Improvements in Ships.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th: May; 1891
Complete Specification Left. 2nd June, 1891-Accepted. 12th Dec, 1891:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships.
JAMES NAPIER ARMIT; Board of Trade Office Middlesbrough, Surveyor to
the Marine Dept. Board of Trade; and that I do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
That from two points on the outside of a ship amidships, one of these points to
be above and the other point to be below the load line, two straight, or slightly
curved lines, leading to an angle, or, V'shaped form, extending Beyond the usual
extreme beam of the ship to about one tenth of the beam; the same:V shaped
formation of midship section, be built of similar material as the main body,,and to
be wrought fore and aft from the collision bulkhead' to the after Bulkhead, or to a
similar distance forward of the stern post, as the collision Bulkhead is from the
stem.
T
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships..
JAMES NAPIER ARMIT, Board of Trade Office Middlesbro', Surveyor to-the
Marine Department Board of Trade London. I do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
That a new form of war ship midship section. be built of angle irons and plates
of the following, form; from a point A. between the bilge and the load line, on
each side of a ship, as in drawing No. 1. an outward curved line extending out equal
to one tenth of the vessels beam at point A. to a point B. near to the load line, and
from the point B a straight line be drawn extending to the weather deck (point C.)
to an angle about 85 degrees to the line B. A. These lines A B and B C to form
the outside surface of the improvement of the midship section, and such form be
made to come short of, or extending to within one eighth of the vessels length
measured from the stem, and also to extend one eighth of the vessels length
measured from the stern post, from these points leading forward to the stem, and
aft to the stem post a gradual reduction of the form made by the lines A B & B C
be made, so as to assimilate with the usual form of ships near to the stem, and stern
post.
Also, as shown in the drawings Nos. 2. and 3. a new mercantile-midship section
form be built; viz. from abreast of the deck plate at point D (which must be at the
deck nearest to the load line) a point X be found at a distance out from the broad-
side equal to one tenth of the usual registered beam of the ship, join D X. from
the point X and the line D X produce the line X Y at an angle of about
45 degrees, again from the point X produce an angle Y X H equal to about
85 degrees carrying the line X H on in a curved form to the point O, assimilating
the form of the line X. H. O. near to the point O and the broadside of the ship.
These lines OH X and X Y. to form the outside surface of the improvement of the
midship section, and to be built of angle irons, plates and stays as shown separately
on drawing No. 3. And this form OH X & X Y to extend forward to within
one eighth of the registered length of the ship, when a gradual decrease of the form
be made, assimilating itself with the usual form of the ship near to the stem, and
the same mode of construction be followed out, at the after end of the ship, as

page_text: required forward. A suitable number of water tight bulkheads be made along this
OH X & X Y form, and the broadside of the ship. From this novelty of
construction of a war ship great protection to human life will be gained when the
ship is in action, the angled sides will give little chance of penetration by shot or
shell, and the extreme point of the angle at B will prevent dangerous ramming to
a very great extent. The armour plates marked owing to their sloped position
can be much reduced in weight, as against the armour plates used at the present
day, thereby allowing the ship greater lifting power for coal and continuing at sea
longer than otherwise would be. And further this novelty in constructing merchant
ships will greatly enhance the safety of human life at sea against collisions, the
OHX & XY form, when fitted, riveted, and hermetically joined to the ships sides will
act as life boat buoyancy, the novelty of form will also add greater strength,
stability, and lifting power to the ship, and with such extra stability the carriage of
bulk grain, and the carriage of live cattle will be performed with much more success
and simplicity, than as done by the ships of the present day, and ships constructed
with this novelty, having such buoyancy, strength, and stability, should have
preference, and a reduced premium for insurance. For the reconstruction and
classifying of old ships this novelty should have favor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said; inven-
tion, and in what manner the said is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
That the improvement applied to the construction of war ships will give great
protection to hunan life when the ship is in action, and at all times it will be almost
an invulnerable broadside against collisions or ramining the armour plates owing to
their angled position from the vertical, will allow them to be reduced in thickness
& weight therefore more lifting power to the ship is given to carry coal and remain
at sea longer.
Further that the improvement applied to merchant ships will greatly add to the
safety of human life when at sea, it will add. much strength, lifting power and
stability to the ship, through the latter (stability) the carriage of grain in bulk,
and the carriage of live cattle across the oceans, will be simplified and much
security and safety gained.
The ships adopting this novelty of construction should have the preference of
employment and a full insurance with small premiums be the order. Old and
unclassed ships fitted with this novelty will be greatly benefited.
Summarily, I claim this novelty of construction in ships will give much greater
protection to human life, and property at sea, than the general shipping of the
present day.
Amended and dated this 9th day of November 1891.
JAMES N. ARMIT.