IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION OF BEAMS AND PARTS OF SHIPS, SHIPS MASTS AND SPARS, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Chubb, of Clifton, in the County of
Gloucester, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF BEAMS AND PARTS OF SHIPS, SHIPS MASTS AND SPARS,
AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 20th March 1855, and dated the 10th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Chubb at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th October 1854.
I, WILLIAM CHUBB, of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BEAMS AND PARTS OF SHIPS, SHIPS' MASTS AND SPARS, AND OTHER
LIKE STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to combine iron and wood together more
advantageously than heretofore has been done. For this purpose, in con-
structing a beam I form it in several parts of iron, which are imbedded in or
clothed with wood on both sides. The plates of iron, which come vertical
when in the beam, it is preferred should be curved on the upper and under
edges, so as to form parts of an arch, and two of them come by their inner
ends into a key, or wedge-formed piece, which has a bolt through it, with a
screw and nut at its lower end. These plates and the key-picce are let into
or imbedded in wood on either side. Under these parts a bent plate is placed at

page_text: right angles, which is also let into and imbedded in the wood, so that there is
formed an angle iron, consisting of parts imbedded in wood. At the outer
ends are formed shoes, through which screw bolts are passed, which pass
through the wood on eitlier side, and screw all parts tightly together. The
plates of wood are further combined by other screw bolts passing through the
same. In this manner may the timbers of ships be put together, and also
the parts of ships' masts and yards, and other structures of a like character
requiring strength; and therefore the Invention consists in forming angle iron
beams or bars, composed of several parts, and combining or imbedding them
in wood as explained, the forms of the parts varying according to the
requirement of the structure in which the Invention is used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Chubb; in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CHUBB, of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Ifer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Chubb, Her special licence that I, the said William Chubb, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Chubb, 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 CON-
STRUCTION OF BEAMS AND PARTS OF SHIPS, SHIPS' MASTS AND SPARS, AND OTHER LIKE
STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Chubb, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 William Chubb, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: .
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to combine iron and wood together more
advantageously than heretofore has been done. For this purpose, in con-
structing a beam I form it in several parts of iron, which are imbedded in or
clothed with wood on both sides. The plates of iron, which come vertical
when in the beam, it is preferred should be curved on the upper and under
edges, so as to form parts of an arch; and two of them come by their inner
ends into a key; or wedge-formed piece, which has a bolt through it, with a
screw and nut at its lower end. These plates and the key-piece are let into
or imbedded in wood on either side. Under these parts a bent plate is placed
at right angles, which is also let into and imbedded in the wood, so that there
is formed an angle iron consisting of parts imbedded in wood.
At the outer
same.
ends are formed shoes, through which screw bolts are passed, which pass
through the wood on either side, and screw all parts tightly together. The
plates of wood are further combined by other screw bolts passing through the
In this manner may the timbers of ships be put together, and also
the parts of ships masts and yards, and other structures of a like character
requiring strength; and therefore the Invention consists in forming angle
iron beams or bars, composed of several parts, and combining or imbedding
them in wood, as explained, the forms of the parts varying according to the
requirement of the structure in which the Invention is used.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a beam made according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a
transverse section of a beam made according to my Invention; Figure 3
shows a longitudinal view of a beam with one of the plates of wood removed
to show the interior construction; a, b, are two plates, which at one end come
to the key or wedge-formed piece c in the centre, and their other ends come
into shoes d, d; and these parts, as well as the flange plates f, f, are all let
into the two plates of wood g, g, of which a beam is composed, and the whole
are secured together into one beam by means of screw bolts h, h, and nuts i, i.
The key or wedge-piece c is kept to its place by means of a screw bolt and
nut c', as shown. I have only thought it necessary to show one form of beam,
but a workman will readily in like manner form the timbers of ship-building,
and also masts and yards, and like structures, in a similar manner; and I
would state, that in some cases, in place of only using the flanch or right angle

page_text: plates f, f, at the bottom, or one edge or side of the plates a, b, they may be
used when required at both sides, and it is not essential in all cases to employ
the key or wedge-piece c, as one plate with its right angle plates may run from
end to end of the beam.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the details; neither do I claim any
of the parts separately of which a beam or like structure is composed; but
what I claim is, the combination of parts herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Chubb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
GUSTAVUS BROWNE.
WILLIAM CHUBB. (L.S.)