Year: 1885

page_text: I THEODORE RUGGLES TIMBY, of Nyack in the County of Rockland and State
of New York, United States of America, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention is especially applicable to coast and harbour defence, its object
being to provide means for discharging projectiles with great rapidity and accuracy
toward any desired point, while the guns, and the men and machinery employed
in operating them, are protected within a practically impregnable fortification.
To this end a revolving or partially revolving shield is employed and a battery
tower having independent rotation within the revolving shield which surrounds it.
The shield may be turned so as to face any point on the horizon. The tower
revolves independently within the shield so as to deliver the fire from its guns in
succession through port holes or suitable openings in the front or face of the
shield.
The shield is re-inforced or made especially strong on its face or front portion
(which is intended to be directed toward the enemy) and the tower, which revolves
within the shield, is constructed with re-inforcing bands of armour on the level of
the port-holes or openings in the shield so as to prevent its injury by missiles
which may chance to enter through such openings.
In some cases the revolving shield is provided with an opening in its rear
through which shots entering obliquely through the front openings will be deflected
and escape, the said rear opening being protected by a mask so as to effectually
prevent the entrance of missiles from the rear.
The fortification walls are constructed of plates having V shaped tongue and
groove joints, the several skins or courses of plates being arranged to break joints
and the whole secured together by conical bolts inserted horizontally from the
outside, so that the impact of missiles will have no loosening or weakening effect
upon them."
The internal skin or lining of the revolving tower is provided with strengthening
ribs projecting radially inward, which are embraced by U shaped plates provided
at top and bottom with flanges by which they are securely bolted to the floors
above and below. The interior of the tower is furthermore provided with radial
partitions which may extend from the wall to the central well within which the

page_text: firing mechanism is contained, or only a part of the distance from the wall to the
central well; preferably, some of the partitions extend completely from the wall
to the central well, while others, interposed between the complete partitions, reach
only a part of the distance. These partitions, together with the strengthening ribs
on the interior of the wall and the flanged U shaped plates which are securely
bolted to the said strengthening ribs and to the floors above and below are very
effective in strengthening and stiffening the entire structure. The lining plates on
the interior of. the tower wall are so applied and fastened thereto as to provide
vertical spaces through which the interior of the tower may be ventilated.
The revolving tower is constructed with a central dome projecting above the
surrounding shield for the purpose of sighting the guns; for which purpose the
officer or gunner sits or stands on a platform, which he revolves at will, the said
platform carrying a "sight," telescopic or otherwise, pivotted at its outer end in
close proximity to the wall of the dome and elevated or depressed at the inner or
eye end, as may be necessary.
The officer thus with one hand upon the wheel which, elevates or depresses the
sight and the other hand on the wheel which rotates the platform, brings the sight
to bear on the desired object.
The guns are automatically discharged by electricity on reaching the line of
sight.
In order to prevent the communication of any shock from the external walls of
the tower to the automatic firing mechanism in the centre, the said firing mechanism
is contained within a well which is disconnected from the walls and the gun room
. floors attached thereto, and is preferably formed of two concentric vertical tubes
within the interior of which is rotated at the will of the gunner. a vertical shaft
carrying the platform on which the gunner sits and on which the sight is mounted,
and also carrying the contact springs or conductor-ends, which as the towor
revolves, closes the electric circuits and discharge the successive guns at the
required point.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings fully

