IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF METAL TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CANNON, RIFLES, ARMOUR PLATES, AND OTHER OBJECTS USED IN NAVAL OR MILITARY WARFARE OR OTHERWISE."
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, of No. 5, Thurloe
Place, South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF METAL TO BE USED
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CANNON, RIFLES, ARMOUR PLATES, AND OTHER OBJECTS
USED IN NAVAL OR MILITARY WARFARE OR OTHERWISE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Henry Cradock
Monckton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 21st April 1862.
I, EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of 5, Thurloe Place, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
METAL TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CANNON, RIPLES, ARMOUR PLATES, AND
OTHER OBJECTS USED IN NAVAL OR MILITARY WARFARE OR OTHERWISE," to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in arranging and binding together by wires, bars,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: rings, coils, or other shaped masses of iron, copper, or other metal, so as to form
skeletons or frames, the interstices or spaces in which are to be filled up with
metal by means of electrical deposition, which becoming thereby solid masses
of metal, are to be turned and bored for cannon or rifles, or to be planed or
hammered for armour plates, or otherwise to be treated by the ordinary i
operations for shaping metals in order to form useful objects.
I propose as an example to take a coil of stout iron wire in the form of a
spiral spring, and to place the same in a solution of a salt of iron, such as the
sulphate of iron, for example; I propose then to attach the pole of a galvanic
battery thereto, and to insert an iron plate in the solution, bringing the other
pole of the battery in connection therewith, the consequence being the decom-
position of the iron plate, and the deposition thereof throughout every portion
of the coil, which in due time becomes a solid mass of metal, and which may
then be turned in a lathe and bored out, so as to form a cannon. Iron sand,
such as Taranaki iron sand, may be used in the solution instead of the iron
plate.
It is evident that copper and other metals can be operated upon according
to this Invention so as to form useful obiects.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HENRY CRADOCK MONCкTON, of No. 5, Thurloe Place, South Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, Her special licence, that I, the said
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times 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

page_text: Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF METAL
TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CANNON, RIPLES, ARMOUR PLATES, AND OTHER
OBJECTS USED IN NAVAL OR MILITARY WARFAPE OR OTHERWISE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under his, 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 Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
do hereby declare the nature of my 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 consists, first, in the employment of iron and steel made
from iron sand and its matrix, and in improvements in common iron and steel;
and, secondly, in the application of electricity, as hereafter described.
And, firstly, as regards iron and steel made from iron sand and its matrix.
Where this sand or its matrix is too impure for immediate operations, it is
brought by any suitable arrangement, while in a divided state and spread out,
into contact with magnets, made either to revolve or to have a side motion;
scrapers or brushes are so arranged on a frame as to remove the iron sand
from the magnets as they pass. By this means the dirt and impurities are
left behind, and the iron sand is cleansed; if this is not sufficiently accomplished
the first time, the operation must be repeated, or it is seperated from its
impurities by the process well known in jigging in water or by a blast of air.
The iron sand is then fused in either crucibles or furnaces, with the addition
to the usual mode of fluxing of carbonates or other suitable preparations of
lime, shells, soda, the black flux, borax, salt, and other well-known fluxes, or
in the proportion of one part iron sand to about two parts of the best Swedish
or other iron. To prepare the steel of different qualities the metal prepared
as above is laminated and subjected to cementation with charcoal, in order to
convert and make it into steel, electricity being employed or not at pleasure;
or the steel is prepared by fusion directly from the iron sand by admixture
with charcoal and suitable fluxes, which are. well known, in closed crucibles,
the heat being very slowly and gradually raised from one degree to another
till the point of fusion is reached. I improve the quality of common iron and
steel by direct fusion of iron and steel with the iron sand itself, the proportion

page_text: of two parts iron to one part sand forming a good mixture, and also by
welding it with the iron or steel prepared from iron sand in such proportions
as may be found convenient.
I reduce iron sand to a metallic state by adding it by degrees to common
iron and steel in fusion, or by mixing it when about to be fused in crucibles or
furnaces with or without the use of fluxes and of electricity. Iron and steel
prepared as above directly from iron sand being of a very superior quality and
strength, possess a great advantage over the common sorts in the construction
of ships of war, merchant vessels, cannon, boilers, &c., and generally as a
substitute for common iron and steel." I unite iron and steel made as above
described from iron sand by means of electrical deposits, as herein-after
described, or without the intervention of electricity.. I further smelt iron
sand mixed as above described with charcoal and fluxes, or unmixed, or in
combination with coal, coke, charcoal, or wood, or otherwise. Hydrogen
gas used in conjunction with a simple air blast, or hydrogen gas in con-
junction with oxygen gas and common air, or any or all of these combined
or otherwise, with or without the application of electricity. Any con-
venient arrangement is adopted to make the process continuous by means
of which the metal is removed as fast as smelted, while fresh material is
added as required, which from the intense heat and the purity of the sand
could be effected with great rapidity and in a comparatively speaking small
furnace.
Where electricity is employed any of the known means for removing
impurities and of saving them, where of any use, may be adopted, and where
the sand contains more valuable products, such as platinum or silver, these can
also be separated.
I employ electricity however generated by any of the usual means, and with
or without the use of coils of induction, and of condensers of electricity, the
electric current being varied in quantity or intensity or in both, as follows;
for example, I unite together pieces of metal or wire by electrical deposition;
thus in the construction of cannon the deposition of metals or their alloys can
be made on cores prepared in various ways, thus, one method is to make a
tube of metal, such as tempered steel, iron, brass, bronze, or other suitable
metal or alloy, smooth or rifled in its bore, prepared in the ordinary way, on
which metal rings, wire, pieces of metal, which if made of steel could first be
tempered, or other metallic preparations, either previously coated with metal
or plumbago to prevent oxydation, or otherwise, can be united and secured by
electro-deposition; thus also improved armour or other defensive metallic

