CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF FLOATING VESSELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND STEAM SIGNALS CON- NECTED THEREWITH, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Tooth, of No. 2, Pilgrim Street,
Kennington Lane, in Parish of Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF FLOATING VESSELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND STEAM SIGNALS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 2nd October 1855, and dated the 3rd April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Tooth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd April 1855.
1, WILLIAM HENRY TOOTH, of No. 2, Pilgrim Street, Kennington Lane,
in the Parish of Lambeth, in the County of Surry, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING VESSELS. AND IN THE MACHINERY AND STEAM SIGNALS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOP TO OTHER PURPOSES," to
be as follows, that is to say :-
My improvements have reference to the construction in the shape of the
floating vessels, so as to reduce their sectional areas, and enable the superficial
area of the disc of the screw to be in greater proportion to the sectional area
[Price 8d.1

page_text: of the vessel than they have hitherto been constructed; and in arranging
the machinery and altering the steam signal to make them suitable to the
vessel, and for applying certain portions of the improvements to other
purposes. This I accomplish by constructing the vessels in two distinct com-
partments, the upper portion of which is like unto a wide shallow boat, from
which I suspend a deep well the whole length of the vessel, sufficiently wide
only to contain the machinery, which machinery is made expressly to suit these
vessels, altho' applicable to any others. I therefore cause a steam chest and
piston of any desired dimensions, with two sides a paralelogram and the two
ends semicircle, or by having an oblong or rectangular chest, and by keying
on to the upper end of the piston rod a cross head made in two parts, with
an opening between the two parts sufficiently large to admit the brass bearings
which couple and work on the crank pin; and by connecting them together by
bolts and nuts and suitable set screws to adjust the openings, so that the
brasses may be free to reciprocate as the cranks revolve, and by having suitable
guides on each side of the cross head to compel it to reciprocate in a paralel
line to the piston; and by putting in a plumber block nearly the length of
the screw shaft, with suitable grooves and collars to work in and against each
other, and thus distribute the pressure over a large amount of surface, and
by having a toothed cone on the root of the screw blades, fitted into an
opening in the boss of the screw the whole length of the cone, and by fitting
in a bevel wheel to turn each cone at the same time. And to give an alarm
in case of danger (it being calculated that the vessel will travel at a rapid rate)
I remove the stop which is now used on the steam cock barrel to prevent
the plug or cock turning round or making a revolution, and I put on to the
plug a suitable wheel or winch handle, and making it free to rotate at the will
of the engineer, by which means he may either produce a continuous sound
or a succession of sounds, and also by carrying a communication to the deck
to place it under the control of the commander.
I also cause the boiler tubes to be put in without riveting over the ends, by
having them screwed on the exterior, and having a nut on each end with
suitable washers.
And to prevent the salt settling on the tubes crown and of the fire-place,
I cause a scraper to be placed between each row of tubes, and one on the
crown of the fire-place, and attach a rod of iron or other material to each
of them, and pass the rods separately through a stuffing box; and put on a
suitable handle, so that the stokers and engineers may pull and push the
scrapers backward and forward to scrape the salt from the tubes and boiler
crown at pleasure.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before
given, so long as I adhere to the general principles herein set forth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Tooth in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd October 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY TOOTH, of No. 2, Pilgrimm Street, Kennington Laue, in the Parish of
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters,
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Henry Tooth, Her special licence that I, the said William Henry
Tooth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Henry Tooth, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING VESSELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
AND STEAM SIGNALS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO
OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Henry Tooth, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry Tooth, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, (that is to say)
My improvements have reference, firstly, to a mode or modes of con-
structing floating vessels in reference to their shape, so as to render their

