IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Chaplin, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIPS OR VESSELS,"
Sealed the 10th March 1857, and dated the 11th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Chaplin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th September 1856.
I, ALEXANDER CHAPLIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to various improvements in ships or vessels, each of
which is applicable separately, and is accompanied by its particular advantage,
whilst it is also intended to combine the whole of the improvements in the
construction of a steam vessel more particularly adapted for passenger
traffic on shallow waters.
In the first place, the Invention consists in forming both sailing and
steam vessels with a nearly flat under surface or bottom, extending from
stem to stern, with the exception of a very slight rounding or curving off
towards each end. This bottom in longitudinal vertical section presents
an outline nearly straight or level along the middle part of the vessel, and
slightly curved up at each end.

page_text: The sides of the vessel are nearly vertical, and run into the bottom with a
slight bend, being bent or curved in at each end to form the bow and stern.
A vessel of this model or form has a very small draught of water as compared
with its floating capacity, whilst it will skim the surface of the water with
great facility, the angle of the entrance and the corresponding resistance being
small, whilst the horizontal disposition of the advancing surface will cause
the resistance to act upwards, and, as it were, lift the vessel. In some case
the bottom of the vessel may be made slightly concave, to cause the under
current to be more decided, and to still further enhance the vessel's
stability, which, with the form described, is already very great, on account
of the full or nearly full breadth being extended throughout or nearly
throughout the entire immersed length of the vessel.
The sides of the vessel, and more particularly the portions out of the water,
may be shaped in various ways. It is proposed to make vessels of this class
without any keel, stem, or stern post, and to steer them by means of two
plates or blades arranged obliquely either at the stern or bow of the vessel.
Each of these plates works in a vertical casing in the end of the vessel, one
plate being lowered into the water when the vessel is to turn in one direction,
and the other plate when the vessel is to turn the other way. When the
vessel is to go straight ahead, both steering plates are flush with the side
of the vessel.
The plates may work on joints at one end, and may be connected to a
rudder wheel in such a way that as one plate is hoisted up the other is lowered
down, the wheel being worked like an ordinary rudder wheel. These steering
plates have much greater control over the motion of the vessel than an
ordinary rudder, from their acting considerably on each side of the vessel's
centre line, and being outside of the disturbed water which generally follows
the ship along the centre of her wake. The steering plates may be arranged
either at the stern or at the bow of the vessel, or in both positions, and in the
latter case the two sets of steering plates may beactuated either simultaneously
or separately. The friction of the steering plates in their casings may be
reduced by arranging antifriction pullies for them to bear against. It is
proposed in some cases to fit the vessel with a central cutwater, consisting
of a plate similar to the steering plates already referred to, and arranged
in the same way in a casing at the bow of the vessel, and working upon a
joint at one end. This keel or cutwater is to be lifted out of the water when
it is wished to turn the vessel rapidly, or when it is wanted to approach an
incliued beach or landing place, the projecting bow of the vessel being in the

page_text: latter case run up to the landing place in a manner not possible with the
ordinary form of vessel.
A folding gangway or stage is arranged upon a shifting centre at the bow
of the boat for embarking or landing passengers and cattle, the stage being
capable of being put over either side of the vessel, or directly over the bows,
as may be convenient. When a vessel constructed in this manner is to be
propelled by steam, it is preferred to use paddle wheels as the instruments
of propulsion, although if desired one or more screws may be used.
The engines and boilers may be constructed according to any suitable plan
in use, but according to one modification it is intended to use several small
steam boilers instead of one large one, these boilers being preferred to be of
the vertical class, with internal conical flue tubes placed vertically. In steam
boilers of the vertical class referred, to the bottom tube plate is found to suffer
from the action of the fire; and to avoid this, and generally to improve the
action of the boiler, one or more furnaces is or are fitted outside, being sur-
rounded by water spaces communicating with the boiler, whilst the flames
pass through the side of the boiler, being made to dip in their
what is now a combustion chamber below the tube plate. It is intended
to furnish steamers of this class with accommodation for passengers, con
sisting of cabins both before and behind the engines, these cabins being
half below and half above a decked space, passing all round, and being
decked or covered over, so to carry passengers on their tops if desired. The
various proportions of the vessel and the arrangement of its various parts
may of course be modified in practice to suit the particular purpose for which
the vessel is built.
passage
into
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Chaplin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CHAPLIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: Alexander Chaplin, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Chaplin, 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, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIPS OR VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Chaplin, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Alexander Chaplin, 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 in writing, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to various improvements in ships or vessels, each
of which improvements is applicable separately, and is accompanied by its
particular advantage, whilst it is intended to combine the greater portion of
them in the construction of a steam vessel more particularly adapted for
passenger traffic on shallow waters.
A portion of the Invention consists in
forming either sailing or steam vessels with a nearly flat under surface or
bottom, extending from stem to stern, with the exception of a slight rounding
or curving off towards each end. In longitudinal vertical section, this bottom
presents an outline which is nearly straight or level along the middle part of
the vessel, and is slightly bent or curved up at each end. The sides of the
vessel are nearly vertical, and run into or join the bottom with a slight or
narrow bend, whilst they are bent or curved in at each end to form the bow
and stern. Or, instead of both ends being formed in this way, the bow may
be pointed, and the stern of a square, elliptical, or other convenient form.
A vessel of this model or form has a very small draught of water, as com-
pared with its floating capacity, whilst it can skim the surface of the water with
great facility; the inclination of the entering or forward part of the vessel, and
the corresponding resistance being small, whilst the horizontal disposition of
the advancing surface causes the resisting pressure to act upwards, and as it
were lift the vessel. In some cases a longitudinal concavity or slight hollow

