IMPROVED ARMOUR BELT WITH TORPEDO Guard for SHIPS OF WAR
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDWARD KENT 20 Royal Exchange London, Chemist and Druggist do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED ARMOUR BELT WITH TORPEDO
Guard for SHIPS OF WAR, to be as follows:-
1
The invention consists of a thick belt of padded armour supporting a Torpedo
Guard or screen both of which extend entirely round the upper part of the
exterior of a vessel's hull. The " Belt" and Guard may be entirely above the
water line when the vessel is in cruising trim, but partially submerged (the guard
may be entirely so) when the vessel has shipped water for the purpose of riding
low in action to offer less surface to an enemy's fire. The padded "Belt" has the
threefold object of resisting an enemy's projectile, of supporting a Torpedo Guard,
and of giving increased stability (when partially submerged) to swift narrow
vessels especially those of the mercantile class, which have been fitted out for
militant cruising. The Torpedo Guard in addition to receiving the shock of an
enemy's torpedoes and causing them to explode at a distance from the hull proper
(as opposed to the hull with "Belt") tends to decrease the rolling of the vessel
Both the Belt and Guard are made in separate movable parts of such materials
and put together in such a manner that the whole could be replaced in almost any
port by comparatively unskilled artificers and could be repaired in parts at short
notice by the vessels own crew with spare materials carried on board.
At Fig 1 an outline section of a small vessel is shown giving the position and
shape of the padded "Belt" and torpedo guard. In larger vessels the "belt" and
guard would be relatively smaller. The upper dotted line indicates approximately
the vessels depth in the water when lowered for action and the lower dotted line
shows approximately the vessel's depth when in cruising trim. At Fig. 2 a plan
section of the vessel is given showing the armour belt ranged round the entire bull
proper. The "belt" may be in one continuous compartment or may be divided
off into compartments of any suitable size.
The "belt" and guard are mainly supported by means of girders tapering
considerably at the ends which project outside the hull proper (A Fig. 3) These
girders are passed through suitable holes in the sides of the hull proper and, inside,
are fixed by screws or clamps to the beams which support the decks of the vessel
(B Fig. 3) These girders should be strong in point of numbers but individually
weak enough to break or bend in any direction rather than spring the steel armour
plates on the hull proper (C Fig. 3) or tear up the decks when they (the girdėrs) arą

page_text: 33
exposed to the violence of a shell which explodes while embedded in the padding.
The Belt is (Fig. 3) bounded on the outer side by metal plates backed up with
woodwork or otherwise. The upper and lower sides of the "belt are closed and
bounded by deck planking covered or not with metal plates as may be necessary.
The outer portion of the hull proper forms the fourth or inner side of the
compartment thus constructed. The girders would also be supported by bars or
rods connecting one with the other. These bars are not indicated in the diagrams.
The padding with which the hollow "Belt" thus described is filled consists of
flat mattress-like bales of closely compressed cotton hemp or wool or other suitable
fibre indicated at Figs. 1. 3. 5. 6 by cancel lines The bales lie parallel with the
vessels side close together the end of each one overshooting the ends of others that
lie close to it in the inner and outer courses (D Fig. 2) Each flat bale or mattress
is tightly compressed by Hydraulic power or otherwise and kept in shape by
bands bars and battens of metal, the whole being covered with waterproof fabric.
But before being packed and pressed, the fibro and waterproof fabric should be
rendered fireproof by being treated with a solution of Tungstate of Soda and
afterwards dried. Alternatively the fibre might be treated with a solution of the
said Tungstate of Soda in a mixture of water and glycerine in which case the fibre
would be expanded to the fullest possible extent before being pressed moderately
dry and packed, after which no further expansion of fibre need be apprehended on
account of water shipped through a shot hole. These bales might have a flat plate
of iron on one or both sides. In any caso the spare bales carried on board might
be advantageously disposed about the vessel for defensive purposes especially in
merchant vessels and this point would be borne in mind in deciding upon the size
of the bales. -
In emergencies the fibre instead of being in bales might be rammed between iron
plates placed longitudinally along the hollow belt as shown at E Fig. 2 and the
plates might be either attached to the girders or free.
The outermost portion or layer of the hull proper might consist of steel armour
of the ordinary description from two to five or more inches thick and backed up
with teak wood in the usual manner F. Fig. 3. A five inch plate of such armour
would be capable of resisting almost any shot that had lost the greater part of its
force by penetrating the several layors of cotton or other bales filling the hollow
belt, and the steel armour plate would remain comparatively uninjured by a shell
that would explode while in contact with it, as the belt would yield more readily
to the force of such an explosion.
The Torpedo guard consists of a series of screens about four or six feet
wide of any desirable length, which extend entirely round the armour belt. The
screens are made of substantial woodwork strengthened and weighted with iron
and are attached by a hinge (T Fig. 3 to the lower outer angle of the "Belt" and
kept secure when at rest in an upright position (G. Fig. 3 & 4) by chains H
Fig. 3 & 4 (which pass to the interior of the hull proper) which (chains)
(H. Fig. 3 & 4) are also used for raising the screens. The dotted lines J Fig. 3
indicate the position of the the screen with "elbow support" K Fig. 3 & 4 when
lowered to resist attack by torpedo. The elbow support shown sideways at K
Fig. 3 and in elevation at K Fig. 4 is attached to the screen only at the outer part
of the obtuse angle-where it has two projecting pieces (one at either side) which
are clasped by staples. The "elbow support" can move freely in one plane and
when the screen is lowered it falls by its own weight into the position shown by
dotted lines at K Fig. 3 when its head rests against a "chafing block".which is
attached longitudinally at the lower side of the Belt (M Fig. 3) At N. Fig. 3 is
represented a piece of wrought iron part of which serves as a cap for the screen
and the other part in the form of a fint long plate extends entirely along the end
of the screen at an angle of about 50 degrees. This plate has rings at its edge to
attach it to the chains which raise the screen and by its (the plate's) shape and
position admits of the screen being more easily raised than would be the case if
the chains were attached to the screen itself. The plate being one of a series
"

