IMPROVE MENTS IN WAR SHIPS, FORTS, GUNS, AND ARMOUR, AND IN FITTING AND WORKING THEM
Year: 1866

page_text: · LETTERS PATENT to Charles Lungley, of Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, Naval Architect and Shipbuilder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN WAR SHIPS, FORTS, GUNS, AND ARMOUR, AND IN FITTING AND
WORKING THEM."
Sealed the 18th June 1867, and dated the 20th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Lungley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
December 1866.
I, CHARLES LUNGLEY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Naval
Architect and Shipbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WAR SHIPS, FORTS, GUNS, AND ARMOUR, AND IN FITTING
AND WORKING THEM," to be as follows:-
I fit war ships with a movable prow or spear so as to form a ram and to
house when not required, and thus do away with the projection when not
required; I fit this with or without a piston in addition to the ram, and [
have the ram or spear well backed either with stops of iron, or wood, or elastic
material or water, and fitted with pumps to force in or out; this may be made
of use to clear the spear or otherwise. I also fit shot-proof coamings to
form parts of masts or means of exit; on these I carry up the masts, have
them of sufficient size where required to be self-supporting, and diminish
them in thickness and diameter, and fit in them or alongside of them tubes for

page_text: 33
ventilation; I also fit in them steps or ladders with platforms for "conning,"
for riflemen, or others; these may be made to hinge or house in whole or in
part in the ship's hold.
The gear for working the canvass I also put inside
to work the canvass and yards. I also put to these masts half yards and
-gaffs,-which-may--be set easily and be hinged and jointed at the upper part
and to a ring or part of a ring so that the sails may go round to the side of
the mast or where required, and so that two sails may be set to form or so s
to answer for a square sail; I also make the sails so that they may be reefed
by lines placed horizontally on the sail to lead to the masts and worked from
the deck, the haulyards being placed nearly horizontally on the sail or by a
rolling mast, or round a perpendicular or horizontal boom.
Where I fit a balanced or other form of rudder, I make a slot in the
support at the bottom, and have a stop on the heel of the rudder, so that this
stop may be entered at any time through the slot by being put out of position
for entering, and when the rudder is put into the position required, with stops
to keep it so this stop will always keep the rudder from lifting, and in this
case I put the pintle of larger diameter than the slot, and I cover this pintle
with wood or metal so as to maintain the rudder in the position and keep it
from wearing away; I also fit to the post of the rudder a pin or pins to keep
the rddder from going over further than the angle required, and also to act as
a stop to prevent the unshipping of the rudder. In some cases I make the
rudders of elastic material protected and kept in form by joints, and fitted in
a slide to support it, and I support it by arms projecting with pulleys or rods
at the outer end so as to be worked by a rod, or chain, or rope through a
stuffing box in the vessel, and acted upon at the after part of the rudder. In
other cases I make the post or pintle so as to insert a rod with a stop under-
neath; and again, in other cases, I fit the pintle to the support of the rudder,'
and I make the rudder. post hollow and ship it over the pintle. In working
and placing the guns for these ships I fit trunks movable or fixed so as to
work round with or according to the elevation of the guns. I provide the
trunks with a valve to slide or lift or hinge in case of the trunks or ports
being fitted for working the guns through. I fit an elastic valve, a conical
form being preferred, made tight to the trunk or round the trunk or port
fitted with springs or guides to support it, and made to close tightly round the
gun so as to exclude the water and enable the gun to be pointed ready for
firing, and also to enable the gun to be varied in its direction; I also fit a
movable valve to the inside of the gun to keep out the water; I also fit the
ports with a sphere or part of a sphere to enable the guns to be fired either
in ships or forts, and at the same time form a port stopper; a plug can thus

