IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF FORTS AND FORTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BATTERIES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walker, of 25, City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF FORTS AND FORTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO FLOATING
BATTERIES."
Sealed the 27th June 1862, and dated the 1st January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
January 1862.
I, JOHN WALKER, of 25, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORTS AND FORTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE
TO FLOATING BATTERIES," to be as follows:-
The objects of these improvements are to construct forts and fortifications,
so that the guns or cannons may be fired with great rapidity against any object
or hostile vessels, and affording great security to the artillerymen when
loading and firing, by the continuous rotating motion of a floating fort.
The modes I adopt to carry out these Inventions are as follows:-First, I
construct hollow cylindrical forts floating in water within a fixed water-tight
tank, those tanks being placed and fixed in an outer vessel formed of iron or
other suitable materials of any desired shape for the purposes required. I
construct an outer vessel, as nearly fire and shot proof as possible, of suitable
materials; the form of this vessel I make to meet the several requirements
for its particular use. This vessel may be fixed in any desired position, or
allowed to float so as to rise and fall with the tide, or may be used as a
floating battery. Within this vessel I construct and fix one or more circular

page_text: water-tight tanks made of iron or other suitable material, and of sufficient
capacity to receive the aforesaid cylindrical hollow floating forts of the dimen-
sions to contain the number of guns intended to be used in such fort, the
outer casings of which floating forts I construct of iron or wood covered with
iron or steel plates of sufficient strength to resist shots or shells, and properly
pierced with the number of port-holes required, which plates are fixed to the
inner lining of the fort by driving down over them strong iron rings or hoops.
The roofs of these forts I make conical, covered with iron plates, same as the
sides, leaving an opening in the centre of the roof for the purposes of light
and ventilation. Inside of each floating fort I construct a strong floor level
with the line of water outside, of sufficient strength to carry the number of
guns intended to be used in the fort, so that shot so fired from the floating.
fort may skim the surface of the water, and strike the vessel as near her line
of floatation as possible. Through this gun room floor I make an opening
corresponding with the opening in the roof, and construct a cylindrical water-
tight tube of same dimensions, which is continued from the gun room floor,
through the bottom of the floating fort, and made water-tight, so that in the
event of any shot or shell falling through the opening in the roof, it may fall
direct into the water contained in the fixed tank, doing no injury to the
moveable fort or the men within it. In the lower part of such floating forts,
below the gun room floor, I construct the requisite magazine for powder and
shot, and apartments for the gunners and men attached to such fort. When
these floating forts are placed in the fixed tanks so prepared for them, which
tanks are filled with water, they are readily caused to rotate by simple
machinery at the speed that may be required by the gunner for any degree of
rapid firing, and as each gun is fired it passes round to be reloaded. To keep
these floating forts steady, and at the required level I use water as ballast,
contained in compartments, at the lowest part of such floating forts. By
adding to or withdrawing such water from these compartments, the floating
fort rises or falls to the desired height the gunner may require.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALKER, of 25, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send 35
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of January, 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 John Walker, Her special licence that I, the said John Walker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Walker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there;
after 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 "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORTS AND FORTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE
TO FLOATING BATTERIES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Walker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Walker, 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 (that is to say):-
-
My Invention relates to floating and other guns, towers, forts, and batteries
for war vessels, and fortifications or coast or harbour defences. The gun
towers or forts are constructed so as to rotate and rise and fall in water-tight
tanks; these tanks can be fixed on land, or formed in floating vessels, gun-
boats, or ships of war. I construct the ship or other floating vessel carrying
the forts so that it may be fixed to moorings in any required position, so as to
rise and fall with the tide, or, as an ordinary gun boat, and propel the same
by steam or other power, as may be required. I form these vessels with sides
shot-proof, and with decks shot and shell proof, or as nearly so as possible,
and the whole fire-proof. The rotary gun towers may be made of any
required dimensions, and to carry any number of guns, and each vessel may
contain one or more. I introduce the water-tight tanks, and place the gun
towers or forts therein for the purpose of obtaining an easy and speedy means
of rotation, thereby to obtain great rapidity of firing by bringing a number
of guns to bear upon the same point or object, as each is discharged in
succession as the tower turns, and also thereby to obtain security for the

