IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry James, of Camberwell, in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE
AND OTHER STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 22nd September 1854, and dated the 11th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry James at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the
11th April 1854.
I, WILLIAM HENRY JAMES, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MARINE AND OTHER STRUCTURES" to be as follows:-
These improvements consist of certain variations, additions to, and new
applications of, an improved and peculiar method of constructing cellular
plates and vessels, as originally described by me in the Specification of certain
Letters Patent granted to me for the manufacture of plates and vessels for
heating purposes, dated the 25th July 1845, and also referred to in subsequent
Letters Patent, also obtained by me, for heating and refrigerating, dated 3rd
day of September 1852. The present improvements more particularly though
not exclusively relate and have reference to the 5th head of the Specification of
the Letters Patent so granted to me, and first herein-before referred to, wherein
is detailed a method of uniting together metallic plates for the formation and
manufacture of cellular plates by means of a series of dovetailed partitions

page_text: running into corresponding parallel dovetailed grooves, formed in the said plates
by rolling and planing machines adapted for the purpose; the end or side open-
ings of the cellular plates so formed being welded to intervening bars of metal, so
as to render them steam and water tight under very high pressure, and affording
them also the great advantage of being so strengthened, without the necessity
of such plates being perforated by the usual methods of bolting, screwing, or
rivetting. Now, the variations, additions, and new applications of this improved
method of uniting metallic surfaces consist in binding together by similar dove-
tailed partitions any number of plates placed one above another, formed with
corresponding projections and grooves both on their upper and under surfaces,
so as to form cellular or vesicular structures of any required form, capacity, or
magnitude, and of certain other additional methods of uniting the surfaces of
such plates together, without the necessity of their being perforated, as before
mentioned.
With regard to the new applications of these improved methods of uniting
surfaces in the forming of cellular plates and vessels, I propose to employ such
conformations in the construction of the hulls, compartments, and apartments,
masts and keels, beams, rafters, floors, and other parts of steam vessels, sailing
vessels, boats, barges, pontoons, rafts, or other floating bodies, for the purpose
of imparting great strength thereto as well as buoyancy, by their forming
series of independent dovetailed water-tight partitions, known to be so useful
in case of leakage, fire, or other casualties; and also in the construction of
buildings or parts of buildings, railways, roadways, bridges, viaducts, parts of
carriages, aqueducts, tanks, either when so formed in metal or other suitable
material, and particularly for strengthening the structure of marine or other
boilers for generating steam, which new applications, together with the mode
or modes of uniting such cellular plates and vessels to each other, either length-
wise or sidewise, will be amply detailed in the complete Specification of these
improvements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry James in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY JAMES, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
g

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Henry James, Her special licence that I, the said William Henry
James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Henry James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
MARINE AND OTHER STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Henry James, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry James, 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 follow-
ing statement thereof (that is to say):-
:-
My improvements in marine and other structures consist of certain varia-
tions, additions, and new applications of certain improved and peculiar methods
of constructing metallic plates and vessels, as originally described by me in
the Specification of certain Letters Patent granted to me for the manufacture
of plates and vessels for heating purposes, dated the 25th day of July, 1845,
and referred to in subsequent Letters Patent, also obtained by me, for
heating and refrigerating, dated the 3rd of September, 1853, in which I
employ steam and surcharged steam for heating purposes.
The present improvements more particularly though not exclusively relate
and have reference to the fifth head of the Specification of the Letters Patent
so granted to me, and first hefein referred to, wherein is detailed a method of
uniting together metallic plates for the formation and manufacture of cellular
plates, by rolling metallic plates with series of parallel projecting ribs upon
one side thereof, which ribs are then grooved longitudinally in a dovetailed
shape by means of suitable planing machines, to allow their ribbed surfaces
when placed opposite each other to be firnly united together by means of
series of corresponding dovetailed bars, partitions, or tenons made to slide

