IMPROVEMENTS IN LAND AND SEA BATTERIES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR Obtaining Steady SALOONS, PLATFORMS, OR SUPPORTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES ON BOARD SHIP
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Allan, of Scarborough, in the County
of York, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAND
AND SEA BATTERIES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
Obtaining Steady SALOONS, PLATFORMS, OR SUPPORTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
ON BOARD SHIP."
Sealed the 6th June 1873, and dated the 11th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Allan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th December 1872.
I, ALEXANDER ALLAN, of Scarborough, in the County of York, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LAND AND SEA BATTERIES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OBTAINING STEADY SALOONS, PLATFORMS, OR SUPPORTS FOR
VARIOUS PURPOSES ON BOARD SHIP," to be as follows:
This Invention relates principally to improved modes of adapting
and applying floating supports for land or sca batteries, or for saloons

page_text: or such other objects on board ship as it may be desirable to keep
steady.
The Invention also comprises improved means for resisting or dis-
posing of the discharge recoil of the guns, and an improved arrangement
of the sights, together with various minor details connected with the
batteries.
In carrying out the Invention in the case of land batteries a circular
tank or dock is excavated in rock, or it is constructed of stone, or of
blocks of artificial stone, or of concrete, which may be moulded on the
spot in the form of segments. The dock or tank may also be con-
structed of iron or timber, or of a combination of either or both these
with stone, earth, or other material.
The platform or deck for the gun or guns is constructed upon a hollow
water-tight caisson of sufficient capacity to float on water, with which
the dock is partly filled. This caisson is of a circular form in plan, and
smaller than the dock, so as to admit of its turning freely within the
latter. The caisson with its gun or guns is lowered for loading by
discharging the water from the dock, & is again raised for firing by
refilling the dock with water.
If the gun is not in a diametrical or radial position on the deck the
discharge recoil will tend to give the caisson a rotatory motion, which
may be gradually resisted, & finally stopped by applying brake blocks
to the side of the dock or against any fixed part.
For the purpose of lessening the shock of the recoil on the caisson
the gun carriage is set on inclined slides, and its back end bears against
a series of buffer heads, each rod of which passes through a series of cells
formed in a casing, & has applied to it in each cell a spring of steel or
rubber, whilst the front end of the carriage is connected to draw rods
acted on by another similar series of springs arranged in cells.
Instead of the entire caisson turning with the recoil the rotation may
take place wholly or partly in an upper platform set on rollers or wheels,
so as to be capable of turning upon the caisson; & instead of the
caisson being raised & lowered, or in addition thereto, armour plate
shields or defences may be erected on the gun caisson or on separate
segment shaped caissons floated on an annular canal or moat formed
outside of the central dock.

page_text: The floating of the gun platform or deck, as has been described, gives
great facilities for training the guns in any required direction, & the
floating shields in the moat may also be easily moved, so as to open
at any point for the discharge of a gun whilst protecting other parts.
Advantage is taken of the fact that the platform moves with the gun
in training to arrange the sights for taking aim on brackets _set as far
apart as conveniently obtainable, & in a line parallel with the axis of
the gun, & as near the gun as possible. In this way double the usual
distance between the sights may be obtained, & greater accuracy of aim
be thereby secured.
The caisson is kept concentric & steady in its motion by being centered
on a vertical pillar fixed in the bottom of the dock.
In the case of sea batteries a dock or tank is constructed within the
ship, but it is made of a spherical form (that is like more or less of a
sphere), & the bottom of the caisson or floating gun support is made
spherical also with a somewhat shorter radius than that of the dock.
Sufficient water is filled into the dock to float the caisson in a concentric
position, & the caisson being weighted or ballasted to float with its
platform level it is expected that it will maintain that position notwith-
standing the angular motions to which the ship is subject at sea. The
very great advantages of such a level or steady gun deck are sufficiently
obvious.
Saloons or cabins may also be constructed within, & on a similar
spherical caisson, & floated in a spherical dock constructed in the ship
with the view of obtaining steadiness & freedom from angular motion at
sea, & so as, if possible, to get rid of sea sickness.
Any structure or object on board ship which it is wished to keep
steady may be arranged in a similar way in a spherical dock or tank of a
suitable size. Thus, for example, a single sleeping berth or a platform
with table & seats may be supported in that way.
In all cases where the spherical dock & caisson are used it is preferred
to guide the caisson by connecting it to the framework of the ship by a
ball & socket joint, or the equivalent thereof, situated or acting con-
centrically with the spherical surface.
In the case of single berths, or comparatively small objects, two
trunnions projecting at opposite sides in the horizontal axis of the

