IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McMillan, junior, of the Town and County
of Dumbarton, North Britain, Shipbuilder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS.”
Sealed the 15th February 1876, and dated the 27th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McMillan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th August 1875.
I, JOHN MCMILLAN, junior, of the Town and County of Dumbarton,
North Britain, Shipbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS," to
be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of
ships or vessels, has for its object to enable them to carry grain or other
shifting cargoes in bulk or otherwise with greater safety than pertains
with ships or vessels as hitherto built, and also to increase the strength
of passenger or other vessels, and so enable them to withstand collision
or other dangers with greater safety.

page_text: The Invention is applicable generally to steam or sailing ships or
vessels, and it consists in constructing the hull with one or more fixed
longitudinal bulkheads, preferably made of iron or steel. The bulkhead
or bulkheads is or are preferably made water-tight from the bottom of
the ship or vessel upwards, and in the case of ships or vessels provided
with two or more decks the bulkhead or bulkheads may be terminated
at the lower or at any of the other decks as desired. The said deck or
decks may be made water-tight throughout and at the sides, and the
hatches thereof may also be constituted water-tight by means of port
doors or otherwise.
In lieu of placing the bulkhead or bulkheads longitudinally, as herein-
before described, it or they may be placed at an angle relatively with the
length of the ship or vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John McMillan in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
M MILLAN, junior, of the Town and County of Dumbarton, North
Britain, Shipbuilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John McMillan, junior,
Her special license that I, the said John McMillan, junior, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John McMillan, junior, my executors, administrators, or 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 CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR
VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
M*Millan, junior, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 John McMillan, junior, 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 following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction
of ships or vessels, has for its object enabling them to withstand collisions
or other dangers with a diminution of risk to the safety of the passengers
and crew, and of the ships and cargoes; and also increasing the strength
of the ships or vessels, and enabling them to carry grain or other shifting
cargoes in bulk or otherwise with greater safety than heretofore.
The Invention is applicable generally both to steam and sailing
ships.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the Figure on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the
letters marked thereon.
The Figure on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended is a half
midships section of a ship or vessel having the improvements which
constitute my said Invention applied thereto. These improvements
consist in constructing the lower deck or decks of the ship or vessel
water-tight throughout their length and at their sides, and at the
hatches and other openings, in combination or not with the employment
of a longitudinal fixed bulkhead or bulkheads. A, B, C, are the lower
decks, which are made water-tight at their sides a, b, c, by caulking or
otherwise, and also at their hatches d, e, f, by means of covers g, h, i,
which may be either arranged as shewn, or hinged as port doors, or
otherwise.
The hull may be constructed with one or more fixed bulkheads placed
parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ship, and by preference made

page_text: of iron or steel, although wood or any other suitable material may when
desired be employed. On the Drawing one such fixed longitudinal
bulkhead D, extending upwards from the bottom of the ship, is shewn
applied. The bulkhead or bulkheads is or are made water-tight from
the bottom of the ship or vessel upwards, and in the case of ships or
vessels having two or more decks the bulkhead or bulkheads may be
terminated at the lower or at any of the other decks. On the Drawing
the bulkhead D is shewn terminated at the lower deck B.
Water-tight ventilating shafts E, communicating with the atmosphere
and with the lower or other parts of the hold, may also be employed in
ships or vessels constructed in accordance with my said Invention.
In lieu of placing the fixed bulkhead or bulkheads longitudinally, as
herein-before described and indicated on the annexed Drawing, it or
they may be placed at an angle relatively with the length of the ship or
vessel.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, constructing
the lower deck or decks of a ship or vessel water-tight, in combination
or not with the employment of permanently fixed bulkheads, forming
part of the hull, and placed longitudinally, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McMillan, junior, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.