page_text: plates may be prepared, either hard or soft, by adopting the same methods;
for example, a common but good soft iron plate may be used as a base for
depositing pure hard iron or any other suitable metal upon, or pieces of steel,
tempered or otherwise, or other metal may be united to this base, and the
process may be varied in many ways to answer particular purposes, as for
rendering the sheathing plates, bolts, and fastenings in iron ships of war or
otherwise less liable to destruction, owing to the less oxidizable nature, greater
purity and hardness, if so desired, of the metal or alloy deposited outside;
thus brass applied to iron plates would protect them from corrosion, from sea
water, and from marine insects, &ca.
I employ electricity in a furnace of peculiar construction for cementing and
wholly or partially converting into steel iron used for ships of war, &ca., and
also for railroad wheel tyres. The furnace consists, by preference, either of a
circular building having double walls with a fire-place at the bottom, having
either an iron slab or arch above, the exterior being of considerable thickness,
and the interior one thin. The interstice between the two walls is converted
into flues, which may be made slanting or perpendicular from the basement to
the top. The space inside is made large enough to take in the largest or
smallest pieces of metal and tyres; these are laid over each other, and
connected by proper conductors of iron, with charcoal in powder two inches
thick or more laid between each; the top is then covered with sand; a dome
is placed above the flues, so as to make a draught; a doorway is placed at the
side for the purpose of packing the iron and charcoal, which is subsequently
built up before firing.
I also use the solution of asbestos and mica with alkaline carbonates and
caustic alkalis for preserving the metal of ships, cannon, armour plates, and
metal generally, forming the subject of this Patent, from corrosion and marine
deposits. The solution is to be applied cold to the metal, which is then to be
heated up to a red heat and cooled; cannon thus protected may be fired with
rapidity without fear of injury from heat.
Cannon may be constructed according to this Invention of any desired form
or shape, the metal being superadded at the parts desired and united as above
described, and may be formed in separate pieces, so as to admit of being joined
together piece by piece by means of projections or flanges placed outside,
which could then be screwed and bolted together. The separate pieces being
light could also by this means be easily carried about, and then be secured
together, and thus either a long or short gun could be formed to suit a long or
short range.
.

page_text: I further use metal prepared as above described together with electricity for
purposes of protection and of defence in war and on board ship, by the use
either of simple electricity, however generated, or of electricity strongly
induced, intensified, and condensed by means of powerful galvanic batteries,
or magneto-electric machines in connection with gigantic induction coils and
electrical condensers; this is effected by conveying from one position to another,
between which an enemy must pass, wires, bars, rods, chains, sheets, or blocks of
any conducting metal, prepared by preference by the above processes, and united
to the poles of the batteries in connection with gigantic induction coils and
condensers, or with the poles of magneto-electric machines with similar
arrangements used either with properly insulated pillars or supports in the
form of a fence, or else placed upon the surface of the ground, from which
these are insulated by sheets of gutta percha, glazed tiles, shell lac, resins,
prepared silk, or other suitable non-conductors; the moment any one of these
wires or pieces of metal are touched the shock will be received and no
protections of gloves, cloth, soles of shoes, or other covering, even though they
may be of gutta percha, are of any avail. It is obvious that contact between
these pre-arranged wires, &ca., with the poles of the battery need only be made
when required; thus the defenders having retired and the enemy having
rushed in, contact could be made, when the latter would be caught in a trap
or be prevented from nearer approach at option.
This Invention is equally applicable to the protection of ships of war,
merchant ships, and other places requiring protection or defence. The
batteries or other apparatus should be placed in bombproof or other secure spots,
they may also be situated at any distance from the place where the above
arrangements are made, and any number of places can thus be guarded from
one common centre. Though death is certain if a powerful current of
electricity is employed, yet it may be always so modified as to communicate a
shock sufficient only to render an enemy "hors de combat," and powerless for
the time, without causing absolute vital injury; it is obvious that a merchant
vessel so defended could not be taken by pirates, who could by this simple
means be all captured when once fairly on board; nor could any fort be taken
by assault that was so protected. The wires and other pieces of iron or metal
could also be concealed from view, where such precautions are desirable
without detriment to their electrical action, though in the smoke during an
action this would hardly be necessary.
In applying metal prepared as before described to the building of vessels
of war, military, and other transports, and ships of large tonnage generally in

