IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON AND OTHER SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BATTERIES OF WAR AND OF CUPOLAS, AND ARMOUR PLATES APPLICABLE THERETO, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Barnabas Russ, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
IRON AND OTHER SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BATTERIES OF WAR AND OF CUPOLAS, AND
ARMOUR PLATES APPLICABLE THERETO, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 26th April 1864, and dated the 30th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Barnabus Russ at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1863.
I, BARNABAS RUss, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF IRON AND OTHER SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BATTERIES OF WAR AND
OP CUPOLAS, AND ARMOUR PLATES APPLICABLE THERETO, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consits of improvements in the method of constructing iron
and other ships or vessels and of batteries of war, with reference to their
framework generally, their hulls and iron plating, bulkheads, hatchways, look-
outs, port holes, masts, yards, bowsprits, and booms, funnel and steam pipes,
to cupolas, to armour plates, and to screws, bolts, and washers, to compositions
applicable to the preservation and strengthening of some of these constructions,
parts of the improvements being likewise applicable to other useful purposes.
Whenever in describing ships or vessels of war or other vessels, land
batteries, cupolas, or other constructions herein-after described, I refer to the
A

page_text: use of double plating, my principle of applying such plating is to apply the
plates doubly, so as to form their own laps or joints, and so that one joint will
not come in line with another, producing a smooth or flush surface for internal
and external plating for hulls, for vertical or longitudinal frames or ribs, for keels,
stems, and stern posts, decks, beams, bulkheads, bulwarks, masts, bowsprits,
funnels, cupolas, cylinders, or tubular, oval, or other forms, or in any other case
where double plating may be advantageous. The plate seams or joints are to
be rivetted together in the ordinary way to form butt, rebated, or joggle joints,
single iron plating may also be applied to any of the above constructions,
especially to the hulls of vessels above the water line without the use of jaws or
ramps as herein-after mentioned.
In constructing keels, stems, and stern posts, wrought-iron plates are to be
put together doubly as aforesaid, or they may be made from solid iron or in
sections or layers rivetted together on my principle of double plating herein-
before referred to, to form a solid mass, rudder posts and rudders, knees, and
sister kelsons may be constructed in the ordinary manner or upon my principle of
double plating. The rudder and propeller posts may be arranged as required.
To form the vertical frames or ribs of the vessel wrought iron plates and
angle iron are to be employed, the plates of the frames or ribs will be laid
together doubly on my principle and to be smooth or flush to receive the angle
iron on both sides; when placed horizontally these frames or ribs will form a
longitudinal series. The width and thickness of the plates and the angle iron
will be proportionate to the size of the vessel. In some cases vertical frames
or ribs cannot be applied, and iron plates must then be substituted or the plates
forming part of the frames can be used singly. If the bulls have internal as
well as external plating the plate iron of the frames will have two angle irons
rivetted on each side to form I-iron to receive the external and internal plating
of the hulls secured thereto by rivets. If this construction is to receive armour
plates, the vertical frames or ribs will have a single jaw or ramp to receive
the external plating of the hull, so that the armour plates will be flush with
the plating. The angle iron rivetted to the plate of the frame will be I-iron.
If the hulls have internal as well as external plating and longitudinal plates
placed horizontally to form chambers and receive armour plates, the frames up
to the jaws or ramps will be the same as before. The vertical frames will be
reversed from the jaws or ramps and will have two angle irons rivetted on one
side and one single iron rivetted on the other, so that the vertical frames from
the jaws or ramps will be on the internal surface of the plating forming the
internal sides of the hull and chambers and the angle irons on the vertical
frames will shew angles. If the hulls are constructed with longitudinal

page_text: frames or ribs running and laying horizontally to form chambers and to
receive armour or shield plates, and having only the external plating forming
the external sides of the vessel and the internal surfaces of the chambers there
will be jaws or ramps in the vertical frames or ribs which will have two angle
irons rivetted on one side and one angle iron on the other so as to shew L. angles.
When single plates are used for the frames a plate could be rivetted at
their points of junction in order to strengthen them, and the rivet holes will be
arranged in a zig-zag or diagonal series in the angle irons and plates or in
other forms to suit the rivetting. In one case the longitudinal frames will
shew two angles 1 and in the other one angle L, these may be termed the
frames or ribs. The frames may be made without the plates by using angle
irons only where required.
The vessel may be so constructed as to have longitudinal plates lying
horizontally with angle irons rivetted on the top side of each plate; the angle
irons will be rivetted to the internal surfaces of the plates forming the hull of
the vessel about fifteen inches apart. These plates will be about twelve inches
in width and about seven-eighths of an inch in thickness, the distance between
the external and internal plating will be about fifteen inches, and the vertica!
frames or ribs will be on the internal sides of the hull plates, and will be
rivetted thereto, and in the chambers between these plates there will be about
fifteen inches thickness of teak, oak, or other wood, or ebonite, in two sections
of about 7 inches each, therefore the wood will stand out or project beyond
the plates, and butt against the external surfaces of the plating forming the
internal side of the vessel. Screwed bolts will pass through the external sides
and between the longitudinal frames or ribs and through the wood packing,
and the whole structure will thus be bolted together and to the internal sides
which are rivetted to the vertical frames. The bolts for the armour plates
will pass through the external sides between the longitudinal frames and through
the wood packing, and through the internal sides, I prefer to use screw bolts
having a square or circular bead thread to those having a sharp or V-thread.
If the longitudinal plates have two angle irons rivetted on the top sides of each
plate one of them will be rivetted to the internal surface of the external plating
and the other will be rivetted to the external surfaces of the internal plating;
the vertical frames will receive the internal plating rivetted thereto, and the
longitudinal plates with the angle iron rivetted thereto will be about 15 inches
in width and about of an inch in thickness, they will be rivetted about 15
inches apart so as to form the longitudinal chambers.
To fill the chambers last before described instead of wood or ebonite packing
a concrete may be used consisting of a composition of pitch about a fourth part,

page_text: tar about a fourth part, a small quantity of resin, asphalte half a part, with or
without clinker or stone. If clinkers or stone is used it will be broken to
about the size of an egg, the stone being of a hard, tough character, such as
granite, and such stone or clinker will be equal in bulk to the other materials
put together, and such concrete or composition is also applicable to similar
constructions used in batteries on land, and to construct or fill up land batteries
and works of offence and defence, and this concrete or composition is also
applicable to fire-proof and thief-resisting safes. The application of concrete
or composition to vessels will not only serve to strengthen and solidify the
structure, but will preserve the iron work from strainage, and leakage, and in
the case of war and other vessels will resist the action of missiles of war. The
vessels may be constructed to have longitudinal chambers in an entire or only
a partial series. If the vessel is supplied with the concrete or composition, and
armour plates are to be applied to the hull, iron tubes will be previously
inserted through the chambers between the frames or ribs for the screwed
bolts to pass through. The tubes should be held in position ready to receive
the screw bolts by the insertion of a wooden core or mandril of sufficient
length to rest beyond the tube in the bolt holes of the hull. There may be a
flange on each end of the tube. When wood packing is used no tubes will be
required. Topping holes must be formed in each of the longitudinal plates to
admit of the passage of the liquid composition. The beams will be wrought-
iron plates put together doubly on my principle with angle irons rivetted
thereto, or they may be made with single plates, in which case a fish plate
would be required to make each joint firm. The beams may be elevated for
the exposed decks to the requisite height according to the situation of the
cupola or cup a.
The bulkheads will be formed of double plating on my principle and rivetted
together, and T iron or plates may be rivetted together to strengthen the
vertical joints as required. The bulkheads may be applied transversely or
longitudinally in the vessel as desirable to form compartments water-tight or
otherwise and to strengthen the general construction. The deck plating will
be laid on the deck beams to receive the armour plate or wood plankings for
the exposed or internal decks, and will be rivetted together and to the deck
beams or bolted with bolts and nuts or secured with screws, as may be required.
Angle iron will be rivetted to the sides of the deck plates to form water
courses or channels, and the angle iron will also be rivetted to the internal
plating or skin of the vessel on the vertical or longitudinal frames, according
as the vessel is constructed, or will be bolted thereto. The deck plating will
prevent strainage or leakage of the decks and will also strengthen the hulls

page_text: The stringers to attach the deck plates will be made in the ordinary way,
where frames or beams cannot be used plates will be substituted to receive the
external and internal joints of the deck plates as required. The deck plates
will be secured to the frames, stringers, or liners by the angle iron which forms
the water ways. The stringers will be placed flatwise against the angle irons
rivetted at the upper part to form the watercourse for the internal decks, and
the beams will be rivetted to the stringers and to the frames so that the
stringers will be between the two. The stringers employed for the upper or
exposed deck will have angle iron from the beams continued and rivetted to
them and to the frames below the deck for the purpose of strengthening the
vessel. The bulwarks may be made moveable and consist of standards in
hinge sockets on ramps or brackets let into the deck, so that the standard may
project slightly over the side of the vessel; they are hinged or jointed by bolts
and pins so as to fall inwards on deck or outwards against the sides of the
vessel; they are to be provided with back stays having eyes at their upper end
to be attached to a clip round the standard by means of a screw or bolt passing
through the clip and eye of the back stay. The lower end of the stay is
turned into a hook to enter an eye fixed in a cavity countersunk in the deck.
Wire ropes are to be passed through the standards from one to the other for
canvas to be held by eyelet holes, so that by drawing the wire ropes through the
bulwarks the canvas divisions would fall and can be reversed, that is to say, can
be painted black on the one side and white on the other, or any other colors and
either side presented to view. By being made portable the bulwarks may be
taken out and carried below out of danger, or they may be lowered on or outside
the deck with a similar object and to allow of the uninterrupted fire from the deck
or from cupolas; or the bulwarks may be made fixtures in the ordinary manner.
In order to tighten stays or rigging or other parts I use a long female
screw to which the wire rope forming the stay or rigging is joined by an
universal join. A fixed male screw enters the interior of the female screw,
and thus by turning the female screw the wire rope wherever used may be
slackened or tightened or released at pleasure; or the male screw may be set
in an universal joint and be turned so as to actuate the female screw, rattlings
and stays are to be applied as required. The hatchways will be so constructed
that they may be lowered and again raised to admit of any object passing in
or out of the vessel, and when closed they will be perfectly firm and equally
strong to any other part of the deck to which they will be flush, and when
required they can be made to form a ventilator. I apply hydraulic or other
suitable mechanical power to lower and raise the hatchways, and in case of
hydraulic power barrel threads and nuts should be applied to the stanchions to

page_text: follow up the work and secure the same in position. The lower part of the
hatchway is formed with a rebate or flange, and the deck is cut to correspond
therewith; the upper surface of the rebate or projection is furnished with a
packing, so that when the hatchway is forced up to its closed position a water-
tight joint will be made. The hatchway is to rest on tubes surrounding the
stanchions, horizontal beams are to be applied across the top of the tubes,
leaving a space for them to travel down the stancheons, and between this
space and the stancheons friction or steadying wheels are fixed to the beams.
The external surfaces of the tubes are to be furnished with a screw thread to
receive a powerful nut; the tube is to rise and fall within a larger tube
reaching from the lower deck about half the height between decks, which is
provided with a flanged head on which the nut is to bear and rotate in order
to maintain the threaded tube in position and support the hatchway when
elevated or partly lowered by the hydraulic or other power. The nut should
rest on friction rollers or the flange, and it may be turned by means of pins or
levers inserted into holes in the sides of the nut. Or I propose as a substitute
for the lower and upper tubes to cut a thread in the stanchions, and to place a
travelling nut thereon, which could follow up the hatchway supported by its
beams as before, the beams being formed with a descending heel or flange to rest
on the plate or washer sustained by the nut, between the nuts and the beams a
washer would be applied to allow of the turning of the nut.
the hatchway could be lowered nearly down to the surface of
The friction wheels travelling down the stanchions could
grooved surfaces to fit the periphery of the stanchions; or the threaded
stanchions could be channelled, grooved, or recessed from top to bottom to
receive a travelling friction or steadying wheel running in such slot. The
wheels should be placed in the lower or flanged portion of the beams, in order
to allow of the hatchway being elevated to its highest position without the
wheels rising beyond the top of the stanchion. By these improvements every
object required to be taken on deck or removed therefrom could easily be
controlled; cannon and all weighty articles could be raised and lowered with
perfect facility, and ventilation promoted by slightly lowering the hatchways.
Ladders should be applied to each stanchion to enable men to ascend and
actuate the nuts. Any portion of the deck can be made, if required, to open
and close on my principle herein-before described as applicable to hatchways.
By this method
the lower deck.
be made with
The masts will be so constructed that they may be raised or lowered as
required, and when the masts are to be raised one part will work out of
another part till each several part is raised. Also when the masts are to be
lowered one part will work or pass into or through or within the other parts

page_text: till the whole is lowered, and when so lowered the masts will not be visible on
deck; this is accomplished by forming the masts of iron tube with a male
screw thread of a very quick turn cut around their exterior, on the top of each
mast a collar is fixed to act as a bearing for a screw nut, which, when turned
by means of levers entering holes in the nut, will raise the mast passing
through such nut out of the tubular lower mast which contains it. If there
were three masts the two lower ones would have collars and nuts, whereby the
two upper masts could be raised from the lowermost one. So also the lower-
most mast would be raised from below the deck by means of a collar and
screw nut. All the masts could be lowered below the level of the deck, if
required, down to the lower deck, or they might be lowered nearly to the level
of the upper deck, in which case a tubular form of my framing and armour plate
would be applied to surround and protect them. The nuts to work the masts
are to made in three divisions or sections set in a frame, each division being
capable of racking back so as to release the thread of the nut from the threads
of the mast, or to regulate the entrance of such threads. The frame securing
the sections of the nut may be furnished with holes for the insertion of levers
to turn them, or a series of external teeth may be made around the frame to
receive the toothed wheels on a vertical shaft worked by steam power. In this
case a series of toothed wheels would require to be applied to the shaft, that is,
a large toothed wheel for the raising of the top mast, and smaller ones for the
lower masts, since the latter would be larger in diameter. The vertical shaft
could be worked by hand power by affixing at its lower part a horizontal
worm toothed wheel; into which a worm or screw should gear being fixed to a
shaft and turned by a crank or handle. A slot must be cut in the exterior of
the masts, into which stops are to enter to prevent them from turning round
by the action of the screws, so as to compel them to ascend or descend when
the screw nuts are worked. The masts may be worked by steam power when
required. The nuts on the masts will serve the purposes of cross trees, and
lever pins may be affixed therein accordingly.
The bowsprit and boom will be so constructed that the boom will work in
and out of the bowsprit, and the bowsprit will work in and out of the bow of
the vessel, so that when the bowsprit is worked into the vessel it will not be
visible or exposed. I form the bowsprit of a tube of wrought iron with a
spiral screw thread around the exterior. Under the deck I bolt two plummer
blocks at a distance apart, between and within which a nut having a tubular
extension on each side takes its bearing. The bowsprit passes through this
nut and tube, and is consequently held firmly in position by the plummer blocks,
into which the tubes, attached one on each side of the nut, as a continuation

