An Improved Ship or Vessel.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ship or Vessel.
I, FRANCIS GRAHAM MOON, of the Office of the Secretary of the Post Office
Department, Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada,
Civil Service Employe, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a roller boat, or hull-less vessel or ship, in which floatage
is derived from large hollow cylinders which are but slightly submerged, and
the propelling power a steam or other engine to rotate the cylinders, they travel-
ling nominally on the surface of the water, when the boat or vessel is travelling at
high velocity.
My invention consists of hollow water-tight cylinders having floats or paddle-
boards transversely of the periphery and connected in pairs by shafts, on which
shafts is mounted a frame or truss supporting a motive power engine between the
cylinders, the engine rotating the shafts, and the shafts rotating the cylinders, the
floats or paddle-boards then propelling the structure, whereby a high speed is
obtainable.
Figure 1 is a plan of my marine structure.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section
of the same.
A, A1, A2, A3, are hollow empty water-tight cylinders of sufficient size to give
the required buoyancy to the structure and superposedi weight when floated, so
that the cylinders shall be nominally on the surface of the water or slightly below,
to walk thereon.
These cylinders are straight across the face and have floats or paddle-boards A4,
on the exterior periphery, transversely, for propulsion when the cylinders are
rotated, whereby great speed is obtainable.
The cylinders are connected in pairs by shafts B, B¹, through the axis or hubs
and parallel to each other, and said shafts are journaled in ball bearings C, secured
to the lower part of a trussed or other suitable frame D, which when the structure
is afloat is high above the surface of the water, by reason of the buoyancy of the
cylinders, and being supported upon the shafts.
Intermediately of the cylinders and built upon the floor of the truss is located
the engine room E, containing a motive power engine G, which by suitable con-
nections or gearing rotates the shafts B, B, and the cylinders, the floats or paddle-
boards then propelling the structure or hull-less boat.
The cargo and berths, saloon &c., are located in a superstructure on the top of the
frame, above the engine room.
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 structure for marine propulsion, or roller boat comprising hollow empty
water-tight cylinders connected in pairs by two parallel shafts, said cylinders

page_text: having floats or paddle-boards on the exterior periphery, transversely, a trussed
frame supported upon the ends of said shafts, and an engine room between said
cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A structure for marine propulsion, or roller boat, comprising two pairs of
hollow empty water-tight- cylinders having a straight face across the periphery,
and floats or paddle-boards thereon, said cylinders connected in pairs by. two
parallel shafts journaled to the lower part of a trussed frame, and a motive power
engine rotating said shafts and cylinders, for propulsion, as set forth.
3. The combination of two pairs of hollow empty cylinders having on the
outer circumference floats or paddle-boards, each pair connected by a shaft one in
advance of the other, a trussed frame having ball bearings for the journals of said
shafts and supported thereon, and a motive power engine intermediately of said
cylinders and carried by said frame, and connected to said shafts to rotate the
cylinders, for propulsion by the floats or paddle-boards, as set forth.
4. A hulless marine structure or roller boat, comprising a trussed frame having
floatage derived from rotating hollow water-tight cylinders, said cylinders having
floats or paddle-boards across the outer circumference, for propulsion, as set forth.
Dotad h: 50
T
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.