page_text: caisson or floating body may be arranged to work in vertical grooves in
the sides of the dock or tank, which arrangement will be equivalent to a
ball & socket joint.
The spherical form of the dock & floating body may be restricted to a
zone forming the sides, whilst the bottoms may be flat or of other shapes,
provided enough space is left between the tank & floating body for the
relative movements of the latter.
Floating platforms or decks arranged on board ships in the manner
herein-before described may be connected by ropes or chains passing
over pulleys or by rods to pumps or other mechanism, so that the
angular motion of the ship & consequent relative motion of the
platforms or decks may be availed of for working such mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Allan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ALLAN, of Scarborough, in the County of York, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Allan, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Allan, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Allan,
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 LAND AND SEA BATTERIES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OBTAINING STEADY SALOONS, PLATFORMS, OR SUPPORTS FOR
VARIOUS PURPOSES ON BOARD SHIP," upon the condition (amongst. others)
that I, the said Alexander Allan, my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: 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 Allan, 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 in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say
My said Invention relates principally. to improved modes of adapting
and applying floating supports for land or sea batteries, or for saloons or
such other objects on board ship as it may be desirable to keep steady.
My Invention also comprises improved means for resisting or disposing
of the discharge recoil of the guns and an improved arrangement of the
sights, together with various minor details connected with the batteries.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets
of explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing
by way of example' some of the numerous modifications in which my
improvements may be embodied. In these Drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated; which arrangement, whilst avoiding confusion, renders it
unnccessary to repeat the description of similar parts in the different
modifications. The Drawings are simply illustrative diagrams, and in them
the elaborate delineation of various minute details and other parts has not
been attempted where it is not considered necessary to the explanation
of the essential features of my Invention; and it is to be understood
that when in hereafter referring to any parts the constructive details or
manner of fitting or putting together are not particularised, I intend
them to be as in similar existing parts or structures.
In carrying out my Invention in the case of land batterics I construct
a circular tank or dock 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 on Sheet 1 of the
Drawings, Figure 1 being a plan, and Figures 2, 3, 4, diametrical vertical
sections. This dock is either excavated in rock, as shown in Figure 3,
or it is constructed of stouc, or of blocks of artificial stone, or of concrete,

page_text: as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, which blocks may be moulded on the spot
in the form of segments. The dock 1 may also be constructed of iron
or timber, or of a combination of either or both these with stone, earth,
or other material.
It will in many cases be convenient for the dock 1 to form the centre
of a circular fort of slight elevation, and if wished the structure may be
protected by armour plates 2 fixed on the external slope.
The platform or deck for the gun or guns 3 is constructed upon a
bollow water-tight caisson 4 of sufficient capacity to float on water, with
which the dock 1 is partly filled. This caisson 4 is of a circular form in
plan, and at least as much smaller than the dock 1 as to admit of its
turning freely within the latter. The caisson 4, with its gun or guns 3,
is lowered for loading by discharging a portion of the water from the
dock, and is again raised for firing by refilling the dock with water.
Where there is a convenient outfall for the water discharged from the
dock, any convenient sluice or stop valve 5 may be fitted for controlling
the discharge, and a similar valve may be used for admitting the water
from a suitably elevated reservoir or source, and a float cock 6 may be
used for maintaining a particular level when required.
In some cases it will be necessary to pump the water for lowering or a
raising the caisson.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of one modification of the caisson 4 or
floating gun deck, and showing the outline of the dock 1. In the upper
part of the Figure the dock 7 is supposed removed to exhibit the framing
beneath. Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation corresponding to Figure 5,
the left-hand half being supposed sectioned, so as also to show the
internal framing, the whole being a strong cellular structure composed
of horizontal and vertical plates connected by angle iron, as will be easily
understood from the Drawing.
If the gun (3) is not in a diametrical or radial position on the deck 7,
the discharge recoil will tend to give the caisson 4 a rotatory motion,
which may be gradually resisted and finally stopped by applying brake
blocks to the side of the dock 1, or against any fixed part. Such a brako
with its actuating lever is shown at 8, in Figures 9 and 11.
For the purpose of lessening the shock of the recoil on the caisson 4,
the gun carriage 9 is set on slides 10, which may be inclined, as shown

