MENTS IN STRUCTURES FORMED OF METAL PLATES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM WELCH of 36 Saint George's Square, Portsmouth in the County of
Hants, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STRUCTURES FORMED OF METAL PLATES to be as follows:-
The plane or curvilianear surfaces of the structures to be formed are thus
produced viz:-Thin sheets or plates of metal, either solid, or perforated, (as of
Iron, Steel, Zinc, Copper, or Alloys,) are used as surface plates, on both sides of the
structures, if the sheets, or plates, are to be moulded or ornamentally embossed,
they are stamped, or rolled, into the required form or design previous to fixing—
Between the surface sheets, or plates, light metal ribs, or intermediate cross-stays
are secured to the inside of the sheets, or plates, by riveting, brazing, soldering, or
other ordinary methods-The surface plates are thereby kept securely apart, equal
to the space, or thickness, of the structures to be built or formed, The abutting
joints, of the continuous surface sheets, or plates, are either lapped, riveted, seamed,
rebated, or soldered, together-The spaces thus formed between the sheets, or plates,
are then filled in with a Waterproof Fibrous, Cement Concrete, in a semi-liquid, or
plastic state, componed of Granular Cork, or other light Woody fibre or cements
aglutinated with resinous oils, mastic, or other adhesive viscous cementing substance,
attaching itself firmly to the interior surfaces of the sheets, plates, ribs &o, and
thereby the whole structure is consolidated into a permanent compact, waterproof,
nonconducting composite substance, similar to Wood, but of lighter consistency.
The structures thus produced are of much less specific gravity than water, and
are unsinkable, water-proof-fire proof and indiscerptible-Any thickness of the
Waterproof, Fibrous Cement, Concrete spaces, are used to increase the substance of
the structures, and intermediate sheets, or plates, introduced for protecting the
sides & of Ships, Boats, Gun-Batteries, Turrets, Forts, & and are splinterless
from shot and shell, penetration.

page_text: I WILLIAM WELCH, of 36 St George's Square, Portsmouth in the County of
Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENT IN
STRUCTURES FORMED OF METAL PLATES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
The plane or curvilinear surfaces of the structures, to be formed, are thus
produced viz-Thin sheets or plates of metal either solid, or perforated-as of
Iron Steel-Zinc-Copper or Alloys, are used as surface plates on both sides of
the structures if the sheets are to be moulded-or ornamentaly embossed, they
are stamped, or rolled into the required form or design, previous to fixing.
Between the surface plates or sheets, light metal ribs, or intermediate cross-
stays, are secured to the inside of the sheets, or plates, by riviting-brazing,
soldering, or other ordinary means, The surface plates are thereby kept securely
apart, equal to the space, or thickness, of the structures, to be built, or formed, the
abutting joints of the continuous surface sheets, or plates, are either lapped, rivited―
seamed, or soldered, together.
The spaces thus formed between the sheets, or plates, are then filled in, with a
Water-proof, Fibrous Cement Concrete, in a semi-liquid, or plastic state, componed
of Granular Cork, or other light woody Fibre-or Cements, agglutinated with
resinous oils mastic or other adhesive viscous cementing substance, attaching
itself firmly to the interior surfaces, of the sheets, plates-ribs-&-and thereby
the whole structure is consolidated into a compact-water-proof, non-conducting,
composite substance, similar to Wood, but of lighter consistency.
The structures thus produced are of much less specific gravity than water-and
are unsinkable, waterproof-fire-proof, and indiscerptible.
Any thickness of the Water-proof-Fibrous Cement Concrete spaces, are used to
increase the substance of the structures, and intermediate sheets, or plates,
introduced for protecting the sides &c of Boats, Ships, Gun Batteries, Turrets-
Forts, &c and are splinterless, from shot and shell penetration.
The object of my invention is to make the construction, and equipments, of
Ships, Buildings, and other structures-fire-proof, water-proof, and literally
indestructable, and of a much lighter character, and giving them a greater measure
of strength, ductility, and buoyancy, and of much less specific gravity than any
other Ships, or Buildings, hitherto constructed-and. I effect the same with con-
siderable economy, and without interfering, materialy with the present principles
of architectural designs.
In order that my invention may be fully, and practically comprehended-I
instead of constructing, Ships-Buildings, and other structures, as at present-
with solid and heavy materials, of great specific gravity, as of Metal, Stone-Brick-
Cement Concrete, &c-I construct them according to this invention-with light
thin surface plates of metal, either solid, or perforated, on each side-and thereby
forming a hollow inclosure, between and around the surfaces.
The surface materials or plates-are attached to light ribs, or intermediate
standards, in the ordinary usual manner, but the ribs, or standards, are considerably

page_text: reduced in numbers, size-and weight, by the introduction of intermediate securing
stay-clips, screw ties, or blocks-attached between, and to the interior, surfaces of
the hollow inclosures.
The hollow structures being thus formed-tle spaces are then filled in and
consolidated, with any semi-elastic, or rigid cementing composition, of an
indestructible-fire-proof,- -or water-proof character, and material, of the least
possible specific gravity, and where desireable for marine structures, and light
superstructural work, making the displacements of less specific gravity than water,
and thereby unsinkable, and dispensing-with air-and water, compartments, and
substituting a solid form of structure, in lieu, thereof, By this invention and system
of construction, I secure a far greater strength, ductility-and buoyancy, with the
maximum distribution of the strain, increased over the entire surfaces-and which
is of considerable advantage in substructural, and superstructural works, and also
securing many important advantages over the present system of building con-
struction, as with heavy Metal Girders, Stone-Brick-Concrete Arches, &-
which are of necessity of considerable weight as by this invention the surfaces-of
circular-and curved, or plane formations, as for Roofs-Ceilings-Floors-Walls-
partitions Bulkheads, and the like can be built without the aid of intermediate
bearers-ribs, or standards, as at present used-and the construction thereby
simplyfied and the costs materially diminished.
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
1st The construction and equipment of Ships, and other structures, with light
metal sheets, or plates, of hollow formations, instead of with thick, or heavy, single
plates, and ribs, or framings, as now used.
2nd The making the structures of any thickness, by the introduction of inter-
mediate sheets, or plates of metal, and hollow inclosures, in laminar form.
3rd The filling in, and consolidating, the hollow inclosures, and forms, of the
structures, with a permanently, indestructible, water-proof, or fire proof, com-
position, of a splinterless character.
4th The formation of metal, and indestructible, composite structures-fittings,
and furniture, of less specific gravity-than water, and unsinkable, indiscerptible,
and of great buoyancy.
Dated this 5th dov of Februar 1885