page_text: be fitted and the sphere reversed when the gun is not in use, thus completely
stopping the port. In some cases I make the forts circular and work them on
a central pivot by screws or otherwise; I also make the guns to be used so as
to load at a distance from the breech, but so that if required they may still
remain in position; this I do by cutting out part of the guns to admit the
charge, and fit in a part to be secured with eyes and pins, or with rings or
clamps, and I provide two trunnions or supports with adjustable bearings; in
this case I have holes where required to let out any water from the guns or
to clear the guns, and also to allow of inserting an instrument to draw in the
charges for loading. I taper the point or outer end of the gun so as to allow
the gun to clear the valve easily and to upset the valve. In some cases
I fit a stuffing box round the gun to allow of its recoil and to keep the part
water-tight. I fix the guns on slides so that the guns may run in or out,
and as near to the line it is pointed at as possible; in some cases also I work
the gun from the breech, or partially so, by screws and racks connected to an
excentric. In some cases also 1 work the gun out with a large screw con-
nected to a capstan head or wheel, or connected so that a large amount of
force may be applied; and also in some cases I fit a balance weight for
working guns, and in some cases hydraulic pumps. I provide sighting
scuttles for the guns, and fit directors to the guns to correspond to the
directors fitted to the sighting scuttles. In the armouring of these vessels in
some cases I make patterns and make the plates of metal with ribs and pro-
jections at the back so as to get more resisting power with less weight than
is usual with ordinary made armour plates. 1 cast the metal of different
degrees of hardness, and afterwards anncal one or more sides so as to keep to
the degree of hardness required, and in some cases I secure the armour to the
ship or fort through tubes; in some cases also 1 fit longitudinal and vertical
ribs as supports at such distance apart as will suit the required strength.
For the armour of hatchways or coverings I fit the covers and grating
below the top armour, and under that I put covers free to lift and give
air below the armour; I also have water tables so as to keep liquid, fire,
or water from going below, and at the same time give ventilation, the water
and other matters being let off by small scuppers. Further, I have heavy
ports made to close sideways, or as may be desired, to shut over the gun when
being loaded, the supports or sides to be made to project at top and bottom;
this cover is worked for opening and closing by rods in a stuffing box and haul-
yards through the valves in the ports.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Lungley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, CHARLES
LUNGLEY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Naval Architect and Ship-
builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Lungley, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Lungley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Lungley, 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
WAR SHIPS, FORTS, GUNS, AND ARMOUR, AND IN FITTING AND WORKING THEM,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Lungley, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under or their,
or one 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-
'
IN
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Lungley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
I fit ships of war with movable prows or spears made to house when not
required for use; these prows or spears I fit with one or more pistons in
trunks or tubes with pumps to force the pistons in or out, and to get pressure
to resist the force to be acted against. I fit valves to the tubes or trunks to
withstand different degrees of pressure so that the blow may be eased and
not exert more force than the tube can bear. The pumps are so arranged
that they will act on the opposite side of the piston so that the spear or prow
can be drawn out from any object and house itself (see Figure 1). In these

page_text: ships or forts I fit shot-proof "coamings," and from these I carry up trunks
or masts made self-supporting and diminishing in diameter and thickness to
the upper end; in these trunks and masts I fit tubes to be used to get a
reverse current of air; I also fit them with ladders and platforms for
"conning," for riflemen, and others; these may be made to hinge or lower in
part or in whole. When used as a mast I fit the gear so as to work the
canvas from the inside when required, and fit half yards or gaffs which are
hinged and jointed so as to lower alongside the mast, and fitted on a ring so
as to work round the mast; or I also fit other rings round the masts to secure
the canvas so that the two sails may make or act as a square sail; the sails are
also made so that they may be reefed from the inside of the masts (see Figures
2 and 3).
Where I fit a balanced or other form of rudder to work without the ordinary
pintles and braces I make a slot in the keel or in the part giving support to
the rudder. I fit a stop or T pintle with a joggle to work under the reel or
supporting piece; to ship this into place I put the rudder out of position and
drop the T piece and pintle through the slot, and when the rudder is put into
proper position the T piece is across the slot and works under the supporting
part and keeps the rudder from unshipping; in this case I make the pintle
large and cover it with wood or metal to keep it from wearing away; I also
fit to the rudder post pins to keep it from working over too far; in some
cases I fit these rudders, or part of them, with elastic material fitted in
a groove with projecting arms as a guide, and rods and pulleys with
chains to lead inboard or up the rudder post so as to act upon the after part
of the rudder; in this case I make the after part of the rudder thicker (see
Figures 4 and 5).
In placing and working the guns in ships, forts, and batteries I fit trunks
either movable or fixed; when fixed I prefer to make them of a taper form
so as to allow of training for the gun; in these trunks I fit elastic tubes of
a conical form, or otherwise, to allow the guns to be worked through them in
any weather, and made to be self-closing when the gun is inboard; to these
elastic tubes which form valves I fit supports so as to keep them in form, and
I hinge these supports and secure them and the valves to the sides of the
trunks; these valves are also made sufficiently strong to resist rifle bullets,
(see Figures 6 and 9). In some cases I make the valve to hinge or slide
up, and I also fit a stuffing box round the gun secured to the sides of the ship
or trunk. In these valves when the guns are not required to be in position
I fit scuttles and gratings so as to give light and air; these valves I also pro-
pose to fit to the ordinary ports or openings for guns. In some cases i fit

