A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR CASING FOR RENDER- ING ANY FORT, VESSEL, OR OTHER OBJECT IMPENETRABLE TO PROJECTILE AND DAMAGE BY TORPEDO
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Leslie Stanley Leighs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1876.
ALFRED LESLIE STANLEY LEIGHS, of 32, The Hard, Portsea, in the County of
Southampton, Hants. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR CASING FOR RENDER-
ING ANY FORT, VESSEL, OR OTHER OBJECT IMPENETRABLE TO PROJECTILE AND
DAMAGE BY TORPEDO."
In order that this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have annnexed a Drawing illustrating my Invention when applied, and for a
vessel. Fig. 1, a sectional plan of the said casing surface of same; (1) hinges,
buffers, and springs on which the same rests; (2) wooden platform on which the said
casing is affixed, either to the said vessel or in a separate body, fully explained, to
alter external design of such vessel; (3) sockets for the loose hanging projection or
stantions (4). Fig. 2, hanging projection or stantions to fit in sockets when desired
loose wheels chain in lengths attached together by moveable fastenings (6) Fig. 3,
mode of placing or welding material used for covering enternal surface of the said
casing. The casing entends on a curve from the top or over the top of any vessel
to any depth to water line, or any further distance as required, & away further from
the said vessel to be protected, for purpose of keeping at a distance any objectionable
material as torpedo enplosion, & to alter enternal design of said vessel, Fig. 1.
The said casing is either supported from vessel or has a seperate self-supporting
means by raft, log, boat, or other contrivance, so that the said vessel to be protected
can run into grove made in the said casing to glide in and out at will, or be made
part and parcel of the said casing, as may be required; for this purpose any
vessel would do as it may be but by taking off a portion of side upper deck so as
to require less curve & less weight (3) Fig. 1. The casing may be all or partly
around the said vessel, with or without the detailied accessories in any material or
substance to attain the desired object, viz., to bar access.
The port holes in the said casing are not protruding but evenly set to raise as
desired closing level, so that from a distance no signs of them are visable, Fig. 1, (1)
corresponding holes are left in platform, according to vessel desired, to cover or
protect the said port holes, open by gliding part of the said casing upwards, and in
a grove there are hinges or buffers which attach casing to platform, & springs on
platform & under said casing, whereon it rests, Fig. 1, (2). There are sockets or
slots attached to said casing or part & parcel of said casing, wheren is a place for
stantions & hanging projection to have support, (4), Fig. 1; these are so adapted as
to easily take off or put on; the said projection or stantion is illustrated, Fig. 2,
Price Al

page_text: that it is for intention of keeping away anything coming in contack, No. 6 is hooked
on No. 5, illustrated, to use when desired, the principle & not solely shape of same is
claimed as this Invention; an additional length of enternal covering to be in store
to attach to side bombardment is enpected for purpose of protecting deck.
The mode of preparing outside or enternal part of the said casing is more fully
detailed by following cnample, viz. -How to make a target or plate 6 inchos
thick of metal, & 6 inches thick lining of wood, obtain any number of sheets or
bars of any metal, say Lowinore iron 1/, an inch thick x 6 inches width, and the
same No. of bars, or sheets of say blister steel, 1½-inch thick x 6 inches width, to
gether with 2 bars of iron 1½, an inch thick x 12 inches width; these are for the
two outside surfaces at side of such plate or target when finished, they are
united by welding powdered borax between, heated & then hammer hardened
so as to render the weld or join 20 times stronger than if not so joined or
welded, Fig. 3, precicely same as a smith would weld the head on a hammer,
cutting part on an adze or the jaws on a bench vice. The newly made surface is
then hammer hardened so that the outwards and inwards shall be the edges or ends
of such material, Fig. 3, (3). The 2 wide bars or sheets to be placed at each side
& welded as before. The newly made front (against grain or side of grain of
material is hammer bardened and smoothed, then polished by a buff back filled
up with wood & completed. This material is intended to take the place of
present armour, either a finture or moveable body, as described, Fig. 1, or as
a covering for present armour either placed together, or welded, or in a solid body.
This Invention secures, when placed, so that the edges or ends of material shall be
made into or represent the surface or front, or in other words against grain.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and best means of which
I am acquainted for carrying out object, viz., defence, I wish to be understand that
.I claim-
1st. The general construction, design, & moveable action of a casing as here-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The manner of placing or welding material as before described.