IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF VESSELS OF WAR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE- WOWS AND ALICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander McLaine, of Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, Shipbuilder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF VESSELS OF WAR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE-
WOWS AND ALICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McLaine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th February 1864.
I, ALEXANDER MOLAINE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ship-
builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF VESSELS OF WAR, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The object of the first part of my Invention is to make comparatively
low-sided armour-clad vessels of war more seaworthy in heavy weather. I
erect above the ordinary deck and armour a raised roof with sides down to
the hull (or what might be called an additional story) constructed principally
of iron, steel, or other metal with or without wooden deck planking. This
upper story is by preference secured to angle irons on the hull by screw bolts
with india-rubber slips for tightening or by rivets. It is constructed to be
wholly or partially removable before going into action. The sides of the
additional story may wholly or partially extend downwards only, and be
secured to bulwarks, it may or may not be continued along the whole vessel.
The guns of the bow battery may be kept wide from the centre of the vessel,

page_text: and the upper story in front of the battery may be constructed so that the
guns can be fired without moving the central portion of the upper story by
merely removing the sides in front of the guns. Or the central portion may
be constructed in a substantial inanner shot-proof with movable sides in
front of the
guns, or the space in front of the guns may be left vacant without
movable sides.
The object of the next part of my Invention is to enable large guns to be
more efficiently and easily carried to the bow batteries of vessels of war. The
guns point through a shot-proof bulkhead placed across the vessel beneath
the level-of the upper deck, and the sides of the bow in front of the guns are
made movable, enabling them to be taken away before going into action.
In order to enable the guns of bow batteries (or the guns of batteries nearer
amidships pointing forward) in vessels of war to be fired with their muzzles
depressed I make a portion of deck and top sides in front of the muzzles when
depressed as aforesaid movable, thereby enabling them to be taken away before
going into action. I also construct the top sides of vessels of war with vacant
spaces in front of the muzzles as aforesaid when depressed without movable
deck and top sides.
The object of the next part of my Invention is to enable the large guns of
bow and stern batteries in vessels of war to be readily moved fore and aft so as
to trim the vessel, and if necessary carry them in a more central position in
heavy weather. I construct one or more rail or tramways on the deck or decks
in a fore and aft direction, along which the guns of the bow and stern batteries
would travel; the rail or tramways are by preference constructed so that at the
extreme roll of the vessel in heavy weather the perpendicular line from the
centre of gravity of the gun would fall inside the rails. I support the rail or
tramways where found desirable from the bottom of the vessel by one or more
ranges of diagonal framework, sets of stanchions, or combination of framework
and stanchions, the framework and stanchions being arranged (or lengthened
if desirable) in order to increase the longitudinal strength of the vessel. I
construct twin screw vessels with two distinct sterns, the vessel being cut in
between the sterns at deck, the object being to reduce displacement when
the after part of the vessel falls in the sea, and allow water to surge up
between the sterns. I construct the keels of twin screw vessels with the lower
line thereof crooked or bent down abaft, that portion beneath the screws
being made lower than a straight line at least nine inches in order to give
greater depth for working the screws. In order to assist vessels to turn
quickly I apply either forward or aft (by preference as much below water line
as possible) a centrifugal pump arranged to work both ways, and draw in the

page_text: water at either side of the vessel and eject it at the other. I work the port
covers in opening and shutting the gun ports in vessels of war with a piston
and cylinder by means of steam or hydraulic power. I construct armour
plating for vessels of war corrugated on the outside and. ribbed on the inside,
the ribs being placed opposite the hollows of the corrugations, the object
being to obtain greater strength and resistance with a minimum of material.
I construct the decks of ships and vessels of steel or other metal plates, either
corrugated, ribbed, or formed with projections of any desired pattern, and fill
up the spaces between the corrugations, ribs, or projections with Portland or
other cement or cover them with deck planking. I construct on or attach
to the after part of the gun carriages or guns of vessels of war a platform,
steps, or seat or other arrangement fixed or movable, upon which the gunner
may stand or sit while taking aim and remain thereon during the recoil, a rest
being added if considered desirable for him to lean against and steady himself
while taking aim and during the recoil. In order to make a tight breech in
breech-loading ordnance for vessels of war, I insert behind the charge a
movable metallic plug tapered at the fore end with a ring or facing of
papier maché, (or other suitable material) fitted to the taper of the plug; the
explosion of the charge drives the ring or facing up the taper of plug, expands
it laterally against the bore of the gun, and makes the breech tight. The
ring or facing may have a metallic front next the charge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander McLaine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MCLAINE, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Shipbuilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander McLaine, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
McLaine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alexander M°Laine, 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

