CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, ARMAMENT, AND EQUIP. MENT OF DATTERIES, FLUATING OR OTHERWISE, FOR
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Bourne, of Georgetown, in the
County of Demerara, Colony of British Guiaus, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, ARMAMENT, AND EQUIP.
MENT OF DATTERIES, FLUATING OR OTHERWISE, FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Bourne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th July 1861.
1, JOHN FREDERICK BOURNE, of Georgetown, in the County of Demerara,
Colony of British Guiana, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, ARMAMENT, AND EQUIP
MENT OF BATTERIES, FLOATING OR OTHERWISE, FOR WAR PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
Firstly, I form the defensive sides of a floating or fixed battery of three or
more layers of plates, bars, and angle or T-iron. The outer layer consists of
armour plates as at present; the central layer consists of plates or bars of iron
placed diagonally, if there be more than one central layer they may be crossed
and recrossed; the inner series of bars or plates is placed vertically in the
position of ribs or "timbers." The whole are bolted together.

page_text: In a floating battery for the protection of harbours or coasts, I bend the
vertical bars, angle or T-iron forming the inner series of ribs, to the form of
an ellipse of which the greater diameter forms the "breadth of beam," and
the lesser diameter the depth of the vessel, so as to give great stability; and
I plate over with diagonal bars or plates and light armour plates the upper
portion of the vessel, so as to protect the decks and crewentirely from shot
and shells. The hatches or entrance ports in this housing over may be
effectually closed when necessary. Ventilation is effected by steam ower,
and by steam power alone the vessel is propelled; I dispense entirely with
masts, rigging, and their accompanying upper weight. I do not, however,
confine myself to this form of battery, as my improvements are applicable to
batteries of any form.
Secondly, I place between the layers of plates thin sheets of india-rubber or
a sheathing of felt or other substance saturated with india-rubber and other
compounds, and I place thin ribbons of india-rubber between the edges of the
armour plates.
Thirdly, instead of passing the bolts which secure the armour plates to the
sides of a stone, wood, iron, or other battery, through holes in said plates, asis
at present the custom, I weld the bolts to the armour plates. The strength
of the plates is thus greatly increased and the bolts are not liable to be
loosened or driven in.
Fourthly, I form the porthole in circular moulds or rings of wrought iron,
in such manner that when bolted to the side of the battery it may serve as
a socket for the head or ball end of a combined gun carriage and traversing
platform. The ball and socket joint thus forms a front pivot for the gun,
both in its horizontal and vertical movements. The ball or head of the
carriage is sufficiently large and hollow for the muzzle of the gun (the swell
being turned off) to run into and project slightly beyond it. The gun in
recoiling slides back parallel with its own traversing platform. The slide
being curved down in the rearthen elevates the muzzle sufficiently for loading.
The weight of the rear of the platform is partially counterbalanced by elastic
supports so as to allow of full vertical motion being given to the platform or
carriage and gun by the elevating screws.
Fifthly, I lay the gun by means of guide rods, with an appropriate small
sight hole in the side of the battery distinct from the porthole, which is
entirely closed by the head of the carriage and muzzle of the gun.
Sixthly, instead of the ordinary breechings, compressors and tackle to check
the recoil of the gun, I use elastic ropes of india-rubber properly prepared,

page_text: or of india-rubber combined with spiral springs, as breech and preventer
ropes to the gun in such way that being extended by the recoil of the gun
they may run it up again or assist in running it up again when loaded, thus
at the same time checking and utilizing the recoil of the gun and saving
time and manual labour.
Seventhly, I also construct an iron plated floating battery by stripping the
planking from any strongly built ship of war to a line say about five feet
below the water line. In the upper edge of the planking then left I cut a
bevelled rebate and a groove sufficiently large to receive the edge of a layer
of diagonal iron bars or plates, the said edges and rebate being covered with
india-rubber ribbon or sheeting as a caulking, and to protect the planking
from contact with the iron. The diagonal plates are bolted to the timbers.
In putting the copper sheathing on to the plarking of the ship's bottom the
upper half sheets of the upper tier of sheets is passed over the bevelled rebate
and the lower ends of the diagonal plates. The armour plates are put on
over the half sheet of copper, always with the elastic substance between the
two. The armour plates pass their bolts through the diagonal plates and
through or between the timbers to ceiling bars of ☐ or double angle iron
placed horizontally inside the timbers, inside of which ceiling bars they are
secured by nuts. The opposite sides of the floating battery are tied together
by strong iron tie rods and bulkheads formed of plates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Frederick Bourne in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FREDERICK BOURNE, of Georgetown, in the County of Demerara, Colony of
British Guiana, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Frederick Bourne, Her special licence that I, the said
John Frederick Bourne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Frederick Bourne, my executors, administrators
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to