page_text: therein, or tenons formed upon and of the ribs of one set of plates, being made
to slide into corresponding grooves in the ribs of the others, the spaces between
them forming the cells.
Now, the variations and additions of, in, and to this improved mode of uniting
metallic surfaces and manufacturing cellular plates and vessels mainly consist
in binding together by similar dovetailed partitions or other shaped tenons any
number of plates, placed one above another, or in any other required positions,
such plates having similar corresponding parallel ribs or projections formed
both on their upper and under surfaces, excepting the uppermost and lower-
most plates, which will only require them generally formed on one side, by
casting or by properly grooved rollers; or, as I now prefer, by very powerful
stamping machines, as hereafter particularly described, with suitable dies for
forming the projecting ribs, and partially also the grooves, which latter I then
finish into a dovetailed or other tenon-shaped form, by means of proper planing
machines, so as, when united together as before mentioned, to constitute
cellular structures of any required capacity or magnitude; which method of
uniting surfaces without perforation may be applied also in forming cellular
plates or vessels of circular, curvilinear, or cylindrical shapes, by uniting their
curved surfaces together by similarly formed corresponding dovetailed grooves
and partitions, which can be effected with greater facility when the grooves are
formed transversely to the curvature of such plate, as for instance, longitudi-
nally between two concentric cylinders, so as to allow of straight dovetailed
partitions being employed for uniting their surfaces. I sometimes, however,
reverse this method of uniting surfaces together for the forming of such struc-
tures, which I effect by having dovetailed projections formed upon the surfaces
of the plates to be united, and grooves to correspond in the edges of the
partitions, which are then made to slide thereon; or, instead of forming such
ovetailed or rabbetted projections and grooves, by casting or by rolling and
planing machines I produce a similar effect of obtaining greatly increased
strength combined with lightness on the cellular principle of structure, by the
bending of very thin plates in parallel lines, so as to cause them to encircle
therein a series of parallel wires, the remainder of their surfaces being then
flattened, so as to constitute plates, having a series of parallel and nearly
circular projections, each inclosing one of the wires. I then form a series of
partitions, having their edges grooved to fit and accurately slide over these
projections, which are to act as so many holdfasts thereto, for the purpose of
binding together their surfaces, so as likewise to form cellular plates and vessels,
and which corresponding grooved partitions may be previously heated, so as

page_text: upon cooling firmly to contract thereon; or contrarywise, after having formed
such circular or ribbed projections by the bending the said plates over the
series of wires, I withdraw the said wires, and slide over the circular hollow
projections so formed a series of bars, grooved to correspond, to afford firmness
and strength thereto. I then turn the upper plates with their cavities down-
wards when single cellular plates are required, and slide the series of partitions,
having their edges formed to correspond into the said cavities, and into the
cavities of the lower plates, so as thereby to form cellular plates; and when
double celled plates are required, I sometimes use the hollow projections, so
formed upon the plates as holdfasts to the upper or under series of partitions,
having grooves formed in their edges, to correspond and slide over the said
projections, in which case the sliding bars may be dispensed with, as the
grooved edges of such partitions will answer the same purpose of affording
sufficient firmness for the others to slide into, and so on, alternately, employing
such hollow projections as grooves or tenons for uniting together any number
of plates.
The partitions generally, as before described, may, if preferred, be formed in
parts and made to slide one after the other into or upon the grooves or
projections, and may be kept at any required distances from each other by
short sliding bars between them, so as to have the effect of so many dovetailed
or rabbet-headed bolts, that is, when free communications may be required;
or apertures of any kind may be formed in the longitudinal partitions for a
similar purpose, or cellular plates and vessels may be formed by binding
together plates with ribbed surfaces, the upper and lower ribs being grooved
in a dovetailed shape, into which fusible metal may be poured for the purpose
of uniting their surfaces firmly together; or the ribs may, if preferred, be
merely soldered together, surface to surface, the hollow portions of such ribbed
plates then forming the required cells. Now, in respect to closing up the side
or end apertures of cellular plates and vessels so formed, when required to be
made either air, steam, or water tight under pressure, I purpose to effect such
object by any of the usual means of grooving, welding, brazing, soldering,
rivetting, screwing, bolting, or otherwise fitting or attaching suitable frames,
bars, or plates of metal to the edges thereof, and in some cases also, when
necessary, to the ends of the several partitions; but for uniting such cellular
ribbed plates when not so closed endwise to other similar plates, I effect the
same by forming a set of parallel dovetailed or rabbetted grooves in the ribs of
one plate or set of plates, and tenons to correspond, on the ribs of the other or
others, and cause the same to slide into each other about half their entire

