IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS."-A communication from
abroad by Charles Otis Holyoke, residing at Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
Sealed the 4th April 1865, and dated the 15th February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th February 1865. .
İ, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS," to be as
follows:-
The system of defensive armour in most general use consists of flat plates
(that is, such as simply conform to the contour of the surface of the structure
on which they are laid) on flat backing and with flat facing, if any. A pro-
jectile striking such armour delivers its full force on a very small point of the.
surface, and is diffused over and resisted by a proportionally small portion of
the backing; but notwithstanding so small an amount of material is opposed

page_text: to the blow, even that is placed at the worst possible mechanical disadvantage
for the service to be done, being exposed to "cross strain," so that in opposing
a blow the back part of the material bears a tensile strain, and the outside is
compressed and pushed against the back part, thus serving as a fulcrum over
which to break the backing. Various forms of corrugated or thin curved
plating have also been tried or suggested, but seem to offer little, if any,
advantage over the ordinary system above described.
The Invention consists of metallic beams or bars of arched form in cross
section, firmly bolted or otherwise secured to the face-of the structure, and
securely connected with one another to guard against their lateral displace-
ment, and placed so near to each other as to oppose the entrance of a projectile
in the space between them. I thus avoid the ordinary mistake of placing
material of equal thickness over the whole structure, and mass the material in
such a way that a much larger portion of it is opposed to a blow than in the
ordinary system; besides which the arching of the beam serves to greatly
strengthen it, putting all the material in a state of compression under a blow,
besides diffusing the force of the blow over a very much larger surface than
does the ordinary plating, and consequently over a correspondingly large
amount of the backing; thus the strength and weight of a much larger and
better disposed mass of material is opposed to any blow than in the ordinary
system of armour, consequently a much less weight of material in the aggre-
gate is required to successfully oppose a given blow than in the ordinary..
system, a consideration of the first importance, whether in sea-going vessels or
those for the navigation of harbours, rivers, and shallow waters.
The Invention also consists in constructing the backing of an arched form,
whereby its strength, stiffness, and consequent resistance to the crushing effect
of a blow are immensely increased, and which serves, moreover, to diffuse the
weight of the blow and convey or direct it against the mass of the decks,
floors, or partitions of the structure against which the backing. takes its
bearing, thus requiring a much less weight of backing for opposing a given
blow than in the ordinary system.
And the Invention further consists in facing the metallic plating with wood
arched in "cross laminations," (that is, with the fibres of each layer placed at
an angle with those of the adjoining layers,) which is again faced and built up
level with wood laid flatwise and "cross laminated," which facing serves to
resist and cushion" the projectile and diminish the force of the blow upon
the metallic plating.
To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my Invention
I will proceed to describe the manner in which it has been carried out.

page_text: Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the side of a vessel showing the con-
struction of the improved armour; Figure 2 is a vertical section through the
same; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same, the facing and two of the
arched metallic beams. or bars being removed to show the construction;
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same, the facing and one of the arched
metallic beams or bars being removed; Figure 5 is a view of one of the
arched metallic beams or bars detached; Figure 6 is a view of one of the
bolts by which the metallic beams are secured in place; Figures 7 and 8
represent a modification of the Invention.
In the said Drawings A represents the side timbers or ribs of a vessel;
B, the planking or "wales;" C, the upper deck; and D, the gun deck. To
the outside of the planking B are bolted, at equal distances apart, the tie-
bars E, which are placed vertically, and by means of the projections or
shoulders a, with which they are provided, serve to bear the chief weight of
the arched beams F, and also hold them against displacement from their
horizontal position from the wedging effect of a shot striking between two
beams F. The vertical spaces between these tie bars are filled in with
planking 6, brought up level with the plates c. These beams or bars F are of
iron or steel of an arched form in cross section, and are laid parallel to each
other and lengthwise of the vessel, and are made of such width as to fit
snugly between the projections a on the tie bars E. The plates c, of lead or
other yielding material, through which the arched beams F take a bearing on
the tie bars E, serve to "cushion" the tie bars from the concussion consequent
on a blow on the arched beams. The arched beams F arc secured to the
vessel by the heavy bolts d, which pass through the side of the vessel; these
bolts have elongated button-shaped heads e, as seen in Figures 3, 4, and 6,
which also show an increased thickness of the bolt just under its head, which
it serves to strengthen. These bolts d, being first, inserted with their heads
parallel to the arched beams F, are turned quarter way round, so as to cause
the bolt heads e to enter the notches or slots f (Figure 5) in the arched beams
F, the bolts are then tightened by the screw nuts h bearing against the washer
plates i, and the arched beams F are thereby brought to a solid bearing on
the plates.c and the wood planking b; the bolts d, when thus fastened in
place, are secured from turning by means of the blocks g driven in between
the bolt heads e and the shoulders a on the tie bars, as seen in Figures 3
and 4, which blocks g.also serve to give a bearing of one arched beam against
the next, being fitted snugly between them, thus combining their united
strength against lateral displacement. The bolts j, which secure the upper
edge of the top arched beam, coming as they do opposite the deck, are let
3

