Improvements in Targets, Forts, and Defensive Armour for Sea and Land.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets, Forts, and Defensive Armour for Sea
and Land.
We FRANK LAWrance StepheNSON of Hill House, Hill Street Woolwich in the
County of Kent, M.B. and C.M. and BENJAMIN HARDCASTLE of 52 Hanover Road,
Plumstead Kent, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
These improvements relate to appliances intended primarily for targets, but they may
be used as armour, for sea and land defences and vessels of war. They have for their
object when used as a target, the prevention of "splashing" of metal and the
recovery of the material; as regards forts and vessels the safe deflecting of the
projectile. The invention consists in the arrangement of a set or series of plates of
steel or other suitable metal or alloy, which we distinguish as (a) the interrupting
plate, (6) horizontal plate and (c) effecting plate, fitted onto a framework of wood or
metal, stone, earth, or other material of suitable construction.
As regards targets, in front of this framework is placed a fixed or movable frame
supporting the target proper which may be of canvas or other easily perforated
material. The interrupting plate may be arranged to present an upward or a
downward interrupting surface or slope to the projectile and is fixed with a rise or
fall as the case may be of 1 in 2.37 or thereabouts.
The horizontal plate may be made a fixture or may be pivoted and counterpoised
so as to oscillate. The deflecting plate is made of or with a curve, preferably in the
shape of a segment of a circle, so as to direct the projectile into the receptacle; it is
also slung or pivoted so as to yield slightly to the impact of the projectile and in the
ense of the interrupting plate being sloped upwards the deflecting plate is prolonged
forward a short distance over the top of the interrupting plate and is pivoted at an
angle so as to touch or almost touch the posterior part of the horizontal plate, and to
present a small vertical space or mouth for the entrance of the projectile between the
interrupting and horizontal plates and the deflecting plate. A stop or stops or suitable
contrivance can be fixed to the framework to prevent the too free action of the
deflecting plate.
In some cases the deflecting plate may be constructed in or of two sections, the
foremost fixed and the rearmost in one or more parts suitably hinged or connected
with the foremost part.
As regards vessels the invention embraces fixing the interrupting plates on both
sides thereof but still at the same slope as for targets and we make the horizontal
plate movable so as to leave open or shut and connect the space between the two
interrupting plates, and then place the deflecting plate in the position of or to serve
as a hurricane deck and so deflect the projectile from either side into the water.
As regards forts we shield the top and other part if necessary of the parapes or
earthwork with a set or series of plates and appliances constructed as described for
targets.
Dated this 9th day of November 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Targets, Forts, and Defensive Armour for Sea
and Land.
I FRANK LAWRANce Stephenson of Hill House, H∙ll Street, Woolwich M.B. & (!.M.
and BENJAMIN HARDCASTLE of 52 Hanover Road Plumstead both in the County of
Kent Pattern Maker du hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to appliances principally intended for use as or in connec-
tion with targets and for sea and Lind defences and vessels of war. The object of
the invention when applied to targets is to collect the bullets and prevent the
danger of splashing.
The improvements herein mentioned are specially designed so that the target
receives the bullet without any back splash and carries it into the receptacle
arranged to receive it in one piece or perhaps, with high velocities in two or more
pieces of appreciable size or in case of defen-ive armour receives the projectile and
causes it to be deflected or transferred to a place or in a direction where its further
Bight will be harmless.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 illustrates the application of the improved target to an underground range
for rifle practice such as is useful in large cities etc.
Figs. 2 and 3 are section and plan of part thereof slightly modified.
Figs. 4 and 5 are also section and plan of a further modified form of said part.
Fig.
illustrates in cross section the application of the system to a vessel of war
the left half of the figure showing a large vessel, the right half a small vessel.
A is the target face of canvas or the like which may be made to roll up or
disappear. B is the inclined plate called the interrupting plate supported on a frame-
work behind said target face, this plate may be inclined in an upward or in a downward
direction. Cis a horizontal plate at the back end of said inclined plate and forming
a continuation of the latter. D is a plate called the "deflecting" plate. E is the
masonry etc. of the tunnel of the underground range, this masonry etc. being of
course omitted when the target is used for outdoor practice or at the usual rifle
ranges.