page_text: lengths, to alternately break joint, and so on, for uniting any number of plates
together end to end, and in a similar manner when formed with partitions, as
before described, by causing the upper and under plates of the one together
with its partitions to slide upon or into the corresponding plates and partitions
of the next in succession, so as continually to break joint, as is usual in the
laying of bricks in the construction of brickwork; and for uniting such plates
or vessels sidewise, I effect the same by side dovetailing, always taking care in
putting any number of them together to break joint, in manner before described;
and for making any of the junctures air, water, or steam tight, I adopt any
of the usual methods as may be best adapted to such purposes, according to
the materials of which such cellular plates and vessels are composed; other
methods by which I form cellular structures are as follows, viz. :-Instead of
rolling plates with ribs upon them and grooved, as before described, I sometimes
in preference solder such ribs or projections thereon, the said ribs being
previously grooved or tenoned, so as to correspond with and slide upon or into
each other, or the several partitions, in manner before mentioned; or such
grooves may be formed each by means of two parallel bars in two parts, such
parts being soldered to the plates at a sufficient distance apart, and their inner
edges chamfered, to form the required grooves for the partitions to slide into; or
inversely, single tenon bars may be soldered to the plates for corresponding
grooved partitions to slide upon, in either of which cases a few rivets may be added
when necessary to impart further strength; or I sometimes form the edges of
the partitions of sufficient width and surface, as when retained in their places
by a few screws or rivets to admit of their being soldered to such plates
simultaneously, by the whole being dipped together in a metallic bath, their
surfaces being previously galvanized or otherwise prepared, to form a perfect
union with the metal.
My next variation in the construction of cellular plates and vessels consists
in forming series of square, rectangular, or other shaped mortice holes, running
in parallel lines across the said plates, by means of suitable punching, cutting,
or drilling apparatus, and also by similar means corresponding series of tenons
in the upper and lower edges of the partitions, to fit exactly into the mortices
in the upper and lower plates, but so made as to extend rather beyond the
surfaces thereof, so as to admit of their being rivetted, thereby forming cellular
plates or vessels. I sometimes, however, in preference, form each of the tops
of the several projecting tenons into a dovetailed shape, so as to allow of bars
of metal, grooved to correspond, to slide firmly thereon, which may also be
soldered when necessary to render the surfaces of the cellular plates or vessels

page_text: so formed steam or water tight; or I sometimes form cellular plates and
vessels, by soldering together laterally any number of square or flat sided tubes
or strips of sheet metal, rolled or drawn into such tubular shapes, with the
edges merely being made to meet in the centre of one side of each, which sides
I solder together to close up perfectly the said side openings or fissures so as to
form cellular plates, the metal being previously tinned or otherwise galvanized
to facilitate the soldering, and as additional improvements in the forming of
open-topped boilers or pans for boiling, evaporating, and drying purposes, as de-
scribed under the seventh head of the Specification of my former Letters Patent,
first herein referred to, and which consisted of rivetting thin metallic sides to
cellular plate bottoms, as therein specified. I now generally prefer forming
such sides of wood only, or of wood lined with thin sheet metal, or vice versa,
and then attaching such wooden sides to the cellular plate bottoms with cement
between, and held firmly together by iron bolts screwed into the cellular plate
bottoms, and passing vertically through the wooden sides, and flat iron frame-
work thereon, having nuts on the upper ends of such bolts for tightening up
the same, so as to keep the whole water-tight; and further, for facilitating
the process of boiling or evaporating, I occasionally place coils or other con-
figurations of pipes or tubes heated by steam in the liquor of such boilers or
pans, as an addition to the cellular bottoms, also heated by steam, which may be
connected together or worked separately, the condensation water passing off' by
cocks, as usual, or made to flow back by means of a return pipe into the boiler
from which the steam is supplied.
My next improvement consists in certain means of manufacturing and
strengthening metallic plates, which may be advantageously used in the
construction of cellular plates and vessels, as before described; and also in
the formation of the various structures hereafter mentioned, in which plates
are employed imparting much greater firmness thereto than when formed of
plates with ordinary flat surfaces, which consists in corrugating, indenting, or
embossing the principal portion of their surfaces by the extension of the metal
of which they are composed, by means of suitable rolling and stamping appa-
ratus hereafter described, so as to leave their edges entire when required, as
well as to leave plane any other portion or portions of their surfaces from such
corrugations, indentations, or embossments, so as to admit of the plane portions
being rivetted, grooved, soldered, or otherwise united to the plane surfaces or
edges of other similar plates or partitions, as before described. When the
corrugations or embossments are required of moderate depth or elevation, they
can be effected at one operation by means of rollers, having their surfaces

