Improvements applicable to Fighting-tops and the like parts of Ships of War.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Fighting-tops and the like parts of
Ships of War.
I, EDWARD THOMAS CANNON, of 5 Lindum Road, Lincoln, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the fighting-tops and the like fortified and armed parts
of ships and vessels of war, usually carrying quick-firing guns and supported by
the masts, and consists in constructing and adapting the same in such a manner that
in lieu of occupying a relatively fixed elevation as usually, they can be raised and
lowered about the mast, and also, if required, rotated about their vertical axes, so
that when not in action they may be lowered flush with the ship's deck, or to any
desired position under or above the same, and as that when desired to be brought
into action they may be raised to and secured at the desired position.
Among the advantages derivable from the construction and working of such
fighting-tops and the like in such manner, the following may be mentioned :-The
stability of the ship, when not in action, will be increased, owing to the lowering of the
centre of gravity due to the lowered position of the fighting-tops and their armament
and accessories. Heavier ordnance than is usual can be mounted therein and used
therewith, such occupying the raised position only when the ship is in action, and
giving the advantage of increased range of fire from guns of heavier calibre than
are ordinarily employed in fighting-tops. A war-ship so applied could more easily
conceal her identity, and it would be more difficult for an enemy to distinguish a
war-ship so applied from a merchant vessel.
I effect the raising and lowering and the rotation of the fighting-tops and their
armament and accessories by the application of suitably arranged hydraulic, steam,
electrical or mechanical apparatus.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Fighting-tops and the like parts of
Ships of War.
I, EDWARD THOMAS CANNON, of 5, Lindum Road, Lincoln, Gentleman, 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 relates to the fighting-tops and like fortified and armed parts of
ships and vessels of war, usually carrying quick-firing guns and supported by the
masts, and consists in constructing and adapting the same in such a manner that in
lieu of occupying a relatively fixed elevation, as usually, they can be raised and
lowered about the mast and also, if required, rotated about their vertical axes, so
that when not in action they may be lowered flush with the ship's deck, or to any
desired position under or above the same, and as that when desired to be brought
into action they may be. raised to and secured at the desired position.
On the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, partly on Sheet 1, and partly on Sheet 2, is a sectional elevation, taken
longitudinally of a ship, showing a spherical form of the adjustable fighting top.

page_text: Fig. 4, Dheet 3, 18 an elevation, partly in section, at right angles to the plane o
Fig. 1, representing the fighting top housed in the hold.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a plan of the bottom half of the fighting top.
Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a plan at about the level of the main deck.
Figs. 5, 6 & 7 Sheet 2, are sectional detail views, on an enlarged scale, and
respectively represent the means of guiding the fighting top in its vertical
movements, the means of guiding the fighting top in its turning movements about
its axis, and details of the sliding deck.
Fig. 8, Sheet 4, is a sectional elevation of a modification representing a cylindrical
fighting top.
Fig. 9, Sheet 4, is a detail of the sliding deck arrangement illustrated in
Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, Sheet 4, represents a further modification of the means used to raise
and lower the fighting top.
Fig. 11, Sheet 2, represents means of arresting the fighting top should it cease to
be supported by the means affecting its ascent or descent.
Like reference numerals indicate like parts wherever they are repeated on the
drawings.
The fighting tops 11, are preferably made of steel, and may be made of any
required dimensions and shape, two forms, (spherical and cylindrical) being shown
on the drawings, and may be armour-plated, if required.
I prefer that provision should be made for lowering the fighting top wholly
below the upper deck 12, (vide Fig. 2) and that when below such deck it should
rest on the main deck 13, (vide Figs. 8 and 10) if its height permit, or on the next
lower deck 14, (vide Figs. 1 & 2) if its height requires, so that it should be wholly
protected when out of action.
The fighting top is guided in its vertical movements by guide-ways 15, formed
longitudinally of the mast 16, by rivetting or bolting angular guides 17, and
sectoral outer shells 18, thereto (vide Fig. 5). Such shells 18, guides 17, and
guideways 15, extend for the full length of the mast traversed by the fighting top,
the shells 18, preferably wholly enclosing and, by a top plate 36, covering the mast
at its top, vide Figs. 1, 2, and 8.
The fighting top is made with a cylindrical or tubular central shell 19, to which
are rivetted or bolted inwardly projecting vertically disposed slipper guides 20,
adapted to engage with the guide ways 15, vide Figs. 3, and 5.
The fighting top is also made with a spherical, cylindrical or other suitably
shaped outer shell 21, (vide Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10) which is supported at the top
and bottom by the shell 19, and at an intermediate part as herein after described,
but is free to be rotated about the axis of the shell, 19, by the means hereinafter
described.
