IMPROVEMENTS IN FORTS, FORTIFICATIONS, ARMOUR PLATING, AND DEFENCES FOR MILITARY USE."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in tho County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FORTS, FORTIFICATIONS,
ARMOUR PLATING, AND DEFENCES FOR MILITARY USE." A communication
from abroad by James Henry MoLenn, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,
Doctor of Medicine, and Myron Coloney, of New Haven, in the State of
Connecticut, Journalist, both in the United States of America:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March
1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPII BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FORTS, FORTIFICATIONS, ARMOUR PLATING, AND DEFENCES FOR MILITARY
USE" A communication from abroad by James Henry McLean, of St. Louis,
in the State of Missouri, Doctor of Medicine, and Myron Coloney, of New
Haven, in the State of Connecticut, Journalist, both in the United States of
America.
The Invention relates primarily to a floating fortress adapted to be moved from
place to place by tugs or other means of propulsion, and lodged in position by the
admission of water to its flotation chambers so as to lower it to the bottom where
the water is not too deep, and where the water is deep to lower it beyond the reach
of torpedoes, when it is fixed in position by means of anchors of any preferred form,
which may be raised or lowered at will in chambers of the four corners of the
fortress, or any other suitable places.
The Invention further consists in the construction of armour for forts of metallic
plates presented edgewise to the exterior and suitably connected together; also in
the construction of armour of plates presented edgewise, as aforesaid, and tongued
and grooved to retain them in position.
The Invention further consists in the combination of armour plates presented
edgowise, as aforesaid, and intervening plates of rubber or analogous material to
impart clasticity to the armour.

page_text: following are mentioned :-Shut up into boxes they are used in ordinary camps for
feeding and tethering stock. They also constitute good cooking and heating stoves.
By forming them into boxes for the walls of tents, such tents may be made bullet
proof; and such boxes may be built into the walls of a permanent and impregnable
fort; or in like manner the boxes filled with earth may be quickly formed into
bullet proof and artillery proof breast works.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the modo in
which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,-
First. A floating flat bottomed iron clad fortress adapted to be moved from place
to place by tugs or otherwise, and lodged in position by the admission of water to
its flotation chambers.
Second: An armour-for-forts-or-iron-clads.consisting of plates presented edgewise
to the outside, and secured together by means of transverse bolts, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Third. Armour plates presented edgowise to the exterior, and tongued and grooved
for the purpose of retaining them in position, as described.
Fourth. The combination of armour plates presented edgewiso to the exterior and
intervening sheets or plates of rubber or other elastic material, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. An outer stationary turret and an inner revolving turret combined, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Sixth. A port-stopper consisting of oscillating jaws mounted in an outer stationary
turret, and opened and closed by the rotation of an inner turret, substantially as set
forth.
Seventh. The series of interchangeable plates constructed with hinge connections,
and adapted for defence or shelter, substantially as herein described.
Eighth. A portable breast-work consisting of interchangeable plates hinged
together, in manner substantially as herein described.
Ninth. A series of flanged plates hinged together interchangeably for the rapid
erection of portable breast-works, fixed forts, shelters, or other structures, sub-
stantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.