry, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS."
Sealed the 28th July 1874, and dated the 31st January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Coppin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st January 1874.
I, WILLIAM COPPIN, of the Strand Foundry, Londonderry, Ireland,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS," to be as follows:-
-
The object of my Invention is to construct ships of great beam
and high speed. I divide the bottom longitudinally into two or more
sections with a clear water space or spaces running between them
of at least the width of the beam of the two sections amidships.

page_text: The longitudinal lines of the sides are drawn for great speed, and
are portions of a true circle running from end to end of the vessel.
The keel or bottom line is of the same curve as the sides, the midship
section of each is semicircular below extending vertically in a straight
line upwards to accommodate the paddle wheels which are placed in
the water spaces, and also outside in the centre of the ship on the
horizontal line. The arches over the water spaces are of sufficient
height above the deep load water line to be free from the wave. The
ends of the divided bottoms extend from one-fourth to one-sixth the
length of the ship, forward and aft of the decked portion of the vessel,
and are tapered to almost a point, both vertically and horizontally,
so as to enter the wave, and so reduce the pitching motion. The
rolling motion is completely done away with by the double bottoms.
In looking at the side of this ship she resembles a huge iron girder
tapered at the ends to almost a point, and has much the appearance
of a salmon.
The divided bottoms are rigidly secured by the introduction of
transverse bulkheads, beams, and decks in the usual way, and there
is accommodation for a large number of passengers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Coppin in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 31st July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM 2
COPPIN, of the Strand Foundry, Londonderry, Ireland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four,
in the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and 3
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Coppin, Her
special license that I, the said William Coppin, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Coppin,

page_text: my executors, administrators, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Coppin, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing, under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 William Coppin, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to construct ships of great beam
and high speed. I divide the bottom longitudinally into two or more
sections with a clear water space or spaces running between them
of at least the width of the beam of the two sections amidships.
The longitudinal lines of the sides are drawn for great speed, and
are portions of a true circle running from end to end of the vessel.
The keel or bottom line is of the same curve as the sides, the midship
section of each is semicircular below extending vertically in a straight
line upwards to accomodate the paddle wheels which are placed in
the water spaces, and also outside in the centre of the ship on the
horizontal line. The arches over the water spaces are of sufficient
height above the deep load water line to be free from the wave.
ends of the divided bottoms extend from one-fourth to onc-sixth the
length of the ship, forward and aft of the decked portion of the vessel,
and are tapered to almost a point, both vertically and horizontally,
so as to enter the wave, and so reduce the pitching motion; or the
whole length of the double ship might be decked over, especially for
river vessels. The rolling motion is completely done away with by
the double bottoms. In looking at the side of this ship she resembles
The

page_text: a fuge from girder tapered at the ends to almost a point, and as much
the appearance of a salmon.
The divided bottoms are rigidly secured by the introduction of
transverse bulkheads, beams, and decks in the usual way, and there
is accommodation for a large number of passengers.
The vessel combines speed with safety, and she will carry a reasonable
amount of cargo.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I have shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed
a ship constructed in the manner above described.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3
a longitudinal section of the vessel; Figures 4 and 5 are transverse
sections of the same taken respectively through the lines A, B, and C, D,
Figure 2.
The construction of the vessel is so clearly shewn by the Drawings
that but little further explanation is required. Four water-tight bulk-
heads are represented at E, E, and the upper part of each is made
double in the form of a box girder where it runs across the whole
width of the vessel; F are paddle beams carried across the centre
waterway.
Two different plans for steering the vessel are shewn at G and H.
In the plan shewn at G the steering rods or chains from each rudder
pass direct to the perpendicular shaft of a steering wheel. In the plan
shewn at H rods are passed from each rudder stock through small
stuffing boxes tightly packed and secured to the ends of the vessel,
and are connected by rods and levers under the deck with the perpen-
dicular shaft which is worked by the steering wheel.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I am aware
that it has before been proposed to construct ships of large beam, and
to divide the bottom longitudinally into two or more sections with
a water space running between them, I do not therefore make any
general claim to such construction of ships; but I claim the improve-

page_text: ments in the construction of ships of this class, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Coppin, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eight day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
WILLIAM COPPIN. (L.S.)