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF VESSELS OF WAR, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander M'Laine, 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 Alexander McLaine, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
The object of the first part of my Invention is to make comparatively low-
sided armour-clad vessels of war more seaworthy in heavy weather. I erect
above their ordinary deck and armour a raised roof with sides down to the
hull (or what might be described as an additional story) constructed prin-
cipally of iron, steel, or other metal, with or without wooden deck planking.
This upper story is by preference secured to angle irons on the hull by screw
bolts, with india-rubber slips for tightening joints, or by rivets stayed inside
and made perfectly seaworthy. It is constructed to be wholly or partially
removable before going into action. The sides of the additional story may
wholly or partially extend downwards and be secured to bulwarks, it may or
may not be continued along the whole vessel. The outer guns of the bow
battery may be kept wide from the centre of the vessel, and the upper story
may be so constructed that the portion in front of the outer guns would be
separately movable, enabling the outer guns to be fired without moving the
central portion of the upper story by merely removing that portion.in front of
the guns. Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 1, shew the plan of a "fixed turret" vessel
fitted with the additional story, Figure 4 being a sheer plan, and Figure 5 a
transverse section of vessel at x or y of Figure 4; h, h, h, h, Figures 4 and 5
is the additional story; h, h, i, i, Figures 4 and 5, are portions of the additional
story made separately movable to enable the outer guns (1, 1, Figure. 5) to be
fired' without moving the central portion i, i, i, i, Figure 5; R, R, Figure 5
are stays to assist in making the additional story seaworthy; Figure: 4,
Sheet 2, shews the additional story extending downwards only and secured to
bulwarks; R, R, R, R, is the additional story; S, S, are the bulwarks.

page_text: The object of the second part of my Invention is to enable the guns of bow
and stern batteries, or the outer guns of batteries nearer amidships, pointing
forward or aft in vessels of war to be fired with their muzzles depressed, I
make a portion of deck and top sides in front of the muzzles when depressed
as aforesaid movable, thereby enabling them to be taken away before going
into action; the movable portions are by preference secured by screw bolts
to angles irons on the hull, with india-rubber slips for tightening joints, and'
made perfectly seaworthy. I also construct the top sides of vessels of war
with recessed vacant spaces in front of the muzzles of the outer guns as
aforesaid when depressed, without movable deck and top sides.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, are plans of a vessel shewing these improvements.
Figure 1 is a sheer plan; Figure 2 a cross section at a of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 a cross section at y of Figure 1; C, C, C, Figures 2 and 3, are
recessed spaces c, b, c, Figure 1, 2, and 3, are movable portions of deck and
top sides in front of outer guns.
The object of the third part of my Invention is to enable very heavy guns
to be carried in vessels of war, and to enable them to be readily moved fore
and aft to trim the vessel, and to be carried, if desirable, in a more central
position in heavy weather. I construct in a fore and aft direction, along the
decks of vessels of war, fixed rail or tramways for carrying guns in such a
manner that the ordinary roll of the vessel will not make guns roll off the rails
or tramways. By preference I keep the rails wide apart, the gun low, and the
wheels grooved and angled outwards, as shewn in the Drawings herein-after
referred to, so that at the extreme roll of the vessel in heavy weather a per-
pendicular from the centre of gravity of the gun would fall within the rails.
Sheets 1, 2, and 3 shew railways as described; D, D, D, D, Figures 1 and 4,
Sheet 1, and C, C, C, C, Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 2, the railways;
D, D, D, D, .Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 3, upper deck railways; e, e, e, 6,
Figures 1 and 3, Sheet 3, main deck railway; Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, and
Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 3, are cross sections. of guns mounted on railways as
described and arranged for angles of rolling from 54 to 69 degrees each
way.
The object of the fourth part of my Invention is the support of rail or
tramways as described, so as to enable them to carry heavy guns and with-
stand downward recoil when guns are fired. I support the said rail or tramways
by one or more ranges of diagonal framework, sets of stanchions or combi-
nation of stanchions and framework, by.preference. extending down to the
bottom of the vessel; such diagonal framewok as aforesaid being, if desirable,
lengthened fore and aft and constructed so as to increase the longitudinal