page_text: may be formed in the vessel's bottom to cause the under current to be
decided, and to increase the vessel's stability, which independently of such
concavity is comparatively great, the full or nearly full breadth being
extended throughout or nearly throughout the entire immersed length of the
vessel. The sides of the vessel, and more particularly the portions out of
the water, may be shaped in various ways.
A second portion of this Invention consists in constructing vessels of the
class herein-before described, or other vessels, without any fixed keel, stem or
stern post, and in steering them by means of two or more plates or blades,
arranged obliquely either at the stern or bow of the vessel. Each of these
plates, which are inclined on opposite sides to a vertical plane, supposed to
pass through the longitudinal centre line of the vessel, is arranged to
work in a vertical casing fitted in the end of the vessel, and opening below into
the water; one plate is projected down or lowered into the water so as to
protrude from its casing and from the vessel's bottom. When the vessel is to
turn in one direction, the other plate being made to act in a similar way when
the vessel is to turn in the other direction. When either plate is not acting
to turn the vessel, it is raised entirely within its casing; and when the vessel is
to go straight ahead, both plates have their bottom edges flush with the
bottom or side of the vessel, and do neither of them project below it. These
steering plates may be actuated or adjusted by means of various contrivances.
According to one plan the plates are each jointed upon a fixed centre at one
end, their free ends being connected to a wheel in such a way that as one
plate is hoisted up, the other is lowered down, the wheel being worked like an
ordinary rubber wheel, whilst the friction of the plates in their casings is
reduced by arranging antifriction pulleys for them to bear against. The plates
are arranged so as to act considerably on each side of the vessel's longitudinal
centre line, which gives them much greater control over the motion of the
vessel than an ordinary rudder, as they are outside of the disturbed water
which generally follows the vessel along the centre of her wake. The steering
plates may be arranged either at the stern or at the bow of the vessel, or in
both positions, and in the latter case, the two sets of steering plates may be
actuated either simultaneously or separately. In some cases it is intended to
fit the vessel with a central cutwater consisting of a plate similar to the
steering plates herein-before described, and arranged in the same way in a
casing, at the bow of the vessel, being jointed upon a fixed centre at one end,
and fitted with suitable gearing for raising and lowering it as may be required.
This keel or cutwater is to be lifted out of the water so as to be retained

page_text: entirely within its casing, when it is wished to turn the vessel rapidly, or
when it is wanted to approach an inclined beach or landing place; the
projecting bow of the vessel being in the latter case run up to the landing
place in a manner not possible with the ordinary form of vessel. A folding
or adjustable gangway or landing stage may be arranged upon a shifting
centre at the bow, or other convenient part of the vessel, for embarking or
landing passengers and cattle, the stage being capable of being put over
either side of the vessel, or directly over the bow, as may be desired.
The third portion of this Invention relates to the engines and boilers of
steam vessels constructed according to the first portion of the Invention.
When a vessel constructed in the manner herein-before described is to be
propelled by steam, it is preferred to use paddie-wheels as the instruments
of propulsion, although if desired one or more screws or other propelling
apparatus may be employed. The engines and boilers may be constructed
according to any suitable plan in use; but according to one modification, it is
intended to use one or more boilers of the vertical class, with internal conical
flue tubes placed vertically. In steam boilers of the class referred to, the
bottom tube plate is found to suffer from the action of the fire, and to avoid
this, and to generally improve the action of the boiler, one more furnaces is
or are fitted outside the main body of the boiler, such furnaces being en-
compassed by water spaces communicating with the boiler, whilst the flames and
gases pass through the side of the boiler, being made to dip in their passage
into what is now a combustion chamber below the tube plate. To aid in the
prevention or combustion of the smoke, air at a slight pressure is introduced
amongst the flames or gases by means of a small van driven by the engine,
according to the system of "forced combustion" invented by me, and for
which I have already obtained British Letters Patent. As a further improve-
ment upon this system the air thus supplied is first introduced into fire clay
tubes or chambers placed on the furnace bars, or in the combustion chamber,
so that the air may be heated before it issues amongst the gases, which it does
by apertures in the tops or sides of the fire clay tubes or chambers. In small
boilers one such fire clay tube or chamber may be used. When paddle
wheels form the propelling instruments, it is preferred to use engines consist-
ing of two or more steam cylinders placed horizontally, and carried upon the
deck beams, or upon beams fitted across the vessel for the purpose, the
cylinders being also firmly attached by means of brackets to the vertical
boiler or boilers, whilst the motion is imparted directly to the paddle shaft.
In these engines the feed pumps are used as guides for the piston rods, the

page_text: ends of which act as the feed pump plungers. When the vessel is to be pro-
pelled by a single screw,the steam boiler or boilers is or are placed, according
to one plan, directlyover the screw shaft, the cylinders attached by brackets to
the boiler or boilers being arranged to act vertically downwards. According
to another plan,a vertical boiler is disposed at one side of the screw shaft, and
the steam cylinders are placed either both together on one side of the boiler
directly over the shaft, on one before and the other behind the boiler, being
slightly inclined in the latter case,so as to be directed towards the screw shaft,
and being fixed to the boiler by brackets in both cases. When two screws are
used,a single boiler may be placed between the two shafts, the cylinders being
fixed to the boiler in any convenient position, but being so arranged that the
two propellers can be driven so as to act in opposite directions, if desired, for
the purpose of turning the vessel. In applying one or more screws to vessels
constructed according to the first portion of this Invention, it is intended to
make them of comparatively large diameter, and to only partially immerse
them. A steamer, in the construction of which arrangements comprehended
in the first, second, and third portions of my Invention are combined, may be
fitted up in any convenient way for the accommodation of passengers.
According to one plan it is intended to fit up cabins both before and behind
the engines, such cabins being decked or covered over, so as to carry
passengers on their tops, if desired. Vessels may be constructed so as to
comprehend the herein-before described arrangements to a greater or less
extent, and the various proportions, together with the arrangements of the
various details, may of course be modified in practice to suit the particular
purpose for which each vessel is built.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I will state, in
conclusion, that what I claim as novel and original, and as secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the system or mode of constructing ships or vessels of the form or
model herein-before described as comprehended under the first portion of
my Invention.
Second, the system or mode of steering ships or vessels by means of plates
inclined in plan to the centre line of the ship or vessel,and working in vertical
casings, being projected therefrom when in action, and withdrawn therein
when out of action, together with the application and use of a moveable
cut-water similar to the steering plates herein-before described, as forming
the second portion of my Invention.
Third, the combination in a steam vessel for passenger traffic of the form

page_text: or model composing the first portion of my Invention, the arrangement of
steering apparatus, cutwater, and gangway, forming the second portion of my
Invention, and any of the arrangements of engines and boilers comprehended
in the third portion of my Invention as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Chaplin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
ALEXANDER CHAPLIN. (L.S.)

page_text: date the IIth day of september,
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
filed by the Patentee of the said Letters Patent according to the Statute
in that case made and provided.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CHAPLIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Eleventh day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexauder Chaplin, Her especial
licence, that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and

