IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Roberts, of Clerkenwell, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS."
Sealed the 13th August 1875, and dated the 18th February 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th February 1875.
I, THOMAS ROBERTS, of Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS," to be as follows:
My Invention relates to novel improvements in the construction of
ships, especially iron sailing vessels or steam vessels, and it has for its
objects the attainment of greater strength in such vessels and greater
stability and safety in case of leakage or fire than in ships as ordinarily
constructed.
I take an ordinary iron or other ship and I divide it into two parts by
an iron longitudinal division extending from stem to stern, and I also

page_text: i
divide the ship into compartments in the ordinary way by a sufficient
number of transverse water-tight iron divisions meeting the longitudinal
division and attached to it, suitable openings (which can be readily closed
by water-tight doors) being made where necessary through the several
divisions in order to obtain access to the different compartments.
5
The longitudinal plate or division I make of sufficient strength and
height (preferably from the bottom of the vessel to the under side of the
main deck) to form a continuous girder of such strength that should the
vessel rest either upon its centre or upon its end only the weight shall
not be sufficient to break or seriously injure her. For this purpose the 1
longitudinal division may have plates or angle iron attached to it
sufficient in number and dimensions to constitute it a girder of the
required strength, and thus form a backbone to the ship.
I prefer to form the keel of the vessel in the form of a hollow T iron
of suitable dimensions rivetted to the bottom of the vessel and to fit the 1
lower edge of the longitudinal girder into the hollow part of the keel so
formed. The transverse divisions forming the compartments of the ship
are attached to the longitudinal girder so as not only to form water-tight
compartments but to add materially to the strength of the ship trans-
versely. The cross beams of the ship may pass through the longitudinal 2
division or they may be made in two lengths, the inner ends being fitted
against it and rivetted or otherwise firmly attached to it.
In steam vessels constructed according to my Invention I either
arrange the engines, boilers, and other machinery so as to work on each
side of the central longitudinal girder, any necessary openings in the 2
latter being made as near the centre of its height as possible; or -some-
times, in the part of the vessel where such machinery is placed I remove
the central part of the longitudinal girder and make its upper and lower
parts additionally strong, and where a screw propeller is used I make its
shaft pass through a suitable cylinder or tube formed in or attached to 3
the longitudinal division. Sometimes instead of ono only I use two or
more longitudinal divisions forming girders extending from stem to stern
of the vessel.
In order to provide for leakage into any of the compartments I form
a tank at or near the centre of the vessel, and I arrange a drain pipe 3
from the bottom of each compartment to this tank. In this way the
flow of water from any particular pipe indicates leakage into the com-

page_text: partment from which it is brought, and a suitable indicator in a central
part of the vessel may be used to each pipe so that the flow of an
unusual quantity of water may be pointed out by the rising of sucli
indicator. If the leak be very great the pipe can be closed and the
compartment allowed to become filled with water.
For the purpose of ventilation, and in order to guard against fire; I
arrange pipes or perforated flues near the upper part of each compart-
ment, these flues being connected to a separate pipe which passes up a
main air shaft above deck, so that if a fire should take place the smoke
issuing from such pipe would indicate the particular compartment
whence it originated. I also arrange sets of water pipes (which I call
service pipes) near the upper part of each compartment into which they
open. The other ends of such pipes are conducted to the engine room
or other suitable part of the vessel, where the escape of smoke from any
one of them also indicates the presence of fire in the particular compart-
ment with which it communicates. The outer end of the pipes are
arranged so that hose can be connected to them, and water thus pumped
or steam or other extinguishing agent conveyed into any particular
compartment into which water can also be admitted by the ventilating
flues described.
By the improved method of construction described, even if the whole
of the compartments become partly filled with water the alteration of
the centre of gravity of the vessel to an injurious extent by rolling is
prevented by the longitudinal girder plate. In the same way the shifting
of moveable cargo, such as corn, is to a great extent prevented.
In order to add strength to the exterior plates and framework of the
vessel, and to give additional security in case the plates should become
damaged and cause leakage I form the T iron ribs and frame of the
vessel with exterior flanges in the usual way to receive the outer plating,
and I also form a thick edge upon them inside. I fill up the spaco
between the ribs from the keel up to the water line with teak, oak, or
other suitable timber, the filling up between each two ribs consisting of
two pieces of such timber, the outer sides of which are fitted to the ribs,
against which they are forced by wedges and filling driven between the:
two pieces for their full depth, so that when every space has been filled
the inside of the vessel forms a continuous smooth surface. The whole
of the joints and bed may be filled and cemented with suitable cement*

