IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR-PLATES FOR SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND " IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermann Reusch of Dillingen a/ Saar, Prussia, German
Empire. for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ARMOUR-PLATES FOR SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND
"
IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermann Reusch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1882.
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR-PLATES FOR SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
HERMANN REUSCH of Dillingen */ Saar, Prussia, German Empire
"
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of armour-plates and
in apparatus therefor.
In the method hitherto employed, the iron plate which is to be covered with
steel is provided with a frame of wrought iron, which is pressed together with the
said plate against a shell-plate, or moulding plate and leaves space for the molten
steel to be poured in. This frame must be constructed with great accuracy and on
that account entails considerable expense; moreover it tends to assist in the
formation of blisters; but the greatest evil that arises from it is that although the
two metals appear to be properly welded at the time the molten steel is poured in,
the said metals often become loosened from one another in the future working of
the plates, and this occasions waste by producing spoilt plates or at least causes a
considerable reduction in the thickness of the Plates produced. A further evil is
that the steel poured in, is formed with sharp right angled edges, which, when
further manipulated with the hammer, and when rolled are liable to crack, in
proportion to the hardness of the steel.
The object of the present invention is to obviate the above described defects on
the method hitherto employed.-According to the said invention I provide a box
or casing made of strong iron plates, and of dimensions suitable to the size of the
armour-plates which are to be produced. This box or casing is provided at the top
and bottom with stiffening or binding pieces secured with bolts or otherwise and
designed to resist the pressure from within. The bottom of the box or casing is

page_text: covered with refractory material upon which is placed a shell-plate or moulding
plate resting against one of the sides of the box which shell-plate or moulding
plate, according to its dimensions, is composed of a greater or less number of
pieces. The lower part of the said shell-plate is suitably secured in the box or
casing.
Against one side of the shell, I place ledges or side pieces at such distance from
each other as is required by the breadth of the steel casting to be produced. The
inside edges of these side pieces next the shell plate are preferably chamfered to
form acute angles say of 60° or 70°, so that the steel poured in shall have edges
forming corresponding obtuse angles. Against these ledges or side pieces is placed
the iron plate previously heated to a red beat. In order that the said plate may
be kept close against the ledges or side pieces and in its exact position, three of its
lower edges are chamfered before it is placed in the box or casing. In the bottom
of the said box I provide strong iron wedge-shaped pieces placed in a definite
position with regard to the shell-plate, which position is determined by the
thickness of the iron plate. The wedge-shaped pieces are adjusted by placing
behind them blocks or packing pieces so that when the iron plate is set in position,
it meets the wedgeshaped pieces with its chamfered edges, and glides along them
until it comes into the desired position, and its lower end is pressed, by reason of
its great weight, against the ledges or side pieces and indirectly against the shell
plate or moulding plate. At its upper part the plate is pressed against the shell
plate or moulding plate by means of suitable levers and thus a certain pressure is
exerted upon the stiffening or binding pieces of the said box or casing. In order
to effect a better closing of the joints between the ledges or side pieces and the iron
plate 1 employ strips of asbestos which can be made durable by means of fine iron
wire plaited or woven into them.
In cases when it is required to manufacture a large number of compound
armour-plates of the same dimensions, the ledges or side pieces may be dispensed
with and the steel poured into a shell-plate or moulding plate of suitable form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Hermann Reusch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th September 1882.
HERMANN REUSCH, of Dillingen-a/-Saar, Prussia, German Empire, . " IMPROVE-
MENTS, IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR-PLATES FOR SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of armour-plates, and
in apparatus therefor.
In a method hitherto employed in the manufacture of armour plates and known
as "Wilsons process" the iron plate which was to be covered with steel was
provided with a frame of wrought iron, which pressed together with the said plate
against a shell-plate or moulding plate, leaving a space for the molten steel to be
poured in. This frame had to be constructed with great accuracy and on that
account entailed considerable expense. Moreover the said frame tended to assist
in the formation of blisters; but the greatest disadvantage that arose from its use
was that, although the welding of the two metals appeared to be progressing
properly at the time the molten steel was poured in, the said metals often became
loosened from one another in the further working of the plate, thus rendering them
useless, or at least causing a considerable reduction in the thickness occasioned by
the extra working to which the said plate was subjected. A further disadvantage
was that the steel poured in was formed with sharp square edges, which, when
further manipulated with the hammer and when rolled, were liable to crack in
proportion to the hardness of the steel.