page_text: Figure 16 is a side elevation of the same, indicating the foundation and the
moat in dotted outline.
The revolving tower 1, is surmounted by a dome 2, within which the officer sits
to sight the guns, and is supported on anti-friction rollers 3, so as to turn freely on
its axis.
This revolving tower is completely surrounded by an impregnable shield 4 abovo
which the sighting dome 2, projects. In the front of the shield are horizontal slots
or embrasures 5, which by the movement of the shield are made to face any point
on the horizon. The front portion of the shield is re-inforced by additional
plates 6, so as to render the shield much stronger at this part which will be
presented directly toward the enemy, than at others where shots will be received
on a surface oblique to their line of motion. The tower 1 is surrounded with a
band or zone of re-inforce armour plates 7 on a level with the openings 5, in the
shield, so as to render the tower impregnable to shot at the point which is at any
time exposed behind the firing openings 5, in the shield. The shield is supported
on anti-friction rollers 8, so as to turn freely on its own centre 9, carrying the
revolving tower 1 with it.
From the above description it will be understood that the shield 4 is partially
rotated so as to face any desired point to which the projectiles are to be directed
while the tower 1 revolves independently so as to effect the discharge of the guns
at the desired point automatically and with great rapidity and accuracy.
The independent rotation of the shield 4 and tower 1, may be effected by any
suitable mechanism; for illustration, an engine 10, is represented, connected by
suitable gearing 11, with circular racks 12, 13, on the shield 4, and tower 1,
respectively, customary clutch connections being employed, so that the movement
may be communicated to either or both, as desired.
It is preferred to construct the external walls of the tower and shield each of a
number of thicknesses of steel plates 14, put together with tongue-and-groove
joints, as illustrated in Figures 8 to 14 inclusive, the whole being secured together
by horizontal bolts 15, of conical shape, inserted from the exterior and clinched on
the inside, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, so that the impact of projectiles will not
tend to loosen or weaken the said bolts or plates. On the interior of the tower
wall are lining plates 16, 17, on which are bolted T shaped plates 18 forming
inwardly projecting ribs, as seen in Figures 5 and 7 over which are securely bolted
U shaped plates 19 constructed with flanges 20, at top and bottom, which are
bolted above and below to the floors 21 of the tower so as to strengthen and
stiffen the structure. The structure is further made strong and rigid by radial
partitions 22, 23, securely bolted to the wall linings 16, 17, and to the floors 21,
and some of them, as in the case of the partitions 23 extending from the external
wall to a vertical tube 24, within and separated from which is the central well-
tul e 25, containing the firing mechanism.
The central well tube 25, is thus disconnected from the external walls of the
tower, so as to avoid the communication of shock from said walls to the central
firing mechanism.
Between the lining plates 17, and the plates 16, or the walls of the tower are
spaces 26 Figure 7 which serve to afford ventilation to the interior.
For firing the guns suitable electrical conductors 27, are employed, having
contact points 28 projecting within the central well tube 25, in position to make
contact successively with circuit closers 29, mounted on a central shaft 30, on which
is the gunner's platform 31.
This shaft 30, does not rotate with the tower, but is rotated independently by
means of a secondary vertical shaft 32, a pinion 33, on which engages with a
stationary circular rack 34, on a fixed central tube 34 within the well tube 25 so
that by a hand wheel 35 and suitable gearing 36, connected with the shaft 32, the
central shaft 30, carrying the platforms 31, and circuit closers 29 may be turned
easily and accurately in any position relatively to the tower, adapting the circuit

page_text: closers 29 to receive contact from the successive conductor ends 28 at the proper
instant to discharge the guns successively and with precision at one point.
The circuit closers are preferably attached to bars 29ª, pressed out by springs 29b
as far as permitted by gauge wheels 29° which roll on the inner surface of the
tube 25 as the latter is carried around with the tower.
On the periphery of the platform 31, in close proximity to the dome wall, a
telescopic or other sight, 37 is mounted by a hinge 38, and standard 39, the inner
end of the telescope or sight being supported by an elevating screw 40, from the
platform 31, so that the sight may be accurately elevated or depressed; while its
outer or object end remains without vertical movement in close proximity to the
horizontal apertures 41, in the dome, around which the sight is carried by the
rotation of the platform 31, at the will of the gunner.
In some cases it is preferred to provide an opening 42, in the rear of the shield
diametrieally opposite to the firing openings 5, in the front thereof, the edges of
the said rear opening being formed obliquely, as shown in Figure 5 or provided
with deflecting plates so as to deflect outward any projectile which may chance to
enter obliquely through the firing openings 5, and be carried around the interior of
the shield. A mask 43, is provided to avoid the possibility of a shot entering
within the shield from the rear.
44, may represent dead lights in the base of the shield.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A revolving battery tower protected by a moveable shield completely sur-
rounding said tower and pierced for firing through, substantially as herein set
forth.
2. A revolving shield in combination with a revolving battery tower surrounded
by the said shield and having a sighting dome projecting above the top of the
shield, substantially as herein set forth.
3. The combination of a revolving battery tower and a shield surrounding said
tower, with horizontal openings or embrasures for firing through, and re-inforce
plates strengthening the front or face of the shield, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a revolving battery tower, a shield surrounding said
tower, pierced for firing through, and a re-inforcing band extending around the
tower in line with the firing openings in the shield, substantially as herein set
forth.
5. A revolving battery tower constructed with a central vertical tube or well to
contain the firing mechanism disconnected from the tower walls so as to prevent
communication of shock to said central wall.
6. A revolving battery tower having gun-room floors attached to the tower walls
and a central vertical tube or well for the firing mechanism, disconnected from the
said floors so as to prevent the communication of shock to said central well or
firing mechanism.
7. In a revolving battery tower, the combination of two or more concentric tubes
or cylinders forming a central well, the outer cylinder connected to the gun room 4
floors and the inner one disconnected therefrom and containing mechanism for
firing the guns, as explained.
8. A revolving battery tower having T shaped plates or ribs secured to the
interior surface of the walls and U shaped plates fastened to said ribs and to the
tower floors to strengthen and stiffen the structure.
9. A revolving battery tower constructed with a central well for the firing
mechanism and with radial partitions secured to the floors and to the tower walls
to strengthen and stiffen the structure.
10. A fortification wall constructed of a number of shells or series of plates
having interlocking V-shaped ridges and grooves and secured together by conical &
bolts inserted from the outside.

page_text: 11. The combination with a revolving battery tower, of a sighting platform
revolving concentrically and independently therein, and a sight carried by said
platform hinged or pivotted at its outer end in close proximity to the tower wall or
dome and capable of elevation and depression at the eye or inner end for the purpose
of sighting an object near by or far off through a vertically narrow opening, as
explained.