page_text: movable trunks so as to guide the missile until it is clear of any substance
near the mouth of the gun. Where the guns are placed near the water I fit
a valve to the inside of the gun with a rod reaching to the projectile so that
the valve will clear the gun the instant the explosion takes place.
In some
cases I fit the openings for guns with a sphere of iron or elastic material so as
to enable the gun to be fired, and at the same time to form a port stopper; this
may also be used with advantage for small arms (see Figure 7.) When I fit part
of a sphere or circular fort or port I work it on a pivot or wheels, and by turning
it round according to the distance or width of opening in the side I bring the
opening for the gun inside of the ship or fort so as to protect the men when
loading or otherwise (see Figures 8 and 8"). When I cannot get room for a
pivot for training the guns I fix a bar or guide (as it were) to form the inside of
a large pivot, and this I fix to the sides or platform, and inside the bar I place
wheels to act as guides to the gun slide for training the gun, and keeping the
centre of training near the outside of the side of the ship or fort; this plan can be
used for any carriages (see A, Figure 9). I also fit a large screw or screws to the
slide in preference for working out the gun, and I connect a nut or nuts, or a
rack or racks, to the carriage so that by connecting the screw to a capstan or
any other apparatus to give power of turning the screw the gun may be worked
out to the desired position. The nut or nuts I make in two or more parts,
and when the gun is out I separate the parts by screws connected to the half
nuts, and thus release the screw, and leave the carriage free for the recoil of
the gun, the nuts are then closed, and the gun can be worked out again (see
Figure 10). When I use racks instead of the half nuts they may be thrown
out of gear by any convenient arrangement (sec Figures 10" and 10"). I
also, where practicable, fit a balance weight connected to strong springs or
buffers, or hydraulic gear, so as to keep off any sudden jerk; I secure these
springs, buffers, or gear to the weight by means of rods, chains, or ropes, and
I thus husband the force given by the recoil so as to use it for working out
the gun. I make the guns for these ships, batteries, and forts to load at any
distance from the muzzle, and I fit them with lugs or flanges to receive bolts,
pins, screws, or clamps, and I stop the opening in the guns by means of covers
or plugs, and secure them with bolts, screws, clamps, or by bars or pauls,
or shores made of an eccentric form so as to jam in the stoppings; I also
make holes in the guns to let out the water, and I stop these holes by an inside
valve; I make these guns with double trunnions and hollow casings, and I
cast or forge them so as to make them light, and so that 'the shrinkage may
take place as nearly equally as possible (see Figures 11 and 11); 1 also fit
sighting scuttles with an instrument for directing the lay of the gun, and I

page_text: make a corresponding instrument to be used on the gun, and I have points on
the gun to permit the instrument to be placed in position so as to do away
with the necessity of sighting through the opening or port for the gun. In
armouring and protecting these vessels I fit ribs of a dovetail form, or with
rabbets to the edges so as to hold in the wood or other backing, and I form
the armour plates or other protecting material with projections at the back
so as to gain more resisting power with the same weight, and also so that they
can be held in place with or without bolts. In some cases I cast these plates
from moulds to the form required; I cast them of any different degrees of
hardness, and anneal them as required. By making these plates and backing
of a diagonal form I am enabled to reeve or sweep them into place, and the
ribs in this case hold them in position; I fit these ribs over the whole struc-
ture, and make them form part of it when desired by using them as horizontal
strips and butt strips so as to connect the plates of the skin together, and I
make the edges dovetailed or with a rabbet, and I sweep or reeve in the wood
backing, and cover over the whole with plates of any degree of thickness, and
fasten them on with screws, nails, or bolts; these plates may be galvanized,
enamelled, or made of zinc or of any other suitable metal. Sometimes I secure
another skin over the wood backing (see Figures 12, 12º, and 12"). When
I fit additional fastenings I prefer to pass the bolts through hollow tubes, and
I fill up with elastic or other substance when the bolts are in place; also I
make the bolts with a continuous thread so that when hit the bolts will turn
in place. In the armouring of hatchways or openings for air or other pur-
poses I fit the "coamings" to any desired height, and I fit hinged covers below
at such a distance as will allow to be lifted up to admit of air; to the covers
I place large water tables to hold or turn off water or liquid fire, and to
prevent the water or liquid fire going below; I fit scuppers to these water
tables through the coamings, and I fit metal gratings over the top of the
covers so as to prevent shot or shell going below, and yet to allow of free
ventilation (see Figure 13). Further, I form covers for ports, by preference
with projections at the edges of the covers at top and bottom, and secure
them with strong lugs to the side, so that the projections of the edges may
with the lugs form the hinge for the cover to work upon, or I work them with
a large rod or shaft through the side to turn them into and out of position;
this rod I fit with a balance weight to counterbalance the weight of the port
cover so as to move easily out of or into position. The foregoing plans apply to
any existing ship's ports, batteries, and guns.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-

