IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS OF WAR
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, of Oldsum, Isle of Fohr,
Denmark, Navigator, at present residing at No. 4, Noel Street, Islington,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VESSELS OF WAR."
Sealed the 19th April 1864, and dated the 23rd October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd October 1863.
I, JÜRGEN LORENZ JÜRGENS, of Oldsum, Isle of Föhr, Denmark, Navigator,
at present residing at No. 4, Noel Street, Islington, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VESSELS OF WAR," to be as follows, with reference to the accompanying
Drawings:-
The primary object of this Invention is to so construct a vessel that she
may be penetrated by shot without injury to her vital parts, armament,
machinery, or crew. This object will be accomplished by forming that part
of the ship above the water line and below the upper deck with a series of
oblique-sided chambers G passing transversely through the ship, wide at
the centre and converging toward each side; the space K between said
chambers will be thus funnel-shaped, converging from each side towards the

page_text: centre. The sides of the chambers are covered with metallic armor of
moderate thickness laid upon wooden sheeting with a body of india-rubber or
other elastic material placed between. The tops of the chambers are also
inetal plated, and incline downward at their ends toward the side of the ship.
In the lower part of the space K between the chambers G are masses of
cork L or other light material extending up to the water line, so that in the
event of the space being pierced by shot no more water can enter than will
fill the space traversed by the shot. The masts N are constructed in tubular
form with a central tube of iron, and a body of rubber or analogous material
interposed between the said tube and the outer shell of the mast. The step
on which the central tube rests constitutes a swivel o, on which the tube may
turn freely, so that any shot striking the tube on either side of its exact centre
will turn it within its elastic.case, and thus glance off; to increase the elasticity
of the surrounding material and the freedom with which the tube will turn,
a small space is left between the tube and its casing. Above the upper deck
are bulwarks, strongly iron-plated, projecting upward to a sufficient height,
and inclined inward from the perpendicular at a sufficient angle to protect
men and boats upon deck from the enemy's shot. On the bulwark Qare
light iron bars R' running for and aft, and furnished with projecting pikes R
to keep off boarders. The said spikes may be raised or lowered simul-
taneously by means of transverse connecting rods.
"
To protect the ship from the assault of rams or other vessels pivoted, guard
wings S are employed projecting from the sides of the ship beneath the water
line. When not in use the said guards lie in parallel position against the side
of the ship, but they may be thrown outward at any suitable angle to sheer
off an attack. The space between the inner and outer skins of the ship is
divided into water-tight compartments T, from each of which a pipe W rises
to the upper deck. In the event of fire occurring in the lower part of the
hull its locality will be indicated by smoke rising through one of the pipes W,
and it may be extinguished by forcing water down the same pipe.
What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
1st, constructing a ship with funnel-shaped spaces K passing transversely
through her vital parts for the purpose specified.
2nd, the transverse chambers G provided with oblique metallic armor for
protection of men, guns, and machinery, substantially set forth.
3rd, the use of buoyant materials in converging spaces K between mail clad
chambers for the purpose specified.
4th, the combination with the hollow masts N of the central revolving
tubes n and swivel plates o, constructed as specified.

page_text: 5th, the spikes R projecting from the bulwarks Q and mounted upon
bars R', by which they may be elevated or depressed, as described.
6th, the side arms or wings S, constructed as described, to fend off and
grapple enemies.
7th, the water-tight compartments T between the inner and outer shell,
each provided with one or more ascending tubes to permit the extinction of
fire, substantially as described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JÜRGEN
LORENZ JÜRGENS, of Oldsum, Isle of Fohr, Denmark, Navigator, at present
residing at No. 4, Noel Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
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 Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, Her special licence that I, the said
Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, 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 VESSELS OF WAR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, my executors or administra-
tors, 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 performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
(making part of this Specification) in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of

