IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF SHOT- PROOF GUN TOWERS, AND THE WORKING OF THE GUNS THEREIN FOR SEA VESSELS, FLOATING HARBOUR DEFENCES, FORTS, OR LAND FORTIFICATIONS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF SHOT-
PROOF GUN TOWERS, AND THE WORKING OF THE GUNS THEREIN FOR SEA
VESSELS, FLOATING HARBOUR DEFENCES, FORTS, OR LAND FORTIFICATIONS." ―
A communication from abroad by James Eads, of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st May 1862.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF
SHOT-PROOF GUN TOWERS, AND THE WORKING OF THE GUNS THEREIN FOR SEA
VESSELS, FLOATING HARBOUR DEPENCES, FORTS, OR LAND FORTIFICATIONS," to be
as follows:-
It has been proposed to mount guns in such a manner that they may be
raised up from the hold of a vessel by steam power into a position to be fired,
and then lowered again by steam power into the hold, in order to be loaded.

page_text: Revolving metallic gun towers have also been used to protect guns and the
men that work.
The object and purpose of the present Invention is first to construct the
tower and the guns combined therewith in such a manner that both may be
lowered into the hold, or below the gun deck, or the guns may be lowered
without the tower. To this end the gun carriages or platforms within the
tower, and also in some cases the tower, cupola, or shield itself is or are
mounted on a strong framing, which is capable of being raised by steam
acting on a piston working in a vertical cylinder. By thus being enabled to
lower the weight of the guns and carriages, and also the tower itself into the
hold of the vessel instead of carrying it upon the deck, the vessel will be more
steady, and not so liable to roll when sailing or steaming at sea.
The guns
may also be loaded in safety while in action. The size of the tower may also
be kept just within that which is necessary to operate the guns, the loading
being done below decks from the outside of the tower.
And, secondly, the object of the Invention is to not only raise and lower
the guns by steam, but to revolve the tower, and to run the gun, or guns out
of the port or back, and also to take up the recoil of the gun or guns by
use of steam.
the
...And, thirdly, to level the gun or guns by steam (power as they are raised
up) by means of a trunnion on the side of the gun near their point, and a guide
secured to the tower, or their equivalents.
The principal points of novelty in the Invention are, first, placing the gun
tower, shield, or cupola upon a rotating bed or base, and arranging the steam
cylinders and the necessary appliances for working them and the tower and
the guns so that they shall turn with the tower.
. Second, connecting the gun carriages with the pistons of steam cylinders, so
that the guns may not only be run out of their ports or back into the tower
by steam power, but that the recoil of the guns when discharged may be
taken up upon or counteracted by the elastic force of the steam in the
cylinders.
Third, making the gun tower, cupola, or shield in sections something like a
telescope gas holder, so that the top section may be lowered into the hold of
the vessel when required for the purpose, or otherwise.
Fourth, levelling the gun in the tower in the act of raising it by means of
a trunnion near its point or muzzle, and a guide on the tower, so that a very
small port may be used, as the gun must enter it fairly without striking the
sides of the port.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William.
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 AND OPERATION OF SHOT-PROOF GUN,
TOWERS, AND THE WORKING OF THE GUNS THEREIN FOR SEA VESSELS, FLOATING
HARBOUR DEFENCES, FORTS, OR LAND FORTIFICATIONS," being a communication.
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William:
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 William Edward Newton, 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, reference being bad to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
It has been proposed to mount guns in such a manner that they may be
raised up from the hold of a vessel by means of steam power into a position:
to be fired, and then lowered again by steam power into the hold; in order to
be loaded. Revolving metallic gun towers have also been used to protect'
guns, and the men that work them.
.-
The object of the present Invention is first to construct the towers and the
gun carriages used therein, in such a manner that both may be lowered into

