A NEW RADIATING ELASTIC CELLULAR DEFENCE BELT FOR IRONCLADS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Richard Devereux Bingham, of 2, Alma. Square,
Saint John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, (late) Captain, Indian Army,
for the Invention of "A NEW RADIATING ELASTIC CELLULAR DEFENCE BELT
FOR IRONCLADS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS."
Sealed the 24th July 1877, and dated the 23rd March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Richard Devereux
Bingham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1877.
THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of 2, Alma Square, Saint John's Wood,
in the County of Middlesex, (late) Captain, Indian Army. "A NEW RADIATING
ELASTIC CELLULAR DEFENCE BELT FOR IRONCLADS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS."
My Invention consists of a plan of a radiating clastic cellular target defence to
do away with and obviate the existing evil of attaching heavy thick masses of
iron to outsides of ironclads and wooden ships.
Firstly. I place a plate of iron of certain thickness and semicircular form
outside with the object of deflecting shot, which striking at an angle, will
glance off.
Secondly. I employ cellular compartments, all radiating towards one common
centre (of battery) filled with a certain elastic and non-inflammable material,
behind which again I place my real resisting plates of the same semicircular form;
and again behind these plates 1 again use the cellular system and elastic packing of
elastic material, and another plate of iron of same shape, all converging towards one
central point. I divide the ship by one longitudinal iron composite girder com-
bined with certain elastic substances, in order to ensure strength and safety to one
half of the vessel when engaging shore batteries or a single ship; I use the same
system, with exception of the iron armour plates, to defend the bottom and sides
(under water) of ships, torpedoes, and their attacks.
The real skin or bottom of the vessel being protected by the above arrangement
of cellular compartments, all converging towards one centre, is thus isolated from
the blows of a torpedo, and the mischief confined to the radiating cells. and their
elastic packing alone.

page_text: I ensure rapid powers of steering by a system of twin screws to compensate
for the shallow draught of water and its incompatibility for using a larger screw or
screws..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Richard Devereux Bingham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd September 1877.
THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of 2, Alma Square, Saint John's Wood,
in the County of Middlesex, late Captain; Indian Army. "A NEW RADIATING
ELASTIC CELLULAR DEFENCE BELT FOR IRONCLADS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS."
My Invention consists of a plan of a radiating elastic cellular target defence to
do away with and aleviate the existing evil of attaching heavy thick masses of iron
to outsides of ironclads and wooden ships.
First. I place a plate of iron of certain thickness and of semicircular form outside
with the object of deflecting shot, which striking at an angle will glance off.
Secondly. I employ cellular compartments, all radiating towards one common
centre (of battery) filled with a certain elastic and non-inflaminable material, behind
which again I place my real resisting plates of the same semicircular form; and again
behind these plates I use the cellular system and elastic packing, elastic material,
and another plate of iron of same shape, all converging towards one central point.
I divide the ship by one longitudinal iron composite girder combined with certain
elastic substances, in order to ensure strength and safety to one half of the vessel
when engaging shore batteries or a single ship; I use the saine system, with
exception of the iron armour plates, to defend the bottom and sides (under water)
of ships against torpedoes and their attacks.
The real skin or bottom of the vessel being protected by the above arrangement
of cellular compartments, all converging towards one centre, is thus to some extent
isolated from the blows of a torpedo, and the mischief confined to the radiating
cellular compartments and their elastic packing alone.
It will thus be seen that my Invention consists of an entirely new principle of
"elastic radiating belting backing for armour plates," i.e., an elastic armour belt or
system of plates or inner elastic non-inflammable packing, and by which means we
remove the dangerous weights of "heavy outer armour plates," transferring them
to the inside of a ship in a modified form, and combining great toughness, elasticity,
distribution, and reduction of weight, and combining the cellular system with water-
tight compartments (below water linė)..
And in order that iny said Invention may be properly understood, I have annexed
Drawings of the same, which 1 will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 shows the plan of a radiating target, with cellular arrangement and
armour plates arranged inside, closely packed and supported by non-inflammable
cotton packing. The outside (of semicircular form) deflecting plate is three inches,
inner plates are respectively six inches and nine inches, thus distributing inside the
ship in a semicircular form the requisite weights of armour to keep out and resist
the heaviest shot.
Figure 2 shows a modified plan of plates arranged at angle of twenty-five
degrees to the horizon. There are four or more in number, and are specially
designed to meet the requirements of existing ships of war. The outer circular
armour plate is three inches, and the four or more inner plates, the upper one is two
inches thick, and the others one and a half inch, set at angle to horizon of twenty-
five degrees loosely pivoted on centres, and packed by cotton bales or with other
elastic materials (damaged and non-inflammable cotton) at interval between plates
of about nine inches apart, or more, according to the space at disposal; the depth of

page_text: this target extends eight feet inside the ship from outside armour plate. The bottom
of target is formed of one and a half inch plates, and the back of two inch, supported
in usual way. This armour protection extends five feet below and two feet above
water line (loaded water line), and joins the armour deck in one continuous sweep
of same thickness.
Figure 3 shows a perpendicular arrangement of plates, i.e., outside armour plate at
angle of thirty-five degrees, more or less, according to the build of vessel. The
heavy iron plates having been removed from an ordinary ironclad we retain the
teak backing, and adjust an outer pair of deflecting plates three inches thick,
bolting them to the backing. Longitudinal cellular compartments of sheet iron
are closely packed, and a plate of three inches iron, or more, if required, is placed
vortically to receive the blow, should shot by chance get through the packing, and
to stop splinters.
Figure 4 is the usual iron plate armour outside and its backing, simply showing
the difference in principle of my Invention from the old and dangerously heavy
armour plates carried outside, and in the worst place for the safety, steadiness, and
sea worthiness of the ship. I ensure rapid powers of steering by a system of twin
screws to compensate for the shallow draught of water, and its incompatibility for
using a large single screw or screws.
I would observe that though I have mentioned several measurements, and given
certain thicknesses of plates or armour, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein given, as they may be varied or modified
without departing from the principle of my Invention.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and shown the application
of my principle, I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured to me is, the
new radiating elastic cellular armour or defence belt for ironclads and other similar
vessels, constructed substantially as herein-before described, and as shown on the
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Richard Devereux Bingham, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TITOS R TRINCHAM