page_text: in Figures 2 and 3, or horizontal, as in Figures 4 and 6, and a cross beam
at its base bears against a series of buffer heads 11, each rod of which
passes through a series of cells formed in a casing 12, and has applied to
it in each cell a spring 13 of steel or rubber, whilst the front end of the
carriage 9 is connected to draw rods 14, acted on by another similar
series of springs 13 in cells in a casing 15. Portions of these parts are
shown enlarged in horizontal section in Figures 7 and 8.
Instead of the entire caisson 4 turning with the recoil the rotation
may take place wholly or partly in an upper platform, set on rollers or
wheels so as to be capable of turning upon the deck 7 of the caisson;
and instead of the caisson 4 being raised and lowered, or in addition
thereto, armour plate shields 16, 17, may be erected on the gun caisson 4,
or on separate segment shaped caissons 18, floated on an annular canal
or moat 19, formed outside of the central dock 1, as shown in Figure 4.
The floating of the gun platform or deck 7, as has been described,
gives great facilities for training the guns 3 in any required direction;
and the floating shields 17 in the moat 19 may also be easily moved, so
as to open at any point for the discharge of a gun, whilst protecting
other parts.
The training may be effected by means of one or more simple hand
levers 20, or by means of friction wheels 21 bearing against the sides of
the dock, and worked through a pinion and spur wheel from a hand
wheel 22 inside of the caisson 4, the friction wheels 21 being pressed
outwards by weighted levers 23 connected loosely to their shafts.
Advantage is taken of the fact that the platform or deck 7 moves with
the gun 3 in training to arrange the sights for taking aim on brackets
or standards 24, 25, set as far apart on the deck as is conveniently
obtainable, and in a line parallel with the axis of the gun, and as near
the gun as possible. In this way double the usual distance between the
sights may be obtained, and greater accuracy of aim be thereby secured.
The caisson 4 is kept concentric and steady in its motion by being
centered below on a short vertical pillar 26 fixed in the bottom of the
dock. This pillar 26 is embraced by brasses or blocks 27, held in a
box 28 fixed in the bottom of the caisson; and a number of radially
acting springs are applied round the blocks to allow of them yielding to
and recovering from the shock of the discharge recoil.

page_text: Figure 9 is an enlarged detail showing how I prefer to construct the
upper circumferential angle of the caisson 4 and the corresponding part
of the dock 1. I apply a plate iron lining 29 round the sides of the
dock, and to an angle iron 30 rivetted round the top of this lining I bolt
segmental annular plates 31, projecting inwards a little over the angle of
the caisson 4. A brake and lever 8 are shown for applying friction to
the under side of the plates 31, to retard and stop motion caused by the
discharge recoil.
Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section of the gun carriage 9 (placed
to agree with the gun 3, in Figure 5). When the gun is being discharged
it slides on the box beam slides 10, but afterwards the carriage is
slightly raised on four wheels 32 by means of screws acting on their
bearings, and can then run forward again easily by the action of the
springs 13.
In Figures 5 and 6 a simple and convenient arrangement is shown for
clevating or depressing the gun 3, and consists of a strong toothed
sector 33 fixed on the butt of the gun, and having in gear with it a
pinion on a transverse horizontal shaft 34 carried in the sides of the
carriage 9, and with hand wheels 35 at each side (one wheel being sup-
posed to be removed in Figure 6). A scale of degrees may be marked
on the sector 33 to show by a pointer fixed to the carriage the inclination
of the gun. When the inclination of the gun is adjusted wedges may
be inserted through holes 37 in the sides of the carriage to assist in
holding the gun in position. The extent to which the springs 13 are
acted upon by recoil may be shown by connecting the gun carriage 9, as
delineated, to a bell-crank lever 38, which lifts a friction block 39 along
a sector 40, and leaves the block in a position corresponding to the
maximum recoil. A pair of rails 41 is shown in Figure 5 as fixed on the
deck 7 for guiding a shot truck under the muzzle of the gun 3, and
there are similar rails for cach gun.
In the case of sea batteries a dock or tank (1) is constructed within
the ship, but it is made of a spherical shape, that is, like more or less of
a sphere, and the bottom of the caisson or floating gun support (4) is
made spherical also, with a somewhat shorter radius than that of the
dock. Sufficient water is filled into the dock to float the caisson in a
concentric position, and the caisson being weighted or ballasted to float
with its platform level it will maintain that position notwithstanding