page_text: the hold or below the gun deck when required, the working parts being so
arranged that the guns may be lowered without the tower when in action. To
this end the gun carriages or platforms within the tower, and also in some
cases the tower, cupola, or shield itself, is or are mounted on a strong framing
which is capable of being raised by the elastic force of steam acting on a
piston working in a vertical cylinder. By thus being enabled to lower the
weight of the guns and carriages, and also the tower itself into the hold of the
vessel instead of carrying it upon the deck when sailing or steaming at sea,
the vessel will be more steady, and not so liable to roll. The guns may also
be loaded with safety while in action. The size of the tower may also be
kept within very moderate dimensions, the loading being done below decks
from the outside of the tower. ⚫
And, secondly, the object of the Invention is not only to raise and, lower the
guns by steam power, but to cause the tower to-rotate, and to run the gun or
guns out of the port or back, and also to take up the recoil of the gun or guns
by the use of steam.
And, thirdly, to level the gun or guns by steam power, (as they are raised
up) by means of a projecting stud or pin on the side of the gun near their
point, and a guide secured to the tower, or their equivalents.
The principal points of novelty in the Invention are, therefore, first
placing the gun tower, shield, or cupola upon a rotating bed or base, and
arranging the steam cylinders and the necessary appliances for working
them, and the tower and the guns, in such a manner that they shall turn
with the tower.
Second, connecting the gun carriages with the pistons of steam cylinders
so that the guns may not only be run out of their ports or back into the tower
by steam power, but that the recoil of the guns, when discharged, may be taken
up or counteracted by the elastic force of the steam in the cylinders.
.
Third; making. the gun tower, cupola, or shield, of much smaller
dimensions than has been heretofore proposed, and constructing it in
sections something like a telescope gas holder, so that the top section may
be lowered into the. hold of the. vessel when required, for the purpose of
lowering the centre of gravity of the vessel, and thereby preventing it.from
rolling in a rough sea...
**
Fourth, levelling the gun in the tower in the act of raising it by means.
of a projecting stud pin or stop piece placed near its muzzle, in combination
with a fixed guide on the tower, so that, as the gun. rises, the stop piece
thereon, by coming in contact with the fixed guide,. may so point the gun
that a very small port only will be required, as the gun must, by this

page_text: arrangement for pointing it, enter the port fairly without striking the sides
of the port.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents a sectional plan view, as
seen from above, of a portion of a revolving tower, with two guns arranged
therein, together with the steam cylinder and appliances by which they are
worked. Fig. 2 represents a top view of a portion of the revolving tower,
and the steam cylinders by which it as well as the guns are to be operated,
the guns being removed in order to shew more clearly the mechanism below.
Fig. 3 represents a vertical section through the tower and showing an
elevation of the hoisting steam cylinder, the guns and gun frame, and the
parts connected therewith, as seen when looking towards the breech of the
guns. Fig. 4 represents a similar vertical section taken at right angles
to the section, Fig. 3, and looking towards the sides of the guns. Figures 5
and 6 represent detached portions of the tower, the guns, the steam cylinder,
and the mechanism connected therewith; Fig. 5 being a horizontal, and
Fig. 6 a vertical section through the gun steam cylinder (that is to say)
the cylinder for running the gun out or into the port; and for taking the recoi!
thereof when the gun is discharged.
Upon the ship's bottom, or a suitable platform, A, provided for the purpose,
is placed a circular rack B, within which the base C of the tower may turn
or work. On this base 'C the steam cylinders and the several mechanical
appliances for working the tower and the guns are placed. The steam to work
the several parts, or to supply the several cylinders, may come from one
source and through one pipe from the boiler or boilers to a point directly
under the centre of the tower, as at a, where there should be a turning steam
joint to allow the tower and all its connections to freely turn round on its
axis without injury to the steam pipe b, which must be stationary. From the
joint at a the steam pipe c supplies all the steam pipes and cylinders, the
usual cocks for regulating and directing or for cutting off the steam being,
of course, provided. The steam pipe & furnishes steam to the cylinders D,
Figures 2 and 3, though steam chests of the ordinary construction and the
piston rods e of these cylinders are connected with cross heads f, to which the
ends of the connecting rods g, Fig. 2, are attached, the other ends of the
connecting rods being jointed to a crank h on the ends of the shafts i. On
each of these shafts i is mounted a pinion j, which pinions work into the
circular stationary rack B for the purpose of turning the tower, and as the
cylinders D are attached to the bed or base C that carries the tower, the
tower with all it contains is turned around its axis by the rotation of these
pinions j. Instead of two cylinders to turn the tower only one may be used