The top and bottom connections between the shells 19, 21 are effected by rivetting
or bolting roller-paths 22, to the shell 19, and by rivetting or bolting roller-
carriers 23, to the shell 21, the rollers 24, being adapted to engage with the roller-
paths 22, vide Fig. 6.
With
23, represents the floor of the fighting top, below which and in a casing 26, the
gearing for rotating the fighting top is disposed. Said gearing comprises a spur
wheel 27, made fast to the central shell 19, and formed with a roller-path 28, on
which rests a series of rollers 29, carried by angle rings 30, secured to the under-
side of the floor 25, and so supporting the shell 21, at the level of the floor.
the wheel 27, there engages a pinion 31, fast on a shaft 32, supported by brackets 33,
and actuated, as required, by bevel gearing 34, a shaft 35, and winch handle 37,
under the control of the inmates, so enabling the latter to rotate the fighting top
about the mast as an axis, as may be required.
The fighting top is formed with ports or openings 38, of any required form and
size, preferably arranged around the periphery, and serving as means of ingress
and egress to the inmates, and also for discharging the armament of the fighting
top through. Such ports may be closed by hinged or sliding doors or shutters 39.

page_text: The fighting top is operated in its vertical movements preferably by the following
means It is suspended by wire ropes or chains 40, passing over pulleys 41,
supported by brackets 42, housed at the top of the mast (vide Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 10,)
one end of each rope or chain 40, being connected to the slipper guides 20,
externally of the mast and the other ends of both or of all the ropes or chains
descending within the mast and being guided by suitably arranged fixed pulleys 43,
and connected to a winding drum or drums 44, geared to a controlling engine 45,
(vide Fig. 8) which may be of any suitable form and may be made of sufficient power to
raise and control the vertical movements of the fighting top. Or (as represented
in Figs. 1 & 2,) the ropes or chains 40, may be continued on from the winding
drums of the engine, and connected to weights 46, wholly or partly balancing the
fighting top, the ropes being guided by suitably arranged fixed pulleys 47, and
movable pulleys 48, connected to the weights and forming a purchase of any
required ratio.
"
The weights 46, may be guided by corner angle irons 49, in suitable wells 50,
descending the required depth. The ropes 40, may be connected to a movable
pulley 51, which may be connected by a single rope 40*, to the drum of the engine,
vide Fig. 10.
When below the level of the upper deck, the fighting top is housed in a hold 53,
formed by bulkheads 54, which may descend as far as may be required, and are
preferably so disposed as to form the chamber of a square formation vide Fig. 4.
The upper deck is fitted with sliding doors 55, 55*, which open to allow the
fighting top to pass in its vertical movements, and close together after the same has
passed so as to cover the hold 53.
The doors are supported by rollers 56, (vide Figs. 2, 7 and 9,) which are adapted
to engage with roller paths 57, made fast to the adjacent bulkheads.
The doors may be arranged to open and close together automatically by the
means represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. In such arrangement, a steam, water or
other motive power cylinder 58, is suitably secured to the under side of the door 55,
and a rod fitted with a piston 59, engaging with the cylinder is suitably secured to
a fixed bracket 60. The motive agent is admitted to the valve chest 61, by a
telescoping or flexible pipe 62, and the valve 63, controlling the admission of the
motive agent to the cylinder ends is pivotally connected to a lever 64, which is
centred externally of the cylinder end and is formed with extending arms 65, 66,
and is normally maintained in the position represented in Fig. 1, by a spring 67.
To the arm 65, is pivotally connected a bifurcated lever arm 68, partly encircling
the mast and normally maintained in the position represented by a cushion
spring 69.
If the cylinder fitted to the door 55, is of sufficient power to open both doors, the
door 55*, may be connected to the door 55, by a rope or the like 70, passing around
a fixed pulley 71, so as to cause the opening of the door 55, to effect the opening
of the door 55*, and another rope 72, guided by a fixed pulley 73, may be
connected to the latter door and to a suitably guided weight 74, adapted to close
it simultaneously with the closing of the door 55, by its cylinder.
The parts immediately hereinbefore described normally maintain the relative
positions represented in Figs. 1 and 4, but at each passage of the fighting top they
are automatically actuated as follows:-
As the
In the ascent of the fighting top, its upper part, by bearing against the lever
arm 66, shifts the valve 63, so as to admit the motive agent to the far end of the
cylinder 58, so as to cause the opening of the door 55, which, by the described
connections 70, 72, 74, simultaneously causes the opening of the door 55*.
fighting top clears the lever 64, the spring 67, returns the valve to its normal
position so as to admit the motive agent to the near end of the cylinder, which
causes the closing of the door 55, the closing of the door 55*, being simultaneously
effected by the attached weight 74.
