IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR FOR PROTECTING SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR
FOR PROTECTING SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A communi:
cation from abroad by Richard Lloyd, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 30th November 1877, and dated the 28th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at thé
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1877.
"
William LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of Middle
sex. IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR FOR PROTECTING SHIPS, FORTS, AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES." (A communication from abroad by Richard Lioyd, of Paris,
France.)
In communicating this Invention to me my foreign correspondent says,—
"I will begin the present description by briefly recalling what has generally been
done hitherto in armour-plating vessels of war and casing forts on land.. I shall
then examine the results obtained.
"The system of casing almost universally practised consists in fixing, by means of
bolts inserted at right angles (normalement) to the surfaces to be protected; plates of
metal (generally steel) of dimensions (especially thickness) that are sometimes
enormous, placed flat on, the said surfaces to be protected, with or without the
interposition of planks of various woods.
"If we enquire into what may be the effect of a projectile on casing thus
constituted, we find, and experience confirms, that,―
"(1.) The plates, thus laid flat, are arranged in the direction of their least resistance
to the effect which the projectile has a tendency to produce.
"(2.) That as these plates are held by bolts passing through holes drilled near the
edges of the said plates, the strength of the parts in the immediate neighbourhood
of the edges, which are already weakened, becomes still further reduced by this very
circumstance.

page_text: "(3.) That the stress of penetration exercised by the projectile cannot be effectively
transferred to the portions of the hull of the vessels which offer the greatest amount
of resistance.
"(4.) That as the said hull is not separated from the armour plating proper, any
damage done to the latter has the effect of causing the destruction of the former.
(5.) That the bolts fixed at right angles to the surface of the hull to be preserved,
and the weight of which considerably increases, the total weight of the armour
proper are subjected, first, during the action of the projectile, and then during the
reaction which follows its penetration, to such strains as must loosen them both in
front and at the back, thus destroying the effect of the clamping which they were
intended to effect; and that this takes place to such a degree that, at the moment of
the impact of the projectile, the heads or nuts of the bolts, and even their shanks,
projected inside the gun rooms, constitute actual cannister shot which is very
dangerous; while, under the effect of the reaction these same portions of bolts
brokened or loosened become separated from the armour.
With a view to obviate these serious drawbacks the improved armour is composed
of a series of metal plates arranged on edge as herein-after described, the construction
being such as to enable fastening bolts to be dispensed with.
On referring to the accompanying sectional plan it will be seen the armour plates
a, a¹, a³, a³, a, are maintained in place between the two parts b and b¹, of a section
slightly differing from that of the plates; the parts a², a², and a³, carry on both their
faces, at the side nearest the hull, a series of serrations or groves; the plates a and
and a, are only provided with these serrations or groves on one of their sides, their
other sides terminating in inclined planes, resting on corresponding inclined planes
of the parts b and b, in the spaces of rectangular form; c and c¹ may be driven
inetal wedges. It follows from this arrangement, that, as shewn by dotted lines in
the Drawing, the bases of the armour plates a, a, a², a³, and as, taken collectively,
may be regarded as forming an arch composed of a series of "voussoirs" grooved or
serrated to resist any. tendency to their being pulled asunder, and always traversing
to the ribs or strutted portions d, d, of the hull, through the intervention of the
parts b and b, all the crushing strains which may be exercised in the direction of
the arrows marked on the Drawing, on the outer surface of the armour.
According to this Invention all the dove-tail joints, whether of the plates with
one another, or of the plates with the parts band b¹, as well as of the plates with
the parts placed horizontally, which are arranged at different points in the height of
the vessel, must also present most effectual resistance to the strains of concussion
and tearing asunder, which are produced during the action and the reaction referred
to above. With the same objects the parts b and b¹, are connected to the angle
irons and by bolts or rivets inserted parallel to the surface of the hull, as shewn
by the dotted lines, thus
in the Drawing.
-
As also shewn by the Drawing, the spaces g, g', 92,³,g, and g³, between the armour
plates are filled in with timber; an exterior sheathing, I, of suitable material, covers
the plain surface formed by armour plate ends; and, what is important to notice,
between the armour proper and the hull there are open spaces i, so that, notwith-
standing disastrous effects produced in the thickness of the armour, this hull may
still be preserved intact.
Considering the forms, the diminished thickness, and reduced weight of the plates
which the new system of armourfenables my foreign correspondent to use, the plates,
while affording great strength (since they are placed on edge), will it is believed cost
much less than ordinary armour plates, and may be manufactured, if not continuously,
at any rate of a uniform nature, and so as to be depended upon.
It will be evident the details shewn in the Drawing may be modified to suit
circumstances without departure from the distinguishing features of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Lloyd Wise in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th December 1877.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR FOR PROTECTING SHIPS, FORTS, AND
OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
(A communication from abroad by Richard Lloyd, of
Paris, France.)
In communicating this Invention to me my foreign correspondent says,―
"I will begin the present description by briefly recalling what has generally been
done hitherto in armour plating vessels of war and casing forts on land. I shall
then examine the results obtained.
