IMPROVEMENTS IN TH CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS AND BATTERIES, AND IN THE APPLIANCES AND MEANS FOR FIRING AND WORKING GREAT GUNS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Sharpe, of Hanwell Park, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TH
CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS AND BATTERIES, AND IN THE APPLIANCES
AND MEANS FOR FIRING AND WORKING GREAT GUNS."
Sealed the 22nd January 1869, and dated the 31st July 1868.

page_text: In mounting great guns, instead of the usual gun carriages two guns
are attached to the opposite ends of a framework of wood or metal in
such a manner as will permit them to revolve in a vertical direction
when secured to a bar of metal or wood passing between them, the whole
of which being also made to move in a horizontal direction on wheels
attached to a circular framework of wood or metal, which framework in
the case of ships supports a deck, and in the case of batteries a protective
covering of wood, metal, and other substances. The framework for the
vertical motion has at other times the axis on which it revolves supported
by another framework resting on a centre and turning horizontally on
this centre, and on wheels placed under it, while it is kept in position
by a lateral framework revolving on wheels and supporting a deck or
covering. The framework for the vertical motion is made of a sufficient
length to enable one of the guns at one point of the revolution to appear
at such a height above the deck or covering as well permit the gun
being fired with a sufficient degree of depression, and at another point
as will allow both of the guns being placed under the deck or covering
either for protection or for being loaded, the aperture in the deck or
covering through which the guns alternately appear and disappear being
then closed by a covering of wood, metal, or other substance with a
part on hinges attached to the vertical framework and revolving with it.
My method of checking the recoil of the gun from the effect of the
explosion of powder is by friction wheels on the framework of the
vertical motion, and by weights attached to this framework and acting
as a counterpoise, or by springs or buffers placed in rear of the gun.
In small vessels or boats I sometimes neutralize the effect of the
recoil of the gun by a chain connected with the gun, and passing
through a tube into the water, and having at its end a contrivance
formed of metal, leather, canvas, or other materials which will expand
and cause a resistance against the water to its being suddenly withdrawn.
The vertical motion of the guns is obtained by means of two wheels
with teeth attached to the axle on which the guns revolve, and by the
application of external power the horizontal motion is produced by
wheels with teeth which work on a circular rim of wood and metal
placed externally to the framework and fastened to the deck, and also
as in the vertical motion by the application of external power.
I also at other times in lieu of one of the guns apply a weight as a
counterpoise. Instead of always exploding the charge of powder in the

page_text: chamber in the axis of the gun I sometimes have an explosion chamber
for the powder either parallel with or at an angle with the bore of the
gun in which the shot moves, which chamber has sometimes a contracted
throat.
I sometimes place a covering of metal on the revolving deck or
covering as a protection to the guns when about to be fired.
I prefer
giving a curved form to the sides of the vessel, so that when a shot
strikes the metallic armour plating it may be deflected.
Instead of using the ordinary bowsprit I take two spurs, which when
projected from the vessel at an angle have their outer ends joined
together, while their inner ends are extended to either side of the vessel
out of the line of fire from the guns when pointed in a line with the
keel. The inner ends of the spars are made to work on a pin or in a
socket, so that the extremities of the spars together with the jib-boom
may be raised when desired, as in the case of ramming another vessel.
In lieu of the ordinary lower masts I sometimes use shears working in
a similar manner, and having topmasts and other masts continued from
their apices. At other times I form my masts principally of metal with
four sides tapering to their ends, and made of a sufficient size and
strength to be independant or nearly so of external support.
The shot I prefer to use with the revolving guns are of a greater
length than the diameter of the bore of the gun, and have both their
ends tapering; they are kept in place by means of projections of metai
of the same diameter as the bore of the gun, which projections extend
from the greatest diameter of the shot towards the charge end along
the external surface of the shot.
In order to obtain a sufficient firmness of structure in batteries, I use
lead or a concrete of melted lead and small scraps of iron or stones,
which lead or concrete is poured when hot between the armour plating,
and a thin inner skin of metal bolts loosely attached to the inner
surface of the armour plating for securing it are laid across before the
lead or concrete is poured in.
In order to give strength to the ship and for supporting a deck for
the accommodation of the crew and other purposes, I sometimes extend
a beam or girder of metal and wood longitudinally of the ship with cross
ties above the guns and connected with the ship below.
I sometimes take aim at an object with an instrument either detached

page_text: from or connected with the guns by an eccentric motion. The instru-
ment is a short bar of metal made to move vertically as well as hori-
zontally with a tangent sight on its upper edge, and is marked with
degrees corresponding with the gun to which it is attached.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Benjamin Sharpe in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
SHARPE, of Hanwell Park, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Sharpe, Her special licence that
I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all mes thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF SHIPS OR VESSELS AND BATTERIES, AND IN THE APPLIANCES AND
MEANS FOR FIRING AND WORKING GREAT GUNS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, 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 thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction
of ships or vessels and batteries, and in the appliances and means for
firing and working great guns.
In mounting great guns, instead of the usual gun carriages two
guns are attached to the opposite ends of a framework of wood or
metal in such a manner as will permit them to revolve in a vertical
direction when secured to a bar of metal or wood passing between
them, the whole of which being also made to move in a horizontal
direction on wheels attached to a framework of wood or metal, which
framework in the case of ships supports a deck, and in the case of
batteries a protective covering of wood, metal, and other substances.
The framework for the vertical motion has at other times the axis on
which it revolves supported by another framework resting on a centre
and turning horizontally on this centre and on wheels placed under it,
while it is kept in position by a lateral framework revolving on wheels
and supporting a deck or covering. I would remark that I am aware
that it has before been proposed to form or fix together two guns
attached side to side or end to end with the muzzles pointing in
opposite directions and to turn such combined guns on pivots, but
according to my Invention the guns are carried at a distance apart
from one another by a framework for the vertical motion, which frame-
work is made to turn horizontally as above described for the horizontal
motion, and which admits of the recoil of the guns and of their being
brought under cover for being loaded. The framework for the vertical
motion is made of a sufficient length to enable one of the guns at one
point of the revolution to appear at such a height above the deck or
covering as will permit the gun being fired with a sufficient degree
of depression, and at another point as will allow both of the guns
being placed under the deck or covering either for protection or for
being loaded, the aperture in the deck or covering through which the
guns alternately appear and disappear being then closed by a covering
of wood, metal, or other substance with a port on hinges attached to
the vertical framework and revolving with it.
My method of checking the recoil of the gun from the effect of the
explosion of powder is by friction wheels on the framework of the
vertical motion, and by weights attached to this framework and acting
as a counterpoise, or by springs or buffers placed in rear of the gun.