In the descent of the fighting top, its lower part similarly acts upon the lever 64,

page_text: and connected valve 63, through the connections 68, 65 ;—the opening and closing
together of the doors 55, 55*, being effected in the manner and by the means
immediately herein before described.
Or, the cylinder 58, may be made single-ported so as to be adapted only to open
the doors by leading the motive agent to only the far end of the cylinder, a
connected balance weight or weights 74, being adapted to close them.
Or, each door may be fitted with a separate cylinder adapted to automatically
open and close it.
Or, as represented in Figs. 8, and 9, the doors 55, 55*, may be operated by a
steam or other engine 75, reversed by hand, and adapted to rotate a cranked
shaft 76, on the ends of which are made fast driving pinions 77, gearing with and
actuating racks 78, made fast to the under side of the door 55.
When the fighting top is housed in the hold 53, the lever connections 69,
68, 67, 65, may be covered by a removable sectional mast-cap (not shown)
made of canvas, metal or any other suitable material, adapted also to close the
guide-ways 15, and to keep any water from entering the hold.
Any suitable means (under the control of the inmates of the fighting top) may
be provided for temporarily supporting the fighting top at any desired elevation,
after the same has been raised or lowered thereto in the manner described, so that
the actuating engine may be relieved from any strain of supporting the fighting
top while in action. Such means, such as bolts operated by hand levers, if applied,
would preferably be supported by the shell 19, of the fighting top and adapted to
act in conjunction with the shell 18, of the mast.
Or, any suitable means of automatically arresting the fighting top, in the event
of one or other of the supporting chains 40, getting severed by
applied to the fighting top. Such means, if applied, would preferably be applied
a shot, may be
at the connections of the chains 40, with the slipper guides 20.
In Fig. 11, the slipper guide is shown as connected to the chain by means of
oppositely disposed levers 79, pivoted to lugs 80, projecting within the slipper
guide and adapted to operate, through recesses 81, in the slipper-guide, against
the guides 17, such levers being automatically brought into operation by a
weight 82, upon severance of the chain 40.
I also propose to affect the raising, lowering and rotating of the fighting tops
and their armament and accessories by the application of suitably arranged
hydraulic apparatus.
Among the advantages derivable from the construction and working of such
fighting tops and the like in such manner, the following may be mentioned :-
The stability of the ship, when not in action, will be increased, owing to the
lowering of the centre of gravity due to the lowered position of the fighting tops
and their armament and accessories. Heavier ordnance than is usual can be
mounted therein and used therewith, such occupying the raised position only when
the ship is in action, and giving the advantage of increased range of fire from guns
of heavier calibre than are ordinarily employed in fighting tops. A war-ship so
applied could more easily conceal her identity, and it would be more difficult for an
enemy to distinguish such a war ship from a merchant vessel. Such concealment
would be of particular advantage in the case of cruisers or of merchant steamers
temporarily acting as cruisers.
Moreover, as the men would not have to ascend to or descend from the fighting
top, they would not be exposed or subjected to the fire of an enemy in so-doing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. The hereinbefore described improvements applicable to fighting tops and the
like parts of ships of war.
2. Constructing and adapting fighting tops and like fortified and armed parts of 5

page_text: ships and vessels of war in such a mauner that they can be raised, lowered and
rotated about the masts, and so that when not in action they can be lowered flush
with or to any desired position above or below the ship's deck.
3. In combination, a mast, a fighting top and means of raising and lowering the
latter.
4. In combination, a mast, a fighting top and means of raising, and lowering and
of rotating the latter.
.
5. In combination, a mast, a fighting top, means of raising and lowering and of
rotating the fighting top, a hold below the upper deck adapted to receive and
protect the fighting top when lowered and out of action, and sliding doors adapted
to cover the hold and to open to permit of the raising, lowering and passage of the
fighting top.
6. The means of raising and lowering the fighting top hereinbefore described
with reference to Figs. 1, and 2, of the drawings.
7. The means, for the like purpose, hereinbefore described with reference to
Fig. 8, of the drawings.
8. The means, for the like purpose, hereinbefore described with reference to
Fig. 10, of the drawings.
9. The means for guiding the fighting top in its vertical movements herein before
described with reference to Figs. 5, and 11, of the drawings.
10. The means of rotating the fighting top herein before described with reference
to Figs. 1, 3, and 8, of the drawings.
11. The means of guiding the fighting top in its rotating movements hereinbefore
described with reference to Fig. 6, of the drawings.
12. The construction of fighting top hereinbefore described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8, of the drawings.
13. The means of operating the sliding doors of the hold hereinbefore described
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 7, of the drawings.
14. The means,
for the like purpose, herein before described with reference to
Figs. 8, and 9, of the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of October 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.