IMPROVEMENTS IN CHILLED IRON TURRETS
Year: 1878

page_text: 65
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Max Sombart, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and
Company, Engineers and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of
Germany, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CHILLED IRON TURRETS."
A communication from Hermann Gruson, of Buckau, near Magdeburg, in the
Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 3rd December 1878, and dated the 25th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Max Sombart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1878.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHILLED IRON TURRETS. A communication from Hermann Gruson, of Buckau,
near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
The improvements consist in the manufacture and method of employing specially
arranged voussoir-like chilled iron plates in the construction of gun turrets for
war purposes, their fit and support being dependant upon their form; also in
shields for protecting their embrasures or embrasures generally; also in using the
same arrangement and form of plates in barbette or uncovered turrets.
The chilling is performed in a specially formed pit, and the chill block is purposely
constructed of variable thickness to suit the thickness of the plate to be chilled.
The turntables or foundations are made to revolve with greater facility by
coupling all the runners together..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Max Sombart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1878.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART, of the Firm of Buss, Sombart, and Company, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHILLED IRON TURRETS.' A communication from Hermann Gruson, of Buckau,
near Magdeburg, in the Empire of Germany.
The improvements consist in the manufacture and method of employing specially
arranged voussoir-like chilled iron plates in the construction of gun turrets for war
purposes, their fit and support being dependent upon their form; also in shields for
protecting their embrasures or embrasures generally; also in using the same arrange-
ment and form of plates in barbette or uncovered turrets.
The chilling is performed in a specially formed pit, and the chill block is
purposely constructed of variable thickness to suit the thickness of the plate to be
chilled.
The turntables or foundations are made to revolve with greater facility by coupling
all the runners together.
A closed battery forms the subject of the first improvement, and is illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, and consists of, 1, the supports or frames A; 2, the ground or
bed plates B; 3, the notched or port hole plates C; and 4, the covering plates E.
All the foregoing parts are fitted to each other, and sustained by their joints,
which are so shaped that they are neither screwed nor riveted, the fastenings of
these parts being effected in a better way, inasmuch as grooves or spaces are left
between the joints or points of contact, and when the battery is put together these
grooves may be filled up with any kind of suitable metal or other substance.
The form and the joint of the said parts are shown in the Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In some cases the deck or covering plates can be dispensed with, and an open
battery will be obtained.
The second improvement relates to open batteries, and consists of three different
armour-plated shields, represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the outward surfaces of
which are curved in order to offer the greatest possible resistance to artillery.
The shield, Figure 4, is designed to protect guns which are intended to be raised
above the armour plating to be fired, and to be withdrawn below within the armour
plating after having been fired.
The armour plating represented in Figure 5 is provided with an open port hole
on the top, while the one represented in Figure 6 has a port hole of minimum
dimensions.
The subject of the third improvement is a chilled iron battery, which can be turned
round on its axis, as represented in Figures 7 and 8.
The armour plate of the battery is composed of two chilled iron pieces, one of
which, the covering plate E, is made of a circular form, while the second, the principal
armour plate D, is in the form of a ring with a part open, as shown; the port hole
for the shot is in the plate D.
The whole armour turns on a wrought-iron foundation or turntable F, to which
the lower part of the gun carriage is fixed.
Between the lower plate G and the foundation there is a number of conical
rollers, the axles of which are all joined together, which affords extreme facility in'
turning the whole carriage of the gun.
The fourth improvement is a special method of casting the chilled iron armour
plates.
A chill H, to be used in the manner illustrated in Figure 9, must be sunk under
ground in a horizontal position beneath the armour plate which has to be cast. The
casting box J is placed over the chill, and is filled with founder's sand, according to
the form of the armour plate.

page_text: CLAIMS.
1. A closed battery made of chilled iron armour plates with supports, pivot
plates, port hole and covering plates, substantially as described and as represented in
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
2. Chilled iron armour plated shields, substantially as described and as represented
in Figuros 4, 5, and 6.
3. A chilled iron battery which can be turned on its axis, substantially as described
and represented in Figures 7 and 8.
4. The mode of joining the plates, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Max Sombart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, A.D. 1878.
CHARLES MAX SOMBART. (L.S.)