page_text: corrugated or grooved excentrically, so as to terminate by a gentle rounded
slope within any required distance of the ends of such rollers, so as to leave the
edges of the plates passing through them plane; or plane surfaces may be left
in a similar manner between any of the said corrugations, or transversely, by
causing the corrugations on the rollers to terminate longitudinally at every
revolution, or oftener, if required, by means of proper connecting gear; but
when the corrugations are required of considerable depth or elevation above
the plane surfaces, I place the plates to be corrugated upon corrugated fixed
bed plates, their edges being secured firmly thereto by means of suitable frame-
work, to prevent their warping or twisting out of shape during the extension
of the other portions, and within which framework, by means of suitable ma-
chinery, I cause corresponding corrugated rollers to traverse to and fro under
great and increasing pressure, until the required corrugations are obtained; or
I sometimes make the bed plates and the plates fixed thereto to pass together
under suitable rollers; or I fix the edges of the plates between double frames
instead of fixing them upon bed plates, and then passing them to and fro
between pairs of rollers made to work within such frames; furthermore, the
plates may be so indented or corrugated on one side, when used for forming
cellular plates and vessels, that their plane surfaces when put together will
meet and admit of being rivetted or soldered together, as may also their corru-
gations at their several points or lines of contact, and the cells of which may
be made to communicate with each other the more perfectly by the several
corrugations in the upper being placed transversely to those in the lower plates,
or vice versà; but I generally prefer forming these corrugations, indentations,
or embossments by means of very powerful stamping machines, either in suc-
cession or simultaneously; in both cases, however, I cause the edges of the
plates to be secured firmly upon bed plates under suitable frames or bars, the
bed plates being hollowed out, or formed into any shapes to correspond with
the dies employed. Now, in case of such corrugations, &c. being formed in
succession, I generally have the bed plates moveable under the stamps, so as to
enable me to shift and regulate their motions at pleasure, by screws or wheel
work, similar to the bed plates of some planing machines; but where the dies
and weights employed are sufficiently large and powerful to effect the stamping
of all the indentations or embossments at once, or by mere repetition of similar
blows, as in the stamping or embossing of thick and large plates for boilers,
&c., requiring a power equal, perhaps, to many tons weight falling from a given
height.
To avoid and obviate any objection that might be urged against stamping

page_text: machines of such power being employed, in consequence of the concussion or
tremour that might ensue to the buildings, or buildings in the vicinity thereof,
from the falling of such heavy weights on fixed bed plates, as in present
use, and also for greatly increasing their power for such purposes, I have con-
trived an aëria! antagonistic stamping machine, having a double counteraction
movement, to neutralize such concussion, two varieties of which machine I will
now describe.
In the first arrangement, I have a square framework, composed of an
upper and lower frame of iron, firmly connected together at the corners by
four stout guide rods, of sufficient height to allow of two powerful counter-
weights accurately sliding either upwards or downwards within them. This
frame being then fixed vertically upon other suitable framework attached to
a firm foundation to admit of a powerful steam cylinder being placed below
it, I then connect the upper and lower weights, before mentioned, together
outside of such framework by means of projecting pins, cords, chains, and
pulley wheels, similar to those employed at gas works for balancing gasometers,
the upper weight being thereby kept suspended in the upper part of such guide
frame, and the lower weight in the lower part thereof, by a slight prepon-
derance given to the latter, so that any extraneous force being applied to raise
such weight, the upper one would naturally fall by its own gravity, or be im-
pelled downwards with additional force, by springs, compressed air, &c., to meet
it, their force of collision being equal to all the other forms combined, which
propose to put into action generally by steam admitted under the piston of
the aforesaid cylinder, the piston rod being affixed into the under portion of
the lower sliding weight, so as to raise or impel the same upwards against the
upper descending weight with any required force; the plates to be corrugated,
indented, or embossed, being affixed between corresponding dies in the upper
surface of the weight below, so as to constitute altogether such lower counter-
weight; the return of which weights to their original position may be easily
effected, by opening or closing more or less the exit passage of such cylinder,
so as to regulate thereby the descent of the piston.
I
The second arrangement consists in a mode of connecting together the
upper and lower weights by means of levers, rods, and cross bars, all jointed
together in a similar manner to lazy tongs (so called), which are made to work
centrically on axes or bearings fixed centrically on two opposite sides of the
guide frames, for the purpose of keeping such weights at all times in their
proper relative positions, and to compel them when in action to move in
opposite directions, and so as to admit of their gradual separation or forcible

