IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARMOUR PLATES." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Marrel
Brothers, of Rive-de-Gier (Loire), in the Republic of France, Iron Masters.
Sealed the 16th February 1877, and dated the 21st November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
A communication from abroad
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATES."
by the Firm of Marrel Brothers, of Rive-de-Gier (Loire), in the Republic of France,
Iron Masters.
This Invention consists in the construction of armour plates of steel or other cast
metal with wrought-iron cores.
In carrying out this Invention the plates are cast hollow, that is to say, with a
series of holes, and after being removed from the ingot mould or casting mould
wrought-iron cores are introduced into the holes thus left in the mass; the slab is
then placed in a furnace and reheated to be forged under a hammer or a press, or
simply rolled into the required finished shape. The slab may moreover be heated
to welding heat or a red heat only, according as it is required to render the iron
bars or cores more or less adherent to the mass.
It is obvious that the forms and dimensions as well as the number of the wrought-
iron cores introduced into the armour plates of cast metal may be varied as
required. For example, the cores may be of a round, half round, or square, or any
other suitable sectional form.
One face of the armour plate may be made convex externally, if desired, in order
to facilitate the deflection of projectiles on coming in contact with the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
May 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex.
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATES." A communication from abroad
by the Firm of Marrel Brothers, of Rive-de-Gier (Loire), in the Republic of France,
Iron Masters.
The said Invention consists in the construction of armour plates of steel or other
cast metal with wrought-iron cores.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents an elevation partly in section of an armour
plate constructed according to the said Invention, and Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the same.
A is the plate which is cast hollow, that is to say, with a series of holes, into
which after the plate is removed from the ingot mould or casting mould wrought-
iron rods or cores are introduced; the plate thus prepared is then placed in a
furnace and relicated to be forged under a hammer or a press, or simply rolled into
the required finished shape. The plate may moreover be heated to welding heat or
red heat only, according as it is required to render the iron rods or cores b more or
less adherent to the mass.
It is obvious that the forms and dimensions as well as the number of the wrought-
iron cores introduced into the armour plates of cast metal may be varied as
required.
In the Drawing the cores are represented as constructed of a round shape, but
they may be made of a half round, or square, or any other suitable sectional form.
One face of the armour plate may be made convex externally, if desired, in order
to facilitate the deflection of projectiles on their coming into contact with the same.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the construction of armour plates of steel or cast metal with
wrought-iron cores, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set any hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
J. HI
HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)