IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES & BLOCKS FOR SHIP AND FORT ARMOUR, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Yates, of Rotherham, in the County of York, Esquire,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES & BLOCKS
FOR SHIP AND FORT ARMOUR, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Scaled the 13th June 1876, and dated the 9th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Yates at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1876.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JAMES YATES, of Rotherham, in the County of York, Esquire.
THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES & BLOCKS FOR SHIP AND FORT ARMOUR, AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in so preparing and manipulating steel castings of proper
strength and quality as to produce blocks or plates suitable for forts (fixed or
floating), ship armour, beams, supports, and other purposes, now produced by
welding, stamping, and rolling wrought iron.
In carrying out my Invention I take steel castings (made in an open or closed
mould) which may be of uniform temper or hardness, or which may consist of
strata of varying temper or hardness, and at once use them as finished blocks or
plates, or when in a soft or plastic state I roll, stamp, or press them in order to
give them strength to bear greater pressure or strain, tensibly, compressively, or by
impact from projectiles or heavy blows.
With regard to the materials to be employed I prefer such steel as is commonly
known as Bessemer steel, which can be made of a soft, hard, or medium temper or
hardness, but I do not confine myself to the same, and with regard to the method
of compression I prefer to employ means or method of effecting pressure indicated
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, No. 2051, of August 1863, but
other methods may be adopted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Yates in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September 1876.
JAMES YATES, of Rotherham, in the County of York, Esquire. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES AND BLOCKS FOR SHIP AND FORT ARMOUR, AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in so preparing steel castings of proper strength and
quality as to produce compound blocks or plates suitable for forts (fixed or floating)
Duinn 977

page_text: ships' armour, beams, supports, girders, rails, tires, boiler and ship plates, and other
purposes, most of which are now usually produced by welding, stamping, or rolling
wrought iron.
In carrying out my said Invention I take steel castings (made in an open or closed
mould, and in the manner herein-after described, which are composed of two or
more strata of varying temper or hardness, and at once use them as finished blocks
or plates, or when in a soft or plastic state I roll, stamp, or press them in order to
give them the form required, and to impart strength to bear greater pressure or
strain, tensibly, compressively, or by impact from projectiles or heavy blows. I
construct the above-mentioned steel castings by running into an open or closed
mould molten steel of one temper or hardness, and then upon its upper surface
running a second layer of molten steel of another temper or hardness, and repeating
the operation (when required) so as to form as many strata of different tempered
steel as may be desired, and arranged according to their temper or hardness as may
be required, forming thereby one solid and compact compound mass to be either at
once used or to be stamped, rolled, or pressed as before-mentioned.
With regard to the materials to be employed I prefer such steel as is commonly
known as Bessemer steel, which can be made of a hard, soft, or medium temper or
hardness, but I do not confine myself to this product or material, and with regard
to the method of compression I prefer to employ the means or method of effecting
pressure indicated in the Specifications of Letters Patent for Great Britain granted
to me, No. 542, Sixth February, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and
2051, Eighteenth August, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, but other
methods may be adopted.
In the term "steel" I include all compounds of iron containing less carbon than
is contained in cast or pig iron, and which compounds are capable of being reduced
to a molten condition.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patents is―
The production of compound blocks or masses of steel suitable for ship and fort
arinour, beams, supports, girders, rails, tyres, boiler and ship plates, and other
purposes, and consisting of strata of steel of varying temper or hardness prepared
and treated in the manner herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Yates, have to this my Specification set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.
JAMES YATES. (L.S.)