page_text: collision as required by steam or other power, in lieu of the method already
described, by ropes or chains and pulley wheels, the other parts of the machinery
remaining the same as before. It will be evident to any scientific mechanician
that these arrangements for connecting together the weights, so as to afford
them a simultaneous antagonistic action, might be effected by wheel work, or
that the methods herein described might be varied, and still produce the
requisite motions; or additional steam cylinders might be placed above or at
each extremity of such framework as well as below, for impelling the said
weights against each other; or that such machines might be made to work
horizontally as well as vertically, and may be used advantageously for crushing
or stamping generally metallic or any other kind of materials, or as a double
tilt hammer.
The new applications of the cellular plates and vessels and corrugated and
embossed plates formed, as herein-before described, by rolling, grooving, dove-
tailing, rabetting, indenting, stamping, and otherwise, consist in the employ-
ment thereof in the construction of the hulls, compartments, apartments,
beams, rafters, hollow masts, floors, or other parts of steam vessels, sailing
vessels, boats, barges, pontoons, rafts, or other floating bodies, for the purpose
of imparting great strength thereto as well as buoyancy, particularly when used
in the forming of series of light independent water-tight partitions, which would
be found of great advantage in case of leakage, fire, or other casualties; as also
in the part construction of buildings, whether portable or otherwise, as in the
forming of floors, roofs, side walls, doors, shutters, beams, and rafters, whether
composed of iron or other suitable materials; or for the forming of roadways,
bridges, viaducts on the sides of aqueducts, tanks, or other vessels for con-
ducting or containing fluids; or for uniting together in a similar manner by
grooves and dovetailed or other rabetted cavities and corresponding holdfast
tenons the upper and under surfaces of metallic rails for the construction of
railroads, so as to enable such rails to be formed in parts either of the same or
different kinds or qualities of metal; for instance, the lower portions, which
rest upon the sleepers, may have dovetailed grooves or dovetailed projections
formed in or upon their upper surfaces, and the upper portions of such rails
(when formed in two parts) may have corresponding projections or grooves
formed underneath them, which latter I purpose making in long lengths and
to be slid into or upon the lower portions thereof, so as at all times to break
joint, as before mentioned. The upper surfaces of the latter portions upon
which the carriage wheels are intended to run may be very advantageously
case-hardened or steeled, so as greatly to lessen the friction thereon, as well as

page_text: the wear and tear; or I sometimes make these upper portions of a similar
sectional form, but in very short lengths of chilled cast iron, always taking
care to have the ends so arranged and slid into or upon each other as to break.
joint with the ends of the lower portions, which latter may be formed of cast
iron, particularly when the upper portions are of wrought iron, and vice versa.
The grooves may also be formed of any required depth over and above what
is necessary for the dovetailed projections of the upper portions to slide into,
so as to form by the cavity underneath a hollow rail; or the lower portions
may be formed cellular, particularly when composed of cast iron or other cheap
materials. The sides and beds and roofs of carriages I also purpose forming
of cellular or other plates constructed upon these principles, as well as a
portion of the wheels or rollers thereof, for the purpose of obtaining lightness
combined with strength, and particularly the application thereof for the con-
struction of marine and other boilers for generating steam.
My next and last improvements, in reference to my former Letters Patent,
before mentioned, consist in certain new applications of the improved mode of
casting cellular structures as therein detailed to the formation of cellular rails
for railways, keels for vessels, and beams and rafters for buildings and other
purposes, which I effect as before, by running the metal over a series of cores,
composed of very small metallic tubes, coated with tin or other suitable metal,
in proper moulds or boxes, or of imperfect perforated tubes, tinned or galvan-
ized, and filled with sand or other suitable materials, for keeping out the melted
inetal, but at the same time allowing the air to escape; or such small tubes or
cores may be covered with loam, if preferred, and afterwards withdrawn, or if
not, should be wired together in their positions, according as the cells are to be
placed or sometimes enclose these small tubes or cores within a tinned iron
tube and run the metal over the whole, so as to obtain any required thickness
of metal externally; or, when advisable, I connect and fit all the top ends of
such small cores into perforated plates, and the lower ends into the bottoms of
the boxes or moulds into which the metal is poured, and during which opera-
tion, by suitable machinery connected with the said top plates, I keep such
small cores, while the metal is being cast, in a state of tension sufficient to
preserve them in their proper positions, which methods of casting and con-
struction I apply, as before stated, to the formation of cellular rails for railways,
which may have any external shape that may be deemed advisable; though I
prefer a corrugated equilateral triangular form, with three or more cells to corre-
spond, having a proper breadth of bearing for the carriage wheels upon each of
the three corrugations, and which rails, being made to rest in suitable chairs

page_text: made nearly to fit the two lower corrugated surfaces, may be tightened upwards
in their places by wooden wedges driven underneath, which can be released at
pleasure, so as to allow of each of such corrugations being shifted upwards,
when required, for the wheels of the carriages to run upon, so rendering them
very durable; they will also be cheap of construction, for when having become
useless by wear and tear they may be remelted and recast into their original
forms at a very moderate expence. The keels of vessels I also purpose casting
in a similar manner in parts, the cells of which several parts may be united
together by tubes so as to form cellular reservoirs of immense strength for
containing compressed air or gases for various useful purposes, or to serve as
condensers for steam or for other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry James, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM HENRY JAMES. (L.S.)