page_text: thereof, enter and take their bearing as just stated. The nut has a female
thread cut therein corresponding with the external thread on the bowsprit, but
the tubular extensions of the nut are made smooth to bear on the flat surface
of the bowsprit threads. In order to work the bowsprit the nut must be
turned in the required direction by hand or steam power, by levers entering
holes in the faces of the nut, or by a pall and ratchet teeth, motion being cut in
a circular nut. By these means the bowsprit may be worked out beyond the
bow of the vessel to the extent of about two-thirds of its length, the remaining
one-third being held in the bearings. The boom is constructed so as to work
in the interior of the bowsprit. The boom is formed of a wrought-iron tube
fitting the interior of the bowsprit; the rear end of the boom is fitted with an
elongated nut entering some distance within the boom, a female thread being
cut therein to receive a shaft having an endless thread on its exterior. This
shaft is the full length of the boom and bowsprit, and passes from end to end
thereof; at its internal or rear end beyond the bowsprit a toothed or ratchet
wheel is keyed, whereby power may be applied to turn the shaft or other
mechanical arrangement. The shaft is prevented from sliding or moving in
its bearing otherwise than turning by means of two collars fixed to it, one on
each side of its bearing, fitted in the rear end of the bowsprit, and consequently
the boom may be worked inwards or outwards from the bowsprit by turning
the endless screw shaft passing through the nut in the rear of the boom. It
will be necessary to prevent the bowsprit and boom from turning round in
order to give full effect to the action of the screw gearings. This is to be
done by forming a slot from end to end of each on their exterior. The
bowsprit will be controlled by projections or stops entering its slot from the
tubes on the nut, and the boom will receive similar projections from the
interior of the bowsprit. The boom is to be worked out of the bowsprit to the
extent of two-thirds of its length. The hole through which the bowsprit
passes will be closed by a port, as described already in the second example.
The yards will be made of tubular iron in two sections or semi-tubes, with
flanges and bolts or screws to secure them together. The stunsail booms may
be iron or wood, and can be worked in or out of the tubular yards by means
of screw or other gearing. The yards will be attached to the masts by
means of a clip or clips and running fastenings, in order that they may be
attached and removed with facility and rapidity. The booms for the masts
will be made of a tubular and taper form of iron, and the stays and rattlings
will be made of wire rope. The booms will be attached to the masts by
means of grips, and when the masts are to be lowered the booms and yards
will be passed below through the hatchway. The openings for the admission

page_text: or egress of the masts and funnels may be covered with armour plate on
beams and plates in the form of a lid or cap with a hinge or other fastening.
The funnels and steam pipes are to be constructed on the same principle as
the masts, so that they may be raised and lowered as required, and they will
work vertically, one part rising out of another till the whole are raised, and
when the funnel is required to be lowered one part will work within another
till the whole is lowered down, so that when the funnel is lowered no part will
be visible on deck. The steam or blow-off pipes will be made on the same
principle. The funnels and steam pipes will be applicable to all classes of
vessels, whether for purposes of war or for mercantile ships, and they may be
worked by hand or steam power. Tubular and cylindrical forms, such as
passages or tunnel ways in ships, are to be constructed with plate iron in
sections or segments rivetted to frames or ribs as before, so as to form smooth
surfaces externally and internally. The plates when used doubly to be laid
together on my principle.
I construct armour or shield plates in three parts or layers, each made
separately. The first part of the plate, which I call "the back," will be made
of rolled or forged wrought iron of any length, width, and substance that may
be required. The second part of the plate, which I term "the interior," will
be made of forged or rolled wrought steel of any length, width, and substance
that may be required. The third part of the plate, which I term "the face,"
will be made of forged or rolled wrought iron of any length, width, and sub-
stance that may be required. When the three parts are made they are to be
united by heat in the foregoing order in any way. I prefer the following
method:-I place the "the back," "the interior," and "the face" on the top
of one another, and subject them to the heat of a hot or cold blast furnace,
and heat the plates sufficiently, so that when withdrawn and passed through
rollers or under hammers the three parts will be welded together and become
one substance. The process of hammering or rolling may be continued till
the exact substance desired is obtained. After passing through this process
my armour plates will have a back and face of iron, with an interior of steel.
The joints of these plates when put together on a vessel or battery may be
joggled, butt rebated, grooved, or tongued as may be required, either for hulls
or decks of vessels, fixed or oscillating cupolas, or for land defences of every
kind. Another method of welding these plates is to heat the two exterior iron
plates separately, and to place the steel plate between them cold; the three
plates are then to be placed in the furnace and brought to a sufficient degree
of heat for the welding or rolling process. As the armour plates are removed
from the rolls they may be annealed by my process, as follows:-They are to

page_text: be taken by means of a tramway or otherwise, and placed on lime newly
burnt, covered with wood dust, and a small quantity of wood dust should be
thrown on the surface of the plate to cover it, after which a layer of lime is to
be applied. The wood dust must be thoroughly dry. My process of annealing
is applicable to iron, steel, brass, and other metals for various useful purposes.
In some cases I propose in lieu of the interior steel plate to substitute a
plate of the hardest and toughest iron, such as Taranaki, or Low Moor, or
other hard tough iron, the exterior plates being of a softer and more yielding
nature. In order to assist the union of the plates I propose in some cases to
apply a flux, such as borax, or the oxide of manganese, or other flux, to the
surfaces of the metals, whereby their contact and adhesion will be promoted.
The look-outs will be constructed so that they may rotate as required, and
be raised or lowered, and then be flush to or on a level with the deck, or with
the armour or shield plates if the vessel or battery is so provided. The look-
outs will be made shot and shell proof, with armour plates for those parts
which may be exposed when raised above the deck. They may be raised,
lowered, and rotated, and fixed by means similar to those employed by me for
the cupolas described in this Specification, by hydraulic or by other mechanical
power or gearing, and gear may be employed in the interior for the occupant
to revolve the look-out, or the gear can be applied externally, and worked by
another person. Nuts may be applied to stanchions to work the look-outs, as
in the cupolas. India-rubber or any compound packing which will resist the
action of water may be applied to prevent ingress of water between the look-
out and the deck. The packing should be assisted by metallic springs in
order to effect close contact around the look-out. These look-outs may be
applied to every description of vessel of war or battery, whether on sea or on
land.
The port holes will be constructed with doors or flaps to open in one or
two halves to permit of the discharge of any projectile. They can be applied
wherever required, in vessels, cupolas, and batteries of every description. They
will be opened or closed instantaneously by means of hinges or blind joints
worked by male and female screws, pins, barrel nuts, and wheels, plummer
blocks and bolts, and levers, whereby the doors or flaps may be passed out
and over the rebates in order to rise and fall, and when closed they will form
their own fastening. Port holes may be constructed so that no doors or flaps
will be required. In such cases I employ a tube or socket, with a flange or
plate on the external and internal end, and on the external side there will be
a thread cut as far as may be required to receive a nut and washer to screw
the flange on the end of the tube or socket against the external side of the

page_text: vessel.
In the interior of the tube or socket there will be a thread cut from
the flange or the external end or side through to the internal end or side, and
a plug, with an external thread, will be made to fit the thread in the socket.
At the internal end of the tube there will be a stop-socket nut or plug, with
an external thread cut thereon to fit the thread in the tube. The stop-socket
nut will be worked by a lever, bar, and pin, and a stop pin and ball. The
screwed plug forming the stop at the internal end will pass in or out at the
external and internal end, so that the screwed plug can pass through as
required; by unscrewing the stop-socket nut or plug the port hole will prove a
total resistance against shot or shell. By means of a lever, bar, and other
portable means the tube, with the flange on the external end, can be taken
out or put in at any time by the nut on the internal end. The washers, here-
after described, will be applicable to the nuts used in the above method. The
port hole doors will work vertically up and down by means of racks and
toothed wheels, and by levers and gearing when applied to batteries on land
or sea.
Cupolas intended to receive composition between their frames will be con-
structed with vertical ribs or frames, and the plates to form these frames
will have two angle irons rivetted on each side to receive the external and
internal plating to be rivetted thereto. The distance between the external
and internal sides of the plating may be about 15 inches, and the vertical
frames or ribs may be rivetted about 18 inches apart. The plates forming
the external and internal sides of the cupola will be put together doubly, so as
to form their own laps or joints, and to be perfectly smooth or flush both
externally and internally. The top of the cupola will have frames or beams
formed with plate iron, and will have angle iron rivetted on each side of the
plates to receive the external and internal plates. Between the vertical
frames or ribs and the internal surface of the external side and the external
surface of the internal side of the plating iron tubes will be inserted for the
purpose of receiving the screw bolts for the attachment of the armour plate, and
the composition may be applied to fill up the spaces or chambers between the
vertical frames and the plating. The top of the cupola may be flat, and made
with spaces of a V-shape, in which corresponding bars will be laid capable of
being elevated by means of screw gearing in order to permit of ventilation;
the screw gearing should take its purchase from a bearing formed of a flat
or other spring or springs sufficiently strong to sustain the weight of the bars,
but yet of a sufficiently yielding nature to permit of the bars being depressed
without injury by the blow of a projectile and returning to their open position.
All the exposed parts of the cupola may have armour plates applied thereto.

page_text: The cupolas may also be constructed without the vertical frames or ribs,
which may be arranged in a circular form horizontally, in which case vertical
frames or ribs will be applied on the internal surface of the internal side or
plating of the cupola in order to strengthen the construction, and the com-
position may be applied to fill up the spaces between the circular frames, or
teak, oak, or other wood, or ebonite may be applied. The circular plates will
have angle iron rivetted on the top surfaces, or the cupola may be constructed
with vertical plates, with two angle irons rivetted on one side and one on the
other to form the ribs. The two angle irons will receive the internal plating
rivetted thereto, and the single angle iron will serve to strengthen the con-
struction. These ribs may be about 18 inches apart, and the external and
internal platings of the cupola will be laid together doubly, so as to form their
own laps or joints, and will be perfectly smooth internally and externally.
The vertical plates may have one or two angle irons rivetted thereto as may
be required to receive the external plates forming the external sides of the
cupola. The plate iron to form the vertical ribs may be about 12 inches in
width, and about three-quarters of an inch in thickness, and the distance
between the external and internal plating may be about 15 inches, and the
frames will be rivetted about 15 or 18 inches apart. The wood or ebonite
to fill up the spaces may be in two or three sections or widths laid together,
and being 15 inches in depth, and the frames being only 12 inches in width,
3 inches of wood will stand out beyond the frames and butt against the
external surface of the internal plating. The external plating forming the
external sides, and the vertical plates and the wood between the plates, will all
be bolted together with screw bolts, washers, and nuts to the internal sides,
with the vertical frames rivetted to the internal sides of the cupola, and the
screw bolts for the armour plates will pass through from the external and
internal sides to receive the washers and nuts. Two manholes should be
placed on the top of the cupola if required; when shut they would be flush
with the surface, and to open them screw gear or levers could be applied, or
they could be lowered below the surface of the cupola sufficiently to allow for
the passage of a gunner. Or the cupola can be constructed without the
vertical plates being used, and in lieu of the vertical frames or ribs on the
internal sides of the cupola, circular frames or ribs may be applied on the
internal side of the cupola. The cupola can be constructed with circular
frames or ribs externally, and vertical frames or ribs on the internal sides of
the cupola; the circular frames or ribs can be applied as desired from the
top of the cupola downwards, and the vertical frames or ribs can be applied
as required. Or the cupola may be constructed without the vertical plates

page_text: being applied between the wood, teak, or oak, or other wood or ebonite, and
without circular plates being applied between them. The wood or ebonite
may be applied vertically or in a circular form against the external surface of
the internal side of the cupola, and secured with screw bolts and nuts, or with
screws. If the cupola is intended to receive wood or ebonite as an internal
packing, vertical plates or ribs will be adopted, with angle irons rivetted
thereto. The plates forming the frames or ribs will have two angle irons
rivetted on one side and one angle rivetted on the other side. The two
angle irons are to receive the plating of the internal side of the cupola, which
will be rivetted thereto, and the single angle iron will serve to strengthen the
frames or ribs as may be required. The vertical frames or ribs will be rivetted
to the internal side of the plates forming the internal sides of the cupola, and
will be arranged about 18 inches apart. The plates to form the sides or
plating of the cupola will be put together doubly, so as to form their own laps
or joints, and will thus be perfectly smooth or flush on both the internal and
external sides. The top of the cupola will have frames or beams formed of
plate iron, and angle irons rivetted thereto on each side to receive the external
plating. The vertical frames or ribs will have one or two angle irons rivetted
thereto, one on each side; one or both the angle irons will be rivetted to the
plating forming the sides of the cupola. The vertical plates will be rivetted
on the external sides of the plates forming the plating of the cupola. The
plate part forming the vertical plates may be about 12 inches in width, and
about three-quarters of an inch in thickness, and may be rivetted about
18 inches apart. The wood or ebonite may be applied between the vertical
plates and against the plating of the cupola in two or more parts or widths,
and the thickness will be about 15 inches, therefore, the vertical plates being
about 12 inches in width, there will be about 3 inches of wood standing
beyond the vertical plates, such wood will receive the armour or shield plates
screwed against them, and will form a bearing surface for the armour or shield
plates, and act as a cushion. The wood will be secured with screw bolts, washers,
and nuts, or with screws to the plating of the cupola, and the screw bolts to
secure the armour plates will pass through the wood and the plating of the
cupola. The layers of wood, whether circular or vertical, are to be arranged
to form lap joints, so that one joint will not be opposite or in line with
5 another.
The cupola can also be constructed without the external plating, and
without the vertical plates, frames, or ribs between the external and internal
plating, or without the circular frames, and without the composition or
concrete, or without the vertical or circular plates, with angle iron rivetted