page_text: gunners and men reloading and working the guns, and I combine the rotating
with the rising and falling principle for the purpose of enabling the gunners
to adjust the line of fire as near as may be to the water line so as to strike a
ship as near the water level as possible, and higher if necessary. This rising
and falling motion is effected by pumping water into or out of the tank; the
rising and falling principle admits of the tower being lowered on to a platform
formd in the bottom of the tank in the floating vessel so as to bring the
centre of gravity of the tower and vessel below the water line, and thereby
increase the stability when going-to a at sea; when the tower is raised the
water pumped in acts as ballast, and keeps the vessel steady under fire during
action. For propelling, the screw or other propeller may be used. When the
vessel and fort are required to operate at sea, I fit the vessel with one or
two powerful force pumps by which water can be forced out at either side at
the bows, and thus the head of the vessel be turned about as required so as
to keep the head in a direct line to an opposing ship or war vessel or battery.
By these pumps, or other suitable means at the bows, the head of the fort
vessel can be turned independently of the ruder, and if needed while at
anchor either at sea or in harbour. I divide the gun tower by a suitable
floor or deck of sufficient strength to carry the number of guns required, and
upon which they are intended to be mounted and worked. For protecting
the men and guns from shells, I form a cone-shaped roof shot and shell proof,
with an opening in the centre at the top for light and ventilation, and under
this opening I form an enclosed well hole down through the centre of the
tower, and through the bottom of the vessel open into the water below, so
that a shell falling into the opening in the roof would drop through the well
hole into the sea. For land batteries the tank may be formed of stone or
brickwork, or iron, or other material, and of sufficient depth in the well hole
to protect the tower from injury by shells exploding in the water below.
Between the gun deck and the bottom of the tower or fort I form the maga-
'zines for the required war material and stores. The diameter and depth of
the towers, and length and dimensions of the floating vessels carrying the
'same will vary according to the number and weight of the guns required to
be provided for. For a floating vessel to rise and fall with the side for
harbour and coast defences for, say 12 guns, a tower 40 feet diameter with a
'vessel 150 feet in length and 55 feet beam; for a vessel going to sea to carry,
say, 5 heavy guns, a tower or fort 30 feet diameter, vessel length 260 feet,
width of beam 40 feet. In land forts the tanks can be supplied from reser-
voirs, and if fitted with suitable outlets, the height of the towers could be
regulated by simply letting the water into or out of the tanks at pleasure.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature and object of my said Invention, I now
proceed to describe and explain the principle forms and mode of construction
I propose to adopt for carrying the same into effect. The general forms of
the said gun towers or forts, tanks, and floating vessels will be found delineated
upon the Drawing accompanying this Specification, which Drawing is laid
down to a geometrical scale. Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 13 respectively being
drawn to a scale of eight feet in an inch; and Figs. 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and
15 respectively, to a scale of four feet in an inch.
Figure 1 is a plan of the vessel and fort (over all); Figure 2 a side eleva-
tion thereof; Figure 3, end view at the stern; Figure 4, a transverse section
through the centre of the tower tank and vessel on the beam; Figure 5 a
transverse section shewing a modification of the said Invention; and Figure 6
another modification thereof, the tower being raised by an hydraulic ram c;
Figures 7, 8, and 9, plan, elevation, and section respectively of the 4-inch
armour plates; Figures 10, 11, and 12, also respectively plan, elevation, and
section of the 4-inch armour plates when timber or other filling is used. This
form is applicable to any war vessel or battery; Figure 13 shews the plan of
the mechanism for turning the tower round, hand or steam power being
applied thereto according to the force and speed necessary; Figure 14 shews
the mode of covering the deck of the vessel, and rendering it shot and shell
proof, and at the same time thereby affording perfect ventilation in all parts of
the hull; and Figure 15, the plan I propose to adopt for forming and sheathing
the hull of the vessel.
I make the gun towers or revolving forts for land or floating batteries of a
cylindrical form, or with polyginal sides, constructed of iron or steel armour
plates, rolled or beaten to the shape, and fitted as shewn in plan at t, t,
Figures 7 and 10, upon the Drawing, these I denominate the main armour
'plates, and I fix them in position by the vertical flanges w, and prongs,
these flanges and prongs are formed in one solid piece each by rolling or beating
the metal to the required shape in section as shewn at z, w, Figures 7 and 10,
with pieces cut out as shewn at S, S, S, S, Figures 9 and 12, having the
prongs Z, Z, for the purpose of bolts or ties, which are passed through the inner
plates U, U, of the tower in one case, and the skin of the vessel in the other,
when the length of these prongs is required to be greater than 9 inches, or
the rolled section, I propose to weld the additional length to them. If required,
I also intend to retain the web, and cut the prongs short by reducing the
size of the piece s, s, s, s, I make the thickness of the flange, and the thick-
ness of the main armour plates equal, or nearly so, and form a square rebait
in the edge or joint of the latter to receive the flange or long vertical head of

