IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS EMPLOYED FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF PASSENGERS, AND IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED TO PREVENT OR LESSEN SEA SICKNESS ON BOARD SUCH VESSELS."
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS EMPLOYED FOR
THE CONVEYANCE OF PASSENGERS, AND IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYED TO PREVENT OR LESSEN SEA SICKNESS ON BOARD SUCH VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th May 1870.
I, HENRY BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION. OF STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
EMPLOYED FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF PASSENGERS, AND IN THE MEANS AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED TO PREVENT OR LESSEN SEA SICKNESS ON BOARD SUCH
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to ships in which saloons, cabins, floors, or
platforms are so suspended or supported as to prevent their rolling or

page_text: pitching to the same extent as would be the case if they were made to
form a portion of the fixed internal fittings of the ship.
In all cases where the points of suspension or support of such saloons,
cabins, floors, or platforms are not coincident with the centres, about
which the ship has motion, the movements of the vessel will tend to
impart an oscillating or pendulous motion to them in consequence of
the varying position of such centre of motion. The friction of the axes
or of the wheels and axles on which they are supported also tends to
generate such pendulous motion in a greater or lesser degree, whether
the centres of support do or do not coincide with centres about which
the vessel pitches or rolls.
Now, therefore, one of the main objects sought to be obtained by my
present Invention is to lessen or prevent such oscillatory or pendulous
motion from being transmitted to such saloons, cabins, floors, or plat-
forms, as are suspended or supported in the manner referred to. For
this purpose I make an opening in the bottom of the ship, taking care
to adequately strengthen the surrounding parts which rise upward into
the vessel so as to form a small chamber open at the bottom only. Into
the upper part of this chamber the axis of the saloons, cabins, floors, or
platforms is made to enter, and is there kept water-tight by a suitable
leather or stuffing box. A rod or lever is attached to the said axis and
carries at its lower end a heavy counterweight which is contained within
the chamber before named and is consequently immersed in and sur-
rounded with water. The counterweight by the force of gravity will
tend to hang vertically downward, and if attached to an axis running
parallel to the keel of the ship the weight will always tend to keep any
floor or platform attached to such axis (at right angles to the rod of the
counterweight) in a horizontal position. The counterweight may be
spherical in form or it may be cylindrical with pointed ends, but I prefer
it to be of such form as will present two large flat surfaces having a thin
edge to cut the water in the direction of the ship's course. The weight so
formed will tend to hang vertically beneath the supporting axes and will
offer considerable resistance laterally to any oscillatory or pendulous
motion arising from the causes before referred to, or otherwise. The
controlling power of the counterweight will be greatly increased by
elongating the suspension rod or rods, so as to allow the counterweight
to hang several feet down in the water below the keel of the vessel, but

page_text: in all cases where this is done provision should be made for reefing the
counterweight, that is, rising it up within the chamber formed to receive
it in the lower part of the vessel.
"
This rising and lowering may be effected by a compound screw and
worm wheel apparatus similar to that known as Healey's jack," or
it may be raised by forming a rack on the rod and employing suitable
gearing to act thereon, or preferably by the direct action of water
pressure acting in an inverted cylinder into which the rod of the
counterweight is drawn up, a piston being fitted to the top end of the
rod for that purpose.
The suspended weight acting in the water may be applied to the
central part of the axis of the saloon, cabin, floor, or platform, or to one
end of it, or two or more may be employed, acting at each end and in
the middle, either alone or in conjunction with other counterweights
suspended in the inside the vessel and surrounded by the air. The flat
counterweight suspended in the water may be rectangular or circular
in form and be so arranged with an axis that it would tend to reef itself
in case of coming in contact with the shore or bottom of the harbour
if not attended to and reefed before entering shallow water.
The counterweight may itself be so counterbalanced (preferably by
water pressure) as to require only a small amount of force to reef it,
and if made circular with an axis, as before mentioned, it would act as
a wheel and readily raise or lower itself on coming in contact with a
shoal. The rod of such counterweights may be attached directly to
the axis of the saloons, cabins, floors, or platforms, or it may be
mounted upon separate axes and capable of being connected to or dis-
connected from the axis of the saloon, cabin, floors, or platforms by a
friction or other clutch at pleasure.
When it is desired to provide against the pitching of the ship as well
as the rolling motion, the counterweight may be mounted on a cup-and-
ball joint or on double trunnion rings having axes at right angles. A
spherical valve joint or a diaphragm of vulcanized rubber may in this
case be employed to prevent the entrance of water into the ship by
this joint.
When ships are built of considerable length, and it is desired to provide
against the rolling motion only, I prefer to support the axis of the
saloon, cabin, floor, or platform in suitable bearings formed in the bulk-