page_text: the angular motions to which the ship is ordinarily subject at sea, and
excepting in extreme cases when the disturbance accompanying the
wave motion is so great as to give rise to secondary oscillations. The
very great advantages of such a level or steady gun deck are sufficiently
obvious.
Saloons or cabins may also be constructed within, and on a similar
spherical caisson (4), and be floated in a spherical dock (1) constructed
in the ship with the view of obtaining steadiness and freedom from
angular motion at sea, and so as, if possible, to get rid of sea sickness.
Any structure or object on board ship which it is wished to keep
steady may be arranged in a similar way in a spherical dock or tank of a
suitable size. Thus, for example, a single sleeping berth or a platform
with table and seats may be supported in that way.
In all cases where the spherical dock (1) and caisson (4) are used I
prefer to guide the caisson by connecting it to the framework of the ship
by a ball-and-socket joint, or the equivalent thereof, situated or acting
concentrically with the spherical surface.
In the accompanying Drawings I show several modifications of this
concentric connection. Thus in that shown in Figures 11 and 12 on
Sheet 1, which are a sectional half elevation and a plan, the gun
caisson 4 is within a turret 51, and a ball 52 fixed by a spindle and
conical base to the caisson is held in a socket 53 fixed by brackets to the
roof of the turret. A convex frictional brake piece 54 is set upon a pro-
longation of the spindle of the ball, and can be raised up to a concave
piece 55 fixed to the turret roof by a screw pulley 56, worked by means
of an endless rope.
Figures 13 and 14 on Sheet 2, are a sectional elevation and a plan of
a modification, in which the ball socket 53 is on a spindle 57, adjustably
fixed in the centre of a four-armed spider frame 58, fixed on segmental
armour plate shields 59 erected on the ship's deck.
Figures 15 and 16 are modifications in which the ball socket 53 is
fixed to the spherical caisson 4, which may constitute more or less of a
sphere, as indicated by the two Figures, whilst the ball (indicated by
dotted lines) is on a pillar 60 rising up from the bottom of the dock 1,
and which may be made adjustable as to height, being in that case
passed up through a stuffing box in the bottom of the dock. A hollow

page_text: cone is formed in the caisson for the relative play between the caisson
and the pillar in any direction.
Figure 17 is a transverse vertical section showing the interior of the
floating caisson 4 constructed and fitted up as a cabin 61, with a
saloon 62 above, the ball 52 being held in a socket 53 fixed in the 5
roof 63 of the saloon. A ventilating cowl 64 is placed over the ball 52,
and communicates by a hollow sphere and water seal joint with a
tube 65, which connects the ball 52 to the framework of the caisson, and
which gives egress to vitiated air from the cabin 61 below.
Figure 18 is a transverse vertical section showing a comparatively 1
small spherical caisson 4 supporting a table 66 and seats 67, the ball
socket 53 being held by brackets from the deck above.
Figure 19 is a horizontal section showing the mode of applying a
spherical caster 68 to guide the caisson 64 and keep it steady, this caster
being held by a lever 69 jointed to the framing of the caisson, and acted 1
on by a spring so as to press the caster against the side of the dock 1.
A number of such casters may be used, either instead of or along with
cental ball joint.
Figures 20 and 21 are a transverse and a longitudinal vertical section
of a single berth, arranged in a caisson 4 floating in a dock or tank 1, 2
the caisson being in this example guided by transverse and longitudinal
links 70, 71, which, whilst connecting it to the sides of the dock, allow
of the relative motion between it and the ship when the latter moves
angularly.
Instead of being connected by links in this way, studs or trunnions 2
may be fixed at the ends of the berth or caisson, and in its longitudinal
axial line, each stud having on it, as shown in plan in Figure 22, a
roller 72 of lignum vitæ or other suitable material to work in a vertical
groove 73 formed in-the side of the dock for the purpose.
The berth (Figures 20, 21) is shown fitted with rails 74 for the 30
occupier to raise himself by, and rails 75 are also fixed to the sides of the
dock to facilate his ingress and egress.
The spherical form of the dock and floating body may be restricted to
a zone, forming the sides, whilst the bottoms may be flat or of other
shapes (that shown in Figures 20, 21, being an example), provided 38