page_text: the vessel, partly in section; Figure 2 is a plan of the same, partly in section;
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section; Figure 4 is a horizontal section at
x, x; Figure 5 is a horizontal section at y, y. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
The primary object of this Invention is to so construct a vessel that she
may be penetrated by shot without injury to her vital parts, machinery,
armament, or crew. This object is accomplished by forming that part of the
ship "above the water line to the upper deck, and below the water line to the
lower deck, with a series of oblique-sided chambers passing transversely through
the ship, wide at the centre and converging toward each side. The spaces
between the said chambers will thus be funnel-shaped, converging from each
side toward the centre. The sides of the chambers are covered with metallic
armour of moderate thickness, laid upon wooden sheathing, with a body of
india-rubber or other elastic material placed between. The tops of the
chambers are also metal plated, and incline downward at their ends toward
the sides of the ship. In the lower parts of the spaces between the aforesaid
chambers are masses of cork L, or other light material extending up to the
water line, so that in the event of the spaces being pierced by shot no more
water can enter than will fill the space traversed by the shot, and thus the
buoyancy of the vessel will be but slightly interfered with. The masts N are
constructed in tubular form, with a central tube of iron, and a body of india-
rubber, cork, or analogous material interposed between the said tube and the
outer shell of the mast. The step on which the central tube rests constitutes
a swivel O, on which the tube may turn freely, so that any shot striking the
tube on either side of the exact centre will turn it within its elastic case, and
thus glance off. To increase the elasticity of the surrounding material, and
the freedom with which the tube will turn, a small space is left between said
tube and its casing. Above the upper deck are bulwarks strongly iron-plated,
projecting upward to a sufficient height, and inclined inward from the per-
pendicular at a sufficient angle to protect men and boats upon decks from
injury from an enemy's shot. The smoke stacks are constructed of telescopic
tubes with perforated conical joints, and may be let down to a level with the
bulwarks to preserve them from injury while in action. On the outside of
the bulwark Q are light iron bars R running fore and aft, and furnished with
projecting pikes R to keep off boarders. The said pikes may be raised or
lowered simultaneously by means of transverse connecting rods worked by
hand or by machinery.
To protect the ship from the assaults of rams or other vessels, pivoted guard
wings S are employed, projecting from the sides beneath the water. When not

page_text: in use the said wings lay in parallel position against the sides of the ship, so
as not to retard her motion, but they may be thrown outward at any suitable
angle to sheer off the attack of a ram or other vessel, or to grapple and
impede her motion and manoeuvres. The spaces between the inner and outer
skins are divided into water-tight compartments T, from each of which a
pipe W rises to the upper deck. In the event of fire occurring in the lower
part of the hull, its locality will be indicated by smoke rising through one of
the aforesaid pipes, and may be extinguished by forcing water down the pipe.
In order that others skilled in the art to which my Invention appertains
may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe
it more particularly with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
A represents the main body of the hull, which may have any suitable
external form; the boilers and engines are located at the bottom of the hold,
entirely below the surface of the water. E is the propeller, and F the rudder;
G, G, G, are a series of oblique-sided shot-proof chambers extending vertically
from the lower deck H to the upper deck H, and transversely from side to
side of the ship. The walls of the said chambers converge from midships to
the sides in both directions, as shown in Figure 2, and from the vertical centre
both upward and downward, as shewn in Figure 1. The roofs of the afore-
said chambers incline at their outer ends down to the port holes at the sides of
the ship, and by these means it is rendered impossible for a missile to strike
any part of the walls of the chambers in a line perpendicular to the surface.
The mail-clad walls of these chambers are made secure and firm at their outer
ends to prevent collapsing, but their intermediate portions are disconnected,
as indicated by curved lines in Figure 3, (their edges overlapping) so as to
give them a yielding character, and thus adapt them to more effectually ward
off and deflect shot. II' is an intermediate deck extending continually from
stem to stern at the mid-height of the chambers G; H represent guns
mounted on the deck H within the chambers G, and pointing out through
port holes J, J, at the ends of the said chambers, two port holes being pro-
vided or used for each gun of the upper tier, one for horizontal and one for
plunging shot. The spaces K, K, between the chambers are filled up to the
water line with masses of cork, as shewn at L, L, in Figure 1, in order that
a shot penetrating the said spaces may cause the ingress of no more water
than will fill the cavity made by the missile, and the water so entering will
quench the fire of an incendiary shell. M, M, represent smoke stacks con-
sisting of telescopic tubes with perforated conical ends, and adapted to be
lowered to a level with the bulwarks when in action; said smoke stacks pass