page_text: 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 CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, ARMAMENT,
AND EQUIPMENT OF BATTERIES, FLOATING OR OTHERWISE, FOR WAR PURPOSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Frederick Bourne, 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 John Frederick Bourne do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
First, I form the defensive sides of a floating or fixed battery-of-three or
more layers or thicknesses of iron plates, or of plates, bars, and angle or T-iron.
The outer layer consists of armour plates, which may be either plain or convex
on the outer surface, and may be either square, oblong, triangular, or of any
other shape to suit the form of the battery. The central layer consists of bars
or plates of iron placed diagonally or with their joints and edges crossing at an
angle of forty-five degrees (more or less) the joints and plates edges of the
outer and inner layers. If more than one central layer be used, the layers
may be crossed and recrossed with reference to each other and to the outer
plates. These diagonal or central plates are bolted or rivetted to the inner
plates. The inner series of bars or plates I prefer to place vertically or at
right angles with the horizontal lines of the outer series of plates, that is to
say, in the position of ribs or timbers in a ship. This inner series may,
however,consist of plates riverted together in the ordinary wayandstrengthened
by Tor angle iron. And the diagonal plates may be bolted or rivetted to
them either externally or internally, so that that which I describe as the inner
layer or series may become the central layer or series, and vice versâ. But
I prefer making the inner layer either of flanged plates bolted or rivetted
together in a vertical position the better to "break joint" with the outer
horizontal plates, or else of ribs of T or angle iron, with plain vertical plates
bolted or rivetted to them.
In building a floating battery such as would be most suitable for the

page_text: protection of harbours, naval arsenals, and coasts, I bend the vertical bars or
ribs of angle or T-iron to the form of an ellipse, of which the greater diameter
forms the breadth of beam, and the lesser diameter the depth of the vessel, so
as to give very great stability. The plates may be bent where necessary to
form segments of the ellipse corresponding with the elliptical form of the ribs
to which they are bolted. If the battery be intended for coasting in shallow
waters, I enlarge the lower radius of the ellipse, so as to make the bottom as
flat as possible, and it may be of only one thickness of boiler plates in the
ordinary way, for the sake of lightness of draught. In this case I prefer to use
two keels instead of one. The upper portion of the elliptic ribs being plated
over like the sides with diagonal band plates and light armour plates, forms a
housing over and protection to the decks and crew from everything but the
heaviest shot from rifled guns at short ranges. The hatches and entrance
ports in this housing over may be effectually closed when necessary by water-
tight bomb-proof slides. Ventilation is effected by steam power and large
funnels. To get rid of the top hamper weight and expence of masts and
rigging, and' e exposure and expence of the requisite number of seamen for
working ils, I employ steam power alone for propulsion. I consider a
battery of this description especially adapted for the protection of coasts and
harbours, as the expence of maintaining them in these positions would be
comparatively trifling. Two or three engineers and artillerymen would keep
them in order in time of peace, and the quantity of fuel used need be but
enough to put the machinery round at stated intervals; this would leave all
Her Majesty's ships and seamen available for other stations. I do not, how
ever, confine myself to this form of battery, as myimprovements are applicable
to batteries of any form.
Secondly, I place between the layers of plates thin sheets of india-rubber, or
sheets of anythickness of other elastic or slightlyyielding substances, as gutta
percha or felt saturated with a composition of india-rubber and other
substances, or felt, paper, or pasteboard, which may be saturated or coated with
tar or other substances, in the usual way of rendering such sheets impervious
to water. Or I use asphalte mixed with lime or with lime and sawdust, to
form a water-tight bed for each armour plate. And when putting on the
armour plates I introduce between the edges of contiguous plates, ribbons, or
sheets of india-rubber or other before mentioned materials.
Thirdly,anotherimportant part of myimprovements consists inthe mode by
which armourplatesaresecured to the defensive partsofabattery, whethersuch
battery be of stone, brick, wood, or iron. It is well known that in any plate