page_text: thereto, or the wood or the external plating. In each of these cases the
vertical frames or ribs, with the internal side of the cupola, would remain to
receive the armour plating bolted or rivetted to the internal skin or side.
The cupola may be constructed without the vertical frames or ribs, and the
angle irons rivetted thereto, and also to the external surfaces of the plates
forming the internal sides of the cupola, and without the wood between the
vertical plates, or without the circular frames or ribs, with angle iron rivetted
thereto and to the external surfaces of the plating forming the internal sides
of the cupola or the wood between them. When an external side is to be
applied to the cupola, the vertical frames or ribs, or the circular frames or
ribs are to be rivetted to the internal surfaces of such external sides; but
when no external sides are used the frames or ribs, whether vertical or
circular, are to be rivetted to the external surfaces of the internal sides of the
cupola, and in each case the frames may not be of the full internal space or
width of 15 inches or thereabouts, but may be about 12 inches in width.
Now in the former instance the armour plates are to be bolted through the
external side of the cupola through the wood packing to the internal side.
In the latter case the armour plates are to be bolted through the wood
packing to the internal sides of the cupola, the bolts running midway between
the vertical or circular frames. But in some cases the frames may be of the
full internal width or space of 15 inches, having single or double angle irons
rivetted at each edge thereof for the attachment of the internal and external
sides, and the composition may be applied between the spaces of the frames or
ribs. The cupola may also be constructed with vertical frames or ribs on the
internal surface of the plates forming the internal side of the cupola, and the
armour plates may be bolted to the said plates with the packing underneath;
or any substance or form of iron can be applied as required between the
plates forming the internal sides of the cupola and the packing and armour
plates in order to strengthen or increase the thickness of the structure.
the cupolas may have vertical frames on the external surfaces of the plates
forming the internal side of the cupola, with wood between them; and the
internal surface of the cupola may be furnished with circular frames or ribs ;
or the cupola may have on its internal side one portion of the frames circular
as far down as desired, and the other portion may receive vertical frames.
The cupolas are to have port hole doors or flaps, and are applicable not only
to vessels but to batteries on land.
Or
Having described the construction of the upper or main portion of the
cupola, it remains to explain the method of raising and lowering the same and of
rotating or revolving it. The cupola will rise and fall in the interior of the

page_text: vessel, guided and controlled by aid of eight stanchions supporting the deck and
which will enclose or surround the cupola. Below the floor on which the
guns are placed the cupola will be decreased in diameter and two apertures
will be made for ingress and egress; the cupola will rest on a series of conical
rollers running on a circular plate or ring deeply flanged at both edges, not
only to secure the rollers in position but the outer flange to receive brackets
rivetted or bolted thereto, holding grooved running wheels bearing on the
stanchions; the circular ring is supported by beams or plates with angle iron
rivetted thereon, the beams forming radii, and being rivetted to a central ring,
and being enclosed by an iron periphery; underneath the central ring the
plunger or ram of an hydraulic press or pump is fixed, the cylinder of which is
firmly secured to the lower deck. At the foot of each of the stanchions a small
force pump
is to be adjusted, having injection pipes entering the cylinder of
the ram.
These pumps are to be worked by hand by levers, and should have
two plungers or pistons, one of a large and the other of a smaller area, in
order that an excessive pressure may be obtained by cutting off the supply of
the larger piston and working the small one only. It is by forcing water into
the hydraulic ram and raising its plunger that the entire structure of the
cupola is raised ready for action, and by releasing the pressure and allowing
the water to flow off that the cupola is lowered so that its surface is flush with
the deck of the vessel. In order to cause the cupola to revolve there is to be
in the interior of the cupola one or more sets of pinion and shaft gearing, to be
worked by a winch handle, and a vertical shaft or shafts is to pass therefrom
through the bottom of the cupola, where it will be furnished with a horizontal
toothed pinion entering teeth cut on the internal circumference of a ring
fixed to the table on which the rollers work and within their circle. There-
fore, by turning the winch handles in the proper direction the cupola will be
rotated on the rollers and turned in any position for the discharge of its
ordnance; india-rubber or other packing may be applied between or around
the cupola and the deck in order to prevent the entrance of water, and the sides
or edges of the deck are to be provided with spherical rollers set in sockets in
order to form lateral bearing surfaces for the rotation of the cupola. The
friction or bearing rollers or universal ball joints may be set in sliding
bearings to be actuated by a rack or screw motion, whereby such bearings
I could be drawn from or placed near the periphery of the cupola in order to
regulate their degree of friction. I do not limit myself to the application of
hydraulic power, as I may apply any known mechanical power. The cupola
may also be raised and lowered by the application of nuts to the stanchions, in
which case the stanchions must have external screw_threads cut thereon; the

page_text: beams of the table of the cupola under the guide rollers would rest on the
surfaces of the nuts by means of a plate and friction rollers, whereby on
turning the nuts by lever or other purchase the cupola would be elevated or
lowered.
Another plan would be to place and fix a tube with a flanged top around
the lower part of each stanchion; between these tubes and the stanchions a
second series of tubes are to be placed having external threads cut thereon
and a projection or stop on the internal side, such projection entering a slot
cut in the side of each stanchion. A nut is placed on the top of each short
flanged tube and surrounding the stanchion and interior tube, therefore, by turn-
ing this nut, resting on friction rollers, the interior tube will rise and fall, and
its upper part being provided with a flanged head the beams of the table will
be elevated or lowered as desired. These appliances may be adopted to secure
the cupola in position after it has been raised by the hydraulic press or other
power, and may also be used in the examples of oscillating cupolas, or for
land and sea batteries. Where it is desirable to maintain the level position
of the cupola in rough weather I propose to support the cupola in a ring by
means of two trunnions. This ring may be made of plates and angle irons, or
it may be of solid iron in segments shut or welded together. The ring is to
have two exterior trunnions midway between the trunnions of the cupola, so
that the cupola may oscillate in two directions relatively to the ring and that
the ring may oscillate in the two opposite directions or at right angles. The
trunnions supporting the ring take into bearings in a larger ring on the
same plane which is supported by rollers on a fixed ring formed of angle iron
having an internal flange to keep the rollers in position bolted to the beams,
whereby the ring supporting the cupola may be turned to any required
position for discharging the guns, or the bearings for the trunnions may be
rollers running round the fixed flanged ring. The trunnions supporting the
cupola in the ring are made to screw into the lower part of the chamber of
the cupola, and they may be withdrawn from their bearings in the ring when
it is desired to work the cupola upon the principle previously described. The
trunnions may pass into the interior of the cupola through plummer blocks
and may be worked by means of a nut and ratchet teeth cut thereon and a
pall lever. These trunnions should be enlarged by a shoulder or collar at
their extremities and the bearings should be formed accordingly in order that
these trunnions should not be capable of being drawn out of the bearings
until the cupola shall have been slightly raised by the hydraulic ram or other
means whereby its support in the event of the trunnions being withdrawn
shall be ensured.
In order to gear the cupola into the ring it will only be.

page_text: necessary to raise it sufficiently by the hydraulic press or other mechanical
power until the level of the trunnions is above the level of their bearings, the
trunnions are then to be turned or screwed out and the cupola turned to such
position that when slightly lowered by the press or other power the trunnions
shall become set in the bearings on the external fixed ring, or the trunnions
of the cupola may be fixtures, and may be released and let below the ring
by means of slots cut or formed in the ring, when by rotating the cupola till
the trunnions come over the slots it can be lowered. The lowermost part of
the cupola would in very rough weather be liable to strike against the stanchions
and cause shock or damage. Now in order to obviate this I propose to apply
springs either in the form of buffers to the periphery of the cupola, so that they
should be forced against a ring around the stanchions or other convenient
fixture; or I apply ropes or chains to a ring surrounding the cupola, which
ropes or chains should be attached to closed spiral springs or flat springs, the
rope being sufficiently slack to act on the springs only in the event of excess
of oscillation; or I apply and fix a diaphragm or air chamber of vulcanized
india-rubber to the surface, plate, or table, and force air therein by means of a
pump to raise the same to the bottom of the cupola, which when oscillating in
any direction would press upon the india-rubber and be thereby prevented
from creating any jar or shock by a too sudden movement.
Many other contrivances of the same nature may be applied, the object
being the same. When the cupola is required to be lowered to the table the
air must be allowed to escape by a tap from the india-rubber vessel, which
will then be within the space between the vertical cogged wheel previously
described, and thus be completely out of the way, allowing the cupola to be
worked. Other methods may be adopted to gear the cupola and release and
lower the same from the ring than those described, the principle of the
Invention being the same.
To prevent the ingress of missiles or water between the oscillating cupola
and the deck, I propose to apply a series of coils of metal roping or chain
attached together so as to form a circular hood, the exterior and interior sides
of which are to be covered with thick waterproof canvass or other fabric; the
upper part or ring of the hood is to be fastened around the cupola and the lower
part to the deck of the vessel in a water-tight manner, whereby the hood will
yield to the oscillating motion of the cupola and yet prevent the ingress of
missiles or water.
I propose to adapt cupolas for sea and land defences by constructing a
vessel or battery according to my methods described in this Specification, the
form of which should be circular or oval, with sides tapering inwardly upwards,
B

page_text: forming conical sides. This vessel is to be conveyed with its cupola or cupolas
to any desired spot at a distance from land, and sunk in a shallow sea or
channel by means of loading it with stone or other heavy ballasting, whereby
it will be firmly set and bedded on its foundation, the cupola or cupolas will
be arranged therein in accordance with the methods already described; if one
cupola only is intended to be applied, the form of the vessel will be circular,
but if two or more cupolas are to be applied, the form of the vessel must be
more or less an elongated oval or other form which may be desired. The
increased size of the vessel beyond that of the cupola or cupolas will be
adaptable for occupation by the gunners and other officers. The cupolas will
have flat or dome roofs, and air pumps may be applied if necessary to ventilate
the vessel by forcing air therein. The height of the vessel or battery will be
sufficient to stand above the level of high water. For land purposes the
battery would be sunk in a foundation, and stand to any desired height. The
cupola or cupolas would be worked therefrom by any of the methods already
described. The roof of the battery will slant down from the cupola to the
sides of the battery in order to throw off projectiles.
According to this part of the Invention batteries may be rapidly constructed,
and placed in channels at a distance from land, in order to intercept the
passage of a hostile fleet.
On land defences may be constructed of walls of
iron and composition or wood, made according to the construction of vessels,
batteries, & cupolas, already described. To form the turreted portion of
the battery surrounding the cupola, I elevate such surface in like manner to
that described for cupolas on ships or vessels.
The approaches to the land batteries are to be rendered firm, level, and
durable by the application of my iron frames, filled up with concrete or
composition, the frames should be made in 2 or 3 compartments, and may be
filled previous to or after being laid down; each frame will have one or more
projections of the width of a division, in order to keep the next frame at the
requisite distance apart. The spaces may also be filled with Staffordshire or
other hard burnt clay-bricks containing silica, with their upper edges levelled
off, and the composition or other suitable binding cement is then to be run
between them, so as to hold them firmly in position. Or the iron frames
may be dispensed with, and the bricks may have two projections formed on
each of two opposite sides in order to bind or clutch together, the composition
being afterwards filled in between the spaces. By these means ordnance and
other heavy bodies may be transported from place to place with regard to the
batteries, and rails may be laid on the paving, if required, to form a tramway.
The same construction is also applicable to ordinary roads and other purposes.