page_text: the prongs, or web and prongs, as the case may be, the inner plates u, u, are
pierced to receive the prongs, the ends of which are punched to receive
keys,, as shewn at Figure 12, or screwed to receive nuts q, q, as shewn at
Figure 9. The spaces v, v, between the armour plates and inner plates or
skin of the vessel are filled in with timber, with the grain at right angles to
the plates, which are then keyed up tight, making the whole compact
and solid. One object of this principle of construction is, that in the event
of the armour being losened or damaged by the enemy, it can be always
tightened up, or by slacking the keys and nuts, the damaged plates if required,
can be quickly taken out and replaced by new ones. The inner plates are
rivitted or fastened to T-iron, or bridge ribs and 9, Figures 7 and 10. In
the gun towers these ribs are carried down to form the frame of the under or
store compartment of the fort as shewn at Figure 4, and in the vessel as shewn
at Figure 15, to form the frame or ribs of the hull.
Another mode of fastening the armour plates on the outside of the gun towers
or forts which I propose to adopt when thick timber filling is required, is, by
making a number of strong iron rings or hoops, and passing them round the
tower (made slightly taper to receive them), and forced down over all from the
top by hydraulic or other power. (The armour plates and flanged prongs for
one tower or vessel, are all made to one and the same section exactly, so that
in the event of injury, the damaged part removed and replaced by a duplicate,
and the efficiency be thus quickly restored and maintained while at sea), the
timber filling is also intended to be all cut to an exact guage, so that repair
therein may be readily effected in the same manner without having to put
into port. I
propose to carry the armour as above described, or in a similar
form, entirely round the vessels which carry the forts as shewn at A, A,
Figure 2, and above and below the water line as far as may be found desirable
in practice, and for making the deck of such vessels shell proof, I propose to
cover it with bridge iron as shewn at p, p, Figure 14, and placed longways,
diagonally, or across the deck as shewn at p, p, Figure 1, leaving the
spaces o, o, at each end, or all round the vessel for ventilation, through the
hollows n, n, Figure 14. These bridge irons are bolted or screwed down to
the under framing or deck beams, (or they may be made to form the deck
beams themselves), and the spaces m, m, above filled in, and made level on
the surface with hard wood, timber, or other suitable material, so as to form
a proper even deck. In the centre or other part of these vessels I form the
water-tight tank or tanks for receiving the tower or towers, these tanks are
made with an open shaft in the centre, and are just as much larger than the
towers as to leave a narrow water space between the outside of the towers

page_text: and the inside of the tanks, and a similar waterway is left between the centre
shafts (forming the well hole) of the tower and tank before mentioned, and
shewn at 1, 1, 1, 1, Figures 1, 4, and 5. The towers thus floated and supported,
can be readily moved by a windlass and endless chain as shewn at Figure 13,
propelled by hand, or otherwise, and the guns 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Figures 1
and 2, by this means are brought to bear upon any object, being fired, reloaded,
and refired in rapid succession as before mentioned. I propose to construct
the hull of these vessels as shewn at Figure 15, the skin being formed of ribs
and covering plates, and 4-inch double T-iron rivetted on, or bolted through
the skin and ribs inside; between these flanges planking cut to the proper
length and guage is dropt in, and pushed or driven down to the keel, and so
on till each grooved space e, e, Figures 2 and 15 is filled up to the under side
of the armour, where a portion of one of the flanges is cut out to admit of the
planks being put in, when the planking is completed it is covered with a layer
of felt or other water-proof material, to prevent galvanic action, and the
whole is covered with a sheathing of copper or Muntz's metal, and the bull is
complete. To form a bulwark B round the deck, I carry up the bridge iron
ribs and drop standards into the openings as shewn at i, i, Figure 2, these
standards above the deck line, have also double flanges forming a groove
between which the pannels h, h, are dropt in, and thus the whole of the bulwark
can be removed for action, and be replaced as circumstances may require.
Along the after part of the vessel a covered way, shot and shell proof, is formed,
as shewn at Figures 1 and 3, giving access from the hull to the tower and
wheel, access to the guns and gun deck is obtained through the portholes of the
tower, and to the magazine and stores through the deck in the tower, which is
made to contain within itself all the necessary war material.
In order to give additional strength and support to the armour, a sole plated
and a strong angle-iron brackets are rivetted to the side of the hull, under the
projecting part as shewn at g, g, Figures 3 and 4. The spaces f, f, shewn at
Figure 4, are provided for giving access from the after to the fore part of the
hull of the vessel. The force pumps before mentioned for moving the head of
the vessel are placed in the position shewn at Figure 1, P, P, or as near the
stem as possible. The water is forced out through openings at the side (see
Figure 2), where it impinges against the quiescent water, and thus causes the
head to move to the right or left, and keep the stem of the vessel always
at right angles, or nearly so towards the enemy either in case of sudden
attack, or at any other time when it may be necessary to turn the vessel
"short round" in harbour, at anchor, or in motion.
Having now to the best of my ability fully explained the whole nature of

page_text: my said Invention, and described the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, I have to state that I do not hereby restrict myself to the precise
forms and dimensions shewn upon Drawings, nor do I confine myself to the
exact arrangement thereby indicated, or herein described absolutely, but include
all such modifications in form, dimensions, arrangements, and construction as
may be, so long as such modifications are identical in principle with my said
Invention and improvements, that is to say,―
First, constructing floating vessels or batteries, or structures, so that they
may contain one or more forts or gun towers revolving in or by water, and
rising or falling in or by water in a tank or other suitable structure, formed
in or by such vessel or structure.
Secondly, armour plates, forged, rolled, or planed, formed and fitted as
described, and of all dimensions.
Thirdly, solid flanged, or flanged and webbed prongs, forged, rolled, or
planed, and cut in the form described with square, and keyed, or with round
and screwed ends, and of all dimensions.
Fourthly, moving the head or stern of the ship or vessel "short round" by
a force pump or other power for the purpose specified, or for steering.
Fifthly, the mode of forming timber, and sheathing the hulls, decks, and
roofs of vessels as described.
And, lastly, the bridge-shaped ribs for vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Walker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN WALKER. (L.S.)