The action is as follows: the bullet following the course of the line a passes through
the target, A strikes the inclined plate B, runs up the latter and strikes the deflecting
plate D. moves in a zigzag course between the plates D and (and eventually drops
into the sawdust pit F. The improvements consist in making the inclined plate B
with a rise or fall of 1 in 2-37 or thereabouts from the line pursued by the bullet just
before it strikes the plate, the angle therefore of the plate to the horizon will vary
slightly according to the range of the firing and the carrying power of the rifle. The
deflecting plate D is arranged to be of weight suitable for the bullet and in the
improved target it is pivoted so that it is free to be raised more or less by
the impact of the bullet. In large targets the plate D will be made in two or
more sections as in Fig. 3 or it may be counterbalanced by a piece projecting to
the front more or less according to the size of the plate as in Figs. 4 and 3. If the
target is of small size, the deflecting plate is made in one piece an pivoted with a
cross bar or side axle blocks rivetted on to it. If the target is of large size it is
maue in two sections the foremost section being made of angle iron or other strong
supporting material fixed by brackets or otherwise and the after section is then
divided into two or more movable plates hinged or otherwise attached to the foremost
section as in Fig. 3. The deflecting plates are made with a curve posteriorly to direct
the projectile into a catch pit or box and are fitted so that they touch or rest on the

page_text: posterior edge of the horizontal plate just in front of the curved part of the deflecting
plate. This pivotting and division of the deflecting plate will vary considerably
according to the size and thickness of the plates and the kind of practice for which
the target is designed. With the divided deflecting plates each division is made of a
size according to its weight capable of being lifted by the striking force of the
projectile and this force naturally depends upon the velocity and weight of the projec-
tile. The pivoted deflecting plate is balanced to act to the same force.
It is understood that the size of the deflecting plate in any case is such that its
inertia is not too great to be overcome by the striking force of the bullet, therefore
when the deflecting plate in increasing sizes of targets approaches such a size that the
inertia of the plate is too great it becomes necessary to make the said plate in
sections.
The following examples will serve as explanation.
With a 24" target for a reduced charge practice at short ranges I make the
deflecting plate of steel plate 24" wide and 12" deep including the curve and fix
the pivoting bar so that its centre is 1" from the front edge of the deflecting plate
the weight of such plate being about 18 lbs.
With a 36" target for full service charge practice at short ranges I make the
deflecting plate of 3" steel plate, 36" wide and 16" deep including the curve and fix
the pivotting bar so that its centre is 4 from the front edge of the deflecting bar,
weight being at about 62 lbs.
With a 7 foot target for long range use with service cartridge we divide the after
section of the deflecting plate into 4 sections of 3" steel plate each section being
21" wide and 154" deep including the curve. Each section is hinged to the front
section by 3 hinges and is not counterbalanced the weight of the sections being
approximately 27 lbs.
In the
With reference to the mouth or vertical space for the entrance of the projectile
between the interrupting and horizontal plates and the deflecting plate, this also varies
according to the size of the target and the practice for which it is intended.
targets above specified with the 24" target 1 make the mouth or entrance 3" deep
vertically at its foremost part; with the 36" target 5" deep in the same way and with
the 7 foot target not less than 10" in the same way.
In applying this system to vessels of war or defences of sea or land see Fig. 6 the
object is practically the same namely to enable the projectile to he received by the
said ship or defence without breaking and to deflect it to a place of safety for instance
in the case of vessels of war to cause the shot to be deflected into the water on the
opposite side of the vessel to that struck.
In Fig. 6 B is the inclined plate. the horizontal plate. As in this instance it
is not necessary to stop the velocity of the projectile but simply to deflect it the
plate D or its equivalent is a fixture. The inclined plate B is here the vessel's side
projected to a certain distance under the waterline at the angle aforesaid. The plate D
is arranged as a hurricane deck or is formed by the underside of said deck. The
plates form means for closing the interior of the vessel the arrangement of which
may differ according to any desired style. Weather boards H are hinged to the
hurricane deck to drop over as shown to prevent the influx of waves into the ship.
In time of warfare these boards may be folded up onto the hurricane deck or may be
allowed to be shot through. The space under the projecting inclined sides B may be
filled out with air chambers J or any desired strengthening devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The construction consisting of the inclined plate B set at an incline of 1 in 2.37
with the horizontal plate C and the pivoted and counterpoised or divided deflecting
plates D for receiving and storing bullets without splashing substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 2. The construction as applied to vessels of war and sea defences consisting of
the inclined plate B set at an incline of 1 in 2-37 or thereabouts and the deflecting
plate D arranged as a fixture for cooperation substantially as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of August 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicants.