IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SALOONS OF STEAM-SHIPS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Rodger Thomson of the firm of James and George
Thomson of Clydebank Shipyard and Engine Works in the County of
Dumbarton for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE SALOONS OF STEAM-SHIPS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Rodger Thomson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1883.
JAMES RODGER THOMSON, of the firm of James and George Thomson, of
Clydebank Ship yard and Engine Works, in the County of Dumbarton,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SALOONS OF STEAM-SHIPS;
The main object of this Invention is to improve the construction and
arrangement of the saloons of steam ships in such wise as to make better
provision than is usual for admission of light and for ventilation, while forming
a structure of great elegance, and in a high degree susceptible of embellishment.
In the ordinary arrangement of the saloons of large vessels, light is admitted
by an enclosed rectangular opening or "well" formed in the promenade deck and
extending to the upper deck, or a deck house in which a sky light is provided.
The beams of the promenade deck are carried across the lower end of the "well"
for the purpose of imparting strength to the vessel, but they present an obstruction
to the admission of light and mar the appearance of the saloon.
According to a modification of the present Invention an opening of unusually
large dimensions is made in the promenade deck, or other deck over the main
deck, and the cross beams of the deck are cut away close to the sides of this
opening, where a strong girder or "coaming" is secured and tied to the cross
beams round the opening to strengthen the vessel or to counteract the weakening
effect due to the cutting of the beams. This girder rests upon ornamental pillars
which reach to the floor of the saloon or main deck, and are supported upon strong
pillars extending down to the keelsons or floors of the vessel. From the girder,
or from a position a little over it, an arch of iron or wooden ribs is sprung, and
reaches up to about the level of the upper deck. This arch is suitably glazed and

page_text: formed with openings at the top and sides for ventilation. The arch is by preference
protected by a housing fitted on each side and provided with windows for the
admission of light; and in the upper deck directly over the ridge of the arch is
fitted a skylight or a strong iron trunk or other suitable means of admitting
light and air, which is secured to the cross beams and is fitted with ventilators
and roof lights. The ribs of the arched roof of the saloon and the iron trunk over
it, may also serve to strengthen the vessel, but additional strength may be imparted
to it by fitting bulk heads, at intervals apart, between the main deck and the
promenade deck on each side of the saloon, and carrying these bulk-heads down
to the bottom of the ship. The side spaces formed by the bulk heads may be
conveniently fitted with small dining tables, while the main dining table is placed
directly under the arch of the saloon.
In a modified arrangement two smaller arches formed in the opening formed
between the decks, are supported by the girder or coaming at the outside, and by
a row of pillars, either running fore and aft or transversely and centrally between
the pillars supporting the girder.
The arch or arches may be of any convenient form and design, and the curve
of the arch or arches may be either in the transverse, or in the fore and aft
directions.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Rodger Thomson in the Patent Office on the 5th March 1884.
JAMES RODGER THOMSON, of the firm of James and George Thomson of
Clydebank Ship yard and Engine Works, in the County of Dumbarton
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SALOONS OF STEAM-SHIPS "
The object of my Invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of
the saloons of steam ships, in such wise as to make better provision than is usual
for admission of light and for ventilation, while forming a structure of great
elegance, and in a high degree susceptible of embellishment.
In the ordinary arrangement of the saloons of large vessels, light is admitted
by an enclosed rectangular opening or "well" formed in the promenade deck and
extending to the upper deck, or a deck house in which a sky-light is formed.
The beams of the promenade deck are carried across the lower end of the "well"
for the purpose of imparting strength to the vessel, but they present an obstruction
to the admission of light and mar the appearance of the saloon.
According to a modification of the present Invention illustrated by the transverse
section of the saloon of a steam ship in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings,
an opening of unusually large dimensions is made in the promenade deck A or
other deck over the main deck B, and the cross beams a of the deck A are cut
away close to the sides of this opening, where a strong girder or "coaming" C is
secured and tied to the cross beams around the opening, to strengthen the vessel
or to counteract the weakening effect due to the cutting of the beams. This
girder C, which may be formed, as shown, of wrought iron plates rivetted
together, rests upon ornamental pillars D which reach to the floor of the saloon or
main deck B, and are supported upon strong pillars D¹ extending down to the
keelsons or floors of the vessel. From the girder C, or from a position a little
over it, an arch E of iron or wooden ribs is sprung, and reaches up to about the
level of the upper deck F. This arch, which may be of any form or design, is
fitted with cross bars and suitably glazed, and may be formed with openings at
the top and sides, or with movable sashes for ventilation. The arch E is by
preference protected by a housing G, fitted on each side, and provided with
windows for the admission of light; and in the upper deck F directly over the
ridge of the arch E is fitted a sky-light or a strong iron trunk H or other suitable
means of admitting light and air. This sky-light or trunk H is secured to the
cross beams of the upper deck F, and is fitted with roof-lights and with ventilators I,
which pass down and open to the top of the arch E of the saloon. The ventilators
being carried through the high arched roof of the saloon and through the upper
deck are at such a height that they may be open even in the heaviest weather,
and thorough ventilation may be secured when the side ports or windows may be
closed. The ribs of the arched roof E of the saloon and the iron trunk over it,
may also in some cases serve to strengthen the vessel, but additional strength may
be imparted to it by fitting bulk-heads J at intervals apart between the main
deck B and the promenade deck A, on each side of the saloon, and by carrying
these bulk-heads J, as indicated, down to the bottom of the ship. The side spaces
formed by the bulk-heads J may be conveniently fitted with small dining tables,
while the main dining table is placed directly under the arch of the saloon.
In a modified arrangement, illustrated by the perspective view figure 2, two
small arches formed in the opening between the decks, are supported by the girder
at the outside, and by a row of pillars, either running fore and aft or transversely
and centrally, between the pillars supporting the girder.

page_text: The arch or arches may be of any convenient form and design, and the curve
at the arch or arches may be either in the transverse or in the fore and aft
direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
First. The improved construction of saloons of steam ships, substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
Second. A steam ship saloon formed with an arched roof carried through the
decks, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
In Witness Whereof, I the said James Rodger Thomson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this third day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eighthundred and eighty four.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.
Fel. Inst. Patent Agents.
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
JAMES R THOMSON (L.S.)