page_text: °
up through one of the chambers G, so that they are protected from injury;
N, N, are hollow masts, which also pass up through the protecting cham-
bers G, G. The centres of the masts are formed of metal tubes n, supported
at the bottom on several plates 0 mounted on friction wheels or rollers,
permitting a free rotary motion to the said tubes. Within the outer shell of
the masts around the central tube n, but not in contact with the latter, is a
casing of india-rubber. The intention of this arrangement is to preserve the
masts from liability to fatal injury from shot. A missile penetrating the outer
casing, unless it strikes the precise centre of the inner sustaining tube, (which
will rarely occur) will cause a partial rotation of the said tube upon its axis,
by which the shot will be deflected and glanced off with comparatively little
mischief. The steering gear likewise passes through one of the chambers G.
The bulwarks Q extend to a sufficient height above the upper deck to protect
the crew and guns thereon, and are made of sufficient strength and inclined
at such an angle, as to prevent the penetration of shot. P, P, represent com-
panion ways, through which the crew ascend and descend to and from the
chambers G and the lower hold; R, R, represent spikes projecting from the
outside of the bulwarks and mounted on hinged rods, so, that they may be
raised and lowered simultaneously, or fixed at any angle to prevent.the ingress
of boarders; S, S, are wings or side-arms mounted upon pivoted shafts, and
worked by chains and gearing. or any other suitable means, so as to set the
said arms out at any necessary angle to sheer off a ram or other offensive
vessel, or to grapple or impede the manoeuvres of an enemy. To.
injury from hot shot lodging in the timber of the ship's sides, the space between
the inner and outer planking is formed into water-tight compartments T, each
communicating through a tube w with the upper deck. At the upper ends of
these tubes are screws w, and at the lower ends valves w, through which the
water may be let down to the pump well; during action the screw is opened,
so that the locality of fire may be indicated by smoke rising through one or
more of said tubes; V is the pilot house pierced with suitable look-out spaces
for the captain and helmsman, but contracted in area so as to prevent the
entrance of shot. It is the intention to fight this ship at close quarters,
delivering plunging shots into the enemy.
prevent
From the above description it will be seen that a projectile penetrating the
sides of the ship at any point will be received and conducted through the
funnel-shaped spaces K, K, so as to avoid any injury to the vital parts of
the ship, or to her crew, machinery, or guns; all these being either below the
water line. or within the protecting chambers, or else protected by the bul-

page_text: warks Q. I am aware that it has been proposed to use funnel-shaped
openings to conduct shot into and through hollow beams; this, therefore, I
do not claim.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new therein, and
desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,―
1st, constructing a ship with funnel-shaped spaces K, K, passing trans-
versely through her vital parts, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
2nd, the transverse chambers G, G, G, provided with oblique metallic
armour for the protection of men, guns, or machinery, substantially as set
forth.
3rd, the use of masses L, L, of cork or other buoyant material in con-
verging spaces between mail-clad chambers, substantially as and for the object
specified.
4th, the combination with the hollow masts N, N, of the central revolving
tube n and swivel plates O, constructed and arranged as specified, to preserve
the masts from destruction by the penetration of shot.
5th, the spikes R, R, projecting from the bulwarks Q, and mounted upon
rods or bars R, by which they may be elevated or depressed in the manner
described.
.
6th, the wings or side-arms S, S, constructed and operated as described, to
fend off or grapple an enemy.
7th, the water-tight compartments T between the inner and outer shell,
each provided with one or more ascending tubes to permit the extinction of
fire, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jürgen Lorenz Jürgens, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JURGEN LORENZ JURGENS. (L.S.)