page_text: from the inside and made water-tight. Sometimes I bolt or screw a
sufficient number of narrow longitudinal plates to the inner side of the
wood and the ribs so that all are secured firmly together, and an inner
lining of planks or other materials of suitable thickness may be fitted
and attached to the inner side of the vessel formed as described, such
inner lining being preferably laid upon a bed of red or white lead or
other suitable cement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ROBERTS, of Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Roberts, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Roberts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Roberts, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Roberts, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Thomas Roberts, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described. and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to novel improvements in the construction of
ships, especially sailing vessels or steam vessels built of iron, and it has
for its objects the attainment of greater strength and stability and
increased safety in case of leakage or of fire as compared with ships
constructed in the ordinary manner.
In order to carry out my Invention I take an ordinary iron or other
ship built in the usual way, and I divide it into two parts by a vertical
longitudinal water-tight division extending from stem to stern, and I
also divide each of these parts into compartments in the ordinary way
by a sufficient number of transverse vertical water-tight divisions, which
meet and are attached to the longitudinal division, suitable openings
being made where necessary through the several divisions in order to
afford access to the different compartments, such openings being
arranged so that they can be readily closed by water-tight doors in the
way well understood and practised.
I make the longitudinal division (preferably of iron plate) of sufficient
strength and height (extending preferably from the bottom of the vessel
to the under side of the main deck) to form a continuous girder of such
strength that should the vessel run aground so as to rest either upon her
centre or upon her ends only the weight shall not be sufficient to break
or seriously injure her. For this purpose the longitudinal division may
have plates and angle irons rivetted or otherwise attached to it sufficient
in number and dimensions to constitute it a girder of the required
strength and thus to make it form a back bone to the vessel.
I prefer to form the keel of the vessel in the form of a hollowed T iron
of suitable dimensions rivetted by its upper flanges to the bottom of the
vessel and having the lower edge of the longitudinal girder fitted into
the hollowed part of the T iron, which thus forms the keel. The
transverse divisions which form the several compartments of the ship as
described aro rivetted, bolted, or otherwise attached to the longitudinal
girder and to the sides of the vessel, so as not only to form water-tight
compartments but to add materially to the strength of the ship
transversely. The cross beams of the ship may either pass through the
longitudinal division or girder or they may be made each in two lengths.

page_text: the inner ends being fitted against the girder and rivetted or otherwise
firmly attached to it.
Where my Invention is applied to the construction of steam vessels I
either arrange the engines, boilers, and other machinery so that they
are placed and work on each side of the central longitudinal girder or
division, any necessary openings in which I make as nearly as possible.
at the centre of its height; or sometimes I remove the central part of the.
girder at that part of the vessel where such machinery is placed, and I
make its upper and lower parts (or flanges) additionally strong to
compensate for such removal, and where a screw propeller is used I.
make its driving shaft pass through a suitable cylinder or tube formed in
or attached to the longitudinal division or girder. Sometimes instead of.
one only I use two or more longitudinal divisions forming girders
extending from stem to stern of the vessel.
In order to provide for the leakage of water into any of the separate
compartments formed as above described, I arrange a tank or cistern.
(preferably at or near the centre of the length of the vessel) as low down
as possible, and I conduct a separate drain pipe from the bottom of cach
compartment into this tank. By this arrangement the flow of water
into the tank from any particular pipe indicates leakage into the
compartment from which it is brought, and a suitable indicator may be
connected to each pipe, so that the flow of an unusual quantity of water
is pointed out by the rising of such indicator. The water flowing into
the tank or cistern is pumped out when necessary, and if the leakage
through any pipe be very great the pipe can be closed and the
compartment with which it communicates allowed to become filled with
water.
In order to ventilate the several compartments into which the ship is
divided, as above described, and also to guard against and prevent fire, I.
arrange pipes or perforated flues at the upper part of each compartment,
each of these perforated flues being connected to a separate pipe which
passes up a main air shaft in a suitablo position above deck, so that if a
fire should take place the smoke issuing from one of the pipes would
indicate the particular compartment in which it. originated. I also
arrange separate sets of water pipes (which I call service pipes) near the
upper part of each compartment into which they open. The other ends
of such service pipes are conducted to the engine room or other suitable