page_text: heads which divide the hold of the ship at those parts and so frame
the floor or platform of the saloon or cabins as to form flat or cranked
girders of sufficient strength to support the whole structure. Other
intermediate axial support may, however, be given when the saloons,
cabins, floors, or platforms are of such length as to require it.
When, in lieu of the axes before referred to, curved rails with wheels
and axles are employed to support the saloons, cabins, floors, or plat-
forms, I also employ a counterweight or weights acting in the water
external to the ship, as before described, the rod or rods of the counter-
weight being mounted on axes of their own and by means of a
connecting rod, lever, or carrier controlling or assisting in controlling
the motion of the saloons, cabins, floors, or platforms in the manner
before described, in reference to those which are mounted on axes.
In some cases it may be found desirable to provide means for altering
the position of the flat external counterweight with reference to the line
of the keel, making it act somewhat like a balanced rudder, and thus
counteracting the side action of the tide or current, and consequently
maintaining the floor of the saloons or cabins in a horizontal position.
By means of suitable gearing or by a lever handle the counterweight
may be so inclined from the line of the keel as to enable the operator to
control the position of the saloon, cabin, floor, or platform, irrespective
of the mere weight of the apparatus, and thus by a sort of steering action
keep the floors in a nearly horizontal position.
In constructing saloons or cabins to be controled and retained in
position by the means herein-before described, I prefer to entirely
enclose them with a curved roof and to cover the same in part with
glass for admitting light, and as a protection from the weather; the
opening for light in the upper part of the saloon or cabin I also cover with
ground or obscured glass or with a semi-transparent fabric, so that the
passengers in the saloons or cabins may not see any external objects
which would indicate to them the motion of the ship. Suitable openings
may be made in the sides or on the top of the saloon or cabin for ingress
and egress of air and provided with light flap valves (or they may be
used without them) but so, nevertheless, this, the motion of the vessel,
may be made the means of impelling a current of air into and out of
the saloons and cabin, and thus produce an efficient ventilation
thereof.

page_text: The entrance of the saloon or cabin I prefer to make at the central
part of one end thereof immediately over one of the axes, the door
having by preference a landing place outside the saloon or cabin but
attached thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer, my exe-
cutors, 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 STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS EMPLOYED FOR THE CON-
VEYANCE OF PASSENGERS, AND IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
PREVENT OR LESSEN SEA SICKNESS ON BOARD SUCH VESSELS,' upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Bessemer, 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.
"
TO
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention relates to ships in which saloons, cabins, floors, or
platforms are so suspended or supported as to prevent their rolling or
pitching to the same extent as would be the case if they were made to
form a portion of the fixed internal fittings of the ship.
In all cases where the points of suspension or support of such saloons,
cabins, floors, or platforms are not coincident with the centres about
which the ship has motion the movement of the vessel will tend to
impart an oscillating or pendulous motion to them in consequence of
the varying position of such centre of suspension; the friction of the
axes, or of the wheels and axles in which they are supported, also tends
to generate such pendulous motion in a greater or less degree, whether
the centres of support do or do not coincide with the centres about
which the vessel pitches or rolls.
Now therefore one of the main objects sought to be obtained by my
present Invention is to lessen or prevent such oscillatory or pendulous
motion from being set up or transmitted to such saloons, cabins, floors,
or platforms as are suspended or supported in the manner referred to.
For this purpose I make an opening in the bottom of the ship, taking
care to adequately strengthen the surrounding parts, which rise upward
into the vessel, so as to form a small chamber open at the bottom only.
Into the upper part of this chamber the axis of the saloons, cabins,
floors, or platforms is made to enter, and is there kept water-tight by a
suitable leather or stuffing box, a rod or lever is attached to the said
axis, and carries at its lower end a heavy counterweight which is contained
within the chamber before named, and is consequently immersed in and
surrounded with water, the counterweight by the force of gravity will
tend to hang vertically downward, and is attached to an axis running
parallel to the keel of the ship. This weight will always tend to keep
in a horizontal position any floor or platform attached to such axis at
right angles to the rod; the counterweight may be spherical in form, or
it may be cylindrical with pointed ends, but I prefer it to be of such
form as will present two large flat surfaces having a thin edge to cut
the water in the direction of the ship's course. The weight so formed
will tend to hang vertically beneath the supporting axes, and will offer
considerable resistance laterally to any oscillatory or pendulous motion

