Improvements in the Construction of Ships, Boats, and other Floating Structures.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Ships, Boats, and other
Floating Structures.
ANNIE MATILDA WOOD Woodite Towers, Mitcham Common, Surrey,
Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct the outer skin of ships-ironclads or
merchant vessels, so as to provide a.cellular space, that may be filled with an elastic
or compressible material that is thoroughly watertight, or, to attach the same
material to the side of the vessel by a perfectly secure, yet compressible attach-
ment so that when the blocks forming the side of the ship are struck by shot,
shell or collision the said blocks will yield and break the force of the said blow,
and again resume their former positions from the latent elasticity. To secure
this action it is necessary the attachments should not be rigid, and so be liable to
fracture on impact for this purpose make the blocks of woodite, whaleite or
buoyant woodite in any suitable size preferabley about three or four inches thick
and nine or twelve inches square and in these I embed stout mild steel wire or
galvanised wire or rod so as to pass diagonally over the block in two or more
directions, and half way through say an inch and a half from the surface, I make
three or four turns of the wire or rod to produce a spiral spring, the ends are then
continued thro' the block and project the necessary length, to pass through the
ships plating and backing, and be secured by a nut and elastic washer of woodite
on the inside. The whole of this attachment is embedded in the block, and so
protected from any wear, tear corrosion or injury. In some cases I use the same
materials or blocks, but without the fastenings to be placed in the cellular spaces
in the turtle deck, which is now generally adopted in ironclads commencing below
the water line on each side and rising in a curve over the ship, to give protection
from a plunging fire, and to prevent the influx of water after the passing of shot.
or shell through the blocks. The elasticity of the material of the blocks closes the
opening after the passage of shot or shell, and completely preventing any influx
of water. The advantage of constructing in small blocks is that the line of force
of a blow on striking is broken at the termination of each block and consequently
does not spread or communicate itself to the other blocks, and by this means the
injury is minimised.
Watertight compartments, bulkheads and doors, can be constructed on this
principle. Also on the outside of ships and boats, instead of the ordinary
rubbing piece or whaling strake, a row of these elastic or compressible blocks
may be used.
1
The protection afforded by my invention will also add to the buoyancy of the
vessel, by increasing the displacement with an impervious and watertight material
of light specific gravity Life boats constructed on this principle will be practically
unsinkable.
Dated this 13th day of December 1894.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Ships, Boats, and other.
Floating Structures.
I ANNIE MATILDA WOOD, Gentlewoman Woodite Towers, Mitcham Common
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct the outer skin of ships, ironclads or
merchant vessels so as to provide a cellular space, that may be filled with an elastic
or compressible material, that is thoroughly watertight, or to attach the same
material to the sides of the vessel by a perfectly secure-yet compressible attach-
ment so that when the blocks forming the sides of the ship, are struck by shot,
shell or collision the said blocks will yield and break the force of the blow, and
again resume their former positions from the latent elasticity. To secure this
action it is necessary the attachments should not be rigid, and so be liable to
fracture on impact-for this purpose, I make the blocks of woodite-whaleite, or
woodite buoyant, according to my former Patents-in any suitable size preferably
about 3 or 4 inches thick and 9 to 12 inches square as shown on Figure 1 of the
drawing hereto, and in these I embed stout mild steel wire or galvanised wire or
rod "C" on Figure 2, which represents the wire or rod before it is embedded, so
as to pass diagonally over the block in two or more directions, and half way
through say 1 inches from the surface 1 make three or four turns of the wire or
rod to produce a spiral spring on "B"-the ends are then continued through the
block and project the necessary length to pass through the ships plating and
backing, and be secured by a nut and elastic washer of woodite-Fig. 1. D on the
inside, as shown on the drawing hereto. The whole of this attachment is
embedded in the block Fig. 1. and so protected, from any wear, tear corrosion or
injury.
In Figure 2. "C" is a view of a wire or rod before it is embedded in the block
shown in Figure 1.
In some cases I use the same materials or blocks, but without the fastening, 'to be
placed in the cellular spaces in the turtle deck-which is now generally' adopted in
ironclads, commencing below the water line on each side and rising on a curve
across the ship to give protection from a plunging fire, and prevent the influx of
water after the passing of shot or shell through the blocks. The elasticity of the
blocks closing after_the_passage-of-shot or shell and completely preventing any
influx of water.
The advantage of constructing in small blocks, so that the line of force of a blow
on striking is broken at the termination of each block, & consequently does not
spread or communicate itself to the other blocks, and by this means the injury is
minimised.
1
Watertight compartments-bulkheads and doors can be constructed on this
principle also on the outside of ships and boats, instead of the ordinary rubbing
piece or whaling strake, a row of these elastic or compressable blocks may be used.
The protection afforded by my invention will also add to the buoyancy of the
vessel by increasing the displacement with an impervious and watertight material of
high specific gravity. Life boats constructed on this principle will be practically
unsinkable.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. The application of small blocks of my materials known as woodite,
whaleite or woodite buoyant in such position and forms as herein described..
2. The form and nature of attachment, so as to avoid a rigid and unyielding
fixing.
3. The application of the said small blocks in the cellular spaces of the turtle or
protective decks of vessels.
4. The attachment as described for whaling strake or rubbing piece.
Dated this 13th day of September 1895.
ANNIE MATILDA WOOD.