A NEW METHOD OF ARMING THE BOW OF A SHIP OF WAR WITH A SHELL AND A BEAK, TO BE FITTED OR UNFITTED AT PLEASURE, AND TO BE USED CONJOINTLY OR SEPARATELY
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Walter Eddy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on. the 19th
September 1861.
I, CHARLES WALTER EDDY, of 5, Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, in the
Parish of St. Marylebone, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF ARMING THE BOW OF A
SHIP OF WAR WITH A SHELL AND A BEAK, TO BE FITTED OR UNFITTED AT PLEASURE,
AND TO BE USED CONJOINTLY OR SEPARATELY," to be as follows:-
I employ a shell of the kind denominated a percussion shell, having the.
orifice fitted with a water-tight apparatus. This shell may be of any con-
venient form, and is firmly fixed on a metallic stalk, or otherwise made
capable of being fixed on such stalk. A certain number of such shells are
to be kept in store, either filled or ready to be filled, and are to be used in
the following manner:-The stalk, with a shell fixed on it, is to be screwed
or otherwise fastened on to the upper extremity of a metallic arm or a wooden
spar, which stands ordinarily in front of the stempost of the vessel, forming a
kind of false stem, and which arm or spar has its lower extremity jointed into
a prolonged portion of the keel of the said vessel, or otherwise into some
part of the stem of the vessel below the water line. The upper extremity of
the said arm or spar reaches ordinarily above the water line, and in this
position receives the stalk of the shell within a receptacle provided for this
When required to be used, the upper extremity of the said arm or
spar is, by means of another arm or spar which is jointed to it at. or near
purpose.

page_text: the head, thrust down into tho water until it reaches a position favourable for
its being driven against an enemy, in which position it may be supported by
partially resting in a groove formed by an extension of the keel, which is
carried out forward in a particular shape for this purpose. This prolonged
portion of the keel may be strengthened by stays, extending diagonally
downwards from the stem; or, otherwise, the groove may be formed by a
prolongation forward of each side of the stempost. When the arm carrying
the shell is lowered down to this position the vessel may be propelled against
the enemy, and on striking the object aimed at the shell will explode with
destructive effect. A chain extending from inboard may be fixed to some
part of the said arm or spar (first mentioned), in order to assist in raising it
up to its former position. The beak to be used, either conjointly with the
shell or separately, is in like manner capable of being shipped in-board or
thrust out, as occasion may require, and is formed of two iron beams braced
together, and of a septum placed vertically between them and jointed to them
near this forward extremity, so that the whole may converge forward to a tool-
shaped point of some hard substance, the object being that when wanted for
use the said structure should be run out, by means of a tackle and rollers,
beyond tho bow, and that the after-part of the septum should drop down to a
certain position where it would rest against a portion of the bow or stem
shaped to receive it, the whole structure being retained in this position merely
by a chain or chains, so that if violently wrenched it may yield, or, if jammed,
be even parted with, the after extremity of the beams may, when fixed
for uso, rest against a proper support.