page_text: arising from the causes before referred to, or otherwise. The controlling
power of the counterweight will be greatly increased by elongating the
suspension rod or rods so as to allow the counterweight to hang several
feet down in the water below the keel of the vessel, but in all cases
where this is done provision should be made for reefing the counter-
weight, that is, raising it up within the chamber formed to receive it
in the lower part of the vessel. This raising and lowering may be.
effected by a compound screw and worm wheel apparatus, similar to
that known as 'Healey's jack," or it may be raised by forming a rack
on the rod and employing suitable gearing to act thereon, or, preferably,
by the direct action of water pressure acting in an inverted cylinder,
into which the rod of the counterweight is drawn up, a piston being
fitted to the top end of the rod for that purpose.
"
The suspended weight acting in the water may be applied to the
central part of the axis of the saloon, cabin, floor, or platform, or to
one end of it, or two such weights may be employed acting one at each
end or one in the middle, such weights being used either alone or in
conjunction with other counterweights suspended in the inside the
vessel and surrounded by the air. The flat counterweight suspended in
the water may be rectangular or circular in form, and if desired it may
be arranged with an axis, and be formed into a flat disc wheel, so that
it would tend to reef itself in case of coming in contact with the shore
or bottom of the harbour if not attended to and reefed before entering
shallow water. The counterweight may itself be so counterbalanced
(preferably by water pressure) as to require only a small amount of force
to reef it, and if made circular with an axis, as before mentioned, it
would act as a wheel, and readily raise or lower itself on coming
in contact with a shoal. The rods of such counterweights may be
attached directly to the axis of the saloons, cabins, floors, or platforms,
or they may be mounted upon separate axes, and capable of being con-
nected to or disconnected from the axis of the saloon, cabin, floor, or
platform by a friction or other clutch at pleasure.
When ships are built of considerable length, and it is desired to pro-
vide against the rolling motion only I prefer to support the axes of the
saloon, cabin, floor, or platform in suitable bearings formed in the bulk-
heads which divide the hold of the ship at these parts, and to so frame
the floor beams of the platforms, saloons, or cabins as to form flat or
cranked girders of sufficient strength to support the whole structure.

page_text: Other intermediate axial support may, however, be given when the
saloons, cabins, floors, or platforms are of such length as to require it.
In constructing saloons or cabins to be controlled and retained in
position by the means herein-before described, I prefer to entirely
enclose them with a curved roof, and to cover the same in part
with glass for admitting light and as a protector from the weather;
the opening for light in the upper part of the saloon I also cover
with ground or obscure glass or with a semi-transparent fabric, so that
the passengers in the saloons or cabins may not see any external objects
which would indicate to them the motion of the ship. Suitable
openings may be made in the sides or on the top of the saloon or cabin
for ingress and egress of air, and provided with light flap valves (or
they may be used without them), but so, nevertheless that the motion
of the vessel may be made the means of impelling a current of air into
and out of the saloons and cabins, and thus producing an efficient
ventilation thereof.
The entrance to the saloon or cabin I prefer to make at the central
part of one end thereof immediately over one of the axes, the door
having by preference a landing place outside the saloon or cabin, but
attached thereto.
In order that the arrangement which I prefer in carrying my In-
vention into practical operation may be fully understood, I have
liereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings on which such apparatus is
shewn.
Figure 1 being a vertical cross section through a vessel and through
the centre of a cabin suspended therein on axes parallel to the keel,
the position of the several parts being such as they will assume when
the vessel is in a state of rest; Figure 2 is a similar cross section taken
with the several parts in the position they will assume when the ship is
rolling heavily; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken through the
chamber in which the counterweight is suspended, and also through the
hydrostatic cylinder employed to raise and lower it when required;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the central
portion of the vessel and through the suspended cabin, and also through
the chamber in which the counterbalance weight is suspended, shewing
the hydrostatic cylinder in elevation.
a is the outer skin or shell of the vessel supported as usual on angle
ribs rivetted thereto; 6 is the keel plate, and 6*, 6*, are also strong plates