The object of the present invention is to obviate the defects in the method
herein before described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus for constructing compound armour-
plates according to this invention
Figure 2 is a plan of the same partly in section.
Figure 3 is a vertical section at right angles to the section shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing the manner of bevelling the edges of iron plates
which are to be covered with steel.
•
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a box or casing A made of
strong iron plates and of dimensions in accordance with the size of the armour
plates which are to be produced. This box or casing is provided at the top and
bottom with clamps or binding pieces B B¹ secured with bolts or otherwise and
designed to resist the pressure from within. The bottom of the said box or casing
is covered with refractory material Cupon which is placed a shell-plate or moulding
plate D resting against one of the sides of the box. This shell-plate or moulding
plate, according to its dimensions, is composed of a greater or less number of pieces.
The lower part of the shell-plate D is suitably secured to the refractory material C.
Against the said shell I place ledges or side pieces s, s', at such distance from each
other, as is required by the breadth of the steel casting to be produced. The edges
of these side pieces are turned towards each other, and are preferably chamfered to
form acute angles, say of sixty or seventy degrees with the iron plate E which is
to be covered with steel so that the steel plate formed upon the iron plate shall
have edges forming obtuse angles. Against the ledges or side pieces 8, 81, is placed
the iron plate E which is previously heated to a clear red heat. In order that the
said plate may be in close contact with the said ledges or side pieces, and be kept
in its exact position, three of its lower edges are bevelled as shown in Figure 4. In

page_text: the bottom of the box A and resting upon the material C I place strong iron
wedge-shaped pieces K, K¹, K2, K³,; the position of these wedges is determined by
the thickness of the iron plate E. The said wedge-shaped pieces, are fixed in
position by placing behind them blocks or packing pieces so that when the iron
plate E is lowered, its bevelled edges will come into contact with the wedge-shaped
pieces and glide along them until it comes into the desired position, with its lower
end pressed, by reason of its weight, against the ledges or side pieces s, s', and
indirectly against the shell-plate or moulding plate. At its upper part, the iron
plate E is held in contact with the ledges or side pieces by means of levers h and
thus a pressure is also exerted upon the clamps or bindingpieces of the said box or
casing. In order to effect a perfect closing of the joints between the ledges or side
pieces s, s¹, and the iron plate E, I employ strips of asbestos, which can be made
durable by means of fine iron wire, plaited or woven into them.
. In cases where it is required to manufacture a large number of compound
armour-plates of the same dimensions, the loose ledges or side pieces may be
dispensed with, and the steel poured into a shell-plate or moulding plate having the
said ledges or side pieces made integral therewith, but in this case the steel-plate
must be formed with the obtuse angled edges as hereinbefore described
After the ledges.or side pieces have been arranged. on the shell plate, and the iron
plate is placed in position as described, the spaces around the box are filled with
sand, and the mould is then ready for casting.
A mould formed as hereinbefore described is prepared for a cast without any
loss of time, and may be absolutely relied upon as regards the result of the cast.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim,
First. The use of ledges or side pieces, made either separate from, or cast in one
piece with, the iron shell plate, in the latter case the said shell plate being made of
the size desired for the steel casting, thereby avoiding the previous manipulation of
the said ledges or side pieces to obtain a casting of the desired dimensions,
substantially as described
Second. The use of chamfered ledges or side pieces, either loosely laid on, or
integral with the shell plate, for the production of castings having bevelled edges,
substantially as described.
Third. The use of strips of asbestos for ensuring tight joints between the said
ledges or side pieces and the iron plate which is to be covered with steel,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The wedge-shaped pieces K, K1, K2, K³, in combination with the bevelled
edges of the iron plate which is to be covered with steel, the said wedge-shaped
pieces being adjustable relatively to the shell-plate, whereby the lower end of the said
iron plate presses, by its own weight, against the ledges or side pieces, and indirectly
against the shell-plate, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Hermann Reusch have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 12th day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
eicht hundred and eighty two