page_text: part of the vessel where the escape of smoke from any one of them also
indicates the presence of firo in the particular compartment with which
it communicates. The outer ends of these pipes are so arranged and
fitted that hose can be readily connected to them, and water can thus be
pumped, or steam or other extinguishing agent conveyed through the
pipe into the compartment in which the presence of fire has been
shewn; and if necessary water can also be admitted into the compart-
ment and spread through the perforated ventilating flues already
described.
part of the vessel where the escape of smoke from any one of them also
indicates the presence of firo in the particular compartment with which
it communicates. The outer ends of these pipes are so arranged and
fitted that hose can be readily connected to them, and water can thus be
pumped, or steam or other extinguishing agent conveyed through the
pipe into the compartment in which the presence of fire has been
shewn; and if necessary water can also be admitted into the compart-
ment and spread through the perforated ventilating flues already
described.
-
In the accompanying Drawing, Sheet I., Figure 1, is a plan; Figure 2,
a longitudinal section; and Figures 3 and 4, transverse sections of an
iron ship constructed according to my Invention.
a is the hull of the vessel; b, is the longitudinal division or girder
extending from stem to stern, and strengthened at its upper and lower
edges. The lower edge of the girder is shewn fitting into the hollow
part of the keel e, as shewn on a larger scale in Figure 5. f.f, ƒ, ƒ, are
transverse divisions which separate the ship into compartments and
which are strongly fixed to the central girder, as shewn in Figure 5.
9, 9, 9, are drain pipes from the several compartments to the tank h,
each pipe having a perforated strainer round its inner end to prevent
stoppage. i, i, i, are perforated ventilating pipes arranged near the top
of each compartment of the ship, and communicating by separate flues
or pipes with the air shafts k, k. The perforated pipes are shewn dis-
tributed over each compartment, into which water can be scattered
through them in case of fire. Water (or service) pipes 1, 1, 1, com-
municate with the upper part of each compartment, their other ends
being arranged so that hose or pipes can be attached to any of them
and water or other extinguishing agent forced in, or they can be closed
entirely.
By the improved method of construction described, even if all the
compartments of the vessel become partly filled with water, the altera-
tion of the centre of gravity of the ship when rolling is prevented by
the longitudinal division, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, on
Sheet II. Figure 6 shews the ship with level decks; and Figure 7
when rolling heavily; in both cases cach compartment containing
water. Figure 8, shews a similar vessel without the longitudinal
division.

page_text: In the same way the injurious shifting of moveable cargo, such as
corn in bulk, is to a very great extent prevented.
Vessels constructed according to my Invention are so strong that it
is almost impossible that they can be lost.
By the arrangement of the several pipes and flues as described
leakage into each separate compartment of the vessel is indicated and
can be at once provided against, and the presence of fire in any par-
ticular compartment is also at once indicated and means provided for.
extinguishing it.
Another part of my Invention consists in improved methods of adding
strength to the exterior plates and framework of ships, and of giving
additional security in case the outer plates should become damaged and
cause leakage. For this purpose I form the T iron ribs and frame of
the vessel with exterior flanges in the usual way to receive the outer
plating. I also form a thick edge or smaller flange upon the inner edge
of the rib, and I fill up the space between the ribs from the keel up to
the water line with teak, oak, or other suitable timber, the filling up.
between each two ribs consisting of two pieces of such timber, the outer
edges of which are fitted to the ribs, against which they are forced by
wedges and filling pieces driven between them for their full depth, so
that when every space has been thus filled the inside of the vessel
forms a continuous smooth surface. The whole of the joints and bed of
the timber thus fitted may be filled and cemented with suitable cement
from the inside and thus made water-tight.
I sometimes bolt or screw a sufficient number of narrow longitudinal
plates to the inner side of the timber, fitted as described, and of the
ribs, so that all are secured firmly together, and an inner lining of planks
or other materials of suitable thickness may be fitted and attached to
the inner side of the vessel, completed as above described, such inner
lining being preferably laid upon a bed of red or white lead or other
suitable cement.
In the accompanying Drawings, Sheet II., Figure 9 is a horizontal
section; Figure 10, a vertical section; and Figures 11 and 12, elevations
from inside of part of a ship constructed according to this part of my
Invention.
The T iron ribs or frames a, a, a, of the vessel are
exterior flanges to receive the outer plating 6 in the usual
formed with
and they
way,

page_text: also have an inner flange or thick edge c. The space between each two
ribs is filled with two pieces of timber d and e, the outer sides of which
are fitted to the ribs, against which they are forced by filling pieces and
wedges f, g, driven between them for their full depth. h, h, h, are
narrow longitudinal plates or angle irons screwed to the inner side of
the wood d, e, and the ribs a, a, a, so that all are held together; and i
is an inner lining of wood forming the inner side of the ship, and
preferably laid upon a bed of cement.