IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARMOUR
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles James Richardson, of No. 84, Kensington
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Royal Institute of
British Architects, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARMOUR
Sealed the 2nd August 1861, and dated the 9th February 1861..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles James Richardson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th February 1861.
I, CHARLES JAMES RICHARDSON, of No. 84, Kensington Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARMOUR OR
METAL COVERING FOR IRON-CASED SHIPS OF WAB," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in applying such armour, not in the ordinary way
of flat iron plates, but in the form of shields of a projecting conical form having
broad slightly curved projecting lips or bases. I presume that shot striking
such shields, either in a vertical; straight, or oblique direction, will almost to
an entire certainty glance off and not penetrate the vessel, and that where
they pass along the surface of the shield their course will receive a curve or
inclination which will send them over towards the quarter from whence they
came.

page_text: The transverse sections of the shields at a moderate distance from the vessel
would be either oval or circular. The projections allowed to such shields
would be regulated by the greater or less obliqueness of the sides of the vessel
to which they were attached. Where they had a bold projection, their metal
covering (by preference of iron) need not be of uniform thickness. They can
be made of a size sufficient to cover two or more fighting decks, or placed in
two lines one above another. I prefer their width to be from centre to centre
of each pair of portholes, their height from the line of flotation to the level of
the top deck of such a vessel as the Warrior, the new iron-cased ship, but they
can be made so as to sink below the line of flotation, and as high as may be
considered necessary.
The form of the portholes piercing the shields I prefer being made either
circular or oval, and to have the same projecting lip or rounded base carried
round them as round the base of the shields.
The shields can be made either to form part of the construction of a ship or
vessel in combination with its framing, or they can be made so that they can
be taken off and applied at will.
The protective metal of the shields is securely backed by thicknesses of
timber both connected or fastened to an inner framework of iron, which may
either form part of the framing of the ship or vessel itself, or be securely
fastened to it.
Where it is necessary to take large bolts through the metal shields to the
framework of the ship I protect the heads of such bolts by large circular pro-
jecting bosses of iron, and I introduce these bosses on the flatter portions or
bases of the shields, so that they may aid in causing the shot striking them to
glance off or from the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles James Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
JAMES RICHARDSON, of No. 34, Kensington Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Charles James Richardson, Her special licence that I, the said
Charles James Richardson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles James Richardson, 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 Kingdoni
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARMOUR OR METAL COVERING FOR IRON-
CASED SHIPS OF WAB," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Charles James Richardson, 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 Charles James Richardson, 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
following statement, and by reference to the accompanying Drawings (that is
to say
My improvements consist in applying such armour not in the ordinary way
of flat iron plates, but in the form of shields of a projecting conical form,
having broad slightly curved projecting lips or bases. I presume that shot
striking such shield, either in a vertical, straight, or oblique direction, will
almost to an entire certainty glance off and not penetrate the vessel, and that
where they pass along the surface of the shield their course will receive a
curve or inclination which will send them over towards the quarter from
whence they came.
The transverse sections of the shields at a moderate distance from the vessel
would be either oval or circular. The projection allowed to such shields
would be regulated by the greater or less obliqueness of the sides of the vessel.
to which they were attached. Where they had a bold projection their metal
covering (by preference of iron) need not be of uniform thickness. They can
be made of a size sufficient to cover two or more fighting decks, or placed in
two lines one above another. I prefer their width to be from centre.to.centre-
of each pair of portholes, their height from the line of flotation to the level of
the top deck of such a vessel as the Warrior, the new iron-cased ship, but
they can be made so as to sink below the line of flotation, and as high as may
be considered necessary.

page_text: The form of the portholes piercing these shields I prefer being made either
circular or oval, and to have the same projecting lip or rounded base carried
round them as round the base of the shields.
The shields can be made either to form part of the construction of a ship or
vessel in combination with its framing, or they can be made so that they can
be taken off, and applied at will.
The protective metal of the shields is securely backed by thicknesses of
timber, both connected or fastened to an inner framework of iron, which may
either form part of the framing of the ship or vessel itself, or be securely
fastened to it.
When it is necessary to take large bolts through the metal shields to the
framework of the ship, I protect the heads of such bolts by large circular pro-
jecting bosses of iron, and I introduce these bosses on the flatter portions or
bases of the shields, so that they may aid in causing the shot striking them to
glance off or from the vsseel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 of the Drawing is an elevation of part of a ship's side, such a vessel
as the Warrior. a, a, are the shields; b, b, the broad slightly curved projecting
lips or bases; c, c, are the circular projecting bosses of iron placed where
necessary to protect the bolt heads; d, d, are the portholes; e, e, the line of
flotation. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 on the line A, B, it shews the inner
construction of the shield; f,f, is the backing of timber; and 9, an inner
framework of iron, to which the shield and the timber is securely fastened, the
frame itself being properly secured to the framework of the ship. Fig. 3 is a
section of Fig. 1 on the line C, D; this shews the thickness and curvatures
of the rim or base, together with those of the small shields above and below
the portholes; Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 1 on the line E, F.
In this example I consider the projection of the shield to be sufficiently
bold to allow its thickness to be only 3 inches, the thickness of the rim or base
being 6 inches.
Fig. 5 represents the side of a ship of greater obliqueness than the former
example; Fig. is a sertion of Fir. 5 on the line I, K; Fig. 7 is a section
of Fig. 5 on the line G, II; Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. on the L, M.
In this example I have supposed the portholes to be wider apart, so as to
permit circular shields instead of oval ones, as in the former example, Fig. 1;
the shield is of such bold projection as to allow its thickness to be reduced
to 1
or 2 inches. Compartment N of Fig. 5 shews the thick rim alone ;
h, a section of it.

page_text: Fig. 9 is a plan and section of the circular projecting boss; c, the section
taken through the centre.
Having now shewn the general nature and particulars of my Invention, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein set forth, either in the form, dimensions, strength, construction, or angle
of inclination of the shields; but what I claim as my Invention is, armour for
ships in the form of shields of a projecting conical form, having broad slightly
curved projecting lips or bases, together with the large circular projecting
bosses of iron for the protection of the bolt heads.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles James Richardson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
CHARLES JAMES RICHARDSON. (L.B.)