IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Scott Carmichael, of Edinburgh, in
Scotland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 17th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Scott Carmichael
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th February 1873.
I, WALTER SCOTT CARMICHAEL, of Edinburgh, in Scotland, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:-
.
The objects of this Invention are to so construct ships and vessels that
the prejudicial. effect of the waves thereon shall be quelled, so that
persons travelling in them shall not be rendered liable to sca sickness,
or at all events such liability shall be minimised; and further, that such
vessels shall be improved as regards the propulsion thereof. This I
effect in having a sloping roof or part of one rising from the surface of
the water, or near it, round more or less of the steamer or other vessel

page_text: on which the waves may gradually lose their force, as on the slope of a
breakwater, instead of rushing against perpendicular sides, and perhaps
sweeping the deck. Also in having a clear passage above that roof for
the more furious waves to pass from windward to leeward, and also in
having a small deck above that open space. I also have a cylindrical
tube or tubes extending from stem to stern within the vessel, from one
to cight or more feet in diameter, according to the size of the vessel,
within which or immediately behind which the screw or propeller may
rotate. To lessen the friction of the water the inside of the tube should
be quite smooth, and the fore part about a tenth narrower than the stern 1
part. By adopting this arrangement the water reaches the screw or
propeller directly instead of obliquely, and the stern may thus be made
broader than usual in screw vessels, and should it be found that the
screw or propeller can work with advantage within the tube it will then
be safer from storms, torpedoes, and such like, and then it is likely that 1
so much power will not be lost by the slip of the screw. The pitch
should be small and the diameter nearly as broad as the tube. Tho
water tube will require a grating at the bow to prevent solid substances
from passing in. It will be necessary to have the heaviest parts of the
vessel on the outside at the stem, and so forth, and moveable weights 20
for balancing. But the details of these arrangements may be varied
according to the requirements of the case so long as the construction
comprises the points above mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Walter Scott Carmichael in the Great Seal Patent 20
Office on the 16th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
SCOTT CARMICHAEL, of Edinburgh, in Scotland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year 30
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Walter Scott Carmichael, Her special
licence that I, the said Walter Scott Carmichael, my exccutors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Walter Scott
Carmichael, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Walter Scott
Carmichael, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing,
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Walter Scott Carmichael, 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 :-
The objects of this Invention are to so construct ships and vessels in such
a manner that the prejudicial effect of the waves thercon shall be quelled,
'so that persons travelling in such ships and vessels shall not be rendered
liable to sea sickness, or at all events such liability shall be minimised;
and further, that such vessels shall be improved as regards the propulsion
thercof. This I effect by having a sloping roof or part of one rising
from the surface of the water, or near it, round more or less of the
steamer or other vessel on which the waves may gradually loose their
force, as they do on the slope of a breakwater, instead of rushing against
perpendicular sides, and perhaps sweeping on deck. Also in having
clċar passage way above that roof for the more furious waves to pass
from windward to leeward, and likewise in having a small deck above
that open space. I also have a cylindrical tube or tubes extending
from stem to stern within the vessel, from one to eight or more feet in
diameter, according to the size of the vessel, within which or immediately
behind which the screw or propellor may rotate. To lessen the friction
of the water the inside of the tube should be quite smooth, and the fore
part about a tenth narrower than the stern part. By adopting this
arrangement the water reaches the screw or propellor directly instead
- of obliquely, and the stern may thus be made broader than usual in

page_text: screw vessels, and should it be found that the screw or propellor can
work with advantage within the tube it will then be safer from storms,
torpedoes, and such like, and I anticipate that so much power will not
be lost by the slip of the screw. The pitch should be small, and the
diameter nearly as broad as the tube. The water tube should be provided
with a grating at the bow to prevent solid substances from passing in.
The heaviest parts of the vessel should be on the outside, at the stern
and so forth, and there should be moveable weights for balancing. But
the details of these arrangements may be varied according to the require-
ments of the case so long as the construction comprises the points above
mentioned. However in constructing vessels I usually prefer to adopt
the form of the above mentioned arrangements, which I will now
describe, namely:-
I construct the greater part of the bulwark or sloping roof in the form
of removable panels to be pushed on in rough weather so as to cover the 1
open space over the ordinary deck; these panels to be moveable only
when the force of the waves is nearly expended, which may be at
about 8 or 10 fect above the surface of the sea. The bulwark at
the prow should however I consider be fixed. These open spaces will
render the deck somewhat similar in calm weather to the decks of 2
other vessels; and I propose to give my Invention the name or title of
"the breakwater steamer," because its aim is to neutralize the fury of the
waves in a somewhat similar manner to a breakwater, my aim being to
withdraw important parts within a strong defence as the shell fish does
when it closes its shell. The hull may resemble that of many other 2
steamers up to the water line (except as to the tube or tubes herein
mentioned); that it should have a straight horizontal keel and a per-
pendicular prow. About the water line or a few feet above it the sides
all round are to slope inwards and upwards, making an angle or angles
with the horizon between 30 or 60 degrees, more or less, as may be a
determined upon; the top or roof of this may be flat for about two-
thirds of the length and breadth of the vessel, more or less, and partly
glazed. The upper part of the sloping sides need not be permanently
closed, but have sliding panels, as before mentioned. Two or three feet
above the top or roof, more or less, I would construct an upper deck, 3
light, railed in, supported by strong thin rods or braces, through which
project one or more staircases from the main deck or cabins. Lastly,
for the purpose of defending the screw or screws from torpedoes, ropes,

page_text: chains, and such like, I provide for its rotation within or immediately
behind a tube or tubes. If the friction is found to be too great when
the tubes extend from stem to stern they may extend from the stern
to a part of each side, or one may bifurcate, or the two tubes may be
altogether outside the vessel, and short sails may easily be fixed up
when the wind is favourable.
I consider that a temporary sloping roof would be of advantage even
to sailing vessels, &c., and prevent the serious accidents which occur
when a large wave clears the deck; and I further consider that this plan
will keep the vessel more steady, and thus tend to prevent sea sickness,
and also that it will be much safer for the passengers, the deck, and the
screws.
The foregoing statements particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and indicate in what manner the same is
to be performed or put in practice, and in further compliance with the
condition in the said Letters Patent contained I will now further and
particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice by referring to the Drawings

page_text: be outside of the vessel altogether. The same letters refer to the
transverse section.
In these Drawings I have left out ventilators, braces, cabin fittings,
and many other parts, as these may be arranged according to cir-
cumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
objects of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed or put in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the herein
described Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Ships and
Vessels," it being understood that the sloping sides or top which I have 1
herein-before referred to as a breakwater is an important and peculiar
feature of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Scott Carmichael, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twelfth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 1
three.
WR. S. CARMICHAEL, M.D. (L.S.)
3, Annandale Street, Edinburgh.
Witness,
JAMES MELVILLE,
12, North St. David Street,
Edinburgh.