page_text: which has to bear constant violent blows as, e.g., of heavy shot, any hole in
the plate or notch in thesideof the plate forms a nucleus orpointof divergence
for fractures. This part of my Invention is intended to obviate the objection
to the present mode of securing iron plates to the sides of batteries caused by
boring holes in such plates for the purpose of passing bolts through them;
instead of boring holes through the armour plates of batteries for the intro-
duction of bolts to secure the plates to their timber, iron, or other bed, I weld
the end of the bolt to the inner side or to the edge of the plates or bars in the
same manner as the spokes of my patent weeels are welded to the naves and
felloes or tyres, as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me
and to John-Bartley, dated September Sixth, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-eight, No. 7795. Or they may be welded in any other manner, or
may even be made from a mould at the iron works without separate welding;
but I prefer, as by far the easiest method, to "jump" the bolt on to the plate
at the welding heat, finishing off the welding by inserting the bolt into a hole
in a "swage" block, and hammering the outer side thereupon,so as to perfect
the joint and keep the bolt in its exact position. By the use of a Nasmyth's
or other steam.hammer, this process will be effected in less time and with less
expense than the drilling and countersinking the holes and forming the head
of the bolt in the ordinary manner. And the junction is so effectual and
homogeneous throughout that I have seen the spoke of a locomotive wheel
break on the trial rather than give way in the welding of the tyre. Whatever
be the form of armour plate, this process is equally applicable to it. But to
secure plates of great size and thickness, I prefer to fix such plates without
any bolts on or through them to the side of the battery alternately with long
narrow bolt plates, i.e., plates or thick bars, having bolts welded to them, as
above described. The bolt plates in section are wider on their outer surface
than on the inner surface, and the large plates are the reverse, viz., larger on
the inner surface than on the outer,so that a large plate, say 20 feet by 4 feet
by 5 inches may be held as in a dovetail between two bolt plates, say each
20 feet by 7 inches by 7 inches, but convex on the outer surface. I prefer
making the bolt plate convex not only for the purpose of giving additional
strength to the plates, but also to diminish the probability of its being struck
at right angles to the general plane or near the edge. The internal ends or
points of the bolts may either be screwed and fitted with a nut, or the bolts
may be split bolts, each made of two portions of half round iron wrought
together,to be passed through a round hole and opened in a counter sink by a
steel wedge, the ends of the bolts being then rivetted over the wedge. It is

page_text: evident that a plate secured to the side of a battery is strengthened by the
addition of the bolts, the bolt itself adding to the strength of the plate.
Fourthly, in order to reduce the size of the portholes or openings, through
which guns may be fired, to a minimum, I form the porthole of any battery in
large circular moulds or rings of wrought irom, one fitted to the outside of the
battery or vessel, and one inside, at suitable openings to be left for the same in
the armour and other plates. Each of these rings is bored out with a concave
dishing, or countersink in such way, that when bolted together in their places
they serve as a socket for the head or ball end of the carriage or traversing
platform hereafter described, on which the gun is mounted. The inner ring is
made in two halves or semicircles, the lower half being bolted on first, and the
upper half being bolted in after the head of the carriage has been put into its
place; and either of the rings may be made, if preferred, in segments, and their
external circumferences may either be circular, as already specified, or may be
square or oblong, or of any suitable shape to fit the adjacent edges of the
armour and other plates.
The cheeks of the gun carriage or platform (for my improved gun carriage
is a combination of the two)are made chiefly ofwrought-iron plates strengthened
with angle iron; the two cheeks being tied together at a sufficient distance
from one another for the gun to fit in between them by transverse plates
strengthened like the cheeks with angle iron. These cheeks are fitted with
horizontal slides, one pair to each cheek, similar to those for the piston rod of
a locomotive engine, but curving down in the rear.
The trunnions of the gun are fitted with slide blocks to run easily in these
slides, and a sling of wrought iron, also fitted with slide blocks on its
trunnions is fixed in any convenient way to the base ring, cascable, or button
of the gun. This sling supports the breech and carries the gun in a position
parallel with the slides when the gun is run forward, and gives the muzzle
a slight elevation when the breech slide blocks run down the curve of the
slides in the recoil. Both slides aud blocks are to be kept clean and oiled, 60
that the gun may run smoothly and easily back or forward, and I fix a pawl
or ratchett with a spring to engage it and hold the gun steady at its point of
extreme recoil. These cheeks of the carriage or platform are brought
together in front (being hammered when hot in a "swage block" accurately
shaped for the purpose) their inner sides forming a cylindrical or conica!
opening, through which the muzzle of the gun (the swell being turned off so
as to lessen the opening) can run and slightly protrude. The outersides of
the cheeks in front are hooped together by a large brass or iron ring driven or