page_text: sectional area, and enable the superficial area of the disc of the screw to be in
greater proportion to the sectional area of the vessel than they have hitherto
been constructed, for the purpose of obtaining greater speed in special transit
vessels than can be obtained by vessels as at present constructed.
Secondly, and in arranging-the machinery and altering the steam whistle
and making them suitable to the vessel, and in applying certain portions of the
said improvements to other purposes. This I accomplish by constructing the
vessels in two distinct compartments, the upper portion of which is like
unto a wide shallow boat, from which I suspend a deep well the whole
length of the vessel sufficiently wide to contain the machinery and stoves,
which machinery is made expressly to suit these vessels, although applicable
to any other.
Thirdly, my improvements have reference to the dispensing with the oscilla-
tion of the steam. cylinder and connecting rods. This Laccomplish by causing
to be made a steam chest and piston of any desirable dimensions, with two
sides a parallelogram and the two ends semicircle, or by having an oblong
or rectangular chest in the place of the cylinder, and by keying on to the
upper end of the piston roda cross head, made in two parts, with an opening
between the two parts sufficiently large to admit the brass bearings which,
couple and work on the crank pin, and by connecting them together with
bolts aud uuts, and suitable set screws to adjust the openings, so that the
brasses may be free to reciprocate as the cranks revolve, and by having
suitable guides on each side of cross head to compel it to reciprocate in a
parallel line to the piston.
Fourthly, my improvement refers to a means of receiving the thrust or
pressure from the screw shaft and for feathering the screw blades, so that it
offers little resistance to the water when the vessel is under canvas. This I
accomplish by having a plummer block or carriage as near the whole length
of the screw shaft as practicable, with suitable grooves and collars to work in
and against each other, and thus distribute the pressure over a large amount
of surface, and by having a toothed cone on the root of the screw blades fitted
into an opening in the boss of the screw the whole length of the cone, and by
fitting in a bevil wheel to turn each cone at the same time; and also by con-
structing the boss of my screw hollow, similar to a drum, so that it may
displace au amount of water as near it own weight as possible, and by having
it of a sufficient size to allow the root of the blade to stand at an angle
that will prevent the one blade forcing the water against the other when in
motion; and by inaking the screw bess in three separate pieces, two pieces of

page_text: which I place on the stern posts of the vessel, one on the inner and one on
the outer, and the third I key on to the shaft, the object being to prevent the
water from striking the flat surface of the boss, and allowing the water time to
close, so that it cannot produce a vacuum by having any flat surfaces to follow
the vessel.
Fifthly, my improvements also refer to the steam signal, so as to cause, in
addition to the continuous sound produced by the steam passing into the
whistle, a rapid succession of sounds, so as to give an alarm in case of danger,
it being calculated that the vessel will travel at a rapid rate. This I accom-
plish by removing the stop which is now used on the steam cock barrel to
prevent the plug or cock turning round or making a revolution, and I put on
to the plug a suitable wheel and handle, and make it free to rotate at the will
of the engineer, by which means he may either produce a continuous sound or
a succession of sounds, and also by carrying a communication to the deck to
place it under the control of the commander.
Sixthly, I also cause the boiler tubes to be put in without rivetting over the
ends, by having them screwed on the exterior, and having a nut on each end
with suitable washers combined. And to prevent the salt settling on the
tubes and on the crown of the fire-place, I attach a rod of iron or other
material to each of them, and pass the rods separately through a stuffing
box, and put on a suitable handle, so that the stokers and engineers may
pull and push the scrapers backward and forward to scrape the salt from the
tubes and boiler crown at pleasure.
In order that these my said improvements may be more easily understood
and readily carried into effect, I proceed to describe the accompanying
Drawings, reference being made to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a bird's eye view of the vessel, showing the upper
portions of the hull in width and length, with the well in width and length.
A represents the well or small hull from bow to stern; B, the top of the
inner stern post, and C, the top of the outer stern post, D), the upper portions
of vessel or large hull.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the vessel, showing the bulwarks, the upper hull,
aud the well, with the mode of fitting in the screw. A is the well, showing its
depth in the lotted line marked 1, and its length on the dotted line marked 2;
B is the inner stern post; and C, the outer stern post, with rudder attached;
Dis the upper hull; E is the bulwarks; Frepresents the screw boss, and the
mode of attaching the pieces to the inner and outer stern posts.

