IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR WAR AND REVENUE PURPOSES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Rennie, of the firm of George Rennie &
Sons, of the Albion Iron Works, Holland Street, Marine Engine Builders,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR WAR AND REVENUE
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 16th March 1858, and dated the 22nd September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Rennie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
September 1857.
I, GEORGE RENNIE, of the firm of George Rennie & Sons, of the Albion
Iron Works, Holland Street, Marine Engine Builders, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR WAR AND
REVENUE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain novel combinations effected in the con-
struction, equipment, and mode of working steam-propelled boats or vessels
for navigating shallow rivers, and intended for war and revenue purposes, and
consists,―
Firstly, in the construction of iron vessels of a small but sufficient internal
depth, with a flat floor, and full round bottom sides, and proportionately wide
beam, so as to combine for a given length small draft with stability, and the
power of resisting without injury shocks produced by the discharge of ordnance
carried on the deck of or within such vessels, their length being divided into
three parts; one portion having a strong deck for carrying on a suitable kerb.

page_text: or rails the traversing platform of a pivot or other gun or mortar suitably
mounted, such decks being supported upon transverse and longitudinal bulk-
heads, forming cellular compartments available for storing provisions, water,
&c., as also for the powder magazine, and stores of shots, shells, rockets, &c.;
another portion of the length being appropriated to the engines, machinery,
boilers, and coal bunkers; whilst the remaining part or portion of the length is
devoted to the accommodation of the officers and crew, who are protected by
a suitable covering and enclosure raised to a sufficient height above the top
strake or bulwark.
Secondly, in the disposition of the propelling apparatus in a vessel, con-
structed according to this Invention, by employing alone or in conjunction
with any other propelling apparatus two screws disposed one on each side of
the stern, and whether such screw propellers be fitted upon shafts working in
a line horizontally with and paralell to the longitudinal centre line, or
respectively at angles vertically or horizontally therewith or thereto.
Thirdly, in the construction and disposition of the engines for working,
actuating, or driving such propelling apparatus in boats or vessels constructed
and propelled according to this Invention, by placing the steam cylinder or
cylinders of one engine in advance longitudinally of the cylinder or cylinders
of the other engine, and on the opposite side of the keel line, and by thus
disposing them in a manner diagonally in the plan, and working the one screw
shaft from a point in a line drawn behind the cylinder for working the opposite.
serew shaft, obtain in a limited, longitudinal, and transverse space, the advan-
tages of suitably long connecting rods, and ready access to the various parts
of the machinery for examination and repairs.
Fourthly, the disposition of the coal bunkers and of the boilers for generating
steam for propelling vessels constructed and propelled and fitted with machi-
nery constructed and arranged according to this Invention; the said coal
bunkers being formed on each side of the boilers or boiler and engine space,"
and partially projecting thereover as a protection thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Rennie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
RENNIE, of the firm of George Rennie & Sons, of the Albion Iron Works, 3
Holland Street, Marine Engine Builders, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the
year of
Her reign, lid, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Rennie, Her special licence that I, the said George Rennie,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Rennie, 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
VESSELS FOR WAB AND REVENUE PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Rennie, by an instrument in 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 George Rennic, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing: :-
This Invention relates to certain novel combinations effected in the con-
struction, equipment, and mode of working steam-propelled boats or vessels
for navigating shallow rivers, and intended for war and revenue purposes; and
consists,―
First, in the construction of iron vessels of small but sufficient internal
depth, with a flat floor, and full round bottom sides, and proportionately wide
beam, so as to combine for a given length small draft with stability, and power
of resisting without injury shocks produced by the discharge of ordnance
carried on the deck of or within such vessels, their length being divided in
three parts; one portion having a strong deck for carrying on a suitable kerb
or rails the traversing platform of a central rotating pivot or other gun,
howitzer, or mortar, suitably mounted, such deck being supported upon
transverse and longitudinal bulk heads, forming cellular compartments
available for storing provisions, water, &c., as also for the powder magazine,
and stores of shot, shells, rockets, &c.; another portion of the length. being
appropriated to the engines, machinery, boilers, and coal bunkers; whilst the
remaining part or portion of the length is devoted to the accommodation of the

page_text: officers and the crew, who are protected by a suitable covering and enclosure,
raised to a sufficient height above the top strake or bulwark.
Secondly, in the disposition of the propelling apparatus in a vessel con-
structed according to this Invention, by employing, alone or in conjunction
with any other propelling apparatus, two screws disposed one on each side of
the stern; and whether such screw propellers be fitted upon shafts working in
a line horizontally with and parallel to the longitudinal centre line, or
respectively at angles vertically or horizontally therewith or thereto.
Thirdly, in the combination or disposition of the engines for working,
actuating, or driving such propelling apparatus in boats or vessels constructed
and propelled according to this Invention, by placing the steam cylinder or
cylinders of one engine in advance longitudinally of the cylinder or cylinders
of the other engine, and on the opposite side of the keel line, and by thus
disposing them in a manner alternately or diagonally on the plan; and working
the one screw shaft from a point in a line drawn behind the cylinder for
working the opposite screw shaft, obtain in a limited, longitudinal, and
transverse space, the advantage of suitably long connecting rods, and ready
access to the various parts of the machinery for examination and repairs.
Fourthly, in the disposition of the coal bunkers, and of the boilers for
generating steam for propelling vessels constructed and propelled and fitted
with machinery constructed and arranged according to this Invention, the said
coal bunkers being formed on each side of the boilers or boiler and engine
space, and partially projecting thereover as a protection thereto.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in
section; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1, and exhibits longitudinal divisions of the
vessel herein referred to; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, exhibiting the dis-
position of the engine, boiler, and coal bunkers; A, being the hull; B, the
boiler;
C, the coal bunkers; D, the two cylinder horizontal engines; E, the
two screw propellers; F, the platform of the gun carriage; G, the gun.
The scale or proportion to which the several Figures in the accompanying
Drawing have been drawn, is that of a vessel 70 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 5
feet deep, with an assumed draft of water of 24 inches; and having mounted
on its deck a gun in manner shewn, but the dimensions or proportions may
be varied to suit the requirements of their employment.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed, I have defined the disposition of the
several parts of the vessel, for the purposes herein referred to, but such
arrangement is subject to modifications or variations of the detail thereof.
In vessels constructed according to this Invention, and where it may be
desirable to depress the gun for the purposes of firing into boats or other

page_text: objects close to the bow of such vessel, and but slightly above the water line,
I construct the deck of the bow portion of such vessels on an incline or
bevil downward to the stem, and by making the bulwarks to fall down or out-
ward, will enable the gun to be fired forward at a suitable depression. I have
not referred to the details of the arrangement or disposition of the minor parts
of the vessel by letters of reference, as they may be otherwise appropriated or
varied.
Having now described my Invention, I wish it to be understood that what
I claim as novel is,―
First, the construction and arrangement of iron vessels, and the steam
machinery and fittings thereof, as herein-before described, whether such vessels
be employed for war or revenue purposes.
Second, the arrangement and disposition of the propelling apparatus in
manner shewn in vessels constructed according to this Invention, and also in
employing alone or in conjunction with the propelling apparatus described two
screw propellers disposed one on each side of the stern frame.
Third, in the combination and disposition of the engines, as described and
illustrated, when employed for propelling vessel constructed according to this
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Rennie, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
10
5
Witness,
WILLIAM SMITH, C. E.
10, Salisbury St., Adelphi.
GEORGE RENNIE. (L.s.)