page_text: I construct boits applicable to my Invention for securing armour plates,
and also for other useful purposes, as follows:-I form the head of the bolt of
a conical or taper form with regard to the cylindrical portion, and I commence
the taper at such distance from the extremity of the head as to allow of the
taper extending inwardly to the cylindrical portion for a short distance beyond
the back of the armour plate, in order that the longitudinal strain shall not
commence at the point where the taper runs into the cylinder.. The screw or
threaded end of the bolt is formed by increasing such end in thickness by a
swell of such dimensions as shall permit of the thread being cut thereon of
any desired depth; and yet that the bottom of the threads shall not be less in
their diameter than the true or cylindrical diameter of the bolt.
Another method is to commence the taper at a point much nearer the head
of the bolt, and when the taper has reached its largest diameter I continue
such limit in a cylindrical form to the extreme head of the bolt. Thus the
face or head of the bolt would be for a short distance inwardly cylindrical, it
would then take a decreasing taper to the main cylindrical portion, and increase.
again at the screwed end, as before described, or in some cases, I dispense.
with this last portion, or cylindrical head, leaving the taper head.
Another method is to commence the taper at any desired part of the cylinder,
continuing it some distance, and then forming a short portion cylindrical, and
again commencing the taper to the final cylindrical head as last described.
I make washers for my constructions and other useful purposes in the
following manner:-I.form a disc of iron, or other convenient metal, with a
flange on one side, around the entire periphery. This flange is to be of any
depth, according to the substance of washer required. The central portion of
the disc or plate is perforated with a circular opening of sufficient diameter
to admit of the passage of the screwed or threaded end of a screw bolt. On
the internal surface of the washer, within the flange, I place a corresponding
disc or sheet of india-rubber, vulcanized or simple, or of gutta percha, lead, or
other yielding or elastic material, such as a compound of canvass and india-
rubber, leather, or gutta percha, with the requisite central perforation.
Upon this yielding or elastic body I place an iron or other metallic disc
perforated centrally and fitting the internal flange, and the washer may if
required be applied between the nut and the plating or internal side of a
vessel, in order to deaden any shock or longitudinal strain. The internal
I also
dise should form the bearing surface against the side of the vessel.
propose to apply two or more series or layers of elastic or yielding materials,
with metallic discs between each, in order to gain increased thickness or
substance of washer, the flange being made of such depth as to contain and

page_text: hold the various layers in position, and prevent the lateral extension of the
elastic substance.
I propose to construct ladders, applicable to vessels or otherwise, of galvanized
iron wire in strands, twisted or plaited to form a wire rope. I arrange the
rope in two or three lengths side by side; when three are used the middle
rope should be of less dimensions than the two outer ropes. The rungs are to
be made of rod iron with a tube around each, I apply washers to each extremity
of the tubes to act as collars or bearings against the sides of the wire ropes.
The iron rod forming the interior of the rung passes completely through each
of the wire ropes by means of an orifice forced therein between the strands, and
the two ends of the rod iron are furnished with a burr or enlargement to
prevent its detachment from the wire rope. The rods and tubes may be
of sufficient diameter to afford a good footing, and the rods may be reduced
in diameter at each end, passing through the wire ropes or cheeks. Where I
use only two ropes one tube is sufficient, extending the width of each rung
on the rod iron, and having a washer at each end thereof. The washers
serve also to prevent the wire rope sliding inwardly upon the rod. I also
make the ladders with cheeks or bars connected together by hinged or pin
joints, the rods forming the rungs may be applied with or without tubes, and
two or three layers of cheeks or bars may be used as described; if three layers
two tubes will be required. To attach the ladder I employ a compound hook,
that is to say, two hooks working on one joint, their points being reversed so
as to fold over in different directions, whereby they will grip or hold any
projection or bar to which it may be convenient to attach them.
Ladders made by these methods may be either rolled around a drum or
folded up in lengths by the hinges, and are rendered easily portable and
convenient for stowage. They will also be ready for immediate application
and will resist the action of fire, and form a certain means of ingress to a
vessel, or of escape to boats in case of wreck or fire. Chains may be applied
in lieu of the wire rope or bars, the principle being the same. The burrs and
washers should have one surface grooved or hollowed so as to fit against the
enlarged circumference of the wire rope and partly bind or secure the same.
Or the wire rope may be opened or divided at the requisite distances to admit
of the insertion of a grooved or doubled flanged eye, through which the rods
may pass and take their bearing.
For ocean steamers, and all vessels conveying passengers, many portions of
the foregoing constructions are alike applicable, although they may have
been described with special reference to vessels of war.
Lead packing may
be applied between the armour plates and hulls or any other parts of the:

page_text: construction where desirable.
If the armour plates are rivetted this packing
will not be required. The lead for the packing will be made from pig lead
and run on a level or table surface of iron with a frame around it working on
centres or bearings, or plummer blocks, and the level will be obtained by means
of screws and the aid of a spirit level. A plate of iron is to be adjusted to
fall in a rebate, to the required depth to form the thickness of plate and the
molten lead, will be poured in through apertures formed in the top of the rim.
The rim may be arranged to rise and fall, so as to enable various thicknesses of
plate to be cast, after which the plate will be raised and the cast lead removed.
The packing is chiefly adaptable for stationary constructions such as sea and
land batteries and other purposes.
My mode of casting lead above described is applicable to other useful pur-
poses. I propose to coat iron plates for ships and vessels of every sort or batteries
with copper or with a mixture of about 50 per cent. of copper, 40 per cent. of tin,
and 10 per cent. of zinc, or with Muntz's metal or other admixture of metallic
coating, I heat the metals and cause them to run into a fluid or molten state
by aid of borax or other suitable flux. I then heat my plates, which must be
prepared with a clean surface, to a temperature of about 200 degrees, and
dip them into salammoniac, hydrochloric acid diluted, or sulphuric acid,
diluted or other biting acid, or treat them by any of the known methods of
cleaning plates to be coated with molten metals by the process of dipping, and
after a few moments I plunge or dip the plates into the molten lead or alloy.
When in a short time I withdraw the plates, they will be found to have
acquired a coating of the alloy which will firmly adhere and form one massive
plate or sheet, preserving the interior iron from decay or from the action of
salt water or other corrosive influences; after they are thus coated the surface
may be rolled or wiped in order to obtain a smooth surface. By this method
plates may be coated with a preservative metal or alloy in a speedy and
durable manner, and the iron plates for the internal plating of the vessel may
receive a slight coating of preservative metal if desirable.
I apply copper or metallic composition or alloy to form the external sides of
the iron plates as hereafter described, intended to form the bottoms of vessels to
prevent their corrosion or decay. Instead of applying the iron plating doubly,
as in other cases, I apply a single layer of plating with the copper or metallic
composition plating rivetted thereto. The metallic composition plating may be an
alloy of copper, tin, and zinc, in any desired proportion, or Muntz's metal; these
plates will be about one half the thickness of the iron plating forming the internal
side; therefore if the iron is three-fourths of an inch thick the copper or com-
position or alloy will be three-eighths of an inch thick, and the compound plates

page_text: will be laid together so as to form their own joints, either butt, joggled, or
rebated, and will thus form a smooth surface. The total thickness of this
compound plate must be equal to the thickness of the double layers of iron
plating above the water line. The copper or composition plates will be
rivetted to the iron plates with copper or composition rivets arranged so that
the head of the rivet is. inside, and the large conical extremity fitting in a
countersunk hole in the copper or. compound plating. I apply to, or between
the iron plates and to the copper or compound plates forming the hull of the
vessel a liquid composition to prevent corrosion or electrical action. The
composition will be composed of plumbago about 20 parts; white or red oxide
of lead or litharge, about 1 part; and turpentine, about 3 parts by weight
with sufficient varnish to promote adhesion of the other materials. This
composition may also be applied to any parts of ironwork to be protected. A
small quantity of marine glue may be added if required. Or in lieu of the
turpentine and varnish, I propose to substitute wood or coal naptha.. In some
cases I make a composition of plumbago varnish and turpentine in the above
proportions and apply it to various parts of ironwork for different purposes.
To preserve the bottoms of iron vessels or batteries from decay by the
action of sea water, I propose to coat them with an adhesive solution or
varnish, such as marine glue, mixed with plumbago, red and white oxide of lead
and litharge and turpentine, and while such coating is still moist I apply to
its surface pulverized glass, pulverised copper, or the native mineral pulverized
or mineral lead in a finely powdered state, the powder is to be applied by a
blower, so as to scatter the particles completely upon the adhesive surface,
after which rollers are to be applied to press the powder into the adhesive
mass for the purpose of making the surface hard and smooth. The vessel or
battery could at any time be re-coated on the same principle. Although in
the foregoing Specification many arrangements are specially described as
applicable to iron vessels and vessels of war, many of them are also applicable
to wooden vessels and to vessels used for peaceful purposes.
1.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Barnabas Russ in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BARNABAS
Russ, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth. day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Barnabas Russ, Her special licence that I, the said
Barnabas Russ, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Barnabas Russ, my executors, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON AND OTHER SHIPS, VESSELS,
AND BATTERIES OF WAR, AND OF CUPOLAS AND ARMOUR PLATES APPLICABLE THERETO,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Barnabas Russ, my
executors or administrators, 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 per-
formed, 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 Barnabas Russ, 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 of improvements in the method of constructing iron
and other ships or vessels and of batteries of war, with reference to their
framework generally, their hulls and iron-plating, bulkheads, hatchways,
look-outs, port holes, masts, yards, bowsprits, and booms, funnels and steam
pipes, to cupolas, to armour-plates, and to screws, bolts, and washers, to com-
positions applicable to the preservation and strengthening of some of these
constructions, parts of the improvements being likewise applicable to other
useful purposes.
Whenever, in describing ships or vessels of war or other vessels, land
batteries, cupolas, or other constructions herein described, I refer to the use
of double-plating, my principle of applying such plating is to apply the
plates doubly, so as to form their own laps or joints, and so that one joint
will not come in line with another, producing a smooth or flush surface for
internal and external plating for hulls, for vertical or longitudinal frames or
ribs for keels, stems and stern posts, decks, beams, bulkheads, bulwarks,
masts, bowsprits, funnels, cupolas, cylinders, or tubular, oval, or other forms,

page_text: or in any other case where double-plating may be advantageous. The plate
seams or joints are to be rivetted together in the ordinary way to form butt
or rebated joints; single iron plating may also be applied to any of the above
constructions, especially to the hulls of vessels above the water line, without
the use of jaws or ramps, as herein mentioned.
In constructing keels, stems, and stern posts, wrought-iron plates are to be
put together doubly, as aforesaid, or they may be made from solid iron, or in
sections or layers rivetted together on my principle of double-plating herein
referred to, to form a solid mass; rudder posts and rudders, knees and sister
kelsons may be constructed in the ordinary manner, or upon my principle of
double-plating. The rudder and propeller posts may be arranged as required.
To form the vertical frames or ribs of the vessel wrought-iron plates and
angle iron are to be employed, the plates of the frames or ribs are to be laid
together doubly, on my principle, and to be smooth or flush to receive the
angle iron on both sides; when placed horizontally these frames or ribs will
form a longitudinal series. The width and thickness of the plates and the
angle iron must be proportionate to the size of the vessel. In some cases
vertical frames or ribs cannot be applied, and iron plates must then be sub-
stituted, or the plates forming part of the frames can be used singly. If the
hulls have internal as well as external plating, the plate iron of the frames
will have two angle irons rivitted on each side to form I iron to receive the
external and internal plating of the hulls secured thereto by rivets. If this
construction is to receive armour plates the vertical frames or ribs will have
a single jaw or ramp to receive the external plating of the hull, so that the
armour plates will be flush with the plating. The angle iron rivetted to the
plate of the frame will be I iron. If the hulls have internal as well as
external plating, and longitudinal plates placed horizontally to form chambers
and receive armour plates, the frames up to the jaws or ramps will be the
same as before. The vertical frames will be reversed from the jaws or ramps,
and will have two angle irons rivetted on one side, and one angle iron rivetted
on the other, so that the vertical frames from the jaws or ramps will be on the
internal surface of the plating forming the internal sides of the bull and
chambers, and the angle irons on the vertical frames will shew angles. If
the hulls are constructed with longitudinal frames or ribs running and laying
horizontally to form chambers and to receive armour or shield plates, and
having only the external plating forming the external sides of the vessel and
the internal surfaces of the chambers, there will be jaws or ramps in the
vertical frames or ribs, which will have two angle irons rivetted on one side
and one angle iron on the other, so as to shew Zangles. When single plates

page_text: are used for the frames a plate could be rivetted at their points of junction
in order to strengthen them, and the rivet-holes are to be arranged in a
zig-zag or diagonal series in the angle irons and plates, or in other forms to suit
the rivetting. In one case the longitudinal frames will shew two angles,
and in the other one angle L; these may be termed the frames or ribs. The
frames may be made without the plates by using angle irons only where
required.
The vessel may be constructed with longitudinal plates lying horizontally,
with angle irons rivetted on the top side of each plate; the angle irons will
be rivetted to the internal surfaces of the plates forming the hull of the vessel,
about fifteen inches apart. These plates will be about twelve inches in width,
and about three-fourths of an inch in thickness; the distance between the
external and internal plating will be about 15 inches, and the vertical frames
or ribs will be on the internal sides of the hull plates, and will be rivetted
thereto; and in the chambers between these plates there will be about 15 inches
thickness of teak, oak, or other wood or ebonite in two sections of about 7 inches
each, therefore the wood will stand out or project beyond the plates and butt
against the external surfaces of the plating forming the internal side of the
vessel; screwed bolts will pass through the external sides and between the
longitudinal frames, ribs, or stringers, and through the wood packing, and-
the whole structure will thus be bolted together and to the internal sides,
which are rivetted to the vertical frames. The bolts for the armour plates will
pass through the external sides between the longitudinal frames and through
the wood packing and through the internal sides. I prefer to use screw bolts
having a square or circular bead thread to those having a sharp or V thread.
If the longitudinal plates have two angle irons rivetted on the top sides of each
plate, one of them will be rivetted to the internal surface of the external
plating, and the other will be rivetted to the external surfaces of the internal
plating; the vertical frames will receive the internal plating rivetted thereto,
and the longitudinal plates with the angle iron rivetted thereto will be about
15 inches in width and about of an inch in thickness; they will be rivetted
about 15 inches apart so as to form the longitudinal chambers.
To fill the chambers last before described, instead of wood or ebonite
packing, I use a composition of pitch about a fourth part, tar about a fourth
part, a small quantity of resin, asphalte half a part, with or without the
addition of coke. Clinker or stone is to be used in lieu of coke broken to
about the size of an egg, the stone being of a hard tough character, such as
granite, and such stone or clinker will be equal in bulk to the other materials
put together; such composition is applicable to similar constructions used in