page_text: into the ends of the deck timbers just far enough to get a strong hold, when
they are secured by the screw nuts k inserted in the mortices l; m are con-
tinuations of the tie bars, which are returned on to the decks and firmly bolted
thereto in order to assist in holding the filling of the upper "spandril" n of
the arched backing in place. The backing G is constructed of an arched
form, the arch being sprung between the two decks C and D, on which it takes
a bearing, and is composed of "cross laminated" woodwork, the "spandrils"
between the arch, decks, and side of the vessel being made solid with "cross
laminated" woodwork firmly secured in place. The tie rods o in connection
with the bar p serve to hold the decks and "hips" of the arch G against any
outward thrust they may receive from the force of a blow received on the
arched iron beams F, and they also assist in holding down the ends m of
the tie bars where they are returned on to the deck; in a similar manner the
rods 10 serve to hold together the feet of the arch against any outward thrust
from the effects of a blow on the arched beams F. By thus arching the
backing against the side of the vessel or structure its resistance to pressure or
the crushing effect of the blow of a projectile are greatly increased, while at
the same time the whole side of the vessel is materially strengthened against
all other strains, and no knees will be required; and by thus constructing the
backing G of "cross laminated" instead of straight woodwork, it serves further
to diffuse the force of a blow along the sides of the decks in proportion to the
distance apart of the ends of the pieces crossing each other at the point
struck; the arched backing may, however, be constructed of wood with the
fibres running parallel instead of being "cross laminated," or of wood "inter-
laminated" with iron, or may be constructed in any other suitable manner.
The plating B under the tie bars is grooved out longitudinally, as seen at g,
for nearly the width of the inside span of the arched beams, in order to secure
that part of the tie-bar from being pressed against the wood, and thus deflected
from a straight line in case the other parts of the bar were pressed into the
wood by the force of a blow on the arched metallic beams F. The beams F
are faced with arched "cross laminated" woodwork H, which is held in place
against them by means of the wedge-shaped bars r, which are laid lengthwise
of the vessel opposite the space between the arched beams and fastened to
the shoulders a of the tie-bars E by the screw bolts s (Figure 2), which screw
into said shoulders. The arched "cross laminated" facing is then built up to
a level surface with flat "cross laminated" woodwork or facing I, so as to
present a smooth and even exterior surface, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. By
thus constructing the facing of "cross laminated" instead of straight wood
work, as heretofore practised, it is rendered more homogeneous in its substance