page_text: strength of the vessel. Sheet 2 shows the diagonal framework and stanchions;
d, d, d, d, Figures 1 and 3, the diagonal framework; R, R. R, R, Figures 1
and 4, the stanchions.
The object of the fifth part of my Invention is to make twin screw vessels
more seaworthy in heavy weather. I construct them with two distinct sterns
separated at deck, substantially as shewn in Figure 5, Sheet 2, at b, b, b, b, by
preference the displacement of the two sterns when falling in a sea is not to
exceed that of an ordinary single stern.
The object of the sixth part of my Invention is to increase the speed and
seaworthy qualities of twin screw vessels by giving greater depth for working
the screws. I construct the keels of twin screw vessels with the lower line
thereof crooked or bent down abaft, that portion beneath the screws being
made lower than a straight line by at least 9 inches; Sheet 2 shows crook
down in keels; b, b, b, Figure 1, represents the straight line of lower side of
keels; a, a, a, the crook down or bend under the screws.
The object of the seventh part of my Invention is to enable very heavy port
covers in vessels of war to be readily worked. I apply hydraulic power to the
port covers in vessels of war for opening and shutting the gun ports, by
preferenco by means of a piston and cylinder, as shewn in Sheets 1, 2, and 3,
e, e, e, e, Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 1, h, h, Figure 1, Sheet 2, and j, j, Figure 1,
- Sheet 3, are hydraulic cylinders with pistons and rods connected to the port
covers; f. ff. f, Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 1, i, i, Figures 1, and 5, Sheet 2,
and i, i, Figures 1 and 3, Sheet 3, are port covers.
The object of the eighth part of my Invention is to increase the accuracy
of fire of heavy guns in vessels of war. I construct on or attach to the after
part of the guns or gun carriages of vessels of war, a platform, seat, or steps,
fixed or movable, for the gunner to stand or sit upon while taking aim, and to
remain thereon during the recoil, a rest being added if necessary for the gunner
to lean against and steady himself while taking ain and during the recoil; v, v,
Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 1, and j, j, Figures 1 and 5, Sheet 2, shew the platform
or seat fixed to the gun carriage. The movable seat is shewn attached to the
gun carriage at c, c, Figures 1, 2 and 3, Sheet 3, and on a larger scale in
Figure 6, Sheet 3, it is connected to sliding bars X, X, and is made movable
to diminish the suddenness of the recoil on the gun being fired by sliding
towards the gun, until checked by the force of coiled springs y, y; % is a bar
.connected to the seat formed with a ratchet into which a paul is free to fall
to retain the seat and prevent any rebound from the action of the springs.
'After the firing the paul is released and the parts resume their position shown
at Figure 6, Sheet 3. The movable seat is shewn attached to a gun at

page_text: Figure 7, Sheet 3. I do not limit myself to any particular mechanism or
arrangement for attaching the platform, seat, or steps to the gun or gun carriage,
or for causing them to become movable.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the construction above the ordinary deck and armour of comparatively
low-sided vessels of war of an additional story, wholly or partly movable,
substantially as described.
Second, the construction of recessed spaces and of movable deck and sides
in front of guns with muzzles depressed, substantially as described in the
second part of this Specification.
Third, constructing ships and vessels of war with rail or tramways, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth, supporting fixed fore and aft railways on board vessels of war in
manner herein-before described.
Fifth, the construction of twin screw vessels with two distinct sterns
separated at deck, substantially as described.
Sixth, the construction of the after part of keels of twin screw vessels
substantially as described.
Seventh, working port covers in ships and vessels by hydraulic power.
Eighth, the construction as part of the equipment of vessels of war of a
fixed platform, seat, or steps, with or without a rest upon the after part of guns
or gun carriages, substantially as described.
And, last, fitting a platform, seat, or steps to the after part of guns or gun
carriages as part of the equipment of vessels of war, in such manner as to
cause them and the gun to approach each other on the firing of the
gun.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander McLaine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
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