IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilson, of the Cyclops Steel and Iron Works,
Sheffield, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ARMOUR PLATES."
Sealed the 27th July 1877, and dated the 14th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1877.
GEORGE WILSON, of the Cyclops Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
"IMPROVE-
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of armour
plates. For this purpose I take an ingot of steel of the nature of mild steel, that
is, containing only a small proportion of carbon, and after hammering it or pressing
it down under a hydraulic press, or rolling it to the required thickness, I reheat the
plate or not, and plunge it in its heated state into cold water or other fluid.
To effect the immersion of the armour plate, the plate is placed on to a moveable
carriage, which is run on to a platform supported by a hydraulic lift, and is by the
lift lowered into a tank, through which a constant stream of water is kept running,
or which is otherwise filled with cooling fluid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th November
1877.
GEORGE WILSON, of the Cyclops Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of armour
plates. For this purpose I take an ingot of steel of the nature of mild steel, that
is, containing only a small proportion of carbon, and after hammering it or pressing
it down under a hydraulic press, or rolling it to the required thickness, I re-heat the
plate or not, and plunge it in its heated state into water or other fluid.
ID 471

page_text: To effect the immersion of the armour plate, the plate is placed on to a moveable
carriage, which is run on to a platform supported by a hydraulic lift, and is by the
lift lowered into a tank, through which a constant stream of water is kept running,
or which is otherwise filled with cooling fluid. This arrangement of apparatus for
lowering a heated armour plate into a a tank containing water or other fluid is shewn
in the Drawing annexed. In this Drawing A is a thick, massive armour plate
forged from an ingot of mild steel, as above described, and re-heated. After being
re-heated it is run on to a truck B, and conveyed by the truck on to the table E,
which at this time is supported by the stop bolts G. At the ends of the table are
rollers working against vertical guides F at the sides of a tank H. D is a hydraulic
ram descending from the centre of the table E and entering the hydraulic cylinder C.
Water, or it might be other fluid, is now admitted constantly to the tank by the
inlet H', and escapes by the outlet H*. When the truck carrying the armour plate
has been brought on to the table E the bolts G are withdrawn, and the table lowered
by the hydraulic lift so as to immerse the armour plate in the fluid, and the plate is
left immersed in the fluid until cold.
In place of employing a hydraulic lift to lower the heated armour plates into the
tank an overhead crane with chains or other suitable raising and lowering apparatus
may be used for the purpose. By thus immersing in water or other fluid, thick,
massive heated plates, which have been forged or shaped from ingots of mild steel,
the metal is rendered extremely tough and tenacious, and the plates are far more
capable of offering resistance to projectiles than plates allowed to cool slowly by
exposure to the air as has heretofore been done.
I claim the toughening of armour plates composed of thick, massive slabs forged
from ingots of mild steel by plunging them whilst hot into water or other fluid.
I also claim the arrangement of apparatus. shown in the Drawing for lowering
heated armour plates into tanks, and for again lifting them from the tanks when
they have cooled down.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEO. WILSON. (L.S.)