IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL SHIP BUILDING, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STEAM BOILERS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH METAL PLATES ARE USED." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Frederick Claus, of Latchford, in the County
of Chester, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL SHIP
BUILDING, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STEAM BOILERS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES
IN WHICH METAL PLATES ARE USED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Frederick Claus at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th February 1856.
I, the said CHARLES FREDERICK CLAUS, of Latchford, in the County of
Chester, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL SHIP BUILDING, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STEAM BOILERS,
BRIDGES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH METAL PLATES ARE USED, to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in the production of extended surfaces of metal, by
uniting a number of bars or strips in such manner that they are interlaced or
platted together. In order to obtain greater firmness, I notch the said bars or
strips, and so arrange them that projecting parts fit into corresponding recesses;
and I round the lapping edges in order to gain a smooth face. I also weld the

page_text: several portions, or apply tin and lead, or other such metals, so as to solder the
whole together. The metal plates thus formed may be applied to the con-
struction of metal ships, bridges, gasometers, and other structures in which
metal plates are rivetted together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
the said Charles Frederick Claus in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
FREDERICK CLAUS, of Latchford, in the County of Chester, Chemist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Frederick Claus, Her especial license that I, the said Charles
Frederick Claus, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Charles Frederick Claus, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN METAL SHIP BUILDING, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STEAM BOILERS, BRIDGES,
AND OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH METAL PLATES ARE USED," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Charles Frederick Claus, 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
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 Charles Frederick Claus, 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 and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention consists in the production of extended surfaces of metal by
uniting a number of bars or strips in such manner that they are interlaced or
platted together. In order to obtain greater firmness, I notch the said bars or

page_text: strips, and so arrange them that projecting parts fits into corresponding
recesses; and I round the lapping edges in order to gain a smooth face. I
also weld the several portions, or apply tin and lead, or such metals, so as
solder the whole together. The metal plates thus formed may be applied to
the construction of metal ships, bridges, gasometers, and other structures in
which metal plates are revitted together. The accompanying Drawing illus-
trates tlie manner in which my Invention' may be carried into practical effect,
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal face view of a portion of one of the bars or strips,
and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same. It will be seen on reference to
the Drawing that the bars or strips of metal a to be interlaced or platted
together, being produced of a suitable length, &c., are rolled or formed by any
ordinary arrangement of apparatus with noches b on the edges, there being
also recesses c formed on the face of the same; and in order to obtain
greater firmness and more perfect joints when platted, the lapping edges are
rounded off, as shewn at Fig. 2. One arrangement of platting or interlacing
of the bars or strips, formed as above described, is shewn in the sectional edge
view, Fig. 3; Fig. 4 being a detached face view of a portion of the surface
produced when the metal strips or bars are platted together; a, a, being the
strips or bars running in a horizontal direction, and a*, a*, those crossing and
interlacing the same, so that the projecting parts fit into corresponding
recesses, when the parts of the bars or strips a pass over and then under the
vertical bars or strips a*. It will be readily understood that any extent of
surface may be thus produced by placing the required number of horizontal
and vertical bars or strips side by side each other, and interlaced, as above set
forth; and in order to secure the same, when so platted or interlaced, they, being
previously placed in the position suitable and made in the form required for the
structure to be produced, are then heated by any ordinary arrangement of
furnace, suspended so as to be capable of being brought in contact with the
surface of the metal, which, when heated to the required degree, is then
welded. I prefer, however, coating the strips or bars of metal with tin, lead,
or any other suitable metal, so that when they are platted together, they are
heated as above mentioned and soldered. I have before remarked that the
metal plates thus formed or produced may be applied to the construction of
metal ships, &c., the strips or bars a being made of suitable dimensions for
such structures.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that
I do not intend to confine myself to the precise arrangements shewn and
above described, as the same may be varied without departing from the

page_text: principle of my Invention; but I claim as secured to me under the above in
part recited Letters Patent :-
Firstly, producing extended surfaces of metal by uniting a number of bars
or strips in such manner that they are interlaced or platted together.
Secondly, welding and soldering the metal bars or strips together, so as to
form extended surfaces, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Frederick Claus, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand-eight hundred and fifty-six.
CHARLES FREDERICK CLAUS. (L.S.)