page_text: provided the pinion shaft be extended clear across the base of the tower and
an additional or intermediate pinion be employed, so that the two pinions
by working in the circular rack shall both tend to turn the tower in the same
direction, which they would not do if both were on the same shaft. By an
arrangement of this kind the other cylinder may be dispensed with or used
for working a fan blower to ventilate the tower. The tower, it will be seen,
is made in two sections E, F, so that the upper one can drop into or around
the lower section. By this means the upper and top heavy portion of the
tower can be let down into the hold when desired, whereby the ship will be
brought into better trim for sailing. In the interior of the lower section E
are bolted vertical ribs or supports G, and upon the exterior of the other or
upper section F are corresponding ribs G¹, so arranged that when the section
F is raised up and the section E slightly turned, so as to bring its ribs or
supports directly under the ribs or supports of the other section F, and the
section F is lowered, it will be sustained on the top of the ribs G. The slots
and set screws at k, Fig. 2, admit of this movement of the under section, so
as to catch and hold the upper section by turning it in one direction, or to
allow it to descend telescopic fashion by turning it in an opposite direction, and
in addition to the slots and set screw k other devices may be used on the ribs
themselves or near to them for stopping the partial rotation of the lower
section at the proper point and making a firm support to the upper section.
At the centre of the base C is arranged a vertical steam cylinder H furnished
with a steam chest I, and the necessary valves and ports for the inlet and
exit of the steam which is conducted thereto by the steam pipe L, the exhaust
steam being received into the pipe J, whence it may be returned to the con-
denser. On top of the piston rod K that works in the cylinder H there
is a cross head L, to which is secured a gun frame M, carrying in this case
two guns N, N. This gun frame M, as it is raised or lowered by the piston
rod K, is guided in its movements at its four corners as at m, Figures 1
and 4, and if considered desirable this operation may be assisted by using
additional guides as at n, Figures 1 and 3. Upon this gun frame M are
mounted the gun carriages 0, 0, each carrying its own gun N; so that they
may be moved
the
upon gun
frame independently of each other and of the
gun frame in the following manner-Underneath the gun frame M are two
steam cylinders P, so arranged that each gun may be worked by its own
cylinder. Steam is introduced to these cylinders from the common supply
pipe of the jointed pipes o, o, and suitable valves and ports connected there-
with. The piston rods p of these cylinders are connected directly with their
respective gun carriages through a projecting arm q, so that the guns may be

page_text: The
The arm or
the position
In Figures 5 and 6,
run out into their ports by steam power or back again when necessary.
steam cylinders P also take the recoil of their respective guns in the following
manner: The starting bar Q has a rod s connected to it by one of its ends;
the other end being attached to a pivoted arm R, the point of which, when
vertical, extends up through the gun frame M and in close proximity to the
path of the gun carriage; to this lever or arm R is connected by a rod ta
pivoted arm u having a recess in it. This arm u also projects up
through the gun frame M, and in close proximity to the path of the
gun carriage O, so that it (as well as the arm R) may be actuated
by a hooked lever w that is connected to the gun carriage O. The shaft & to
which the arm R is hung, has upon it a short arm y, and to this arm the valvė
rod is attached so that the arm R, whether it is worked by the starting bar
Q, or it be moved by the arm or lever' w on the gun carriage O, will open or
close the respective ports of the cylinder P, as the case may be.
lever'w has a rod a¹ connected to it, which extends back towards
or stand of the engineer or-gunner, so that in case it should be necessary to
run the gun back by steam power without firing it, the arm or lever w may be
thrown out of action with regard to the arms R or u, so as to prevent it from
moving the steam valve as the carriage O is run back.
the several parts connected with the gun are shewn in the positions they would
occupy when the gun has been run out of its port, by steam power, in order to
be fired, the steam being behind the piston in the cylinder P, and the valve
being in the position shewn in Figure 6. At the moment of the discharge of
the gun, the latter with its carriage O will recoil, and the lever w being against
the arm R, it will move that arm and the valve rod z connected to it, thereby
opening the exit port, and allowing the steam to escape from the cylinder P.
When the gun and its carriage, and the lever w connected to the carriage,
have receded to near the limit of their recoil, the lever w will drop into the
recess v of the'arm u, and by moving that arm, it will through its connecting
rod t move the arm R, which works the slide valve and opens the inlet port.
The steam will then rush in against the piston in the cylinder P and check it,
as well as the gun carriage O and the gun, the force and elasticity of the steam
both tending to check the recoil. Should the gun and its carriage react or
recoil, the lever w, by moving in a contrary direction, and being still in con-
nection with the arm u, will shift the valve and allow the steam to rush into
the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston. As the cylinders P, P; rise
and descend, with the guns and gun frame O, their steam pipes o are made
with joints to admit of this motion. The exhaust steam from the cylinders P
may pass to the main exhaust pipe J through similarly jointed.steam pipes, or

