Improvements in or connected with Ships, whereby they are Protected in Case of Collision or from the Action of Projectiles and Prevented from Sinking.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ships, whereby they are
Protected in Case of Collision or from the Action of Projectiles
and Prevented from Sinking.
I, JACOB CINAMON, of Barbiton in the South African Republic, but at present
of 49 York Street, Portman Square, in the County of London, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to afford protection for ships whereby they are
practically rendered unsinkable, the means therefor being easily applied and always
ready for use when required, and my invention primarily consists in providing for
the ship a sort of protecting girdle or shield substantially as hereafter described,
which is ready to be put in position with very great facility when required
for use.
The shield (or shields) which forms the subject of my invention is or may be
conveniently composed of flexible armour or mail; flexible it must be because it
should be capable of being wound round a roller or a series of such rollers. This
flexible mail or armour is or may be lined with a material such as leather or a
combination of it with some other suitable or equivalent material, and for the
purpose hereafter described. The roller or rollers before referred to are carried
round the ship, say at or about the deck level, and on the outside thereof, and they
are protected and work inside a protected casing of, say, triangular section, although
I do not limit myself to that particular section. The flexible armour or mail is
or may be connected at base by chains which pass round pulleys or rollers near to
the ship's keel, and these chains are carried upwards and operated by, say, a winch
pulley, and in such manner that the mail is carried down to the lower pulley, and
up again to top protected roller, in fact the flexible mail forms, as it were, a coat of
mail operated and worked from the ship by winch or other convenient way, and so
that the protecting mail surface may not only be pulled down to the keel, but it
may also, when in position, be gradually moved upwards or downwards as may be
required; thus if a shot strikes a ship protected according to my invention, and
goes through the mail and the skin of the ship, by moving the flexible armour
down, the hole or holes so made in the ship are covered and closed, owing to the
flexible mail, composed, say, of mail and leather, presenting a new and close or
water-tight surface, which is not in a line with the aperture in the ship, and which
latter is consequently closed by the mail. The number of these rollers may vary
according to the length and size of the ship, and provision should be made to
protect the chains and operating mechanism of the armour.
For the mercantile marine no such armour protection need be absolutely
necessary for the rollers, but only sufficient to protect the working apparatus from
the influences of the weather, but at the same time, even in the mercantile marine,
I prefer to have the rollers protected by the triangular casing of armour, as it
not only acts as a covering for the rollers and the mail, but it also serves as a
protection in the event of a collision taking place, and would often be the means
in such cases of preventing a ship being cut in half, or at any rate, as is often the
case, rent open with no provision at hand to stop the aperture so made, whereas
by my invention I not only provide means for arresting the shock of the collision,
but when that collision takes place, there are means ready at hand for stopping
the apertures by the lowering of the flexible armour mail before described.
Provision should also be made for operating the endless flexible armour, and

page_text: which may be arranged to be effected from any convenient part of the snip, ass
for example, from the bridge.
11 of March 1892
BREWER & SON,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.
1
Improvements in
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
or connected with Ships, whereby they are
Protected in Case of Collision or from the Action of Projectiles
and Prevented from Sinking.
I, JACOB CINAMON, of Barberton, in the South African Republic, but at
present of 49 York Street, Portman Square, in the County of London, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide protection for ships whereby they are
practically rendered unsinkable the means therefor being easily applied and always
ready for use when required and my invention primarily consists in providing for
the ship a sort of movable armour, substantially as hereafter described, which is
ready to be put in position with very great facility when required for use, and the
invention also comprises shield protectors, triangular in section, extending round
the ship above the water line, for affording protection to the mechanism for
working the movable armour, as well as acting as a protecting medium in the
event of collision.
My invention will be best understood by further describing same with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a ship fitted with my improved armour,
showing the same in the position it would occupy when hauled up or hoisted in
board but ready for immediate use in case of necessity.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same ship showing the movable flexible armour
lowered into position for the protection of the vessel.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale of the upper portion of the
ship, showing a protecting casing, triangular in section which extends (in sections)
completely round the ship for protecting the mechanism for operating the movable
flexible armour, and for affording protection also to the men on board and to the
ship itself from the effects of collision.
Figure 4 shows on a similar scale to the previous figure, the keel portion of the
ship with the flexible armour coating (after having been lowered) secured in position
when this securing means is considered necessary.
Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the interior face of one section of the
triangular protectors.
Figure 6 shows in transverse section the arrangement of mechanism for
governing and effecting the downward and upward travel of the armour.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of same on or about the line cy of Fig. 6.
Figure 8 is an external elevation of the part shown at Fig. 6.
Figure 9 shows the connection with the guiding ropes or chains of a boom on the
lower part of the flexible armour.
Figure 10 shows a similar attachment provided with a spring device.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 show a modified means for holding the flexible armou
when lowered, should it be so desired.
Figure 14 shows a vessel having my improved protecting appliances fitte
thereto, several divisions of the flexible armour, being in use or about to b
brought into use.
A is the movable armour which must be to a certain extent flexible becaus
each portion of such armour should be capable of being wound round rollers

page_text: This flexible movable armour A. is made in pieces of convenient widths and may
consist of chain mail jointed plates of metal or jointed laths and is or may be
lined with a material such as leather, or a combination of it with some other
suitable or equivalent material, although I do not limit myself to any particular
manufacture of such flexible armour. A suitable number of such rollers B,
arranged with their ends adjacent to one another extend entirely round the ship,
say at or about the deck level, and outside the vessel, and the said rollers are
protected and work inside what I may call gear protectors or a protected casing F
of triangular section (best seen at Fig. 3). Each of the pieces of flexible movable
armour A is connected at base as hereafter described to endless ropes or chains C,
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, which pass round guide pulleys or rollers D near to the ship's
keel, and these ropes or chains C are then returned upwards again, being operated
by a winch pulley, for communicating motion to a train of wheels indicated by the
letter Hat Fig. 6, and in such manner that the lower end of the movable
armour A is carried down to the lower pulley and up again towards top protected
roller B the latter roller B, being provided at each end with a spur pinion K' K'
and revolved as required by a winch K Figs. 1 and 2 one of which may be.
provided at either end of the rollers B and one or both used as required. At
Figures 6, 7, 8, I have more clearly indicated the endless chains C for working the
flexible armour up and down the sides of the ship, and for this purpose the boom
or stretcher H with which the end of each piece of flexible armour A is provided
is held to the ropes or chains C by eye bolts, as at Fig. 9, carried from the ends
of the boom H and entering the grooves E in which the chains C lie, the inner
sides C of the chains being connected to the said boom H'. The connections of
the booms H' with the chains C may be allowed a certain amount of resiliency if
desired by applying a spring connection as is shown at Fig. 10, where the
spring Hallows the arm carrying the eye bolt a laternal play.
The boom H on having arrived in position at or near the keel, and the side of
the ship being then covered with the movable armour A the movement of the
endless chain is continued there by bringing the boom H¹ back on the outer sides
of chains C to the position, shown by dotted lines at Z, Fig. 6. and forming a fold
in the armour as shown. The endless chains during the movement just described
travel in the direction shown by the arrows. When the flexible movable armour.
has arrived into the dotted position shown at Fig. 6 marked Z, and the fold has
been formed, it may be trapped or held up against the bottom of the vessel should.
such fixture be considered necessary by one of the flaps H" which are hinged to
the keel, one of such flaps being shown at Fig. 4, this flap being operated from
the inside of the ship by a chain, passing through a tube, up to the same deck as
that from which the lowering, raising, and adjusting of the flexible armour is
worked, or the flaps may be worked by rods going through stuffing boxes.
These flaps or what I term "trapping mechanism," may be entirely dispensed
with, or I may employ an equivalent but somewhat modified form of securing
device, such as is shown at Fig. 11 in section transversely of the vessel,.
Fig. 12 in inverted plan, and Fig. 13 in section on line X" Y" of Fig. 12.
A represents portions of two adjacent sheets of the flexible armour.
HH' are
the two adjacent booms attached to the lower edges of same, L is a bar
which may be made of spring steel, fixed to the central web, and extends on both
sides of the grooves or channels E in which the cords or chains C are situated.
On either side of the central web aforesaid the bar L is bent and dips into the
channels E to allow the outer side of the endless chain C to come on the outside
of the bar L. When the movable armour is brought down, the booms H' pass
under the arms of the bar L, and when returning upwards as before described the
same booms H¹ pass over the arms of bar L and the loops or bends formed in
lie flexible armour are held by the said arms of the bar L.
The casing F, Fig. 3 which as before stated is preferably made triangular in
section, with the apex outwards, is firmly hinged to the ship's side so that a section
may be lowered down into the position shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 3 for the

page_text: purpose of removing the rollers or for repairs. When raised into the normal
position it is firmly secured to the ship's side.
Figure 5 shows the bearings E' in the ends of the casing F, which bearings
can be removed from the casing when it is required to remove or change a
roller B.