page_text: of a similar character which pass around the lower part of the opening
of the chamber c, and are so connected with other plates and stringers
as to compensate for any want of strength caused by the opening into the
chamber C, the two flat sides of which are formed by double bulkheads d
and e, which add considerably to the strength of the vessel at this part.
There is also another double bulkhead formed at ƒ extending across
the ship for the purpose of supporting one end of the axis on which the
cabin I is supported. The hollow box girders h (which are also of con-
siderable strength) and the stringers i extend along the sides of the
ship from the double bulkhead e to the bulk head f to which they
are firmly united, and they serve to strengthen and stiffen the vessel
at the part occupied by the cabin where there are no deck floor beams;
j is a large hollow beam of rivetted plates having its two ends turned
upwards at j*, forming a large crank having axes at m and n, these are
carried in bearings o, o, fitted upon the double bulkheads e and f. On
each side of the beam ; a series of cantilevers or beams & extend at
intervals along its entire length and are rivetted to it, and serve as floor
beams on which the cabin floor g* rests. On the outer ends of these
cantilevers the triangular box girders p, p, rest, and form a support
for the long cushioned seats w which extend along the whole length
of the cabin, and also serves to support the sides and waggon roof g' of
the cabin, which is made by preference of thin steel plates and light
angle ribs of the same material. The spaces at r are glazed with ground
glass to afford light to the cabin, the ends of which may also be made
of thin steel plates with such openings in them as may be necessary for
the free ventilation of the cabin. The cabin is approached from the
deck of the vessel by a flight of stairs & which descend beneath the
covered housing t, these steps & are fixtures with the vessel, and before
entering the cabin the passenger will step from them on to the
landing u, which is but a short distance above the axis, and will only
present a slightly different angle to the lowest of the steps 8, to which
it will be observed it is not attached. This landing u forms part of the
quiet cabin fittings, and away from this point down the steps x, y, and z
to the cabin floor will be very easy. The space below the stairs x, y,
and may be utilized as private rooms.
In order to protect the cabin from the action of the wind and rain I
prefer to entirely cover it over by a second waggon woof 90 shawn