page_text: the following novel method:-I firstly prepare one or more long tunnels or
tubes capable of self-support if suspended in the air by their ends, constructed
on the principle of the "Britannia" bridge; these constitute the centre back-
bone or keel of the ship reversed. I then make another tubular vessel pointed
at each end, representing the shape of the ship, flat both at the top and at the
bottom, with its outer sides corresponding in shape to the sides of the vessel;
the first oblong tunnel is then so built into the centre of this last tunnel or
tube that its section at any part forms with it three parts of a cross. A good
proportion for the first tube is twenty-five feet by twelve feet and a half, and
one thousand feet long. The second tube is to be one thousand feet long, and
eighty feet broad, and ten feet deep, tapering towards the extremities, each
end having similar wave lines and furnished with a rudder also at each end.
The second tube is to be subdivided longitudinally and across into about forty
different water-tight compartments; the sides of the vessel must be double,
and her bottom may be so also, if necessary built in honeycombs; a good
proportion being five feet and a half between the walls, the sides rising the
same height as the interior tunnel or tunnels, i. c., twenty-five feet. The
vessel would of course be braced strongly together, which is done already in
many ways. For purposes of transport the inner tunnel or tunnels could be
arranged with rails so as to run trains laden with military stores and soldiers
quickly into; a vessel so constructed need not draw more than six or seven
feet of water, if so much, could carry any amount of armour plates, soldiers
enough to constitute a little army, numerous cannon of any magnitude, would
have six, eight, or more steam engines to propel her, could from her small
draught make her way in very shallow water, and from her speed of about
twenty-five knots per hour be able to overtake or run down any vessel.
Though from both ends being alike there would be no necessity for turning
her, yet from having two rudders and several engines, some of which could be
applied to turn and some to propel her, she could be made to turn if required
in a very small space as rapidly as a vessel much smaller. On entering her
port she would merely steam in and back out at pleasure. It is obvious that
her length would prevent pitching, and her great width, flat bottom, and
immense speed almost obviate rolling, as she would be away from one wave
to another before much rolling could take place, so that not only could the
gunners take a steady aim, but the soldiers on board would not be sea-sick,
and thus be fit for work the moment they arrived. Her immense tonnage
would enable her to carry an enormous quantity of coal and military stores,
she would resemble a moveable fort in the water. The same build could also

page_text: be applied to merchant vessels and transports for railway trains. Ships built
of the superior metal I propose to introduce prepared as above from iron sand
could be made lighter and stronger than ordinary ones.
I further use my steel tempered in the formation of electric shell or shot
for cannon. These shot are made hollow and filled with condensers of
electricity, the shot as it passes from the mouth of the cannon touches wires
from a powerful battery, and conveys the electricity through the air till it
strikes, when contact takes place and the discharge is effected with the same
terrible effect as a discharge of lightning.
I prepare metal for the construction of cannon in the following manner :-
I take the best steel, by preference that prepared from iron sand, and from
it I firstly make a cylinder, which I bore and rifle by any of the known
methods, this cylinder is then turned, so as to be conical, that is, it is made
thicker at one end than the other, being diminished gradually, it is then
heated and placed in damp sand, and water is admitted by numerous small
jets in such a way as to cool it and temper it without causing it to twist and
bend, or it may be used without tempering, over this rings or cylinders of steel
bored conically inside and out, and tempered to the temper of springs or a
little harder, that temper being adopted according to the nature of the steel,
which shall ensure the greatest toughness and resistance, the same method as
above of cooling in sand being adopted; over these another series of tempered
steel rings or cones are to be placed so as to break joint; where necessary
metal is electro-deposited to make good the joints. When a sufficient number
of rings or cones are placed on, the whole is to be envelopped in a cover of
wrought iron heated and shrunk on by rapid cooling, after the manner of the
Armstrong gun, which will secure the whole mass together.
Another method is to coil or wrap steel wire over or around the first rifled
cylinder, electro-deposit between the coils, and shrink heated-iron cylinders
over the wire, then apply more wire, and again electro-deposit as before, then
shrink on another set of cylinders or rings, and so on, alternating the process
till a sufficient thickness has been attained.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described, and that I do not
claim the exclusive use of either iron sand or of other metals, or of electro-
deposition generally, but I claim the use of electricity, and of the above
processes as applied to the preparation of iron, steel, and other improved
metals to be used in the construction of connon, rifles; armour plates, and

page_text: other objects used in naval or military warfare or otherwise, as above
déscribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Agent for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
E. H. C. MONCKTON. (L.S.)