Year: 1885

page_text: I, ANNIE MATILDA WOOD, of Firs Cottage, East Sheen, in the County of Surrey,
Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct the outer skin of vessels, ironclads or
merchant-ships or boats of blocks of compressible and elastic substances, of such
form and dimensions, that the pressure of a shot or other body on the block will
increase its resistance without allowing it to be shot through or carried away, the
force of impact on the casing or skin being distributed, and received on a backing
that will not fracture or break-but only suffer compression-returning to its
normal state after receiving the blow shot or impact.
My invention consists in constructing on the ordinary or a specially made frame
work of any iron or wooden ships vessels or boats an outer plating or platings of
india rubber, gutta-percha or other elastic and compressible material in blocks
either square, cylindrical, rectangular or other shape, fitted into trellis work or
cells of metal rivetted or welded together and fitted to the ships frame, each cell
or receptacle being slightly tapered so as to take and hold the blocks made of
corresponding form, and to present to the outside the largest face of the same, for
receiving the impact or blow-these blocks may be made from 6 inches to 3 feet
thick varying according to the amount of resistance they are intended to offer-
and on the smaller or taper end of each block may be placed a steel spring or buffer
resting against the block and against the metal trellis work or lattice of metal
bands. The foregoing describes one half of the thickness of the outer casing, there
is another series or coating of blocks behind this steel lattice, made similar to the
first, or otherwise, to double the resistance offered and in some cases there may be
a third series. The idea being that on a shot striking the outer block, instead of
crashing and tearing through, it will compress the block by the force of impact,
and when the block is strongly compressed it will be relieved by the spiral springs,
which in turn will be supported by the steel trellis, and this again will be
supported by the second backing, and the second elastic or india rubber blocks.
The force of the blow from a shot or shell will thus be converted from a blow to
a thrust or push, so that a shot on striking will only penetrate a small distance
and when the force of the concussion is exhausted the india rubber blocks and
springs will resume their former position and spring back and fill the cell again,

page_text: There is an advantage in constructing with small blocks as the effect of a shot
striking an armour plate is-that it not only tears its way through, splitting and
fracturing the plate but by being of large dimensions & weight the injury and
shock is proportioned to the size of the plate, which being rigid and unyielding
communicates the effect of the blow all through the ship-By my invention the
line of force is broken at the termination of every block and the force of the blow
does not spread or communicate itself to the other blocks, and so less injury
is done.
Also by the use of a light and buoyant material like india rubber, plain or
mixed with cork, a larger quantity of coals stores and ammunition can be carried.
Water tight compartments, bulkheads and doors, can also be constructed on the
same principle.
On the outside of ships or boats I propose also in place of the ordinary timber
or other rubbing piece a bolster of india rubber fitted in lattices round the vessels,
so that on entering or leaving dock or when in contact with another vessel-
complete protection will be secured..
The blocks of india rubber can be made all of one size so that in the event of
one being damaged another can easily be put in its place, for which purpose
vessels can carry a spare supply--and as rubber is not liable to decay such blocks
can be remelted and worked up into new blocks or for other purposes.
Life boats constructed of india rubber blocks and metal or other trellis-will be
practically unsinkable and undestructable and owing to their greater buoyancy
will be capable of carrying a larger number of persons, the seats of the boat may
be made of sheet metal covered with india rubber, with bolsters of rubber all round
the boat, so that if thrust against a vessel or any hard substance rocks &c, the boat
cannot be broken up and any part of the boat can be made detachable and
adapted for use as a life buoy.
Improvements in the Construction of Ships and Boats.
I, ANNIE MATILDA WOOD, of Firs Cottage, East-Sheen, in the County of
Surrey, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to construct the outer and inner skin, com-
partment, bulkhead, division, or any vulnerable part of vessels, ironclads, merchant-
ships, boats, floating or other structures, of blocks of a substance compressible and

