IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIITINGS OF SHIPS TO BE USED TO CARRY EARTH OIL AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bligh Capel, Hope Chemical Works,
Hackney Wick, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIITINGS OF SHIPS TO BE USED TO CARRY EARTH OIL
AND OTHER LIQUIDS.”
Sealed the 28th January 1878, and dated the 4th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Bligh Capel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th October 1872.
I, GEORGE BLIGH CAPEL, Hope Chemical Works, Hackney Wick, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS OF SHIPS TO BE USED TO CARRY
EARTH OIL AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the fittings of ships
to be used to carry carth oil and other liquids. For this purpose a metal
tank is fitted in the lower part of the vessel, it is of such a shape as to
fit closely to the floor and sides of the vessel, to which it forms an inner
water-tight skin. This tank is of a capacity sufficient to hold the liquid

page_text: cargo, and is open at the top entirely or nearly so. A central partition
divides the tank into two compartments, and other transverse partitions
are provided at convenient intervals. Passages are left for masts and
other obstructions.
The tank is provided with metal covers which are held down in their
places by powerful screws. The surfaces which come in contact to form
the joints are of wood, and a glued rope is laid between to render tho
closing oil tight. Pipes are fitted to the tank by which the liquid is run
in and pumped out. When the tank is open the covers fit closely
against the sides of the vessel, and they serve as an inner lining or 1
ceiling, or they may fold down into the tank. The tank when the covers
are removed forms an open hold to the ship, available for the stowage of
any dry cargo on the return voyago.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Bligh Capel in the Great Seal Patent 1
Office on the 4th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BLIGH CAPEL, Hope Chemical Works, Hackney Wick, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Bligh Capel, Her special license
that I, the said George Bligh Capel, my executors, administrators, and 2
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Bligh Capel, 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 3
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE FITTINGS OP SHIPS TO BE USED TO CARRY EARTH OIL AND OTHER LIQUIDS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Bligh
Capel, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe 3

page_text: 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 George Bligh Capel, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
…
This Invention has for its object improvements in the fittings of ships
to be used to carry earth oil and other liquids. For this purpose a
metal tank is fitted in the lower part of the vessel, it is of such a shape
as to fit closely to the floor and sides of the vessel to which it forms an
inner water-tight skin. This tank is of a capacity sufficient to hold the
liquid cargo, and is open at the top entirely or nearly so, a central
partition divides, the tank into two compartments, and other transverse -
partitions are provided at convenient intervals; passages are left for
masts and other obstructions.
The tank is provided with covers which are held down in their places
by powerful screws. The surfaces which come in contact to form the
joints are of wood, and a glued rope is laid between to render the closing
oil-tight. Pipes are fitted to the tank by which the liquid is run in and
pumped out. When the tank is open the covers fits closely against the
sides of the vessel, and they serve as an inner lining or ceiling, or they
may fold down into the tank. The tank when the covers are removed
forms an open hold to the ship available for the stowage of any dry cargo
on the return voyage.
In place of using a divided tank each compartment may be a separate
and complete tank.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings here-
unto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of a ship fitted with oil tanks according to my
Invention. In this Figure a portion of the deck is removed to expose
the tanks; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the ship taken through

page_text: covers; c, c, are their hinges; d, d, are powerful screws to secure the
covers when they are closed down. The joints are made oil-tight by
means of wood and glue as already described. The tanks are not con-
veniently made all in one, but it is preferred to form them in four or more
separate parts strongly bolted together. The covers are by preference of 5
wood lined inside with iron plates. The wooden frame all round the
top of tank to receive the wooden covers and form the bevil joint is
screwed firmly on to angle iron plates bolted on to top rim of tanks.
The iron plate projects inwards about one inch beyond the wooden bevil
joint. e, e, are small auxillary tanks to ensure that the main tanks 1
when loaded shall always remain full. Valves are provided by which
the oil when it expands by heat is able to overflow from the tanks a into
the tanks e, and also other valves by which the oil when it contracts by
cold can flow back from the tanks e into the tanks a. f, f, are portions
of the masts of the ship; and g is a passage left through the tanks for the 1
bilge pumps; h are pipes for running in and pumping out the oil.
What I claim is fitting ships to be used to carry earth oil and other
liquids substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bligh Capel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our 2
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.