page_text: batteries on land, and to construct or fill up land batteries and works of
offence and defence; and this composition is also applicable to fireproof and
thief-resisting safes.
The application of the first composition to vessels will not only serve to
strengthen and solidify the structure, but will preserve the ironwork from
strainage and leakage, and in the case of war and other vessels will resist the
action of missiles of war. The vessel may be constructed to have longitudinal
chambers in an entire or only a partial series. If the vessel is supplied with
the composition, and armour plates are to be applied to the hull, iron tubes
will be previously inserted through the chambers between the frames or ribs
for the screwed bolts to pass through. The tubes should be held in position
ready to receive the screw bolts by the insertion of a wooden core or mandril
of sufficient length to rest beyond the tube in the bolt holes of the hull.
There may be a flange on each end of the tube. When wood packing is used
no tubes will be required. Topping holes must be formed in each of the
longitudinal plates to admit of the passage of the liquid composition. The
vessel may be constructed with longitudinal frames, ribs, or stringers lying
horizontally, and rivetted alternately to the internal plating of the. external
skin, and to the external plating of the interior skin. These ribs are rivetted
by means of two angle irons, one above and one below, and will be also 12
inches in width, so that the wood packing may stand out and abut against the
sides of the chambers, as before mentioned. By this method of alternate
attachment of the frames greater strength will be afforded to the construction.
The plates being applied doubly, so as to break joint and form laps or flanges
of about eight inches in width horizontally, and vertical butt joints will receive
the rivets securing the longitudinal frames or ribs, and will be bolted to the
internal skin by screw bolts passing through the wood and the external skin.
The vertical joints may form laps, if thought desirable, instead of butt joints,
as may be found convenient, for detaching any of the plates from the vessel
for the purpose of examining or overhauling any particular portion of the hull.
In the event of a projectile striking the vessel, the wood packing being
enclosed in these chambers will be prevented from splintering, as is the case
with wood backing as applied at present. The bolts for securing the armour
plates will still further strengthen and hold together the entire construction.
In lieu of the wood or ebonite packing the composition described may be
applied to fill the spaces or chambers. Or the double-plating to form the
external and internal skins of the vessel may be strengthened or held together
as follows:-The internal surface of the external plating is to have vertical
frames or stringers rivetted thereto at distances of about two feet apart by

page_text: means of angle iron on each side of the frames. If the space between the
skins is 15 inches, these vertical frames or ribs should be about 7 inches in
width, 6 in. depth, and of an inch thick. Then the external surface of the
internal skin is to have horizontal or longitudinal frames, stringers, or ribs
similarly rivetted thereto at the same distances apart; and the width of these
ribs is to be about 6 inches, so that these double series of stringers will not
meet together or touch each other, but a space of about two inches clear will
remain between their edges, the two skins will be secured together by means
of intermediate screw bolts, and the armour-plate bolts will further strengthen
the construction. The spaces or chambers so created by the ribs between the
skins are to be filled up with the composition herein referred to; these stringers
will form butt or lap joints, but these joints will be arranged to meet, so that
the joints of one series will never come in line with another, and the angle
iron will further strengthen the joints of the stringers. The plating, whether
used for the external skin only, or for both the external and internal skin or
side, must be so placed that the vertical joints come in a line with the centre
of the vertical frames and angle iron thereon, supposing the plating to be
rivetted. So also the longitudinal joints must come in line with the centre
of the longitudinal frames and the angle iron thereon.
My principle of double-plating, as described herein, is applicable to the
construction of vessels made with one skin with internal ribs, such as vessels
for commercial purposes,, as well as to vessels constructed with a double skin
or shell, and such plating may be coated with the preservative composition
herein described, and then covered with copper or composition plates or with
sheathing. If the double-plating be of a total equal to 14th of an inch in
substance, I should, when applying the copper or composition plating thereto,
as hereafter described, make the iron plates th inch thick each, and the
copper or composition plating the same to the requisite height above the water
line. The beams will be wrought-iron plates put together doubly, on my
principle, with angle irons rivetted thereto, or they may be made with single
plates, in which case a fish-plate would be required to make each joint firm.
The beams may be elevated for the exposed decks to the requisite height,
according to the situation of the cupola or cupolas. The bulkheads will be
formed of double plating, on my principle, and rivetted together, and T iron
or plates may be rivetted thereto to strengthen the vertical joints as required.
The bulkheads may be applied transversely or longitudinally in the vessel, as
desirable, to form compartments water-tight or otherwise, and to strengthen
the general construction. The deck plating will be laid on the deck beams
to receive the armour plate or wood plankings for the exposed or internal

page_text: two.
decks, and will be rivetted together and to the deck beams, or bolted with
boats and nuts and secured with screws, as may be required, so that their joints
will always meet on the centre of the beams. Angle iron will be rivetted to
the sides of the deck plates to form watercourses or channels, and the angle
iron will also be rivetted to the internal plating or skin of the vessel on the
vertical or longitudinal frames, according as the vessel is constructed, or will
be bolted thereto. The deck plating will prevent strainage or leakage of the
decks, and will also strengthen the hulls. The stringers to attach the deck
plates will be made in the ordinary way. Where frames or beams cannot be
used plates will be substituted to receive the external and internal joints of
the deck plates, as required; the deck plates will be secured to the frames,
stringers, or liners by the angle iron which forms the waterways; the stringers
will be placed flatwise against the angle irons, rivetted at the upper part to
form the watercourse for the internal decks, and the beams will be rivetted
to the stringers and to the frames so that the stringers will be between the
The stringers employed for the upper or exposed deck will have angle
iron from the beams continued and rivetted to them and to the frames below
the deck for the purpose of strengthening the vessel. Between the double
plating the preservative composition may be applied in a similar way to the
plating for the hulls. The bulwarks may be made moveable, and consist of
standards in hinge sockets on ramps or brackets let into the deck, so that the
standard may project slightly over the side of the vessel; they are hinged or
jointed by bolts and pins so as to fall inwards on deck or outwards against
the sides of the vessel; they are to be provided with backstays having eyes
at their upper end to be attached to a clip round the standard by means of a
screw or bolt passing through the clip and eye of the backstay. The lower end
of the stay is turned into a hook to enter an eye fixed in a cavity counter-
sunk in the deck. Wire ropes are to be passed through the standards
from one to the other for canvas to be held by eyelet-holes, so that by
drawing the wire ropes through the bulwarks the canvas divisions would fall
and can be reversed, that is to say, they can be painted black on the one side
and white on the other, or any other colors, and either side presented to view.
By being made portable the bulwarks may be taken out and carried below
out of danger, or they may be lowered on or outside the deck with a similar
object, and to allow of the uninterrupted fire from the deck or from cupolas;
or the bulwarks may be made fixtures in the ordinary manner.
In order to tighten stays or rigging or other parts, I use a long female
screw to which the wire rope forming the stay or rigging is joined by an
universal joint. A fixed male screw enters the interior of the female screw,

page_text: and thus by turning the female screw, the wire rope wherever used may be
slackened or tightened or released at pleasure, or the male screw may be set
in an universal joint, and be turned so as to actuate the female screw.
Rattlings and stays are to be applied as required. The hatchways will be so
constructed that they may be lowered and again raised to admit of any object
passing in or out of the vessel, and when closed they will be perfectly firm and
equally strong to any other part of the deck to which they will be flush, and
when required they can be made to form a ventilator. I apply hydraulic or
other suitable mechanical power to lower and raise the hatchways, and in case
of hydraulic power, barrel threads and nuts should be applied to the stanchions
to follow up the work and secure the same in position. The lower part of
the hatchway is formed with a rebate or flange, and the deck is cut to
correspond therewith; the upper surface of the rebate or projection is fur-
nished with a packing, so that when the hatchway is forced up to its closed
position a water-tight joint will be made. The hatchway is to rest on tubes
surrounding the stanchions; horizontal beams are to be applied across the
top of the tubes, leaving a space for them to travel down the stanchions, and
between this space and the stancheons friction or steadying wheels are fixed
to the beams. The external surfaces of the tubes are to be furnished with a
screw thread to receive a powerful nut; this tube is to rise and fall within a
larger tube reaching from the lower deck provided with a flanged head on
which the nut is to bear, and rotate in order to maintain the threaded tube
in position, and support the hatchway when elevated or partly lowered by the
hydraulic or other power. The nut should rest on friction rollers on the
flange, and it may be turned by means of pins or levers inserted into holes in
the sides of the nut. Or I propose as a substitute for the lower and upper
tubes to cut a thread on the stanchions, and to place a travelling nut thereon,
which could follow up the hatchway supported by its beams as before, the
beams being formed with a descending heel or flange to rest on the plate or
washer sustained by the nut. Between the nuts and the beams a washer
would be applied to allow of the turning of the nut. By this method the
hatchway could be lowered down to the surface of the lower deck. The friction
wheels travelling down the stanchions could be made with grooved surfaces to
fit the periphery of the stanchions; or the threaded stanchions could be
channelled, grooved, or recessed from top to bottom to receive a travelling
friction or steadying wheel running in such slot. The wheels should be placed
in the lower or flanged portion of the beams in order to allow of the hatchway
being elevated to its highest position without the wheels rising beyond the top
of the stanchion. By these improvements every object required to be taken

page_text: on deck or removed therefrom could easily be controlled; cannon and all
weighty articles could be raised and lowered with perfect facility, and ventilation
promoted by slightly lowering the hatchways. Ladders should be applied to
each stanchion to enable men to ascend and actuate the nuts. Any portion of
the deck can be made, if required, to open and close on my principle, herein-
before described, as applicable to hatchways. The masts are to be so con-
structed of my double-plating or of welded tube that they may be raised or
lowered as required, and when the masts are to be raised one part will work out
of another part till each several part is raised; also, when the masts are to be
lowered, one part will work or pass into or through or within the other parts
till the whole is lowered, and when so lowered the masts will not be visible on
deck. This is accomplished by forming the masts of single or double iron
tube with a male screw thread of a very quick turn wound as a thread, of a
spiral or helical form, around their exterior. On the top of each mast a collar
is fixed to act as a bearing for a screw nut, which when turned by means of
levers entering holes in the nut, will raise the mast passing through such nut
out of the tubular lower mast which contains it. If there were three masts
the two lower ones would have collars and nuts, whereby the two upper masts
could be raised from the lowermost one; so also the lowermost mast would
be raised from below the deck by means of a collar and screw nut. All the
masts could be lowered below the level of the deck if required down to the
lower deck, or they might be lowered nearly to the level of the upper deck, in
which case a tubular form of my framing and armour plate would be applied
to surround and protect them. The nuts to work the masts are to be made in
three divisions or sections set in a frame, each division being capable of racking
back so as to release the thread of the nut from the threads of the mast, or to
regulate the entrance of such threads. The frame securing the sections of
the nut may be furnished with holes for the insertion of levers to turn them,
or a series of external teeth may be made around the frame to receive toothed
wheels on a vertical shaft worked by steam or other power.
In this case a
series of toothed wheels would require to be applied to the shaft, that is, a
large toothed wheel for the raising of the top mast and smaller ones for the
lower masts, since the latter would be larger in diameter. The vertical shaft
could be worked by hand power by affixing at its lower part a horizontal
worm-toothed wheel, into which a worm or screw should gear, being fixed to
a shaft and turned by a crank or handle. A slot must be cut in the exterior
of the masts, into which stops are to enter to prevent them from turning
round by the action of the screws so as to compel them to ascend or descend
when the screw nuts are worked. The masts may be worked by steam power

page_text: when required.
By this arrangement the screw nut could be set firmly on
the threads of the mast at any position when the inasts were elevated; the
nuts on the masts will serve the purpose of cross trees, and lever pins may be
affixed therein accordingly.
The bowsprit and boom will be so constructed that the boom will work in
and out of the bowsprit, and the bowsprit will work in and out of the bow of
the vessel, so that when the bowsprit is worked into the vessel, it will not be
visible or exposed. I form the bowsprit of a tube of wrought iron with a
spiral screw thread round the exterior; under the deck I bolt two plummer
blocks at a distance apart, between and within which a nut having a tubular
extension on each side takes its bearing. The bowsprit passes through this
nut and tube, and is consequently held firmly in position by the plummer
blocks, into which the tubes, attached one on each side of the nut as a con-
tinuation thereof, enter and take their bearing, as just stated. The nut has
a female thread cut therein corresponding with the external thread on the
bowsprit, but the tubular extensions of the nut are made smooth to bear on
the flat surface of the bowsprit threads. In order to work the bowsprit, the
nut must be turned in the required direction by hand or steam power by levers
entering holes in the faces of the nut, or by a pall and ratchet motion, teeth
being cut in a circular nut. By these means the bowsprit may be worked out.
beyond the bow of the vessel to the extent of about two-thirds of its length,
the remaining one-third being held in the bearings. The boom is constructed
so as to work in the interior of the bowsprit. The boom is formed of a wrought-
iron tube fitting the interior of the bowsprit; the rear end of the boon is
fitted with an elongated nut entering some distance within the boom, a female
thread being cut therein to receive a shaft having an endless thread on its
exterior; this shaft is the full length of the boom and bowsprit, and passes
from end to end thereof. At its internal or rear end beyond the bowsprit a
toothed or ratchet wheel is keyed, whereby power may be applied to turn the
shaft or other mechanical arrangement. The shaft is prevented from sliding
or moving in its bearings otherwise thau turning by means of two collars
fixed to it, one on each side of its bearing fitted into the rear end of the
bowsprit, and consequently the boom may be worked inwards or outwards
from the bowsprit by turning the endless screw shaft passing through the nut
in the rear of the boom. It will be necessary to prevent the bowspit and
boom from turning round in order to give full effect to the action of the
screw gearings; this is to be done by forming a slot from end to end of each
on their exterior. The bowsprit will be controlled by projections or stops
entering its slot from the tubes on the nut, and the boom will receive similar

page_text: projections from the interior of the bowsprit. The boom is to be worked out
of the bowsprit to the extent of two-thirds of its length; the hole through
which the bowsprit passes will be closed by a port, as described already in
the second example.
The yards will be made of tubular iron in two sections or semi-tubes with
flanges and bolts or screws to secure them together. The stunsail booms may
be iron or wood, and can be worked in or out of the tubular yards by means
of screw or other gearing. The yards will be attached to the masts by means
of a clip or clips and running fastenings, in order that they may be attached
and removed with facility and rapidity. The boom for the masts will be made
of a tubular and taper form of iron, and the stays and rattlings will be made
of wire rope; the booms will be attached to the masts by means of grips, and
when the masts are to be lowered, the booms and yards will be passed below
through the hatchway. The openings for the omission or egress of the masts
and funnels may be covered with armour plate on beams and plates in the
form of a lid or cap with a hinge or other fastening; the funnels and steam
pipes are to be constructed on the same principle as the masts, so that they
may be raised and lowered when required, and they will work vertically, one part
rising out of another till the whole are raised, and when the funnel is required
to be lowered one part will work within another till the whole is lowered
down, so that when the funnel is lowered no part will be visible on deck.
The steam or blow-off pipes will be made on the same principle. The funnels
and steam pipes will be applicable to all classes of vessels, whether for
purposes of war or for mercantile ships, and they may be worked by hand or
steam power. Tubular and cylindrical forms, such as passages or tunnel ways
in ships, are to be constructed with plate iron in sections or segments rivetted
to frames or ribs as before, so as to form smooth surfaces externally and
internally; the plates when used doubly to be laid together on my principle.
I construct armour or shield plates in three parts or layers, each made
separately. The first part of the plate, which I call the back," will be made
of rolled or forged wrought iron of any length, width, and substance that may
be required. The second part of the plates, which I term "the interior," will
be made of forged or rolled wrought, Bessemer, or other steel of any length
and substance that may be required. The third part of the plate, which I
term "the face," will be made of forged or rolled wrought iron of any length,
width, and substance that may be required. When the three parts are made,
they are to be united by beat in the foregoing order; in any way I prefer the
'following method:-I place "the back," "the interior," and "the face" on
the top of one another, and subject them to the heat of a hot or cold blast

page_text: furnace, and heat the plates sufficiently, so that when withdrawn and passed
through rollers or under hammers, the three parts will be welded together
and become one substance. The process of hammering or rolling may be
continued till the exact substance desired is obtained; after passing through
this process my armour plates will have a back and face of iron with an
interior of steel. The joints of these plates when put together on a vessel or
battery, may be butt, rebated, grooved, or tongued as may be required either
for hulls or decks of vessels, fixed or oscillating cupolas, or for land defences of
every kind. Another method of welding these plates is to heat the two
exterior iron plates separately, and to place the steel plate between them cold;
the three plates are then to be placed in a furnace, and brought to a sufficient
degree of heat for the welding or rolling process.
As the armour plates are
removed from the rolls, they may be annealed by my process as follows:-
They are to be taken by means of a tramway or otherwise, and placed on
lime newly burnt, covered with wood, dust, or peat, and a quantity of wood
dust must be thrown on the surface of the plate to cover it, after which a layer
of lime is to be applied. The wood, dust, or peat must be thoroughly dry.
My process of annealing is applicable to iron, steel, brass, and other metals
for various useful purposes, and to armour plates, however constructed.
In some cases I propose, in lieu of the interior cold steel plate, to substitute
a plate of the hardest and toughest iron, such as Taranaki or Low Moor, or
other hard tough iron in a heated state, the exterior plates being of a softer
and more yielding nature. In order to assist the union of the plates I
propose in some cases to apply a flux, such as borax or the oxide of manganese
or other flux to the surfaces of the metals, whereby their contact and adhesion
will be promoted.
I have already described my improvements in the construction and manu-
facture of armour plates in so far as regards the application of an intermediate
plate of steel, or hard or tough iron, between two plates of iron, and I now
proceed to describe another method of manufacturing such plates as follows:-
I apply iron or steel bars to form these plates, as follows:-The bar being
heated is to be bent doubly upon itself, of a sufficient length and width to
form an interior or core for a succession of layers or turns, in such manner as
that the winding or bending of the bars shall form upon, and around this core
or centre an ultimate width and length corresponding somewhat nearly to the
dimensions of the back and face plates. The bars are to be drawn around
the core, and maintained in one level by means of a table on which the first
core is formed. This table is caused to rotate on an axis by means of steam
power and suitable gearing, whereby the core will receive the bar iron or steel
C

page_text: They are then
When I apply
in a similar manner to the process of winding tape or other fabric upon a
narrow board, thus each layer will form a rectangular series. A series of
holes must be pierced in the table for the insertion of pins to keep the core
and layers in position during the process. When the iron or steel intermediate
plates are thus manufactured, they are to be rolled between the face and back
plates, as before described. The advantage of this method is, that the exterior
heated iron plates will be pressed into the interstices of the surface of the
steel or hard iron plate in a more effectual manner than if such intermediate
plate were made by the ordinary means, whereby a most perfect union
between the three divisions of the plate will be effected. This method may
be adopted to the manufacture of armour plates made of layers of iron without
a steel intermediate plate. In lieu of shutting or welding the ends of the
iron or steel bars together to form a continuous length, I sometimes apply
them separately, and taper their ends to match the end of the next bar applied
thereto; when the layers are completed, they are held together by clips, or
otherwise heated and hammered so as to shut them together.
again heated and rolled, so as to form a solid uniform mass.
a hard tough iron intermediate plate between two exterior iron plates, I
heat the same before rolling them together, but when I apply a steel inter-
mediate plate, I place it in a cold state between the external heated iron
plates, and then roll the three together. I prefer in some cases to use
Bessemer's steel for the manufacture of the intermediate plates. When the
bar iron or steel has reached the last layer or turn, the end of the bar is to be
attached to the next layer by a tack, or by a screw fastening, or clip. In
some cases I remove the series or folds of the bar iron or steel forming the
plate from the surface of the table, and heat the whole in a furnace, after
which I subject them to pressure, either by rolls or other mechanical means,
in order to unite the folds or layers together and solidify the plate. To form
the necessary continuous length of the bars, I take the bars and shut or weld
their ends together successively, whereby I produce any required length or
continuity of bar sufficient to make any size of plate, or I apply them in a
separate series. In lieu of heating the bar iron to facilitate the bending, in
some cases I anneal the bars, whereby they may be bent or folded while cold
without difficulty. I also manufacture iron or steel armour plates of the
entire requisite thickness by a similar process of winding or bending bar iron
or steel. To effect this I employ bar iron or steel of the requisite width, and
when I have continued the series of layers or turns sufficiently to produce the
requisite size of the plate, I remove the same from the table, and heat it in a
furnace, in order to weld them together, after which I subject them to

page_text: pressure, by rolling or otherwise, in order to create a perfect union and
amalgamation, and to form one solid mass or plate. By these means I make
armour plate entirely of iron, or entirely of steel. I also form armour plates
of the total thickness desired according to the foregoing process in such a
manner as to consist of an an alternate series of folds or layers of iron and steel.
Tefeet this I commence with either an iron or steel bar, and if of iron I
weld à steel bar thereon, or apply the same separately or not, in continuity;
and, thirdly, an iron bar thereto, and so on continuously, by which means
when the required quantity of bars are wound together, it will follow that the
plate so made will consist of half iron and half steel. This admixture of iron
and steel when rolled would present a hard and tough resisting plate to receive
and withstand the percussive and penetrating force of projectiles. I prefer
generally to employ Bessemer steel bars and homogeneous iron; but I do not
limit myself to these species of steel or iron bars.
The look-outs will be constructed so that they may rotate as required, and
be lifted, raised, or lowered, and then be flush to or on a level with the deck,
or with the armour or shield plates, if the vessel or battery is so provided. The
look-outs will be made shot and shell proof with armour plates for those parts
which may be exposed when raised above the deck. They may be raised,
lowered, and rotated, and fixed by means similar to those employed by me for
the cupolas described in this Specification, by hydraulic or by other mechanical
power or gearing, and gear may be employed in the interior for the occupant
to revolve the look-out, or the gear can be apployed externally, and worked by
another person. Nuts may be applied to stanchions to work the look-outs, as
in the cupolas. India-rubber or any con pound packing which will resist the
action of water may be applied to prevent ingress of water between the look-
out and the deck. The packing should be assisted by metallic springs, in
rder to effect close contact around the look-out. These look-outs may be
applied to every description of vessel of war or battery, whether on sea or
on land.
The port holes will be constructed with doors or flaps to open in one or two
halves to permit of the discharge of any projectile; they can be applied
wherever required in vessels, cupolas, and batteries of every description.
They will be opened or closed instantaneously by means of hinges or blind
joints worked by male and female screws, pins, barrel nuts, and wheels,
plummer blocks and bolts, and levers and chains, whereby the doors or flaps
may be passed out and over the rebates, in order to rise and fall, and when
closed they will form their own fastening. Port holes may be constructed so that
no doors or flaps will be required. In such cases I employ a tube or socket with
c2

page_text: a
a flange or plate on the external and internal end, and on the external side
there will be a thread cut or wound thereon as far as may be required to
receive a nut and washer to screw the flange on the end of the tube or socket
against the external side of the vessel. In the interior of the tube or socket
there will be a thread cut from the flange on the external end or side through-
to the internal end or side, and a plug with an external thread will be made
to fit the thread in the socket. At the internal end of the tube there will be
stop-socket nut, or plug, with an external thread cut thereon to fit the thread
in the tube. The stop-socket-But will be worked by a lever bar and pin, and
a stop pin and ball. The screwed plug forming the stop at the internal end
will pass in or out at the external and internal end, so that the screwed plug
can pass through as required by unscrewing the stop-socket nut or plug; the
port hole will prove a total resistance against shot or shell. By means of a
lever bar and other portable means the tube with the flange on the external
end can be taken out or put in at any time by the nut on the internal end.
The washers hereafter described will be applicable to the nuts used in the
above method. The port hele doors will work vertically up and down by
means of racks and toothed wheels, and by levers and gearing when applied
The force of a projectile would be received by
the rebate, and thus the gearing would not be injured.
to batteries on land or sea.
Cupolas intended to receive composition between their frames will be con-
structed with vertical ribs or frames, and the plates to form these frames will
have two angle irons rivetted on each side to receive the external and internal
plating to be rivetted thereto. The distance between the external and internal
sides of the plating may be about 15 inches, and the vertical frames or ribs
may be rivetted about 18 inches apart. The plates forming the external and
internal sides of the cupola will be put together doubly, so as to form their
own laps or joints, and to be perfectly smooth or flush, both externally and
internally. The top of the cupola will have frames or beams formed with
plate iron, and will have angle iron rivetted on each side of the plates to
receive the external and internal plates. Between the vertical frames or ribs
and the internal surface of the external side and the external surface of the
internal side of the plating iron tubes will be inserted for the purpose of receiving
the screw bolts for the attachment of the armour plate, and the composition
may be applied to fill up the spaces or chambers between the vertical frames
and the plating. The top of the cupola may be flat, and made with spaces of
a V-shape, in which corresponding bars will be laid, capable of being elevated
by means of screw gearing, in order to permit of ventilation; the screw
gearing should take its purchase from a bearing formed of a flat or other

page_text: spring or springs sufficiently strong to sustain the weight of the bars, but yet
of a sufficiently yielding nature to permit of the bars being depressed without
injury by the blow of a projectile, and returning to their open position. All the
exposed parts of the cupola may have armour plates applied thereto. The
cupolas may also be constructed without the vertical frames or ribs, which
may be arranged in a circular form horizontally, in which case vertical frames
or ribs will be applied on the internal surface of the internal side or plating of
the cupola, in order to strengthen the construction. And the composition may
be applied to fill up the spaces between the circular frames, or teak, oak, or
other wood, or ebonite may be applied. The circular plates will have angle
iron rivetted on the top surfaces, or the cupola may be constructed with vertical
plates with two angle irons rivetted on one side and one on the other to form
the ribs. The two angle irons will receive the internal plating rivetted thereto,
and the single angle iron will serve to strenghthen the construction. These ribs
may be about 18 inches apart, and the external and internal plating of the cupola
will be laid together doubly, so as to form their own laps or joints, and will
be perfectly smooth internally and externally. The vertical plates may have
one or two angle irons rivetted thereto, as may be required, to receive the
external plates forming the external sides of the cupola. The plate iron to
form the vertical ribs may be about 12 inches in width and about of an
inch in thickness, and the distance between the external and internal plating
may be about 15 inches, and the frames will be rivetted about 15 or 18 inches
apart. The wood or ebonite to fill up the spaces may be in two or three
sections or widths laid together, and being 15 inches in depth, and the frames
being only twelve inches in width, 3 inches of wood will stand out beyond the
frames and butt against the external surface of the internal plating. The
external plating forming the external sides and the vertical plates, and the
wood between the plates, will all be bolted together with screw bolts, washers,
and nuts to the internal sides, with the vertical frames rivetted to the internal
Isides of the cupola. And the screw bolts for the armour plates will pass
through from the external and internal sides to receive the washers and nuts.
Two man-holes should be placed on the top of the cupola, if required; when
shut they would be flush with the surface, and to open them screw gear or
levers could be applied, or they could be lowered below the surface of the
cupola sufficiently to allow of the passage of a gunner. Or the cupola can
be constructed without the vertical plates being used, and in lieu of the
vertical frames or ribs on the internal sides of the cupola, circular frames or
ribs may be applied on the internal side of the cupola. The cupola can be
constructed with circular frames or ribs externally, and vertical frames or ribs

page_text: in the internal sides of the cupola; the circular frames or ribs can be applied
as desired from the top of the cupola downwards, and the vertical frames or
ribs can be applied as required. Or the cupola may be constructed without
the vertical plates being applied between the wood, teak, or oak, or other
wood or ebonite, and without circular plates being applied between them.
The wood or ebonite may be applied vertically, or in a circular form against
the external surface of the internal side of the cupola, and secured with screw
bolts and nuts, or with screws. If the cupola is intended to receive wood or
ebonite as an internal packing, vertical plates or ribs will be adopted with
angle irons rivetted thereto. The plates forming the frames or ribs will have
two angle irons rivetted on one side and one angle rivetted on the other side.
The two angle irons are to receive the plating of the internal side of the
cupola, which will be rivetted thereto, and the single angle iron will serve to
strengthen the frames or ribs as may be required. The vertical frames or ribs
will be rivetted to the internal side of the plates forming the internal sides of
the cupola, and will be arranged about 18 inches apart. The plates to form
the sides or plating of the cupola will be put together doubly, so as to form
their own laps or joints, and will thus be perfectly smooth or flush on both
the internal and external sides. The top of the cupola will have frames or
beams formed of plate iron, and angle irons rivetted thereto on each side to
receive the external plating. The vertical frames or ribs will have one or two
angle irons rivetted thereto, one on each side; one or both the angle irons
will be rivetted to the plating forming the sides of the cupola. The vertical
plates will be rivetted on the external sides of the plates forming the plating
of the cupola. The plate part forming the vertical plates may be about 12
inches in width, and about three-quarters of an inch in thickness, and may be
rivetted about 18 inches apart. The wood or ebonite may be applied between
the vertical plates and against the plating of the cupola in two or more parts
or widths, and the thickness will be about 15 inches. . Therefore the vertical
plates being about 12 inches in width, there will be about three inches of
wood standing beyond the vertical plates; such wood will receive the armour
or shield plates screwed against them, and will form a bearing surface for the
armour or shield plates, and act as a cushion. The wood will be secured with
screw bolts, washers, and nuts, or with screws to the plating of the cupola,
and the screw bolts to secure the armour plates will pass through the wood
and the plating of the cupola. The layers of wood, whether circular or
vertical, are to be arranged to form lap joints, so that one joint will not be
opposite or in line with another.
The cupola can also be constructed without the external plating, and

page_text: without the vertical plates, frames, or ribs between the external and
internal plating, or without the circular frames, and without the com-
position or concrete, or without the vertical or circular plates, with angle
In each of
iron rivetted thereto, or the wood, or the external plating.
these cases the vertical frames or ribs with the internal side of the cupola
would remain to receive the armour plating, bolted or rivetted to the internal
skin or side. The cupola may be constructed without the vertical frames or
ribs, and the angle irons rivetted thereto, and also to the external surfaces of
the plates forming the internal sides of the cupola, and without the wood
between the vertical plates, or without the circular frames or ribs with angle '
iron rivetted thereto, and to the external surfaces of the plating forming the
When an external
internal sides of the cupola, or the wood between them.
side is to be applied in the cupola, the vertical frames or ribs, or the circular
frames or ribs are to be rivetted to the internal surfaces of such external sides,
but when no external sides are used, the frames or ribs, whether vertical or
circular, are to be rivetted to the external surfaces of the internal sides of the
cupola, and in each case the frames may not be of the full internal space or
width of 15 inches, or thereabouts, but may be about 12 inches in width.
Now in the former instance the armour plates are to be bolted through the
external side of the cupola through the wood packing to the internal side.
In the latter case the armour plates are to be bolted through the wood
packing to the internal sides of the cupola, the bolts running midway between
the vertical or circular frames. But in some cases the frames may be of the
full internal width or space of 15 inches, having single or double angles irons
rivetted at each edge thereof for the attachment of the internal and external
sides, and the composition may be applied between the spaces of the frames
or ribs, holes being made in the frames for the running and packing of the
composition. The cupola may also be constructed with vertical frames or
ribs on the internal surface of the plates forming the internal side of the
cupola, and the armour plates may be bolted to the said plates with the
packing underneath, or any substance or form of iron can be applied as
required between the plates forming the internal sides of the cupola and the
packing and armour plates, in order to strengthen or increase the thickness of
the structure; or the cupolas may have vertical frames on the external
surfaces of the plates forming the internal side of the cupola with wood
between them, and the internal surface of the cupola may be furnished with
circular frames or ribs, or the cupola may have on its internal side one portion
of the frames circular as far down as desired, and the other portion may
receive vertical frames; or the cupolas can be constructed according to the

page_text: principles specified herein in the two last sections or descriptions of the con-
structions of the hulls of vessels. The cupolas are to have port-hole doors or
flaps as required, and are aplicable not only to vessels, but to batteries on
land.
Having described the construction of the upper or main portion of the
cupola it remains to explain the method of raising or lifting and lowering the
same and of rotating or revolving it. The cupola will rise and fall in
the interior of the vessel, guided and controlled by aid of eight stancheons
supporting the decks, and which will enclose or surround the cupola. Below
the floor in which the guns ar placed the cupola will be decreased in diameter,
and two appertures will be made for ingress and egress; the cupola will rest on
a series of conical rollers running on a circular plate or ring deeply flanged at
both edges, not only to secure the rollers in position, but the outer flange to
receive brackets rivetted or bolted thereto holding grooved running wheels
bearing on the stancheons; the circular ring is supported by beams or plates
with angle iron rivetted thereon, the beams forming radii and being rivetted
to a central ring and being inclosed by an iron periphery; underneath the
central ring the plunger or ram of an hydraulic press or pump is fixed
the cylinder of which is firmly secured to the lower deck. At the foot of each
of the stancheons a small force pump is to be adjusted having injection pipes
entering the cylinder of the ram. These pumps are to be worked by hand,
by levers, and should have two plungers or pistons, one of a large and the other
of a smaller area, in order that an excessive pressure may be obtained by
cutting off the supply to the larger piston and working the small one only.
It is by forcing water into the hydraulic ram and raising its plunger that the
entire structure of the cupola is raised ready for action, and by releasing the
pressure and allowing the water to flow off that the cupola is lowered so that
its surface is flush with the deck of the vessel. In order to cause the cupola
to revolve there is to be in the interior of the cupola one or more sets of
pinion and shaft gearing to be worked by a winch handle or handles, and a
vertical shaft or shafts are to pass therefrom through the bottom of the cupola,
where it will be furnished with a horizontal tooth pinion or pinions entering
teeth cut on the internal circumference of a ring fixed to the table on which
the rollers work and within their circle. In practice it would be found that
three pinions worked by winch handles would be the most efficient number.
Therefore by turning the winch handles in the proper direction the cupola will
be rotated on the rollers and turned in any position for the discharge of its
ordnance. India-rubber or other packing may be applied between or around
the cupola and the deck in order to prevent the entrance of water. And the

page_text: sides or edges of the deck are to be provided with spherical rollers set in
sockets in order to form lateral bearing surfaces for the rotation of the cupola.
The friction or bearing rollers or universal ball joints may be set in sliding
bearings to be actuated by a rack or screw motion whereby such bearings
could be drawn from or placed near the periphery of the cupola in order to
regulate their degree of friction. I do not limit myself to the application of
hydraulic power, as I may apply any known mechanical power. The cupola
may also be lifted, raised, and lowered by the application of nuts to the
stanchions, in which case the stanchions must have external screw threads
cut thereon, the beams of the table of the cupola under the guide rollers
would rest on the surfaces of the nuts by means of a plate and friction rollers,
whereby, on turning the nuts by lever or other purchase, the cupola would
be lifted, elevated, or lowered.
Another plan would be to place and fix a tube with a flanged top around
the lower part of each stanchion; between these tubes and stanchions a second
series of tubes are to be placed having external threads cut thereon and a
projection or stop on the internal side, such projection entering a slot cut in
the side of each stanchion. A nut is placed on the top of each short flanged
tube and surrounding the stanchion and interior tube, therefore by turning
this nut resting on friction rollers, the interior tube will rise and fall, and its
upper part being provided with a flanged head the beams of the table will
be elevated or lowered as desired. The appliances may be adopted to secure
the cupola in position after it has been raised by the hydraulic press or other
power, and may also be used in the examples of oscillating cupolas, or land
and sea batteries. Where it is desirable to maintain the level position of
the cupola in rough weather I propose to support the cupola in a ring by
means of two trunnions. This ring may be made of plates and angle irons,
or it may be of solid iron in segments shut or welded together. The ring is
to have two exterior trunnions midway between the trunnions of the cupola,
so that the cupola may oscillate in two directions relatively to the ring, and
that the ring may oscillate in the two opposite directions or at right angles.
The trunnions supporting the ring take into bearings in a larger ring on the
same plane which is supported by rollers on a fixed ring formed of angle iron
having an internal flange to keep the rollers in position bolted to the beams,
5 whereby the ring supporting the cupola may be turned to any required
position for discharging the guns, or the bearings for the trunnions may be
rollers running round the fixed flanged ring. The trunnions supporting the
cupola in the ring are made to screw into the lower part of the chamber of

page_text: the cupola, and they may be withdrawn from their bearings in the ring when
it is desired to work the cupola upon the principle previously described. The
trunnions may pass into the interior of the cupola through plummer blocks,
and may be worked by means of a nut and ratchet teeth cut thereon, and a
pall lever. These trunnions should be enlarged by a shoulder or collar at
their extremities, and the bearings should be formed accordingly in order that
these trunnions should not be capable of being drawn out of the bearings
until the cupola shall have been slightly raised by the hydraulic ram, or other
means, whereby its support in the event of the trunnions being withdrawn
shall be ensured. In order to gear the cupola into the ring it will only be
necessary to raise it sufficiently by the hydraulic press or other mechanical
power until the level of the trunnions is above the level of their bearings.
The trunnions are then to be turned or screwed out, and the cupola turned to
such position that when slightly lowered by the press or other power the
trunnions shall become set in the bearings on the external fixed ring, or
the trunnions of the cupola may be fixtures and may be released and let below
the ring by means of slots cut or formed in the ring, when by rotating the
cupola till the trunnions come over the slots it can be lowered. The
lowermost part of the cupola would in very rough weather be liable to strike
against the stanchions and cause shock or damage. Now in order to obviate
this I propose to apply springs, either in the form of buffers to the periphery of
the cupola, so that they should be forced against a ring around the stanchions
or other convenient fixture; or I apply ropes or chains to a ring surrounding
the cupola, which ropes or chains should be attached to closed spiral springs
or flat springs, the rope being sufficiently slack to act on the springs only in
the event of excess of oscillation; or I apply and fix a diaphragm or air
chamber of vulcanized india-rubber to the surface plate or table, and force air
therein by means of a pump to raise the same to the bottom of the cupola,
which when oscillating in any direction would press upon the india-rubber
and be thereby prevented from creating any jar or shock by a too sudden
movement.
Many other contrivances of the same nature may be applied, the object
being the same. When the table is required to be raised to the cupola
the air must be allowed to escape by a tap from the india-rubber vessel
which will then be within the space between the vertical cogged wheel
previously described and thus be completely out of the way, allowing the
cupola to be worked. Other methods may be adopted to gear the cupola and
release and lower the same from the ring than those described, the principle

page_text: of the Invention being the same. Should it be desired to rotate the oscil-
lating cupola the table must be raised so as to bring the gearing in contact,
after which the table may again be lowered.
To prevent the ingress of missiles or water between the oscillating cupola
and the deck I propose to apply a series of coils of metal roping or chain
attached together so as to form a circular hood, the exterior and interior sides
of which are to be covered with thick waterproof canvass or other fabric, the
upper part or ring of the hood is to be fastened around the cupola and the
lower part to the deck of the vessel in a water-tight manner whereby the hood
will yield to the oscillating motion of the cupola and yet prevent the ingress
of missiles or water.
I propose to adapt cupolas for sea and land defences by constructing a vessel
or battery according to my methods described in this Specification, the form
of which should be circular or oval, with sides tapering inwardly upwards,
forming conical sides, or of any other desired form. This vessel is to be
conveyed with. its cupola or cupolas to any desired spot at a distance from
land, and sunk in a shallow sea or channel by means of loading it with large
masses of stone or other heavy ballasting, whereby it will be firmly set and
bedded on its foundation; the cupola or cupolas will be arranged therein in
accordance with the methods already described. If one cupola only is intended
to be applied, the form of the vessel will be circular, but if two or more
cupolas are to be applied, the form of the vessel must be more or less an elon-
gated oval or other form which may be desired. The increased size of the
vessel beyond that of the cupola or cupolas will be adaptable for occupation
by the gunners and other officers. The cupolas will have flat or dome roofs,
and air pumps may be applied, if necessary, to ventilate the vessel by forcing
air therein. The height of the vessel or battery will be sufficient to stand
above the level of high water. For land purposes the battery would be sunk
in a foundation, and stand to any desired height. The cupola or cupolas, of
whatever form, would be worked, lifted, raised, lowered, and rotated therefrom
by any of the methods already described as applicable to vessels. The roof
of the battery will slant down from the cupola to the sides of the battery in
order to throw off projectiles. For land, sea, or floating constructions for
attack and defence, I construct lifting, rising, and falling batteries, either
stationary or on ships or gun boats, by elevating and lowering from the hold
in vessels the decks containing the rows of guns. The decks are to be made
independent of any fixtures to the hulls, and to have separate sides and ends,
and are to be supported by a suitable number of hydraulic rams, as already
described, with their elevating and depressing gearing. The hulls of the

page_text: vessels are to be made according to the methods already specified, so that the
gun decks will be protected while lowered; they can be raised and the guns
discharged with great rapidity; the upper deck is furnished with a layer of
armour plate to protect it from the enemy's missiles. The lifting, rising, and
falling deck must form a water-tight joint against the internal surface of the
hulls. Separate sections of the deck may be raised and lowered by these
means, so as to leave spaces for the situation of the masts, beams, and bulk-
heads, or divisions containing the engines and boilers. When more than one
ram is employed, their inlet pipes should be connected. So also on land a
wall of iron and composition constructed according to my method may serve
as a shield or protection to a platform or stage containing a row of guns.
Such platform may be elevated and lowered as before by hydraulic rams, in
order to discharge the guns at an enemy's vessel. The top or roof of the
stage would be protected by armour plate. Sufficient protection will be
afforded to the gunners in most instances by the platform being made with a
solid armour-plated front, the ends and sides being open, but where necessary
the platform may be enclosed on all sides by walls or sides constructed-entirely
according to the methods herein specified as applicable to vessels and cupolas.
According to this part of the Invention, batteries may be rapidly constructed
and placed in channels at a distance from land in order to intercept the passage
of a hostile fleet. On land, defences may be constructed of walls of iron and
composition, or wood, made according to the construction of vessels, batteries,
and cupolas already described, concrete being added to the composition. To
form the turretted portion of the battery surrounding the cupola, I elevate
such surface in like manner to that described for cupolas on ships or vessels.
The approaches to the land batteries are to be rendered firm, level, and
durable by the application of my new frames filled up with concrete or com-
position; the frames should be made in 2 or 3 compartments, and may be
filled previous to or after being laid down. Each frame will have one or more
projections of the width of a division in order to keep the next frame at the
requisite distance apart. The frames may be formed so as to halve together,
one into the other at their ends, so as to maintain their general level or sweep,
which butt joints would not effect. The spaces may also be filled with Stafford-
shire or other hard burnt clay bricks containing silicia, with their upper edges
bevelled off, and the composition or other suitable binding cement is then to
be run between them so as to hold them firmly in position. Projections are
to be formed on the ends or sides of the bricks of about their length, in
order to enable them to bind together and support each other. The bricks
will be made of such sizes as, when arranged in position, to allow of the com-

page_text: position being poured in between their spaces, or the iron frames may be
dispensed with, and the bricks may have two projections formed on each of
two opposite sides, in order to bind or clutch together, the composition being
afterwards filled in between the spaces. By these means ordnance and other
heavy bodies may be transported from place to place, with regard to the
batteries, and rails may be laid on the paving if required to form a tramway.
The same construction is also applicable to ordinary roads and other purposes.
I construct bolts applicable to my Invention for securing armour plates, and
also for other useful purposes, as follows:-I form the head of the bolt of a
conical or taper form with regard to the cylindrical portion, and I commence
the taper at such distance from the extremity of the head as to allow of the
taper extending inwardly to the cylindrical portion for a short distance beyond
the back of the armour plate, in order that the longitudinal strain shall not
commence at the point where the taper runs into the cylinder. The screw or
threaded end of the bolt is formed by increasing such end in thickness by a
swell of such dimensions as shall permit of the thread being cut thereon of
any desired depth, and yet that the bottom of the threads shall not be less in
their diameter than the true or cylindrical diameter of the bolt.
Another method is to commence the taper at a point much nearer the
head of the bolt, and when the taper has reached its largest diameter I
continue such limit in a cylindrical form to the extreme head of the bolt.
Thus the face or head of the bolt would be for a short distance inwardly
cylindrical, it would then take a decreasing taper to the main cylindrical
portion, and increase again at the screwed end, as before described; or in
some cases I dispense with this last portion or cylindrical head, leaving the
taper head.
Another method is to commence the taper at any desired part of the cylinder,
continuing it some distance, and then forming a short portion cylindrical, and
again commencing the taper to the final cylindrical head, as last described; or
the bolt may be formed with a taper head, and a perfectly cylindrical continu-
ation to the screw thread, the depth of which is to be cut only down to the
extent of the periphery of the cylindrical portion, whereby the initial of fracture
will be removed from the last thread of the screw, and the strain will be borne
by the entire length of the bolt. I apply these bolts to the purpose of
attaching my armour plates to the sides of vessels or batteries as follows:-I
cut a toad hole in the armour plate equal in area to that of the head of the
bolt, and in depth to the length of its taper; below this recess or hole
another recess is cut of the size of the bolt head, which is first to be inserted

page_text: into the toad hole, and then dropped into the lower recess, after which a toad
piece is to be fitted into the toad hole, and secured by two screws. entering
threads cut one half in the sides of the toad piece, and the other half circle of
threads cut in the sides of the armour plate. The screws will thus work in
these threads, and secure the toad piece in the armour plate.
To adapt screw bolts made on my principle to woodwork, I form a nick or
notch in the head, as in ordinary screws, or a square or angular head to be
turned by a spanner or wrench, the hole should be bored to a few inches in
depth to receive the enlarged cylindrical or taper part of the bolt, after which
the bore is to continue of the diameter of the reduced cylindrical portion, the
screw is then inserted and turned for the thread to cut its way, and the
cylindrical part of the bolt will then follow without resistance the enlarged
taper under the head ultimately fitting the external or enlarged bore, and
steadying or lightening the screw and causing no back wood.
I make washers for my constructions and for other useful purposes in the
following manner:-I form a disc of iron or other convenient metal with a
flange on one side around the entire periphery. This flange is to be of any
depth according to the substance of washer required. The central portion of
the disc or plate is perforated with a circular opening of sufficient diameter to
admit of the passage of the screwed or threaded end of a screw bolt. On the
internal surface of the washer within the flange I place a corresponding disc or
sheet of india-rubber, vulcanized or simple, or of gutta percha, lead, or other yield-
ing or elastic material, such as a compound of canvas and india-rubber, leather,
or gutta percha, with the requisite central perforation. Upon this yielding.or
elastic body I place an iron or other metallic disc perforated..centrally and
fitting the internal flange, and the washer may if required be applied between
the nut and the plating or internal side of a vessel in order to deaden any
shock or longitudinal strain. The internal disc should form the bearing.
surface against the side of the vessel. I also propose to apply two or more
series or layers of elastic or yielding materials with metallic discs between each,
in order to gain increased thickness or substance of washer, the flange being
made of such depth as to contain and hold the various layers in position and
prevent the lateral extension of the elastic substance. The back or external
face of the washer may also be flanged to receive elasting packing, so as to form
a waterproof bearing, and the metallic disc or ring bearing the pressure of the
nut should be raised or thicker towards the centre for the sake of strength.
I propose to construct ladders, applicable to vessels or otherwise, of galvanized
iron wire in strands twisted or plated to form a wire rope. I arrange the rope:

page_text: n two or three lengths side by side; when three are used the middle. rope
hould be of less dimensions than the two outer ropes. The rungs are to
e made of rod iron with a tube around each. I apply washers to each
extremity of the tubes, to act as collars or bearings against the sides of the
wire ropes. The iron rod forming the interior of the rung passes com-
letely through each of the wire ropes by means of an orifice forced
therein between the strands, and the two ends of the rod iron are fur-
nished with a burr or enlargement to prevent its detachment from the wire
rope. The rods and tubes may be of sufficient diameter to afford a good
footing, and the rods may be reduced in diameter at each end passing through
the wire ropes or cheeks. Where I use only two ropes one tube is suffi-
cient, extending the width of each rung on the rod iron and having a washer
at each end thereof. The washers serve also to prevent the wire rope sliding
inwardly upon the rod. I also make the ladders with cheeks or bars con-
nected together by hinged or pin joints, the rods forming the rings may be
applied with or without tubes, and two or three layers of cheeks or bars may
be used, as described; if three layers, two tubes will be required. To attach
the ladder I employ a compound hook, that is to say, two hooks working on
one joint, their points being reversed so as to fold over in different directions,
whereby they will grip or hold any projection or bar to which it may be con-
venient to attach them. Ladders made by these methods may be either rolled
around a drum or folded up in lengths by the hinges, and are thus rendered
easily portable and convenient for stowage. They will also be ready for
immediate application, and will resist the action of fire and form a certain
means of ingress to a vessel or of escape to boats in case of wreck or fire.
Chains may be applied in lieu of the wire rope or bars, the principle being
the same.
The burrs and washers should have one surface grooved or
rope and
hollowed so as to fit against the enlarged circumference of the wire
partly bind or secure the same. Or the wire rope may be opened or
divided at the requisite distances to admit of the insertion of a grooved
or double flanged eye, through which the rods may pass, and take their
bearing.
For ocean steamers and all vessels conveying passengers many portions of the
foregoing constructions are alike applicable, although they have been described
with special reference to vessels of war. Lead packing may be applied between
the armour plates and hulls, or any other parts of the construction were
desirable, especially in the construction of land batteries, in order to effect a tight
and compact fitting or bedding of the plates when screwed up, if the armour

page_text: plates are rivetted this packing will not be required. The lead for the packing
will be made from pig lead, and run on a level or table surface of iron with a
frame around it working on centres, or bearings, or plummer blocks, and the
level will be obtained by means of screws and the aid of a spirit level. A plate
of iron is to be adjusted to fall in a rebate to the required depth to form the
thickness of plate, and the molten lead will be poured in through apertures
formed in the top of the rim. The rim may be arranged to rise and fall so
as to enable various thicknesses of plate to be cast, after which the plate will
be raised and the cast lead removed. The packing is chiefly adaptable for
stationary constructions, such as sea and land batteries, and other purposes.
My mode of casting lead above described is applicable to other useful
purposes. I coat armour or other iron plates for ships and vessels of every
sort, or batteries, with copper or with a mixture of about 50 per cent. of
copper, 40 per cent. of tin, and 10 per cent. of zinc, or with Muntz's metal,
or other admixture of metallic coating. I heat the metals and cause them to
run into a fluid or molten state by aid of borax or other suitable flux. I then
heat my plates, which must be prepared with a clean surface to a temperature
of about 200 degrees, and dip them iuto sal-ammoniac, hydrochloric acid
diluted, or other biting acid, or treat them by any of the known methods of
cleaning plates to be coated with molten metals by the process of dipping,
and after a few moments I plunge or dip the plates into the molten metal or
alloy; when in due time I withdraw the plates they will be found to have a
coating of the alloy, which will firmly adhere and form one massive plate or
sheet, preserving the interior iron from decay, or from the action of salt water
or other corrosive influences; after they are thus coated the surface may be
wiped in order to obtain a smooth serface. By this method plates may be
coated with a a preservative metal or alloy in a speedy and durable manner,
and the iron plates for the internal plating of the vessel may receive a slight
coating of preservative metal if desirable.
I apply copper metallic composition or alloy to form the external sides of
the iron plates, as hereafter described, intended to form the bottoms of vessels
to prevent their corrosion or decay. Instead of applying the iron plating
doubly, as in other cases, I apply a single layer of plating with copper or
metallic composition plating rivetted thereto in the ordinary manner. The
metallic composition plating may be an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc, in any
desired proportion, or Muntz's metal; these plates will be about one half
the thickness of the iron plating forming the external side; therefore if the
iron is three-fourths of an inch thick, the copper, or composition, or alloy will

page_text: be of an inch thick, and the compound plates will be laid together so as to
form their own joints, either butt or rebated, and will thus form a smooth
surface. The total thickness of this compound plate must be equal to the
thickness of the double layers of iron plating above the water line. In lieu
of the iron plating to which the copper or composition plating is to be applied,
being of double. the thickness of such copper or composition, it may be
made in two thicknesses of plating, each equal to that of the copper or con-
position plating. This latter plating when fitted for application to the iron,
may be cleaned
acids or other means, and then coated internally with tin,
or lead and tin combined, by the molten process, after which this plate is to
be-applied. to the iron plating of the vessel, which is first to be coated with
the composition before mentioned for preserving the iron from corrosion or
electrical action, which would otherwise take place if the copper were brought
into absolute contract with the iron plating and moisture intervened. By the
application of this copper or composition plating to the iron, plating of the
vessels or batteries, an efficient resistance to the action of salt water will
be obtained, thus preserving the internal iron from all destructive influence,
and the rivets being also made of a similar metal or composition, no electric
action or decomposition can take place by their contact with the plates, and
the corrosion of the bottom of vessel is materially prevented, besides affording
an increase of durability and strength to the bottom of the vessel, affording
perfect smoothness of surface. In order to coat these thick plates with tin, or tin
and lead, they are first to be cleaned by acids or other known methods, when
they are to be laid on a perforated iron slab with a fire underneath, or they
may be heated in a kiln or oven, or by any suitable means; the molten tin,
or tin and lead combined, is then to be poured on the surface of plate, and
allowed to flow thereon, the surface is then to be wiped smooth and clean,
and the plate allowed to cool. The thin, sheathing plates of copper or
composition may be similarly treated, after which they may be applied, by aid
of any adhesive and protective solutions or by metal fastenings, to vessels of
iron or wood. The plates may be fitted previously to or after being treated
with the coating of tin, or tin and lead. The copper or composition plates
will be rivetted to the iron plates with copper or composition rivets arranged
so that, the head of the rivet is inside, and the large conical extremity
fitting in a countersunk hole in the copper or compeДnd plating. I apply
to or between iron plates and to the copper or compound plates forming
the hull of the vessel, a liquid composition to prevent corrosion or electrica!
action. The composition will be composed of plumbago in about 20 parts,
D

page_text: white or red oxide of lead, or litharge, or patent dryers, about 1 part, and
turpentine about 3 parts, by weight, with sufficient varnish to promote adhesion
of the other materials. This composition may also be applied to any parts of
ironwork to be protected. A small quantity of marine glue may be added
if required. In lieu of varnish and turpentine, I propose in some cases to
substitute coal or wood naptha. In some cases I make a composition of
plumbago, varnish, and turpentine in the above proportions, and apply it to
various parts of ironwork for different purposes.
To preserve the bottoms of iron vessels or batteries from decay by the
action of sea water, I coat them with an adhesive solution or varnish, such as
marine glue mixed with plumbago, red and white oxide of lead, and litharge,
or patent dryers, and turpentine, or coal or wood naptha, and while such
coating is still moist I apply to its surface pulverized glass, pulverized copper,
or the native mineral pulverized, or mineral lead in a finely powdered state;
the powder is to be applied by a blower so as to scatter the particles completely
upon the adhesive surface, after which rollers are to be applied to press the
powder into the adhesive mass for the purpose of making the surface hard
and smooth.
The vessel or battery could at any time be re-coated on the same principle,
although in the foregoing Specification many arrangements or processes are
specially described as applicable to iron vessels, and vessels of war, many of
them are also applicable to wooden vessels, and to vessels used for commercial
purposes.
I claim the methods of constructing the hulls and other parts of ships,
vessels, and batteries, with special reference to the iron plating, frames, ribs,
or stringers, beams, bulkheads, decks, bulwarks, and hatchways; also the
masts, bowsprits, and booms, tunnels and steam pipes, cylindrical and tubular
forms and look-outs; the application of oak, teak, ebonite, and composition
between the skins of vessels, cupolas, and batteries, or concrete for stationary
batteries ; the construction of port holes, bolts, and screws, washers and
ladders; the construction of the cupolas, whether stationary, rising and falling,
rotating, or oscillating; the manufacture and annealing of armour plates, the
frames and composition for the approaches to batteries, and their applications,
as described; the manufacture and application of the lead packing; of the
compositions for preventing corrosion and electrical action, the copper or
composition, or alloy, and other applications of plating on iron plates; the
application of tin to copper or composition plates; the compositions with
pulverized glass and other substances, and their applications; the constructions

page_text: of land, sea, and floating batteries, together with the general improvements
appertaining to the purposes of the Invention, all substantially as herein
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Barnabas Russ, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
ALEX PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
BARNABAS RUSS. (L.S.)