page_text: ments in War ships, Forts, Guns, and Armour, and in Fitting and Working
them,"
First, constructing ships with movable prows or spears, substantially as herein-
before described.
Second, constructing masts which are self-supporting, and fitted with or with-
-out-shot-proof coamings and means of exit, and with tubes, ladders, platforms,
half yards, and double gaffs with the gear to work them placed inside, substan-
tially as hercin-before described.
Third, constructing rudders with a slot and a stop at T pintle to prevent
unshipping, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth, constructing rudders elastic or partly so, and with gear for working
the same, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifth, covering the pintle of rudders with wood or metal to keep it from wear-
ing away, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixth, fitting trunks or openings with valves round the guns so as to keep
out the water, and enable the guns to be worked in any weather, substantially
as herein-before described.
Seventh, fitting these valves, constructed substantially as herein-before de-
scribed, to any openings or ports in ships.
Eighth, fitting openings for guns with a sphere or part of a sphere, and with
a circular fort to the sides of ships or forts so as to house the port or opening,
and form a port stopper, substantially as herein-before described.
Ninth, working the guns connected to a circular bar or hollow pivot so as to
bring the centre of the training of the gun to any desired part, substantially as
herein-before described.
Tenth, working out the gun with a large screw or screws connected to nuts
made in part to be moved so as to relieve the screw, or with a screw or screws
connected to a rack, the screws and gear being relieved by being taken out of
gear so as to allow the gun to recoil, substantially as herein-before described.
Eleventh, fitting guns with a balance weight connected to springs, buffers,
or hydraulic rams to husband the force of the recoil for working out the gun,
substantially as herein-before described. .
Twelfth, making guns for ships and forts with openings at any part of the gun,
and fitted so as to form stops, lugs, or flanges, and to receive clamps and secure
the openings with covers, plugs, bolts, bars, pauls, or screws to force and hold
them securely in place, substantially as herein-before described.
Thirteenth, making the guns with holes to assist in loading the gun, fitted with
valves to clear the gun of water, and with a valve fitted to the mouth of the gun
connected to a rod, or otherwise extending to the charge or projectile so as to

page_text: close the mouth of the gun the instant explosion takes place, substantially as
herein-before described.
Fourteenth, fitting double trunnions to the guns, and making the casings of
the guns hollow.
Fifteenth, fitting a directing instrument to the gun, and a sighting scuttle for
pointing the gun, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixteenth, fitting ribs inside and outside the ship, and where practicable mak-
ing the outside ribs or plates form part of the connection for the plates of the
hull; the ribs supporting and holding on the wood backing and covering, with-
out or with fastenings, as herein-before described.
Seventeenth, reeving and sweeping the wood covering into place, so as to
support plates of metal or other protecting substance when bolted, nailed, or
screwed on to the wood coverings, and also to support the plates when rove
and swept into place, without or with fastenings put through hollow tubes or
trunks, as herein-before described.
Eighteenth, making the plates of such form as to give strength with less
weight, and so as to be self-supporting, and making them of different degrees
of hardness, and annealing them as required as hercin-before described.
Nineteenth, armouring hatchways, and fittings, covers and gratings, so as to
get ventilation, as herein-before described.
Twentieth, covering the ports from the outside with a strong cover secured
to large clamps on the outside, and worked by rods, spindles, and ropes, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Lungley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
CHARLES LUNGLEY. (L.s.)