page_text: and is less liable to be split under the blow of a projectile; furthermore, the
arrangement of "cross laminated" facing in an arched form serves to offer
additional resistance to the penetration of a shot, as the force of the blow is
diffused through and resisted by a large amount of material.
In Figures 7 and 8 is represented a modification of my Invention, in which
domes J of an arched form in cross section, similar to the beams F, are
employed; these domes may be round or polygonal on plan, or of any suitable
form, and are secured against lateral displacement by the tie plates t, and to
the side of the vessel by heavy bolts, in a similar manner to that described for
the arched beams F, and the whole is then covered in a similar manner with
"cross laminated" wood facing, the tie plates t being provided with shoulders u,
and bolted to the side of the vessel or structure in a manner similar to the
tie bars E. I consider this arrangement, however, the equivalent of the
arched beams first described. If preferred, the arched facing may be com-
posed of layers of "cross laminated" wood alternating with layers of iron or
any tough material, such as dry raw hide, or dry raw hide or other tough
material may be substituted entirely for the cross laminated" wood. The
arched beams F also may be of variously modified construction, as either
simply rolled to shape directly from the "bloom," or rolled or hammered from
a "pile" made of "cross laminated" iron, or built up of plates "cross
laminated" or not and bolted together, or may be built in any other suitable
manner; the beams may be also additionally strengthened by a plate bolted
or welded to the feet of the arch.
a
On a projectile striking the armour at the point 11, as seen in Figure 2,
the "cross laminated" wooden facing serves to resist and "cushion" the face
of the projectile, thus lessening the severity of the blow on the arched beam F,
which by means of its arched form diffuses the force of the blow over a space
corresponding to the width of the beam when it is received by the arched
backing G, and in like manner is again diffused and conveyed against the
sides of the decks, which constitute the chief support of the sides of the vessel.
When a projectile strikes opposite point between the arched beams F it is
first resisted and "cushioned" by the wooden facing, and on entering which it
is opposed by the wedge-shaped bar r, which on being forced inwards tends
to compress the arched wooden facing on which it rests against two of the
arched beams F, and is resisted by their combined strength, and the force of
the blow is diffused over a space corresponding to the width of both beams,
and thence to the backing G, as before explained. It will thus be seen that.
by disposing the material in massive arched beams with arched backing, as
above described, it offers a much greater amount of resistance with a given

page_text: weight of armour to the impact of a projectile than when the material is laid
flatwise, the comparative lightness and strength of this system of armour
particularly adapting it to vessels for ocean navigation, or for that of harbours;
rivers, and shallow waters.
I do not confine myself to the precise method herein described of connecting
the beams F by means of the tie bars E and securing them in place by the
bolts d, as it is evident that other means may be employed to effect these ends
without departing from the spirit of the Invention. I have heretofore spoken
of the arched beams F as placed lengthwise of the vessel, but it is evident
that they may be placed vertically or in any desired direction or position..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special license that I, the said George
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS," being a com-
munication to me from abroad by Charles Otis Holyoke, a person resident
at Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, by an instru-
ment 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) —
Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of the side of a vessel showing the construction
of my improved armour; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same; Fig. 3 is
a perspective view of the same, the facing and two of the arched metallic beams
or bars being removed to show the construction; Fig. 4 is a front elevation
of the same, the facing and one of the arched metallic beams or bars being
removed; Fig. 5 is a view of one of the arched metallic beams or bars
detached; Fig. 6 is a view of one of the bolts by which the metallic beams
are secured in place; Figs. 7 and 8 represent a modification of my
Invention.
The .system of defensive armor in most general use consists of flat plates
(that is, such as simply conform to the contour of the surface of the structure
on which they are laid) on flat backing and with flat facing, if any.
A pro-
jectile striking such armour delivers its full force on a very small point of the
surface, and is diffused over and resisted by a proportionally small portion of
the backing; but notwithstanding so small an amount of material is opposed
to the blow, even that is placed at the worst possible mechanical disadvantage
for the service to be done, being exposed to "cross strain," so that in opposing
a blow the back part of the material bears a tensile strain, and the outside is
compressed and pushed against the back part, thus serving as a fulcrum over
which to break the backing. Various forms of corrugated or thin curved
plating have also been tried or suggested, but seem to offer little, if any;
advantage over the ordinary system above described.
My Invention consists of metallic beams or bars of arched form in cross
section, firmly bolted or otherwise secured to the face of the structure, and
securely connected with one another to guard against their lateral displace-
ment, and placed so near to each other as to oppose the entrance of a projectile
in the space between them. I thus avoid the ordinary mistake of placing.
material of equal thickness over the whole structure, and mass my material in
such a way that a much larger portion of it is opposed to a blow than in the
ordinary system; besides which the arching of the beam serves to greatly
strengthen it, putting all the material in a state of compression under a blow,
besides diffusing the force of the blow over a very much larger surface than
does the ordinary plating, and consequently over a correspondingly large
amount of the backing; thus the strength and weight of a much larger and

