IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRONCLAD AND OTHER VESSELS."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, of Highlands,
Itchen Ferry, near Southampton, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRONCLAD AND OTHER VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Robert Loane
Rosoman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th August 1874.
I, RICHARD ROBERT LOANE ROSOMÁN, of Highlands, Itchen Ferry,
near Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRONCLAD AND OTHER VESSELS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
ironclad and other vessels.
In the construction of ironclad ships I combine with an inner or
citadel vessel outer protecting vessels carrying armour plating. Between
the citadel vessel and the protecting vessels there are water passages of

page_text: ducts, and the whole structure is firmly braced together by trusses of
great strength in the form of a hollow beam which may be stowed full
of sand bags as a further protection to the citadel vessel. This portion
of the structure is made air-tight or water-tight, or both, and con-
sequently adds to the floating power of the ship when deeply immersed
in consequence of injury. The floating power of the citadel vessel and
beams will be sufficient to carry the protecting vessels where necessary..
These arrangements will also add greatly to the safety of ships which do
not carry armour plates. Also in such ships, whether armour clad or
not the cargo may be so stowed as to give great shot-resisting power.
As the several vessels of which a ship is thus formed all add to its
floating power the lines may be very fine, and consequently a high
speed will be attainable. The stability also will be very great.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Robert Loane Rosoman in the Great Seal 1
Patent Office on the 17th February 1875.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ROBERT LOANE ROSOMAN, of Highlands, Itchen Ferry, near South-
ampton, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, Her
special license that I, the said Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, my s
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF
IRONCLAD AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one

page_text: 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 Richard Robert Loane Rosoman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
ironclad and other vessels.
In the construction of ironclad ships I combine with an inner or
citadel vessel outer protecting vessels carrying armour protection.
Between the citadel vessel and the protecting vessels there are water
passages or ducts, and the whole structure is firmly braced together by
trussing of great strength in the form of a hollow beam, or by other
means, which may be stowed full of sand bags as a further protection
to the citadel vessel. This portion of the structure is made air-tight or
water-tight, or both, and consequently adds to the floating power of the
ship when deeply immersed in consequence of injury. The floating
power of the citadel vessel and beams will be sufficient to float the
protecting vessels when necessary. These arrangements will also add
greatly to the safety of ships which do not carry armour protection,
also in such ships, whether armour clad or not, the cargo may be so
stowed as to give great shot resisting power. As the several vessels of
which a ship is thus formed all add to its floating power the lines may
be very fine, and consequently a high speed will be attainable. The
stability also will be very great.
When the sides of the outer protecting vessels are to afford protection
against shot and shell and other warlike attack, I form the principal
armour protection of rolled armour ribs or frames, set vertically or
horizontally, or both combined, side by side at a slight distance apart
and any required depth. The ribs or frames may conveniently be from
2 to 3 inches thick, more or less, and be set about 6 inches apart, or
other required distance from one another. The spaces between the ribs
or frames may be filled in with teak or other hard wood, or other
suitable substance, and the whole secured together at intervals by bolts

page_text: passed through the ribs or frames and through the wood or other filling..
The outermost edges of the plates may have flanges rolled on them, or
angle irons may be used for the purpose of securing the outer skin tọ
the ribs or frames.
Some or all of the ribs or frames may be strongly connected at their
lower ends with the ordinary floor plates or longitudinals so that they
may form one continuous beam or frame, thus the armour used for
giving protection to the sides of a vessel against shot or shell serve to
give very great increased strength to the structure, instead of being
merely fixed to it on its exterior as heretofore usual and causing
weakness to the vessel. Outside the ribs or frames and outer skin
above mentioned may be if required a facing of wood, and this again
may have on its exterior, an iron plating forming the outer armour of
the vessel.
The mode above described of forming the sides of a vessel to protect
them from shot or shell is applicable to the construction of all kinds of
ships or vessels which require to be thus protected, so that the metal
used for affording protection shall form part of the ship's structure, and
materially increase its strength.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn a vessel constructed a
in the manner I prefer for carrying out my Invention.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of the vessel; Figure 2 a side view
on a smaller scale; and Figure 3 a horizontal section of a portion
of the vessel. In these Figures A is the inner or citadel vessel;
B, B, the outer protecting vessels firmly braced together, and to the 2
inner. vessel A by arched hollow beams D (or may be secured by other
approved means) at intervals from end to end of the vessel. The outer
sides of the protecting vessels B are, as shewn, composed of numerous
deep ribs of rolled iron placed side by side, and with intervals between
them which are to be packed in with wood or otherwise, and the whole
secured together fore and aft with suitable bolts. Some or all of the
ribs & may at their lower. end be connected by suitable means, with the
floor plates c, as above described, so as to form continuous beams or
ribs.
b
"
.1
Any suitable number of turrets for carrying guns may be mounted on
the inner or. citadel vessel, and broadside guns may be carried on the

page_text: A modified form of the vessel is shewn in transverse section at
Figure 4. In this construction the lower part of the junctions between
the inner and outer vessels is below the water line, and serves to
increase the floating power.
When the vessel is not required to have protection against shot or
shell, or be built for commercial purposes, the sides of the vessels may
be built in the ordinary manner.
The vessel may be propelled by 2 bow screws and 2 quarter screws,
and steered with rudders placed abaft the screws, which can be all
placed well under cover of the outer protecting vessels, or be propelled
and steered by any other desired means.
The above-described construction of armour ribs or frames is also well
adapted for the system of composite ship building, and also for the
outer protection of fortifications of all kinds.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim,-
1. The construction of ships or vessels for all purposes, substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
2. The construction of the sides of ships or vessels, substantially in
the manner herein described, to afford protection against shot or shell,
applicable also for the outer protection of fortifications.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Robert Loane Rosoman,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
fiva