page_text: shrunk on, and turned externally with such convexity as to fit the hollow socket
or circular porthole already described. This ball and socket joint thus forms
a front pivot for the platform and gun, both in their horizontal and vertical
movements. The centre and rear of the platform may be supported by strong
helical springs, so as partially to counterbalance the weight of the gun and
carriage and to allow of full vertical motion being given to it by the elevating
screws. The lower part of each of these helical springs and elevating screws
rests upon a small traversing carriage with hollow soled trucks, running upon
Colonel Colquhoun's raised racers. This carriage is tied to the front of the
platform by iron tie rods with joints at each end to allow a slight vertical play.
The upper part of each of the springs bears up the cheek of the platform, in
which duty it assists the elevating screws. The springs are thus interposed
between the traversing carriage and the cheeks of the platform which carry the
gun. For it will be seen that I reverse the usual positions of the carriage and
platform. In my plan the gun slides freely parallel with and between the
cheeks of the platform, which is itself elevated or depressed in the rear on a
front pivot, and-my-carriage supports the rear of the platform, and traverses
on racers, having their imaginary pivots or radial centres in the muzzle of the
gun when run out.
great
I use two strong elevating screws to each gun, which are worked with,
rapidity by means of toothed wheels fixed upon either the male or female screw
as required. These wheels are made to revolve by two endless screws on a
horizontal shaft, with a fly or hand wheel and handle on each side of the
platform. By these hand wheels the gun will be elevated or depressed by two
members of the gun detachment as at present.
The guns in any steam vessel may be elevated and worked by hydraulic
power by methods obvious to any competent mechanic. To steady the gun in
a floating battery, I give further support to the rear of the carriage by strong
elastic ropes or slings passing down to the platform from overhead. To
the exterior of the porthole I fix with a strong hinge a circular iron port, plug,
or stopper. The upper part of its inner surface has a projecting piece, against
which the gun presses when it is run out, causing this port to open. When
the gun recoils the port falls shut. In the rear of the platform I fix a buffer
similar to those in use on railways, in such position that it may receive the
breech of the gun and prevent damage by any excessive recoil.
Whenever a breech-loading gun, not requiring recoil, may be used, I then
cast or otherwise superfix a portion of a large ball round the muzzle or second
reinforce of the gun itself, which ball works in the concave porthole as described