page_text: better disposed mass of material is opposed to any blow than in the ordinary
system of armour, consequently a much less weight of material in the aggre-
gate is required to successfully oppose a given blow than in the ordinary
system, a consideration of the first importance whether in sea-going vessels or
those for the navigation of harbors, rivers, and shallow waters.
My Invention also consists in constructing the backing of an arched form,
whereby its strength, stiffness, and consequent resistance to the crushing effect
of a blow are immensely increased, and which serves, moreover, to diffuse tho
weight of the blow and convey or direct it against the mass of the decks,
floors, or partitions of the structure against which the backing takes its
bearing, thus requiring a much less weight of backing for opposing a given
blow than in the ordinary system.
And my Invention further consists in facing the metallic plating with wood
arched in "cross laminations," (that is, with the fibres of each layer placed
at an angle with those of the adjoining layers,) which is again faced and built
up level with wood laid flatwise and "cross laminated;" which facing serves
to resist and "cushion" the projectile and diminish the force of the blow upon
the metallic plating.
To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my Invention
I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.
In the said Drawings A represents the side timbers or ribs of a vessel;
B, the planking or "wales;" C, the upper deck; and D, the gun deck. To
the outside of the planking B are bolted, at equal distances apart, the tie bars
E, which are placed vertically, and by means of the projections or shoulders a
with which they are provided serve to bear the chief weight of the arched
beams F, and also hold them against displacement from their horizontal
position from the wedging effect of a shot striking between two beams F.
The vertical spaces between these tie bars are filled in with planking b, brought
up level with the plates c. These beams or bars F are of iron or steel of an
arched form in cross section, and are laid parallel to each other and lengthwise
of the vessel, and are made of such width as to fit snugly between the pro-
jections a on the tie bars E. The plates c, of lead or other yielding material,
through which the arched beams F take a bearing on the tie bars E, serve to
"cushion" the tie bars from the concussion consequent on a blow on the
arched beams. The arched beams F are secured to the vessel by the heavy
bolts d, which pass through the side of the vessel; these bolts have elongated
button-shaped heads e, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, which also show an
increased thickness of the bolt just under its head, which it serves to
strengthen. These bolts d, being first inserted with their heads parallel to the

page_text: arched beams F, are turned quarter way round, so as to cause the bolt heads e
to enter the notches or slots f (Fig. 5) in the arched beams F; the bolts are
then tightened by the screw nuts h bearing against the washer plates i, and
the arched beams F are thereby brought to a solid bearing on the plates c
and the wood planking 6; the bolts d, when thus fastened in place, are secured
from turning by means of the blocks g driven in between the bolt heads e and
the shoulders a on the tie bars, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, which blocks g also
serve to give a bearing of one arched beam against the next, being fitted
snugly between them, thus combining their united strength against lateral
displacement. The bolts j, which secure the upper edge of the top arched
beam (coming, as they do, opposite the deck), are let into the ends of the
deck timbers just far enough to get a strong hold, when they are secured by
the screw nuts k inserted in the mortices ; m are continuations of the tie
bars; which are returned on to the deck and firmly bolted thereto in order to
assist in holding the filling of the upper "spandril" n of the arched backing
in place. The backing G is constructed of an arched form, the arch being
sprung between the two decks C and D, on which it takes a bearing, and is
composed of "cross laminated" woodwork, the "spandrils" between the arch,
decks, and side of the vessel being made solid with "cross laminated" woodwork
firmly secured in place. The tie rods o in connection with the bar p serve to
hold the decks and "hips" of the arch G against any outward thrust they
may receive from the force of a blow received on the arched iron beams F,
and they also assist in holding down the ends m of the tie bars where they are
returned on to the deck. In a similar manner the rods 10 serve to hold
together the feet of the arch against any outward thrust from the effects of a
blow on the arched beams F. By thus arching the backing against the side
of the vessel or structure its resistance to pressure or the crushing effect of
the blow of a projectile are greatly increased, while at the same time the
whole side of the vessel is materially strengthened against all other strains
and no knees will be required, and by thus constructing the backing G of
"cross laminated" instead of straight woodwork it serves to render it more
homogeneous and less liable to split, and serves further to diffuse the force of
a blow along the sides of the decks in proportion to the distance apart of the
ends of the pieces crossing each other at the point struck; the arched backing
may, however, be constructed of wood with the fibres running parallel instead
of being "cross laminated," or of wood "interlaminated" with iron, or may be
constructed in any other suitable manner. The planking B under the tie bars
is grooved out longitudinally, as seen at q, for nearly the width of the inside

