IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR-PLATING OR PROTECTING SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Bell, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR-PLATING
OR PROTECTING SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 15th August 1863, and dated the 20th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Bell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
February 1863.
I, RICHARD BELL, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Architect,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARMOUR-PLATING OR PROTECTING SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in bolting or rivetting to the iron frames or ribs double
surface plates, that is, plates somewhat similar in form to ordinary rails for rail-
ways, the web or beam connecting the two surfaces being of a depth varying with
the requirements of the ship; the inner surface of the plates is recessed so as
to receive between every two plates an intermediate and smaller but similarly
shaped double surfaced and webbed strengthening plate. Between every two
plates where they are brought together on the outer surface I fit a rib or
filling-up piece of teak or other hard wood, and for the purpose of tightening
all the plates I make an aperture through the web of all of them, and intro-
duce in such aperture, in a heated state, a bolt or bolts so as to run vertically.
I then pass a key through the bottom of the bolt, which on cooling tightens
all the plates, and gives stability to the whole structure. I bed the inner sur-
face of the plates on tarred felt, or other like suitable material. In some
cases I surround the vertical tie bolt with a wooden washer or collar. At
intervals I pass iron collars or clips which run at right angles or nearly so to

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BELL, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Richard Bell, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Bell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Bell, 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 ARMOUR-
PLATING, OR PROTECTING SHIPS AND VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Bell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Richard Bell, 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 :-
My Invention consists in securing to the iron frames or ribs double surface
plates, that is plates somewhat similar in form to ordinary rails for railways,
the web or beam connecting the two surfaces being of a depth varying' with
the requirements of the ship; the inner surface of the plates is recessed so as
to receive between every two plates an intermediate and smaller but similarly
shaped double-surfaced and webbed strengthening plate. Between every two

page_text: plates where they are brought together on the outer surface I fit a rib or
filling-up piece of teak or other suitable material, and for the purpose of
tightening all the plates I make an aperture through the web of all of
them, and introduce in such aperture, in a heated state, a bolt or bolts so as
to run vertically; I then pass a key through the bottom of the bolt, which
on cooling tightens all the plates, and gives stability to the whole structure.
I bed the inner surface of the plates on tarred felt, or other like suitable
material. In some cases I surround the vertical tie bolt with a wooden washer
or collar; at intervals I pass iron collars or clips, which run at right angles
or nearly so to the vertical tie bolts, round the vertical bolts, and key the clips
to the inner side of the frames or ribs of the vessel.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a section of a portion of a ship's
side, armour-plated or protected according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a
section through the line a, b, of Figure 1. I secure to the iron frames or
ribs A of the ship plates B somewhat similar in form to ordinary rails for
railways, the web or beam C, being of a depth varying with the requirements
of the ship. The inuer surface of these plates is recessed as shown to receive
between every two plates an intermediate and similarly shaped strengthening
plate D. Between every two of the plates B, where they are brought together
on the outer surface I fit a rib or filling-up piece E, of teak or other suitable
material, and for the purpose of tightening up the plates I make an aperture
through the web of all of them, and introduce in such aperture, in a heated
state, a bolt or bolts F, I then pass a key G through the bottom of the bolt,
which on cooling tightens all the plates. I pass iron collars or clips Hat
intervals round the bolts F, and key the clips to the inner side of the frames
or ribs A.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, protecting ships
and vessels with armour-plating substantially by the means and in manner
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Bell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
RICHARD BELL. (L.S.)