"The system of casing almost universally practised consists in fixing by means of
bolts inserted at right angles (normalement) to the surfaces to be protected, plates of
metal (generally steel) of dimensions (especially thickness) that are sometimes
enormous, placed flat on the said surfaces to be protected, with or without the
interposition of planks of various woods.
"If we enquire into what may be the effect of a projectile on casing thus
constituted, we find, and experience confirms, that,-
-
"(1.) The plates, thus laid flat, are arranged in the direction of their least
resistance to the effect which the projectile has a tendency to produce.
"
(2.) That as these plates are held by bolts passing through holes drilled near the
edges of the said plates, the strength of the parts in the immediate neighbourhood
of the edges, which are already weakened, becomes still further reduced by this very
circumstance.
"(3.) That the stress of penetration exercised by the projectile cannot be effectively
transferred to those portions of the hull of the vessel which offer the greatest amount
of resistance.
65
"(4.) That as the said hull is not separated from the armour plating proper, any
damage done to the latter has the effect of causing the destruction of the former.
(5.) That the bolts, fixed at right angles to the surface of the hull to be preserved,
and the weight of which considerably increases the total weight of the armour
proper, are subjected, first, during the action of the projectile, and then during the
reaction which follows its penetration, to such strains as must loosen them both in front
and at the back, thus destroying the effect of the clamping which they were intended
to effect, and that this takes place to such a degree that, at the moment of the impact
of the projectile, the heads or nuts of the bolts and even their shanks, projected
inside the gun rooms, constitute actual cannister shot or langrage, which is very
dangerous; while, under the effect of the reaction, these same portions of bolts
broken or loosened become separated from the armour."
With a view to obviate these serious drawbacks the improved armour is composed
of a series of metal plates arranged edgewise as herein-after described, the construction
being such as to enable fastening bolts to be dispensed with.
On referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a section
of the improved armour transversely to the vessel; Fig. 2, a section in the line A, B, of
Fig. 3; and Fig. 3, a horizontal section, it will be seen the armour plates a, a¹, a²,
as, and as, are maintained in place between the two parts b and 61, of a section
slightly differing from that of the plates; the parts a², a², and a³, have on both their
faces, at the side nearest the hull, a series of serrations or grooves of peculiar form,
like a zig-zag, as shewn; the plates a and at, are only provided with these serrations
or grooves on one of their faces, their other or opposite faces terminating in inclined
planes resting on corresponding inclined planes of the parts b and 6¹; in the spaces
of rectangular form, c and c¹, may be driven metal wedges. It follows from this
arrangement that, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the bases of the armour plates
a, a, a, a³, and a', taken collectively may be regarded as forming an arch composed
of a series of "voussoirs" grooved or serrated to resist any tendency to their being

page_text: pulled asunder, and always transferring to the ribs or strutted portions, d, d¹, of the
hull, through the intervention of the parts b and 6', all the crushing strains which
may be exercised in the direction of the arrows marked on the Drawing, on the
outer surface of the armour.
On examining the several views it will be seen that all the dovetail joints
whether of the plates with the parts b and b¹, as well as of the plates with the
parts placed horizontally e and e¹, which are arranged at different points in the height
of the vessel; must also present most effectual resistance to the strains of concussion
and tearing asunder which are produced during the action and the reaction referred
to above. With the same object the parts band b, are connected to the angle irons
fandf, by bolts or rivets inserted parallel to the surface of the hull, as shewn by
the dotted lines, thus
in Fig. 3.
As also shewn by the Drawings, the spaces g, g¹, g², g³, y, and go, between the
armour plates are filled in with timber; an exterior sheathing of suitable
material covers the plane surface formed by the armour plate ends; and, what is
important to notice, between the armour proper and the hull, there are open spaces
i, so that, notwithstanding all the disastrous effects that may be produced in the
thickness or body of the armour, this hull may still be preserved intact:
Considering the forms, the diminished thickness and reduced weight of the plates
which the new system of armour, above described, enables my foreign correspondent
to use, the plates, while affording great strength (since they are placed on edge) will,
it is believed, cost much less than ordinary armour plates, and may be manufactured,
if not continuously, at any rate of a uniform nature so as to be depended upon.
It will be observed that the improved system of armour is principally characterised
by the use of a series of armour plates arranged on edge, and connected to each
other as well as to the vertical and horizontal members which divide the said plates
into groups of a rectangular or other form, without the aid of bolts or other similar
parts; the arrangement, with exterior surface perfectly plane, thus obtained by
means of grooves or scrrations in one direction, and by means of dovetail joints in
the other direction, forming the equivalent of an arch, and resisting both crushing
strains and those tending to tear asunder, while at the same time leaving open
spaces between the armour plating and the hull of the vessel, or between the armour
and the side of the fort.
It will furthermore be evident that the details shewn in the Drawing may be
modified to suit circumstances, without departure from the distinctive characteristics
of the Invention.
And having described the nature of the said Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying it into practical effect, as communicated to me by my foreign corres-
pondent, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and original and therefore
claim as secured to me under the Letters Patent .herein-before in part recited, is the
construction and application of armour, susbtantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven: