IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hampton, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
Sealed the 12th July 1878, and dated the 19th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hampton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1878.
THOMAS HAMPTON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of steel armour plates,
and it consists in the combination of two distinct processes; the first consisting in
the method of building up or construction of the plate for the purpose of obtaining
a quality of steel possessing great toughness, the second process consisting in case-
hardening or recarbonizing the surface or a part of the surface of plates so
constructed.
In carrying out my Invention in the construction of the plates I employ steel,
which may be made by the processes known as Bessemer, Siemens, Siemens-Martin,
crucible, or other similar means, and the ingots so made may be either rolled direct
into suitable slabs, plates, or sheets, or they may be first hammered or squeezed, and
afterwards rolled. The slabs, plates, or sheets so reduced are piled in any desired
number and placed in a reverberatory or other heating furnace, and brought to a
proper heat for welding together, which may be effected in the usual manner by
rolling, bammering, squeezing, or their equivalents. If desired such plates may be
again piled, heated, and welded together till the requisite thickness or strength is
attained. The plate being brought to the desired dimensions is now submitted to
a process or processes of case-hardening or recarbonizing on either a portion or the

page_text: whole of the surface, as may be required for the purpose of imparting to it a degree
of hardness that shall tend to break up and destroy any projectile, striking it at
the moment of impact, as well as to increase its resisting power to penetration by
shot or other projectile.
In order to further increase the density of the steel the plates, after being
recarbonized, may be again submitted to the action of rolling, hammering, or
squeezing
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hampton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th July
.1878.
THOMAS HAMPTON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of steel armour
plates, and it consists in the combination of two distinct processes, the first con-
sisting in the method of building up or construction of the plate for the purpose of
obtaining a quality of steel possessing great toughness, the second process consisting
in case-hardening or recarbonizing the surface or a part of the surface of plates so
constructed.
In carrying out my said Invention in the construction of the plates I employ
steel, which may be made by the processes known as Bessemer, Siemens; Siemens-
Martin, crucible, or other similar means, and the ingots so made may be either
rolled direct into suitable slabs, plates, or sheets, or they may be first hammered or
squeezed, and afterwards rolled. The slabs, plates, or sheets so reduced are piled
in any desired number, and placed in a reverberatory or other heating furnace, and
brought to a proper heat for welding together, which may be effected in the usual
manner by rolling, hammering, squeezing, or other equivalents. If desirable such
plates may be again piled, heated, and welded together until the requisite thickness
or strength is attained. The plate being brought to the desired dimensions is now
submitted to a process or processes of case-hardening or recarbonizing on either a
portion or the whole of its surface, as may be required for the purpose of imparting
to it a degree of hardness which shall tend to break up and destroy any projectile,
striking it at the moment of impact as well as to increase its resisting power to
penetration by shot or other projectile.
In order to further increase the density of the steel the plates, after being
recarbonized, may be again submitted to the action of rolling, hammering, or
squeezing.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited

page_text: Letters Patent is, the manufacture of armour plates, substantially in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hampton, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS HAMPTON. (L.S.)