The movable armour is worked from the ship by winch as shown or other con-
venient way,
and so that this protecting movable armour surface may not only be
pulled down to the keel, but it may also when in position be gradually moved
upwards or downwards as may be required: thus if a shot strikes a ship protected
according to my invention and goes through the movable armour A. and the skin of
the ship, by moving the armour A. down, the hole or holes so made in the ship is
or are covered and closed owing to the flexible armour presenting a new and close
or water-tight surface which is not in a line with the aperture made in the ship, and
which latter is consequently closed by the said movable armour. The number of
the rollers B may vary as aforesaid according to the length and size of the ship.
It will be evident that the mechanism for operating the various rollers B may
be connected together or all operated through one driving shaft by suitable belis
or pulleys or other well known connections and operated or set in motion from one
point.
Provision should be made to protect the chains and operating mechanism of the
movable armour. Such protecting means are illustrated at Figs. 7, and 14;
E E indicate the guide grooves shown in horizontal section at Fig. 7 and sectional
elevation at Fig. 6, extending from the casing F down the ship's side so far as it is
intended the movable armour shall be capable of travelling to and preferably
down close to the keel, as shown at Fig. 2, it being in these grooves that the
the chains Care carried; G G Figs. 7 and 14 are wedge shaped pieces of metal
(gear protectors) to cover and afford protection to the chains C and rollers D.
These wedge pieces G can be hoisted up when the ship is under way, so as not to
impede her course through the water, but when down in position for protecting
the grooves in which the ropes or chains C travel, they rest on projections G'Fig. 14.
The triangular casing not only acts as a covering for the rollers and the
movable armour but it also serves as a protection in the event of a collision taking
place, and would be the means, in such cases of preventing a ship being cut in half
or at any rate rent open with no provision at hand to stop the aperture so made:
whereas by my invention 1 not only provide means for arresting the shock of the
collision but when that collision takes place, there are means ready at hand, for
stopping the apertures by the lowering of the flexible movable armour before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is.:-
1. In devices for preventing ships sinking from the effects of collisions projectiles
or the like, the pieces or lengths of flexible armour or mail A, provided with a
lining of leather or other material, and mounted upon rollers B, located outside of
and extending around the vessel, gearing for revolving the said rollers, booms, or
rods H fixed to depending end of mail A, controlling chains C C', and guiding
grooves EE, whereby all or any single piece of the mail A may be lowered to or
near the ship's keel and so cover the side of the vessel, together with any injury
thereon and thereby prevent the entry of water substantially as set forth.
2. In devices for preventing ships sinking from the effects of collisions, projectiles,
or the like, the combination with pieces of flexible leather lined mail A mounted
on rollers B, located outside and extending around the vessel, the operating gear
for rollers B booms H' on said mail A, boom operating chains C C¹ and grooves E,
of the hinged flaps or trapping arms H", whereby the flexible mail A is secured
at or near the keel of the ship or vessel substantially as set forth.
3. In devices for preventing ships sinking from the effects of collisions projectiles,

page_text: or the like, the combination with pieces of flexible leather-lined mail A, mounted
on rollers B, located outside and extending around the vessel, the operating
gear for rollers B, booms H' en said mail A, boom operating chains C C and
grooves E, of spring steel arms L located outside the vessel between the pieces of
flexible mail A, under and over which arms L the booms H¹ of the flexible
mail A pass, leaving loops of the latter held by the said arms L, substantially as set
forth.
4. In devices for preventing ships sinking from the effects of collisions projectiles,
or the like, the combination with pieces of flexible mail A lined with leather or
other material, rollers B carrying the mail A located outside and extending around
the vessel, operating gear for revolving the said rollers, guiding appliances and
lowering mechanism for controlling the lower edges of the mail A, of protecting
triangular casings F made in sections and extending all round the ship, above the
water line, and encasing the said rollers B and. mail A, substantially as set forth.
5. In devices for preventing ships sinking from the effects of collisions, projectiles,
or the like, the combination with the flexible mail A, rollers B operating, guiding
and lowering appliances for the said mail A, of the wedge shaped pieces of metal
or gear protectors G G supported by triangular brackets G¹ G¹ projecting from
the sides of the vessel for protecting the guiding and lowering mechanism from
injury all substantially as described.
6. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing my improve-
ments in or connected with ships whereby they are protected in case of collisions
or form the action of projectiles, and prevented from sinking, all acting substan-
tially as, and for the purposes herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
1
1802
BREWER & SON,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.
நாக
BREWER & SON,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.