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional bird's-eye view of screw boss and stern post, showing
the mode of fixing the two portions of the boss (the inner and the outer).
A represents the boss in parts; No. 1 attached to the outer stern post C, No. 2
keyed on to the screw shaft, and No. 3 fastened on to the inner stern post B.
A represents the stern of the well or lower hull.
Figure 4 is a section of the hollow boss; and Figure 5 is the end view of
the centre portion of the boss and screw blades; Figure 6 is a transverse
section midships of the vessel. A represents the well or lower hull; and B, the
large or upper hull; C, the upper deck; and D, the lower deck.
Figure 7 is a stern view of the hull and outer stern post, with face of screw
blades. I, I, is a side view of guides; and h, k, is an end view of the framework
supported by the columus L, L; M represents the air pump, attached to the
steam chest A, with stuffing box and bucket rod.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of feathering screw boss and blades. A, A,
is the toothed cone fitted on to the screw blades and in the boss; B, B, B, B,
are metal rings, fitted into the boss with bolts to keep the cones and blades
in their proper place and against the bevil wheel c; D is a screw, working
in a screw wheel fastened on to the bevil wheel c, both of which are free
to revolve on the centre part of the boss E; said screw to be worked by a
socket wrench. F is the end of the boss fixed on the outer stern post; G,G,
is the part fixed on the inner stern post, as described in Figure 3, Sheet 1.
Sheet 2, Figures 1 and 2, A, A, represents sectional bird's-eye view of steam
chests, which I propose using instead of cylinders; Figure 3, a bird's-eye view
of cross head, showing tops of lugs marked 1, 2, 3, 4, into which the set screws
are placed to regulate the openings of the cross head D, D, in Figure 4.
5, 6, 7, 8, represent top view of the guides I, I, in Figure 4; 9, 10, bird's-eye
view of nuts and bolts for coupling the cross heads together.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of steam chest, stuffing boxes, piston rods,
and cross heads, with set screws and guides. A represents steam chest with
cover over slide valve box; B, B, B, represents the stuffing boxes, same as usual
in common cylinders; C,C, represents two piston rods passing through stuffing
boxes; Crepresents the valve slide rod for admitting and cutting off steam,
which is worked as other valves in engines generally; D, D, is top and bottom
portions of cross head; G, G, G, G, are the lugs on cross head, as marked
1, 2, 3, 4, in Figure 3, with set screws to adjust the openings; H, H, are the
nuts and bolts for coupling cross heads together; E, E, are the brass bushes
coupled on to the crank pin F, which reciprocates in the slot or opening
between the cross heads D, D, as the crank revolves.

page_text: Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a representation of the boiler. A. A, are brass or other
metal washers and nuts, combined in one and screwed on the inner side to fit
the screw on the tube B, B; C, C, are the tube plates in back and front of
boiler, with the openings or holes made to suit the angles of the outside of the
washer nut. A, A, so that it may be surewed on and off at pleasure, and thus
dispense with the necessity of rivetting over the end of the tube, and enabling
one hundred tubes to be removed and replaced in a short space of time without
damaging the tubes. D is a vessel by which the boiler can be supplied with
water without the force pump while the steam is up. F, F, is a scraper
and scraper bar; H is the handle for working; and G is the stuffing box ;
E is the uptake door with hollow hinge joints to admit water and take away
steam.
Figure 6, Sheet 2, is a representation of steam whistle with wheel and
handle.
Having now fully described the nature of my improvements, and the
manner in which they are to be performed, I do not by any means confine
myself to the precise details herein-before mentioned in reference to the pro-
portions of a vessel and other improvements; but what I do claim as new of
my said Invention is,―
Firstly, the construction in the shape of the vessel on any suitable proportion,
according to the plan herein set forth.
Secondly, I claim the screw blades being fixed on hollow cylinders or
drums either with or without the other connections of screws, herein-before
mentioned.
Thirdly, I claim the construction of the steam chests instead of cylinders,
as herein set forth.
Fourthly, I do not claim a slot, link, or cross head with brasses to reciprocate
as being new, the same having been used before in one piece; but what I do
claim is, the making the slot, link, or cross head made in two parts, with any
suitable set screws, with bolts and nuts to adjust the opening.
Fifthly, I do not claim the turning of the plug in the steam whistle with a
common winch handle as being new; but what I do claim is, the handle in
combination with fly wheel, and the removal of the stop to allow it to be free
to rotate.
Sixthly, I do not claim putting on nuts and washers on the boiler tubes
as being new, the same having been done before by screwing the washer
against the flat of the boiler; but what do claim is, making the washer
either taper or otherwise to fit into the hole in the tube plates.

page_text: I also claim the scrapers and appendages as applied with the hollow doors
and hollow hinges to admit water and take away steam.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Tooth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 'l hird day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness
B. GOBEY.
WILLIAM HENRY TOOTH. (L.S.)