page_text: gun
;
through flexible pipes T, T of india-rubber. As the gun frame O is raised up,
the breech of the guns being the heaviest, their points will be most elevated,
and when the guns arrive at the height of the port in the tower, a projecting
piece 2, Fig. 1, on the side of the gun near its muzzle, comes against a guide
bar S, Figures 3, 4, and 6, connected to the tower or its dome, and stopping
the point of the gun whilst the breech continues to rise, until it becomes level
therewith, or at such elevation as may be desired, so that when run out by the
force of the steam in the cylinder P it will fairly and accurately enter its port,
which may, by this arrangement, be very small. If it be desired to lower the
upper section of the tower, this object may be effected at the same time that
the guns are lowered. For this purpose two or more braces are placed upon
the frame O, with their upper ends against the top of the gun tower
the
gun frame is then slightly raised by its engine, which will raise up the upper
section of the gun tower sufficient to allow the lower section to be moved,
enough to permit the ribs or supports of each to pass each other. The upper
section, with the guns and frame, are all then supported upon the column of
steam in the cylinder H, and by exhausting that steam, the whole may be
lowered into the hold of the vessel. The whole can be raised in a similar
manner by letting in the steam, and after the top section F is raised up, and
its supports properly adjusted under it, the gun frame O can be lowered so
as to release the braces, which may then be removed. The gun frame O can
be raised and lowered at pleasure without disturbing the upper section of the
tower, the upper section F of the tower, as well as the guns and gun frame,
may be let down and raised up separately, as will be hereafter described.
In order that there may always be a supply of steam in the cylinder H so
as to keep the gun frame O and the guns up to the proper and adjusted height,
there is connected to the slide valve of the steam chest I, a rod 6', (Fig. 3),
which extends up to the stand or position of the engineer or operator, and by
which he may operate the slide valve. Upon the cross head L, there is a
rack c', in which gears a pinion d', which is held to the rack and to the cross
head by a stirrup or clip passing around the cross head. The rod 6¹ passes
through a guide e¹ connected to the pinion frame, and may be clamped or
secured to it by a spring catch, or otherwise, so that if the gun frame should
descend the least perceptible distance from want of a supply of steam in the
cylinder H, it would, in dropping, carry down the rod 6', which in turn would
open the inlet port into the cylinder, thereby causing the piston and its load to
rise, and when it had risen to its proper position, the rod would close the inlet
port. Thus the gun frame may be made the means of holding itself at the
adjusted or proper height by supplying steam when required, and shutting it

page_text: off when not required. When the guns are to be loaded the gun frame O is
lowered until the ports U of the dome come opposite to the openings V of the
top section F, where their muzzles can be run out to be loaded, or through
which openings they may be recharged without running them out.
The tower may rest and turn upon friction rollers, or upon greased ways,
without rollers. Of its ventilation, it is not necessary to speak further than
that it is best done by a fan blower or exhauster, worked from an engine either
in the tower or elsewhere. The necessary peep holes may also be furnished
to enable the operator or the. "look out" to see the objects at which the guns
are to be fired. The thickness of the metal in the tower may be increased.to
any extent, limited only by the power of the engine to move.it, and the capacity
of the vessel to float it. By disconnecting the piston rod from its cross head
after the gun frame and guns have been lowered into the hold, the upper
section of the tower may be lowered and raised by the piston rod. without the
guns and their appendages, which together might require more power than
would be desirable to have in the cylinder H for working the guns. On the rod
6', there may be a collar fi, adjustable or permanent, against which the guide ell
might strike should the gun frame by any accident be let suddenly down, and
thus the steam might be let in below the cylinder to catch and hold up the guns
and frame. The guns are levelled by steam in the act of raising them so as to
fairly run out into their ports, their points being stopped by the side projecting
pieces 2 coming against the guides S, whilst the height to which the gun
frame rises may be definitely regulated by the contrivances at c, d¹ and e¹, and
the valve rod b'. The tower may be cylindrical, conical, or dome shaped, or
parts of each, as may be preferred. To prevent the piston heads from striking
against the ends of the cylinders, should these heavy weights by any accident
be suddenly thrust upon the pistons, the steam ports are so arranged as to
prevent all the steam from leaving the cylinder, thereby always leaving a
cushion of steam. If one cylinder should not be deemed sufficient to raise
and lower the guns, or the guns and tower, two or more may be used. The
cylinder H may be stationary, and the tower revolve around it, and yet
accomplish the intended object, viz, raising and lowering the guns, and the
tower, or both, in which case the cylinder would be connected with the bottom
of the vessel. Although the Invention has only been described as applied to
vessels, yet it can be used in forts or for land fortifications.
Having thus fully described the Invention which has been communicated
to me as aforesaid, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent.
First, the arranging upon the rotating bed or base of a gun tower, the steam

page_text: cylinders, and the necessary appliances for working them, so that the tower
with the guns and their carriages shall turn with the tower as set forth.
I also claim connecting the gun carriages with the piston or piston rod of
steam cylinders, so that the guns may not only be run out of their ports or
back into the tower by steam power, but that the recoil of the guns when
they are discharged, may be taken up or counteracted by the steam in the
-cylinders.
I also claim making the gun tower in sections, so that the top section may
be lowered into the hold of the vessel as described.
I also claim levelling the gun in the tower (in the act of raising it) by
means of the projecting pin or stop piece placed near its muzzle in combina-
tion with the guide on the tower, so that a very small port may be used.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane,
:
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)