page_text: but a slight obstruction to the admission of light to the ground glass in
the cabin ceiling, while it prevents the beating of the rain or spray
upon it. The large beam ; and those parts of the cabin which are
situated below the axis will generally be heavy enough to keep the
cabin in its proper position, which the weight of the passengers will
also assist in effecting. Should this not be sufficient any additional
weight may be put inside the beam j, or attached to the sides of it
beneath the cabin floor. In order that the axial motion may be very
easy the axes may rest on and be surrounded by small steel rollers
fitting into a circular box, through which the axis passes, or the axis
may rest on V or knife edges, but it will be observed that the more
perfect the freedom of axial motion becomes the greater will be the
tendency to create small oscilatory motions. It is to counteract this
tendency to motion that I employ a weight or plane presenting a large
surface to the water laterally, but so thin longitudinally as to offer very
slight obstruction to the forward motion of the ship, a weight so formed
would generally resist any oscilatory motion crosswise, since it would
in that case have to put in motion a very large mass of water. This
tendency to resist lateral motion will be still further increased if the
weight which presents so large a surface be let down several feet below
the keel of the vessel, where the increased leverage so obtained will
give it a greater controlling power. The action of this part of the
apparatus will be best understood on reference to Figures 3 and 4, where
A represents a strong axis secured by a flanged coupling B to the
axis m of the beam j, the other end of the axis A rests in bearings E
formed in the double bulkhead d. The axis A. serves as trunnions to an
inverted hydrostatic cylinder H, the lower part of which is made small
enough to fit closely to a very stout steel piston rod I, so as to give it a
long and steady bearing, the upper end of the rod I is formed into
a piston K, and its lower end is forged or fitted to a large flat plate or
counterweight L; a keyway formed on each side of the rod I prevents
it from turning round. A small pipe M enters the axis A through a
stuffing box and conveys water to or from the under side of the piston K,
so that if water be forced in by a suitable force pump and enters below
the piston it will force it upwards and keep the weight L within the
chamber c. If a cock on the pipe M be then closed the weight will
remain suspended, but whenever the cock is opened the weight L
descends the piston K, discharging the water from beneath it through
the pipe M, the weight will then occupy the position shewn by dot

page_text: at L* where the resistance which the water opposes to it will prevent
any oscilating motion of the cabin. When it is desired to provide
against the pitching of the ship, as well as the rolling motion, the
counterweight may be mounted on a cup-and-ball joint, or on double
trunnion rings having axes at right angles; a spherical valve joint or a
diaphragm of vulcanized rubber may in this case be employed to prevent
the entrance of water into the ship by this joint.
When in lieu of the axes before referred to curved rails with wheels
and axles are employed to support the saloons, cabins, floors, or plat-
forms I also employ a counterweight or weights acting in the water
external to the ship, as before described, the rod or rods of the counter-
weight being mounted on axes of their own, and by means of a
connecting rod, lever, or carrier controlling or assisting in controlling
the motion of the saloons, cabins, floors, or platforms in the manner
before described in reference to those which are mounted on axes.
In some cases it may be found desirable to provide means for altering
the position of the flat external counterweight, with reference to the
line of the keel, making it act somewhat like a balanced rudder, and
thus counteracting the side action of the tide or current, and con-
sequently maintaining the floor of the saloons or cabins in a horizontal
position.
By means of suitable gearing or by a lever handle the counterweight
may be so inclined from the line of the keel as to enable the operator
to control the position of the saloon, cabin, floor, or platform irrespective
of the mere weight of the apparatus, and thus by a sort of steering
action keep the floors in a nearly horizontal position. This may be
conveniently done by providing a worm wheel within the cylinder H
for the purpose of turning the rod I. This wheel is mounted opposite the
trunnion and is capable of being rotated by a worm on an axis entering
the cylinder through the trunnion, and on which axis is also a hand or
steering wheel.
The rod I can move longitudinally through the centre
or boss of this worm wheel, but it can only turn as the wheel is
rotated.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details described and shewn; but I claim
as my improvements in the construction of steam ships and other vessels
employed for the conveyance of passengers, and in the means and

page_text: apparatus employed to prevent or lessen sea sickness on board such
vessels,―
Firstly. The application of counterbalance weights or planes sur-
rounded by or immersed in water in such manner as to lessen or prevent
the oscillating motion of suspended cabins, floors, or platforms in steam
ships and other vessels.
Secondly. I claim the arrangement of such counterbalance weights or
planes in combination with a chamber in the ship or vessel, so that the
weight or plane may either be lowered beneath the bottom of the ship
or vessel, or raised up into the chamber as may be required.
Thirdly. I claim the employment of a cranked beam or axis supporting
and suspending cabins, floors, or platforms of steam ships and other
vessels.
Fourthly. I claim the general arrangement of apparatus herein
described and shewn on the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed.
Fifthly. I claim the application of a blade or plane in the water
external to the ship or vessel to control and regulate the motion of
suspended cabins, floors, or platforms, such blade or plane being
arranged so that it can be inclined more or less at pleasure to the line
of the ship or vessel's keel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, the Twenty-sixth day of November in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.