page_text: seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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: And whereas I, the said
Alexander Chaplin, in pursuance of the proviso in the said Letters Patent con-
tained, did, by a Specification (that is to say) an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, bearing date the Ninth day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-seven, particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and did cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office on the Eleventh day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven:
And whereas since the filing of my said Specification I have been advised that
certain of the improvements in the said Specification described and claimed as
comprehended in my said Invention were not so new at the date of the said
Letters Patent; and that certain others of the said improvements were not of
such public utility as, at the time of filing such Specification, I verily believed
them to be; for which reasons I desire to disclaim some parts of the said
Specification, and to alter some other parts thereof, in order that it may be
properly understood after such diselaimed parts are struck out.
NOW KNOW YE, THEREFORE, that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, by
and with the leave of Her Majesty's Attorney General, and for the reasons
aforesaid, do hereby disclaim,
First, the word "various," contained in the said Specification, namely,
in the nineteenth line of page four thereof, as printed by Her Majesty's
printers.
Secondly, the word "each" in the nineteenth line, page four, all the words
in the twentieth to the thirty-eighth lines, page four, all the words in the first
to the seventh lines, page five, and the words "class herein-before described or
"other vessels," in the eighth line, page five, substituting for these disclaimed
words, the words "and consists in constructing them," in order to connect the
words preceding and following the said disclaimed words.
Thirdly, the words "in some cases it is intended to," in the thirty-third line,
page five, all the words in the thirty-fourth to the thirty-eighth lines, page
five, all the words in page six, all the words in the first to the twentieth lines,
page seven, and the words "passengers on their tops if desired," in the twenty-
first line, page seven.
Fourthly, all the words in the thirtieth to the thirty-second lines, page
seven, and the word "second," in the thirty-third line, page seven.
Fifthly, the words "together with the application and use of a moveable

page_text: "cutwater similar to the steering plates," in the thirty-sixth and thirty-
seventh lines, page seven, and the words "as forming the second portion of
66 my Invention," in the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth lines, page seven.
Sixthly, all the words in the thirty-ninth line, page seven, and in the first to
the fourth lines, page eight.
And in order that it may be clearly and exactly understood what are the
particular improvements I now consider to be secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, I shall proceed to repeat (omitting the
preamble and testing clause) my said Specifiation, as proposed to be amended
by this present Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration, as follows:-
66
66
66
66
My said Invention relates to improvements in ships or vessels, and
"consists in constructing them without any fixed keel, stem or stern post, and
"in steering them by means of two or more plates or blades arranged obliquely
"either at the stern or bow of the vessel. Each of these plates, which are
"inclined on opposite sides to a vertical plane supposed to pass through the
longitudinal centre line of the vessel, is arranged to work in a vertical casing
fitting in the end of the vessel, and opening below into the water; one plate
"is projected down or lowered into the water so as to protrude from its casing
"and from the vessel's bottom, when the vessel is to turn in one direction, the
"other plate being made to act in a similar way when the vessel is to turn in
"the other direction. When either plate is not acting to turn the vessel, it is
"raised entirely within its casing, and when the vessel is to go straight
"a-head both plates have their bottom edges flush with the bottom or side of
"the vessel, and do neither of them project below it. These steering plates
may be actuated or adjusted by means of various contrivances. According
"to one plan, the plates are each jointed upon a fixed centre at one end, their
free ends being connected to a wheel in such a way that as one plate is
hoisted up the other is lowered down, the wheel being worked like an
"ordinary rudder wheel, whilst the friction of the plates in their casings is
"reduced by arranging antifriction pulleys for them to bear against. The
plates are arranged so as to act considerably on each side of the vessel's
longitudinal centre line, which gives them much greater control over the
"motion of the vessel than an ordinary rudder, as they are outside of the
"disturbed water which generally follows the vessel along the centre of her
"wake. The steering plates may be arranged either at the stern or at the
bow of the vessel, or in both positions, and in the latter case the two sets of
steering plates may be actuated either simultaneously or separately. Vessels
may be constructed so as to comprehend the herein-before described arrange-
ments to a greater or less extent, and the various proportions, together with

page_text: "the arrangements of the various details, may of course be modified in
practice to suit the particular purpose for which each vessel is built."
46
"
66.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and
"the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I will state,
in conclusion, that what I claim as novel and original, and as secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the system or mode
of steering ships or vessels by means of plates inclined in plan to the
"centre line of the ship or vessel, and working in vertical casings, being pro-
"
jected therefrom when in action, and withdrawn therein when out of action,
herein-before described."
And I, the said Alexander Chaplin, do hereby further declare that the
above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration are not, nor is any
part thereof intended to extend the exclusive right granted by the said Letters
Patent, and that these Presents shall not extend the said exclusive right in
any way whatever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Chaplin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
ALEXR. CHAPLIN. (L.S.)
Signed by the said Alexander Chaplin,
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-mentioned Alexander
Chaplin to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to
which the same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration