IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM VESSELS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF WHEELS FOR PROPELLING THE SAME
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION
OF STEAM VESSELS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF WHEELS FOR PROPELLING
THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by Ferdinand Kothe, of
Brunswick, Germany.
Scaled the 4th October 1870, and dated the 9th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th April 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF STEAM VESSELS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF WHEELS FOR PROPELLING THE
SAME," a communication, to be as follows:-
The main object of this Invention is to increase the speed of ocean
O steamers.

page_text: My improved steam vessel is provided with wheels and a screw together.
Two channels under the vessel extending the whole length of the same
are open at the bottom and about six or seven feet wide, according to
the size of the steamer. They extend about five feet above the surface
of the water. In these channels are four wheels, two and two together,
from twenty to thirty feet in diameter, and from four to five feet wide.
These wheels run in an air and water-tight closed semicircular case.
These channels and channel wheels increase the steadiness, safety, and
speed of the steamer and prevent the rolling of the same, which would
otherwise be more or less caused by the screw. Moreover, the vessel
can be stopped at once even when running with full steam by
these wheels, which is impossible with a screw steamer alone, because
the latter runs till the power which forces her onward has finally
subsided.
As will be understood from this description the hull does not offer
so great a resistance to the water as the hull of an ordinary vessel does,
and even without the interior wheels the swiftness would be greatly
increased by having the two channels in the ship's hull.
This Invention may be adapted to all fast steamers, to war ships, and
blockade runners. Cannon balls will not damage either her screw or the
wheels inside the hull.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I WILLIAM 2
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, 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 successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, a

page_text: "
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 VESSELS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF WHEELS
FOR PROPELLING THE SAME,' a communication to me from abroad by
Ferdinand Kothe, of Brunswick, Germany, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, 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 Scal 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 Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The saving of time in travelling is universally acknowledged to be
of the utmost importance, and many Inventions have been made with
this object. It is more especially desirable to accelerate the speed of
steam ships and vessels. But although by the improvements already
accomplished the average speed of occan steamers has been increased
to from 13 to 14 miles an hour, travelling is still found very tedious by
many persons. I have therefore sought to still farther increase the
speed of steam ships or vessels, and by my present Invention construct
them capable of running at the rate of from 22 to 24 miles in the same
time.
Contact according to this
Invention; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3 an end view of
Like letters indicate the
same parts throughout the
the same.
Drawing.
My improved steam vessels have wheels and a screw. I construct the
body or hull with two channels a under the whole length of the ship
and open at the bottom. These channels are 0 or 7 feet wide and

page_text: extend about 5 feet above the surface of the water. In these channels
are 4 wheels b, about 25 or 30 feet high and 4 or 5 feet wide, which run
in air and water-tight closed covers c of a semicircular form. These
channel wheels increase chiefly the steadiness, the speed, and safe sailing
of the steamer, and prevent the rolling action which is more or less pro-
duced by the screw. At the same time she can at once be stopped, even
when running with full steam, by these wheels, which is impossible with
a screw steamer alone, because she runs till the immense power which
pushes her onward has subsided. As shown in the Drawing the body
or hull through its peculiar construction will not offer so much resistance
to the water as the ordinary hull of a vessel.
Through many experiments the result has been established that
steamers of this construction will sail from Europe to America, for
instance, in from 6 to 7 days, and it is beyond all doubt that such an
improvement will be of the greatest importance to all nations.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)