450 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE

plate; and 0, D and E are different forms of butts requiring one bolt
only,

Beam Knees.—There are several forms of beam knees as indicated
in Figure 37, A, B9 C and D.

Fig. 37 —Beam Knees.
A is a "bracket" knee, the simplest and easiest type to make. It
is just a plate cut to the triangular shape as shown and riveted to the
beam and to the frame.
B is a "slabbed" knee. The bulb on the bottom edge of the beam
is chipped off along the dotted line and a piece of plain or bulb plate
welded to the beam and cut to a shape to get the desired depth of
knee for a seven rivet connection to the frame as shown.
C is called a "split" knee. The end of the beam is cut inwards, or
split, along the horizontal dotted line, the lower part is bent downwards
to the shape required and the open space filled up by welding on a
piece of plating.
D is a "turned" knee. The end of the beam is turned down as
shown by the dotted curved line and a piece welded in to square off the
upper corner. The depth of a beam knee, as indicated by x9 is at least
three times the depth of the beam and is regulated, together with the
distance across the throat at y, according to the size of the ship and
as set forth in Lloyd's Rules.
Where cargoes such as chilled beef are suspended from the beams
of decks, which may, at the same time, be loaded with cargo above, the
strength of the beams of such cargo decks is increased and also the
scantlings of pillars.
Pillars, in supporting the deck beams, relieve the sides of the vessel
and the beam knees of considerable .stress, and by shortening the
length of the unsupported span of the beam the introduction of a pillar
leads to a reduction in the size of the beam. In addition, pillars serve
to tie the bottom and top of the ship together and assist to prevent
deformation.