Improvements in the Construction of Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
I, FRANÇOIS GAUTIER, of Saint Malo (Ille Vilaine) in the Republic of
France, Ship-builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of ship which shall draw but
little water and be of great stability.
Its main
My improved ship is symmetrical relatively to its longitudinal axis.
frame is formed of symmetrical convex curves which will widen the section, of the
main frame as far as the water line, it being then narrowed by two curves also
symmetrical and of suitable form which meet in a bottom constituting the keel.
Within and at a suitable distance from the main frame is arranged another frame
which is closer to the main frame below the water line than at the upper part of
the two sides being united at the bottom which is arranged above the hereinbefore
described bottom or keel of the ship.
The space between the two frames along the whole length of the vessel is
divided into compartments by transverse partitions which compartments can be
utilised for water ballast or coal bunkers, according to their position or cau
serve as air caissons.
Its light draught of water renders this type of vessel, (of which the centres of
keel or bottom and of gravity satisfy all the laws of hydrostatic stability) par-
ticularly applicable for merchant vessels, as well as ships of war especially gun
boats and torpedo boats which can be navigated without danger in shallow rivers.
For ships of war each compartment is formed of water tight partitions to prevent
water entering the vessel in the event of the outer casing being pierced.
1
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Ships.
I, FRANÇOIS GAUTIER, of Saint Malo (Ille Vilaine) in the Republic of
Francé, Ship-builder, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved main or midship frame applicable to
the construction of ships, the object being to give such ships great stability at the
same time that they shall draw but little water without altering the relative pro-
portions generally existing between the various parts and the submerged surface,
that is to say, between the parts above and below the water line.
The accompanying drawing represents a transverse vertical section of the main
or midship frame of a ship constructed according to my invention.
Its main
My improved ship is symmetrical relatively to its longitudinal axis.
frame (as shewn in the drawing) starting from the line d, d' at the level of
the spring (livet) of the deck is formed of symmetrical convex curves d, c, d', c¹
which will widen the section of the main frame as far as the mean water line, it

page_text: being then narrowed by two concave or inward curves c, b, c, b' also symmetrical
and of suitable form which are joined to the keel a by rounded parts b, and long
slightly converging surfaces b, a, b', a¹.
Owing to the inward curves c, b, c, and the opposite curves c, d, c¹, d¹ and b, b¹
the hydrostatic stability is permanent, as any outer force applied at b, c for
example and tending to interfere with the equilibrium of the ship is immediately
compensated by the opposed resistance at ', c' resulting in the displacement of the
water.
Owing also to the inward curves b, c, b, c¹ the draught can be very light whilst
retaining the same great stability; moreover there is nothing to oppose the placing
of the centres of bottom and gravity at points which satisfy all the laws of
hydrostatic stability.
Within and at a suitable distance from the main frame is arranged another
frame f, g, h which is closer to the main frame below the water line than at the
upper part of the two sides being joined to the bottom g which is arranged above
the bottom or floor of the ship.
The space between the two frames along the whole length of the vessel is divided
into compartments by transverse partitions, which compartments can be utilized
for water ballast or coal bunkers according to their position or can serve as air-
caissons.
Its mean draught renders this type of vessel (of which the centres of keel or
bottom and of gravity satisfy all the laws of hydrostatic stability) particularly
applicable for merchant vessels, as well as ships of war especially gun boats and
torpedo boats which can be navigated without danger in shallow rivers, and assist
the inland defence of a country.
For ships of war each compartment is formed of water-tight partitions to prevent
water entering the vessel in the event of the outer casing being pierced.
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 :-
1. A vessel having a frame constructed symmetrical relatively to its longitudinal
axis with convex curves d, c, d, c' starting from the line d, d' of spring (livet) of
the deck then extending to and joining concave curves c, b, c, b¹ connected to the
bottom or keel b, a, b, a substantially as set forth.
2. A frame for ships constructed according to Claim 1 in combination with an
inner frame f, g, h more or less distant from the outer frame with which it is almost
identical in form, substantially as set forth.
3. The improved ship hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this wath of il 100.1
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.