page_text: which extends entirely round the vessel acts as a lateral keel which tends to
prevent the vessel from rising in the water which is caught in the acute angle
formed by the plate and end of the screen. The weight of the water at this anglo
serves to keep the screen in one position and the "elbow support" prevents the
screen from being moved inwards The inclined plane of the lower surface of the
plate O Fig. 3 strikes the water as the vessel falls (after rising and tends to keep
the head of the "elbow support" against the " chafing block." But it may be
desirable to have a series of self acting catches attached to the chafing block to
grip the head of the elbow support and keep the screen in one position. The
catches would be thrown out of gear by rods or chains worked from inside the
vessel. To increase still further the facility for raising the screens short catheads
or bars might be made to project horizontally outwards from the upper outer angle
of the "Belt" the ends of which catheads having wheels over which the screen
chain might run.
These bars or catheads would be out use as the screen was raised
nearly to its resting position; the chain rising from it. The catheads P Fig. 3
would pass through holes cut through the end of the screen when the chains were
tight and the screen in its position of rest as shown at Figs. G. 3 & 4.
In cases where vessels were built with a view to their being provided with the
padded armour belt" the latter might be apparently inboard instead of being
outrigged as described above. In these cases the hull proper would be made
considerably narrower at the deck than at the lower water line as shown in
section at Fig. 6 the inwardly inclining sides being substantial, watertight and
plated with steel armour. The outer line of the padded Belt (filled with fibre.
padding as above described) would be in one curve with the lower part of the
hull proper Q Fig. 6.
Another alternative would be to have the Belt partly in board and partly out as
shown in section at Fig. 5 in this case the stability of the vessel would be
increased while the space inside the vessel would be encroached upon to a less
inconvenient extent than in the case where the belt would be entirely in board.
"
In the two latter cases the Torpedo screons might be raised upwards into a
position of rest or might be drawn downwards against the lower half of the " Belt"
and when the screens would be drawn downwards (as indicated at Fig. 7. R R. the
screens might be raised or pushed outwards and drawn inwards by bars passed
through holes into the interior of the vessel and worked there; thus doing away
with the necessity for using chains and "elbow supports 'The screens would, at
their lower parts, slightly overlap and provision would have to be made for their
lying flush while overlapping Another way would be to have the screens alternately
up and down when at rest. Those which are raised being lowered (as suggested at
Fig. 7 R. S.) and those which rest against the lower part of the "Belt" being
pushed outwards by the bars worked from inside the vessel as mentioned in the
preceding paragraph. The bars in this case by giving a quarter turn on their own
axis might be made to catch the "rising" screens and prevent them from rising
unduly. By "rising" screens is ineant the screens which rise into a position of
rest as opposed to the alternate ones which would fall into a position of rest.