page_text: In small vessels or boats I sometimes neutralize the effect of the
recoil of the gun by a chain connected with the gun and passing through
a tube into the water, and having at its end a contrivance formed of
metal, leather, canvas, or other materials which will expand and cause
a resistance against the water to its being suddenly withdrawn.
The vertical motion of the guns is obtained by means of two or
more wheels with teeth attached to the axle or framework on which
the guns revolve, and by the application of external power the horizonta!
motion is produced by wheels with teeth which work on a circular rim
of wood and metal placed externally to the framework and fastened to
the deck or battery, and also as in the vertical motion by the application
of external power.
I also at other times in lieu of one of the guns apply a weight as a
counterpoise. I sometimes place a covering of metal on the revolving
deck or covering as a protection to the guns when about to be fired.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shews two guns a attached
as above described to the opposite sides of a framework b which revolves
vertically on a centre c. This centre is supported on another framework
d, the whole turning horizontally on the pivot e and wheels f; this
latter framework supports the circular decks g and h, in the centres of
which are apertures through which the framework b and guns a revolve.
i is a port, which when extended in a line with the portion of the frame-
work to which it is attached by hinges will together with this portion
of the framework fill and close the aperture in the upper deck when
the guns are below the deck for being loaded. Sometimes I make the
framework for the vertical motion circular when a port is not required.
j is a friction wheel for checking or stopping the recoil of the guns.
In boats a contrivance like an umbrella is sometimes placed in the
water to effect the same object, as before mentioned. k is a wheel
with teeth (for the vertical motion) which is turned by smaller wheels
with teeth and handles l. The horizontal motion is given by small
wheels with teeth working in a metal rim with teeth on the circular
stop m and turned by handles.
Instead of always exploding the charge of powder in the chamber in
the axis of the gun I sometimes have an explosion chamber for the
powder either parallel with or at an angle with the bore of the gun
in which the shot moves, which chamber has sometimes a contracted
throat.

page_text: Figure 2 shows the section of a gun with a chamber for the powder a
at right angles with the bore b; c is a moveable plug which is prevented
from rising beyond the required point by external stops or pressure. By
this arrangement when the powder is exploded it has first to raise the
moveable plug a distance before it can act against the base of the shot,
and so the gases produced from the burning of the powder will be con-
siderably compressed before commencing to act upon the shot.
Instead of using the ordinary bowsprit I take two spars, which when
projected from the vessel at an angle have their outer ends joined
together, while their inner ends are extended to either side of the vessel
out of the line of fire from the guns when pointed it a line with the keel.
The inner ends of the spars are made to work on a pin or in a socket,
so that the extremities of the spars together with the jib-boom may be
raised when desired, as in the case of ramming another vessel.
In lieu of the ordinary lower masts I sometimes use shears working
in a similar manner and having top masts and other masts continued
from their apices.
Figure 3 represents two shear legs a having a metal tube b at their
apex through which the topmast or jib-boom c moves up and down;
d is a metal rod connecting the lower ends of the shear legs. At other
times I form my masts principally of metal with four sides tapering
to their ends and made of a sufficient size and strength to be independent
or nearly so of external support. Figure 4 represents a portion of such
a square hollow mast formed of plates of metal, which is strengthened
internally by angle irons and cross ties.
The shot I prefer to use with the revolving guns are of a greater
length than the diameter of the bore of the gun and have both their
ends tapering; they are kept in place by means of projections of metal
of the same diameter as the bore of the gun, which projections extend
from the greatest diameter of the shot towards the charge end along
the external surface of the shot.
Figure 5 represents such a tapering shot, which is kept from turning
while passing through the bore of the gun by the longitudinal plates a.
In order to obtain a sufficient firmness of structure in batteries I
use lead or a concrete of melted lead and small scraps of iron or stone,
which lead or concrete is poured when hot between the external armour
plating and a thin inner skin of metal. Bolts loosely attached to the

page_text: inner surface of the armour plating for securing it are laid across in
tubes before the lead or concrete is poured in.
I sometimes take aim at an object with an instrument either detached
from or connected with the guns by an excentric motion. The instru-
ment is a short bar of metal made to move vertically as well as hori-
zontally with a tangent sight on its upper edge, and is marked with
degrees corresponding with the gun to which it is attached.
Figure 6 shows such an object pointer, a being its tangent sight;
b, a circular are marked with degrees for the vertical angles and kept in
place by the thumbscrew c; d, a circular plate marked with degrees for
the horizontal angles; e is a crank at the end of the rod h and joined by
the connecting rod f to another crank g attached to the pivot on which
the gun turns.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Sharpe, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
BENJAMIN SHARPE. (L.B.)