THE

REPERTORY

OF

ARTS, MANUFACTURES,

AND

AGRICULTURE.

NUMBER VIII. SECOND SERIES. JAN. 1, 1803.

Specification of the Patent granted to JOHN WHITLEY BOSWELL, of the City of Dublin, Gentleman; for his Method of building or fabricating Ships or Vessels for Navigation. Dated May 20, 1802:

With a Plate.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. Now KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said John Whitley Boswell do hereby declare my invention to be described in manner following; that is to say: My new method of building or constructing. vessels for navigation differs principally from the old mcthod in the placing timbers or ribs lengthwise or hori zontally instead of vertically, by the means hereinafter recited; and in using a framing, consisting of a series of triangles, hereafter described, in such parts of the vessel, and in such cases, as are there mentioned, either to produce a greater strength with the same quantity of materials, or an equal strength for a smaller quantity. By VOL. II.-SECOND SERIES.

M

which

which it is expected much less crooked timber need be used than is now employed, and the danger of using pieces cut across the grain proportionally diminished.

The said new method of building vessels for navigation is contained in the following directions for constructing a vessel in this manner.

First, having determined on the size and shape of the vessel intended to be built, it is to be supposed to be divided by transverse vertical sections at right angles to the keel, at certain distances from each other, (see longitudinal section, Fig. 1, Plate IV.) which distances must depend chiefly on the strength of the materials to be used in constructing the vessel, requiring to be less when the materials are slighter, and admitting of a greater extent when the materials are stronger; therefore there will be fewer of those sections required in the latter case than in the first, but in general they should not be fewer than four. Secondly, having ascertained' the number and places of those sections, a frame must be made of the shape of each section externally, so that the upper part of it may be of the breadth of that part of the deck under which it is to stand, and its sides and bottom may be moulded according to the true shape of the sides and bottom of said section; the more particular construction of which said frames is to be described hereafter. Thirdly, when said frames are formed, each of them is to be erected in the place corresponding to the section of that part of the vessel it is meant to represent as aforesaid, and to be there supported by temporary props or stays, so that the workmen may get at every part of them; the stem-post and stern-post also to be erected in like manner in their proper places. Fourthly, timbers or ribs are then to be laid horizontally from frame to frame, at their outward surfaces, extending from stem-post to stern-post, and to

be

be fastened to the frames and posts by bolts or otherwise; which horizontal ribs are each to be moulded according to the shape of that part of the vessel where it is to lie, and to be of that thickness which the size of the vessel, and the distance of said transverse frames from each other may require, so as to produce sufficient strength. These horizontal ribs are each to be fayed at its extremity into the next which joins it at either end, are to have those junctures near to the frames, and to extend in at least every second case, with a single piece of timber, a foot or two beyond the two frames to which it is to be fastened; and where timbers can be got to extend to three or more frames, they are to be preferred, see Fig. 2, which represents a part of the side of the vessel so constructed. If it should be thought fit to place the said horizontal ribs so that intervals should be between them, a method should be followed in building which will be described more at large hereafter; but should they be placed as close to each other as it is usual to place the vertical ribs in the common method of building, then the next operation should be to fasten planking to them, outside and inside, with trennels or otherwise, at right angles, to the direction of the ribs, or vertically; and if any inconvenience should arise or be apprehended from the vertical position of the outside plank, a sheathing of board may be fastened over it in the usual manner. Wherever the curvature of the bottom of the vessel will admit it, the outside planking should be made to pass between the bottom ribs and the keel; and where the shape will not admit of this, (as near the stern,) I recommend that the inside planks be put on first after the ribs, and their lower extremities made fast to the kelson, or a piece to be for this purpose bolted to the keel inside; and that

the outside planks be rabbetted, and firmly fastened to the keel, as much below this as will give them a firm gripe in the keel. It will facilitate this last operation if two or three of the said hotizontal ribs, next the stern, close to the keel, are not fastened up finally till the inside planks are fastened at the bottom in this part as here directed.

Of forming the Head and Stern.

In forming the head, where the curvature approaches near to a circular form at the stem-post, the horizontal ribs may there be joined to curved pieces, like breasthooks, bolted to the stem-post; and where the angle required is too sharp to admit of this, they may be bolted, or otherwise fastened, to the sten-post, and may be farther secured, if necessary, to an internal piece, to ruņ in the direction of the stem-post, and be well fastened to it. These last directions will also apply to the formation of the stern.

Of the Keel and Kelson.

The keel should either be put on after the outside planking was laid in all parts of the bottom, where the curvature was not too great, over the place of the keel; or, if the keel is desired to be first laid down, the horizontal ribs should be supported in such a manner above it, by pieces of wood, to be afterwards removed, as to admit the part of the planking, before directed to be passed between them and the keel.

The kelson should be placed along over the inside plank, in all parts where it will admit of being so, and be bolted down through it and the horizontal ribs, directly underneath to the keel.

Farther