page_text: Any platform or carriage will not then be necessary, but only any OUVIOUS
heans for traversing & security.
gun
has
Fifthly, as the porthole is entirely closed (by an iron port when the
ecoiled, and by the muzzle of the gun when it is run out) I lay the gun by
means of sight and guide rods, with an appropriate sight hole in the face of
he battery.
When the sight rod, moving on a pivot in the sight hole and held at the
other end to the eye of the captain of the gun, is laid exactly on the mark, the
guide rod forms a line parallel with the axis of the piece when it is correctly
laid. To effect this, the two rods are connected together by two connecting
pieces and joints, similar to those of a parallel ruler; but one of the connecting
pieces can be lengthened by a slide forming a tangent scale, according to the
distance of the object, so that the guide rod will diverge the more from
parallelism with the sight rod as this distance increases. As soon as the gun
is brought parallel with the guide rod, both in its vertical and horizontal plane,
that is the time to fire. Many obvious and simple modes, therefore, of firing
with exactitude by galvanic or electrical action will occur to an electrician, to
the great saving of time and ammunition.
Sixthly, instead of the ordinary breechings and compressors to check the
recoil of the gun, I use elastic ropes of india-rubber properly prepared, or of
india-rubberlaid over or otherwise combined with spiral springs, as breech and
preventer ropes to the guns, in such way that being extended by the recoil of
the gun, they may run it up again when loaded; thus at the same time
checking and utilizing the recoil of the gun and saving time and manual labor.
Though these elastic breechings and check ropes are particularly adapted for
the carriage described by ine on which the gun runs out or back easily on
greased slides, and only has to be released from the pall and started with a
lever to run forward again, yet they may be applied with great advantage to
carriages of the ordinary description.
Seventhly, I also construct an iron-plated floating battery by stripping the
external planking from any strongly built wooden ship of war to a line, say
about five feet below the water line. In the upper edge of the planking then
left, I cut a rebate square or bevelled or a groove sufficiently large to receive
the ends of diagonal iron bars or plates,the said ends and rebate being covered
with india-rubber ribbon or sheeting as a caulking, and to protect the planking
from contact with the iron. The diagonal bars or plates having their lower
euds inserted in the groove or rebate are then bolted to the timbers diagonally
over the whole side or as far as it is thought necessary to fix on the armour

page_text: plates. In putting the copper sheathing on to the planking of the ship's
bottom, the upper half sheets of the upper tier of sheets is passed over the
front edge of the rebate and up the outer side of the lower ends of the diagonal
plates. The lower tier of armour plates is then put on over the half sheet of
copper, always with the elastic sheeting or caulking between iron and copper
or iron and plank. The lower edge of the armour plate may be bevelled or
formed with a rebate, if necessary, to fit over the coppered planking, and insure
a good and tight joint. The bolts of the armour plates are passed through the
diagonal plates to ceiling bars of or double angle iron placed horizontally
inside the timbers, inside of which ceiling bars they are secured by nuts. The
two-sides-of-the-floating battery are tied together by strong iron tie rods and
bulkheads formed of iron plates.
I do not claim as my Invention any particular external form of battery,
whether floating or otherwise; nor do I claim the use of steam only for pro-
pulsion, and the disuse of masts and rigging, this being only mentioned by me
as preferable for batteries for coast defences; nor do I claim the use of steam
power for ventilation, and to get rid of smoke; nor do I claim the Invention
of the "jump joint" in welding iron generally; but what I claim as my
Invention is,
First, the use of three or more layers, strata, or thicknesses of plates, or
plates and bars in the construction of the defensive parts of the battery in the
manner herein described by me; and I also claim the mode of protecting
the decks and crew by continuing the sides so built in an arch or vaulting
overhead.
Secondly, I claim as my Invention the use of india-rubber, commonly so
called, or other clastic gum placed in thin sheets between the surfaces and
edges of the plates and timber, or between the plates and timber or other
material and in building an iron-plated battery.
I claim also the use of asphalte, or asphalte mixed with lime and sawdust,
as a waterproof bed, in which iron armour plates may be laid.
Thirdly,I claim as my Invention the mode of securing armour plates to the
defensive parts of batteries by means of bolts welded to any plates which may
be required to be bolted on, and the mode of securing large plates, as herein
described.
Fourthly, I claim as my Invention the gun carriage or traversing platform,
as berein described, and the circular concave porthole with the ball pivot on
the platform or gun to work therein.
Fifthly, I claim as my Invention the mode of laying guns by means of guide

page_text: rods, with a sight hole in the face of the battery, distinct from the porthole,as
herein described.
Sixthly, I claim as my Invention the application of elastic breechings and
other ropes in the working of guns, as herein described.
Seventhly, I claim the mode herein described of converting a wooden ship
into an iron-plated battery, by the use of a series of diagonal plates or bars of
iron between the timbers and the armour plates with india-rubber sheathing or
caulking.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Bourne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our
T
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
JOHN FREDERICK BOURNE. (L.S.)
AUGUSTUS FRED*. GORE,
Assist. Gov. Sec. of the Colony of
British Guiana,
Ja of December 1861