page_text: elastic or otherwise such as rubber or cork or a mixture of these or of soft wood
held together and fastened to suitable framework, the covering being of such form
and dimensions, that the pressure of a shot or other body on the block will increase
its resistance; should the shot however penetrate, the elastic or other material will
close after it and so prevent any leak-the force of impact on the casing or skin
being distributed and received on a backing that will not fracture nor break, but
may only suffer compression returning to its normal state after receiving the blow
or impact.
The accompanying drawing shows various methods of performing this invention.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a vessel showing the outer skin protected by my
blocks.
ansions, that the pressure of a SHOL or other bouy on the DOCK will increase
its resistance; should the shot however penetrate, the elastic or other material will
close after it and so prevent any leak-the force of impact on the casing or skin
being distributed and received on a backing that will not fracture nor break, but
may only suffer compression returning to its normal state after receiving the blow
bor impact.
The accompanying drawing shows various methods of performing this invention.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a vessel showing the outer skin protected by my
blocks.
Fig. 2 an elevation of the side of the vessel:
Fig. 3 enlarged perspective view of a second modification of framework.
Fig. 4 a rubber block and back plate.
Fig. 5 three alternative forms of block..
Fig. 6 enlarged view of a trellis, framing for holding the blocks.
Fig. 7 view from inside the vessel showing manner of fixing blocks to the skin."
Fig. 8 another modification, showing blocks fitted with back and front plates.
Like letters of reference show similar parts in the figures.
My invention consists in constructing an ordinary or specially made framework X
of any iron or wooden ship or other structure, an outer or inner plating or series
of metal lattices or platings F filled with india rubber, gutta percha, cork or other
elastic and compressible material A in blocks preferably square, or rectangular,
which may be fitted either into expanding trellis work Figs 1 and 6 or cells of
metal Fig. 3, rivetted or welded together, or other suitable framework having
rubber blocks vulcanized or otherwise fixed on plates B of metal or wood may be
fixed to the ships frame as in Figs 5 and 8; each cell or receptacle being preferably
slightly tapered so as to take and hold the blocks made of corresponding form
(A Fig. 5) and to present to the outside, the largest face of the same for receiving
the impact or blow. These blocks may be made of any thickness preferably from
6 inches to 3 feet thick varying according to the amount of resistance they are
intended to offer. If required, on the smaller or taper end of each block may be
placed a steel spring or buffer E resting against the block and against the metal
trellis-work or lattice of metal bands or other expanding and elastic framework.
When blocks vulcanized or otherwise fixed to metal plates B are used, it is
necessary to first drill holes in the plate and pass bolts C through said holes before
the rubber is fixed to the plate. When the block is finished the projecting bolts
are then inserted into corresponding holes in the skin of the vessel, or in the ribs X,
and fastened with nuts D. the blocks may also if required be covered by steel
plates B¹ on the outside, such plates being either made of the same size as the
block, or larger to cover several blocks, by this means the outer surface is rendered
quite smooth.
The foregoing describes the outer casing, there may be another series or coating
of blocks behind the steel lattice made similar to the first, or otherwise, to double
the resistance offered, and in some cases there may be a third series.
A shot striking the outer blocks A instead of crashing and tearing through them,
will compress the blocks by force of impact, and as the block is strongly compressed
it will be released to the rear by the spiral springs E, which in turn will be
supported by the steel trellis F and this again will be supported by the second
backing, and then by the second elastic or india-rubber block. The force of a
blow from a shot or shell will thus be converted from a blow to a thrust or push
so that a shot on striking may only penetrate a small distance and when the force
of the concussion is exhausted the india rubber blocks and springs will resume
their former position and spring back and fill the cell again and also prevent
leakage.
This is the advantage of constructing in comparatively small blocks as the
effect of a shot striking the armour plate is that it not only tears its ways through,

page_text: splitting and fracturing the plate but by being of large dimensions the injury and
shock is proportional with the size of the plate which being rigid and unyielding
communicates the effect of the blow all through the ship.
By my invention the line of force is broken at the termination of every block,
and the force of the blow does not spread or communicate itself to the other blocks
and so less injury is done.
Also by the use of a light and buoyant material like india rubber plain or mixed
with cork, a larger quantity of coal stores and ammunition can be carried.
Water tight compartments, bulkheads and doors or any part of the ship can be
constructed on the same principle.
On the outside of ships or boats I propose also-in place of the ordinary timber
rubbing piece to affix a bolster of india rubber cork or other material arranged in
latticework or otherwise round the whole or part of the vessels so that on entering
or leaving dock or when in contact with another vessel or other substance complete
protection will be secured.
The block of india-rubber can be made all of one size, so that in the event of
one being damaged another can easily be put in its place for which purpose the
vessel can carry a spare supply, and as this rubber is not liable to decay the
damaged blocks can be remelted and worked up into new blocks or used for other
purposes.
Life boats constructed with india-rubber blocks and metal or other trellis will
be practically unsinkable and indestructable and owing to their greater bouyancy
will be capable of carrying a larger number of persons. The seats of the boats may
be made of sheets of metal covered with india-rubber or cork or a mixture thereof
and the same placed all round the boat, so that if thrust against a vessel or any
hard substance, rocks etc it cannot be broken up. Parts of the boat, could be
made detachable and adapted for use as life-buoys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The application of blocks of elastic or other substance to ships, boats and such
like by means of plates or frames either or both, made in cells, expanding or
otherwise, so that each cavity or receptacle may be filled or covered with the said
blocks for the prevention of damage by shot or shell or collision, substantially as
described and illustrated.