page_text: enough space is left between the dock and the floating body for the
relative movements of the former.
Figure 23, on Sheet 3 of the Drawings is a horizontal section, and
Figures 24, 25, are vertical sections at right angles to cach other of a
floating cabin structure, which, whilst not spherical in form, is never-
theless arranged to act in the same manner as the spherical caissons
shown in other modifications. It is connected to the saloon roof or
upper deck 63 by a ball 52 and socket 53, the latter being fixed to the
roof by brackets, and it is prevented from turning about an axis at right
angles to the ship's deck by a pair of radius links 76 jointed to levers 77
loose on studs or trunnions at each end; or rollers (72) on the studs or
trunnions, and working in grooves (73) in the ends of the dock may be
used instead of the radius links. The upper deck 7 of the caisson com-
bines with the roof 63 to form a saloon 62, whilst the lower deck 61
may be fitted up as one or more cabins, or as a series of state rooms or
berths.
The floating caissons, platforms, or decks arranged on board ships, as
hercin-before described, may be connected by ropes or chains passing
over pulleys, or by rods, to pumps or other mechanism, so that the
angular motion of the ship and consequent relative motion of the caissons
may be availed of for working such mechanism. An arrangement is
shown in Figure 13 wherein chains 78 are led from the upper edge of the
caisson 4 over pulleys 79 to pumps 80.
In the modification shown in Figures 24, 25, a pump 80 is fixed upon
the ball 52, and can draw water up through the spindle of the ball, made
tubular for the purpose. The pump piston rod is worked by side rods 81,
connected to a pair of levers 82, carried by a bracket on the pump barrel,
and actuated by a lever 83, which can be connected by a weighted gab
link 84 to a fixed point in connection with the deck 63. With this
arrangement any angular movement between the caisson and the ship
will cause the pump to operate. The piping leading away from the
pump will be in part flexible, to accomodate itself to the angular
movements.
An oscillating motion may be obtained in a simple manner for
actuating ventilating punkas or the like by connecting a lever 85,
centred on any part of the caisson or floating cabin, by a link S6 to a
bracket fixed to the deck 63.

page_text: The motion of the lever 85, or of a shaft on which that lever is
fixed, may be transmitted by rods and bell cranks or otherwise to the
punkas 87; and to admit of the amount of movement of the punkas
being varied, they may be worked by slotted levers of the kind shown in
Figure 26, with which the greater swing will be imparted relatively to
the angular motion of the ship the nearer the rod 88 is moved to the
fulcrum at the top of the lever 89, whilst if the pin on the rod is moved
down to the transversely slotted part of the lever it will give no motion
to the punka.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I have to state that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or deli-
neated, but that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1. The constructing, arranging, and working of land and sea batteries
in any of the improved modes, substantially as herein-before described.
2. The mounting of land battery guns on circular concentrically
guided caissons or decks floating in tanks or docks, substantially as
herein-before described.
3. The mounting of the guns on slides and in connection with sets of
springs contained in cellular casings, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
4. The mounting of the guns on circular floating decks in lincs not
passing through the centre, so that the discharge coil may take effect
or partial effect in turning the decks, the rotatory motion of which may
be gradually retarded and stopped by brakes, substantially as herein-
before described.
5. The combining of a system of recoil springs in cellular casings with
the capability of rotation of the floating deck, substantially as herein-
before described.
6. The arranging of ships' guns, saloons, cabins, berths, or platforms
on or in spherical or equivalent caissons floated by water in spherical or
equivalent tanks or docks constructed within the ship, such caissons
being held or guided by ball-and-socket centre joints or other equivalent
concentric connections, substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: 7. The working of pumping, ventilating, or other mechanism from the
relative movements between the floating caisson and other parts of the
ship, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Allan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
ALEXANDER ALLAN. (L.S.)