IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Fitzmaurice Palmer, of Old Derrig, Queen's County,
Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR
VESSELS OF WAR, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
SHIPS OR VESSELS."
Sealed the 23rd July 1867, and dated the 24th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Fitzmaurice Palmer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th January 1867.
I, FITZMAURICE PALMER, of Old Derrig, Queen's County, Ireland, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the mode of constructing ships and vessels of war
with sides of such angles that when hit above water line by shot, shell, or other
hard projectile its course will be diverted; this is attained by constructing
the sides of the vessel with such angles, that with moderate strength she will
resist or throw off any hard projectile which may hit her.

page_text: Another part of my Invention consists in constructing a keel (as shewn in
the Drawing and marked D) to enable the vessel to carry a heavy pressure of
sail or canvass for steadying the ship in a heavy sea, and to prevent her
reeling to and fro when a broadside has been fired from her batteries; this
keel from its peculiar construction has the properties of a vessel drawing
great depth of water or provided with great depth of keel, so that it will ride
or sail in moderately shallow water; this keel is also adapted for vessels in
the merchant service, or yachts where a heavy pressure of sail or canvass is
required, but vessels built with angle sides according to my Invention may be
provided with the bilge pieces, as now used, on each side of the bottom, or
with my flange keel or bilge piece placed along the centre of the bottom of
the vessel.
Vessels according to my Invention may be provided with powerful ploughs
or rams of steel, iron, or other suitable material upon either or both ends of
the ship, under which is placed the rudder, marked H, thoroughly submerged
and protected from damage.
Another part of my Invention consists in the arrangements for working
the guns or battery marked I. The broadside guns are worked upon a
turntable, by which they can be used for firing through the side of the
ship, or turned upon the turntable and run through an uncovered tunnel to
the bow or fore end of the ship, or to the stern or aft end of the ship to
the port holes.
Steam ships built according to my Invention can be propelled by either the
single or double screw propeller, or by side or paddle wheels.
My improvements are further shewn in the Drawings filed with this my 2
Provisional Specification.
Figure 1, broadside elevation of a ship of war.
A, A, represent the sides of the ship above water line upon the angle
principle; B, B, hull of ship; C, C, C, C, plough or ram, being an extension
of hull and keel; D, keel flange; H, rudder sunk in web of plough.
Figure 2, plan of deck. I, I, I, I, turntables with moveable guns; K, K, K,
stationary guns; P, P, P, P, uncovered tunnel or groove, through which the
moveable guns can be shifted from side of ship to bow or stern; G, is another
illustration of the keel; E, E, a sectional view of ship at midship; W, W,
shews supposed water line.
8
3

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Fitzmaurice Palmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FITZMAURICE
PALMER, of Old Derrig, Queen's County, Ireland, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Fitzmaurice Palmer, Her special licence that I, the said Fitzmaurice Palmer,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Fitzmaurice Palmer, 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 SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SHIPS OR VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Fitzmaurice Palmer, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Fitzmaurice Palmer, 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 :-
My Invention consists in the mode of constructing ships and vessels of war
with sides of such angles that when hit above water line by shot, shell, or
other hard projectile its course will be diverted. This is attained by con-
structing the sides of the vessel with such angles that with moderate strength
she will resist or throw off any hard projectile which may hit her.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing a keel with a flange
on either side (as shewn in the Drawing, and marked D,) to enable the vessel

page_text: to carry a heavy pressure of sail or canvass for steadying the ship in a heavy
sea, and to prevent her reeling to and fro after a broadside has been fired from
her batteries. This keel from its peculiar construction gives to the ship or
vessel to which it is applied the properties of a ship or vessel drawing great
depth of water, or provided with great depth of keel, and thus enables it to
ride or sail in moderately shallow water. This keel is also adapted to vessels
in the merchant service or yachts where a heavy pressure of sail or canvass
is required; but vessels built with angle sides according to my Invention may
be provided with the bilge pieces, as now used, on each side of the bottom, or
with my flanged keel or bilge piece placed along the centre of the bottom of
the vessel.
.
Vessels constructed according to my Invention may be provided with
powerful ploughs or rams of steel, iron, or other suitable material upon either
or both ends of the ship, under which is placed the rudder marked H,
thoroughly submerged and protected from damage.
Another part of my Invention consists in the arrangement for working
the guns or battery marked I. The broadside guns are worked upon
turntables, by which they can be used for firing through the side of the
ship, or turned upon the turntables, and run through an uncovered way to
the bow or fore end of the ship, or to the stern or aft end of the ship to
the port holes.
Steam ships built according to my Invention can be propelled by either the
single or double screw propeller, or by side or paddle wheels.
My improvements are further shown in the Drawings filed with this
my Specification, and which form part thereof.
Fig. 1 is a broadside elevation of a ship of war; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation
of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing plan of deck; Fig. 4 is a section
of flanged keel.
A, A, in Fig. 1, represent the sides of the ship above water line upon
the angle principle; B, B, hull of ship; C, C, C, C, plough or ram, being
an extension of hull and keel; D, keel flange; H, rudder, sunk in
web of plough; I, I, I, I, in Fig. 3, are turntables with moveable guns;
K, K, K, stationary guns; P, P, P, P, uncovered tunnel or groove,
through which the moveable guns can be shifted from side of ship to bow
or stern.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that the improvements
which I claim as my Invention are,-

page_text: First, the mode of construction of vessels of war or other vessels substantially
as herein-before described and shewn.
Second, the flanged keel, as herein-before described and shewn.
Third, the arrangements for working the guns on board ship, as herein-
before described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Fitzmaurice Palmer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
year of
FITZMAURICE PALMER. (L.S.)