page_text: span of the arched beams, in order to secure that part of the tie bar from
being pressed against the wood and thus deflected from a straight line in case
the other parts of the bar were pressed into the wood by the force of a blow
on the arched metallic beams F. The beams F are faced with arched "cross
laminated" woodwork H, which is held in place against them by means of
the wedge-shaped bars r, which are laid lengthwise of the vessel opposite
the space between the arched beams, and fastened to the shoulders a of the
tie bars E by the screw bolts s, Fig. 2, which screw into said shoulders. The
arched "cross laminated" facing is then built up to a level surface with flat
"cross laminated" woodwork or facing 1, so as to present a smooth and even
exterior surface, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. By thus constructing the facing
of "cross laminated" instead of straight woodwork, as heretofore practised, it
is rendered more homogeneous in its substance and is less liable to be split
under the blow of a projectile; furthermore, the arrangement of "cross
laminated" facing in an arched form serves to offer additional resistance to
the penetration of a shot, as the force of the blow is diffused through and
resisted by a large amount of material.
In Figs. 7 and 8 is represented a modification of my Invention, in which
domes J of an arched form in cross section, similar to the beams F, are
employed; these domes may be round or polygonal in plan, or of any suitable
form, and are secured against lateral displacement by the tie plates t, and to
the side of the vessel by heavy bolts, in a similar manner to that described for
the arched beams F, and the whole is then covered in a similar manner with
"cross laminated" wood facing, the tie plates & being provided with shoulders u,
and bolted to the side of the vessel or structure in a manner similar to the
tie bars E. I consider this arrangement, however, the equivalent of the
arched beams first described. If preferred the arched facing may be com-
posed of layers of "cross laminated" wood alternating with layers of iron or
any tough material, such as dry raw bide, or dry raw hide or other tough
material may be substituted entirely for the "cross laminated" wood. The
arched beams F also may be of variously modified construction, as either simply
rolled to shape directly from the "bloom," or rolled or hammered from a" pile"
made of "cross laminated" iron, or built up of plates "cross laminated "
or not, and bolted together, or may be built in any other suitable manner;
the beams may be also additionally strengthened by a plate bolted or welded
to the feet of the arch. On a projectile striking the armour at the point 11,
as seen in Fig. 2, the "cross laminated" wooden facing serves to resist and
cushion "the face of the projectile, thus lessening 'the severity of the blow

page_text: on the arched beam F, which, by means of its arched form, diffuses the force
of the blow over a spaco corresponding to the width of the beam when it is
received by the arched backing G, and in like manner is again diffused and
conveyed against the sides of the decks, which constitute the chief support of
the sides of the vessel.. When a projectile strikes opposite a point between
the arched beams F it is first resisted and "cushioned" by the wooden facing,
and on entering which it is opposed by the wedge-shaped bar r, which, on
being forced inwards, tends to compress the arched wooden facing, on which
it rests, against two of the arched beams F and is resisted by their combined
strength, and the force of the blow is diffused over a space corresponding to
the width of both beams, and thence to the backing G, as before explained..
It will thus be seen that by disposing the material in massive arched beams
with arched backing, as above described, it offers a much greater amount of
resistance with a given weight of armour to the impact of a projectile than
when the material is laid flatwise, the comparative lightness and strength of
my system of armour particularly adapting it to vessels for ocean navigation,
or for that of harbors, rivers, and shallow waters.
I do not confine myself to the precise method herein described of connecting
the beams F by means of the tie bars E and securing them in place by the
bolts d, as it is evident that other means may be employed to effect these ends
without departing from the spirit of my Invention. I have heretofore spoken
of the arched beams F as placed lengthwise of the vessel, but it is evident that
they may be placed vertically or in any desired direction or position.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above-recited Letters Patent I claim the arched netallic beams F, constructed
and applied substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.
2nd, I claim the arched backing G, constructed and applied substantially
as described, for the purpose set forth.
3d, I claim the arched "cross laminated" facing H, constructed and
applied substantially as set forth, for the purpose described.
4th, I claim the flat "cross laminated" facing I, constructed and applied
substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.
5th, I claim the tie bars E with their projections a in combination with the
arched beams F, substantially as described.
6th, I claim the within-described system of defensive armour, consisting of
the arched backing G, arched metallic beams F, and "cross laminated"
facing H, I, the whole combined and applied substantially as set forth, for the
purpose specified.

page_text: 7th, I claim the domes J, constructed and applied. substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.s.)