page_text: Improved Armour Belt with Torpedo Guard for Ships of War.
I EDWARD KENT 20 Royal Exchange London Chemist and Druggist do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVED ARMOUR BELT AND
TORPEDO GUARD FOR VESSELS OF WAR and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention relates to the protection of vessels of war from the projectiles of
an enemy and includes the use of a belt of armour composed of fibrous material
with or without inetal plates attached to the vessel and includes the use of a series
of screens or doors attached to the armour belt for the purpose of causing the
explosion of torpedoes at a safe distance from the more important parts of the
vessel.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings. At Fig. 1 A represents
a section of portion of the upper part of the vessels side and B B B plates of metal
or other suitable material, which when continued entirely round the upper part of
the exterior of the hull, or round such parts of the vessel as it is intended to protect
by this means, combine with the side of the vessel (A) to form a hollow chamber
hereinafter called the chamber. At C is represented a closely packed mass of
fibrous material filling the chamber, which fibrous material serves to resist the
enemy's shot or mitigate the force with which it strikes the vessels side. At D the
position of the main deck is shown.
The fibrous material above mentioned consists of Wool, Cotton, Hemp cocon-fibre,
hair, silk asbestos or any other fibre or any combination of various kinds of fibre
and may be woven plaited twisted or otherwise.
Alternatively the fibrous material may be mixed with fragments of cork or
sponge or both cork and spongo: and herein the words fibrous material are
considered as possibly including either or both cork and sponge with one or more of
the varieties of fibre above named. The use of cork gives buoyancy to some of the
heavier kinds of fibre and the use of sponge gives the fibrous material the power of
rapidly absorbing, water and consequently expanding and closing up the holo made
by a penetrating shot, to the exclusion of any large amount of water.
If desired, the fibrous material may be rendered fireproof by being treated with
Alum or Tungstate of Soda, and the Alum or Tungstate of Soda may be in the
form of powder and intimately mixed with the fibrous material, or the fireproofing
salt may be dissolved in water and the fibrous material soaked in the solution
so formed, after which the fibrous material may be dried and packed in the
chamber.
At fig. 1 tho Belt is represented as being situated entirely outside the vessel's
hull. but, alternatively, the belt may be placed inside the hull as shown at Fio 2

page_text: In this case A represents a section of the upper part of the vessel's side, B a part of
the main deck, Ca portion of one of the lower decks, D the fibrous material and E
a bulkhead or an inner layer of armour.
Alternatively the upper part of the vessels side may at a certain point (A Fig. 3)
be constructed so as to take an inward and upward curve (as indicated at A. B. C.
Fig. 3) instead of being constructed more or less uprightly as is usual, as shown by
the dotted lines D. D. In this case the belt would occupy the space indicated
at E (Fig. 3) and would not extend beyond the dotted lines D. D.
As an alternative to the above last mentioned instance the belt may be made to
project outwardly as shown at F. Fig. 4.
The Armour Belt may be made in one continuous chamber extending round the
part of the vessel which it is intended to protect or it may be divided off into
many compartments by partitions or divisions inside the chamber and those parti-
tions or divisions may be horizontal or perpendicular; in the direction of the
length of the chamber or in the direction of its width.
The interior divisions may consist of metal plates and the fibrous material may
be packed between them, and the metal plates may be so numerous and so sub-
stantial as to increase the resisting power of the belt.
Alternatively the chamber may be filled with fibrous material previously packed
in pads packs or mattress-like bales in an outer covering or wrapper of canvas or
other suitable material, and the coverings or wrappers may be fireproof or water-
proof or both fireproof and waterproof. Bales of this description could be more
readily handled and fixed in position while the vessel is in action temporarily to
replace portions of the armour belt that had been blown away by the enemy's shells.
When the outer cases or coverings of the bales are waterproof the absorption of
water would be confined to the bales that had been damaged by the explosion of a
shell and the adjacent unbroken bales would remain dry.
Alternatively each balo may have one or more plates of metal attached to and
forming part of the bale (as shown at Fig. 5) and covering one of its largest sides.
At Fig. 5 a section of a bale is shown in which F indicates the position of the
fibrous material and M the metal plate (section). The canvas or other covering
may cover both the plate and the fibrous material and the whole may be bound
together by bands of metal, battens, rivets or other suitable means.
When the armour belt extends round the upper part of the hull of the vessel and
projects outwardly as shown at Figs. 1 & 4 the belt may be the means of supporting
a series of doors or screens which may be lowered into the water in time of action
to receive the impact of torpedoes which might otherwise strike the hull below the
belt. The screens may be of any convenient length breadth and thickness and may
be inade of substantial wood work-or wood work strengthened with metal, or may
be made wholly of metal or other suitable material and may be weighted if necessary
to ensure the sinking of the screen in water to a position more or less perpendicular.
The screens are ranged side by side round the vessel or round any part of it
protected by the projecting belt of armour, one screen being as close to another as
is compatible with their working easily, and rising and falling independantly of
those next to it. At A Fig. 6 a section of the upper part of a vessel's side is
shown, B indicates the position of the armour belt, Cindicates a section of a screen
raised out of the water and kept in that position by means of the chain indicated
at D. The screen is mainly supported at the lower outer angle of the armour belt
by a hinge at E. In time of action the screen would be lowered to a position
indicated at the dotted lines at F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
A case chamber or compartment or a series of cases chambers or compartments
filled with fibrous material (fire proof or otherwise) packed between and alternating

page_text: with plates of metal or otherwise attached to a ship of war for the purpose
of protecting it from the more important consequences of being struck by an
enemy's projectile substantially as herein before described.
The combination of a series of screens or doors with a projecting belt or compart-
ment of light armour forming part of a vessel of war which screens or doors may be
raised from the water or lowered into it for the purpose of receiving the impact of
an enemy's torpedoes and exploding them at a safe distance from the vessel's side
substantially as hereinbefore described.