Improvements in or relating to Armour.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Armour.
I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, Engineer, of 22 and 23, Laurence Pountney Lane,
London, E.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to armour plates or plating which may be applied to
motor cars, trains vessels and to all places where armoured protection is desired.
According to this invention a belt of armour plate in one or more sections is
provided, hinged or pivotted on an axis and behind each section an air, hydraulic,
spring or other cushioning device is arranged in such a manner that when a
projectile or shot strikes the armour, the force of the blow is distributed over
the whole section struck, and absorbed by the cushioning device.
An auxiliary hinged armoured extension is provided in certain cases, where
it is desired to vary the armoured area.
A motor car provided with armour plates constructed according to this invention
is provided with a belt of the armouring which extends from about the level of
the wheel axle upwards to a sufficient height above the floor level of the car to
protect the occupants. To the lower edge of this belt of armour are hinged
auxiliary armour-plates which in their lowered position extend to the ground
and then serve to entirely protect the wheels and propelling machinery of the
car. When raised by being moved about their hinges these plates lie flat against
the belt and in that position allow freedom of motion to the car even when on
uneven or soft ground.
Above the floor level of the car the belt of armour is pierced with slot-like
apertures through which quick-firing guns arranged preferably in two or more
tiers project, the slots being of such dimensions and shape as to allow of the
desired range of motion of the guns. Upon the guns and preferably outside
the fixed belt are attached shields of such a shape as to form a defensive cover
for the apertures through which the guns protrude. Suitable dimensions for
these shields to allow of motion of the guns in every direction to the extreme
limits of the apertures and yet to afford sufficient protection would be slightly
in excess of twice the dimensions of the respective apertures.
If desired the adjustable portions of the car armour may be so connected to
the propelling machinery or to the mechanism which controls the machinery as
to be automatically raised when the car is started or in motion and lowered when
the car is stopped or is at rest. It may however be manually operated indepen-
dently of the motive machinery.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1898.

page_text: I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, Engineer, of 22 and 23, Laurence Pountney Lane,
London, E.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to armour plates or plating which may be applied to
motor cars, trains, vessels and to all places where-armoured protection is desired.
According to this invention a belt of armour plate in one or more sections is
provided, hinged or pivotted on an axis and behind each section is, preferably,
an air, hydraulic, spring or other cushioning device arranged in such a manner
that when a projectile or shot strikes the armour, the force of the blow is dis-
tributed over the whole section struck, and is absorbed by the cushioning device.
An auxiliary hinged or sliding armoured extension is provided in certam
cases, where it is desired to vary the armoured area.
A motor car provided with armour plates constructed according to this invention
has a belt of the armouring which extends from a little above the level of the
wheel axle upwards to a sufficient height above the floor level of the car to
protect the occupants. At the lower edge of this belt of armour auxiliary
armour-plates are hinged, or arranged to slide in grooves; these extensions in
their lowered position extend to the ground and then serve to entirely protect
the wheels and propelling machinery of the car. When raised these plates lie flat
against the belt and in that position allow freedom of motion to the car even
when on uneven or soft ground.
These extensions or auxiliary armour plates may be raised or lowered by
means. of cords, chains or the like passing round pulleys and wound on a drum
which may be connected to the driving mechanism through a clutch.
The car may carry quick-firing or other guns projecting through apertures
in the armour-belt and carrying shields to protect the inside of the car.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of one end of a motor car fitted
with armour plates constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section of the car showing the plates in
position for defence.
Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 2 the top of the car being removed.
One method of applying this invention to a motor car, is as follows:-
The framework of the car is made exceptionally strong and consists preferably
of angle iron a covered by plating b. To the lower portion of this framework a
number of armour plates care hinged or pivotted by means of pins or rods d
passing through brackets on the frame. Curved rods e are bolted or rivetted
to the plates c and each is screw-threaded at its inner or free end and carries
two washers fg and a nut h. The washers f are oblong in shape, and are of such
size that they will pass through the slots i in the plating 6 when in a horizontal
position, but will lock when turned vertically. Suitable stops j, one fixed and
one loose are provided, to hold this washer f in a vertical position. The loose stop
preferably consists of a pin provided with a feather at one end and a head at
the other, the space between the head and the feather being approximately equal
to the thickness of the plating b. The pin passes through a hole in the plating b
which has a slot at one side corresponding to the feather on the pin, and is
retained in place by the feather when partially turned round. The fixed stop
may be rivetted to the plating b.
A spring k is coiled round each rod e one end bearing against the plate c and

page_text: the other against the washer f so that when the plates c are in the position shown
in Figure 2, on being struck by a projectile they will turn about the pin d. Thus
the force of the blow is expended over the whole area of the plate and absorbed
by the springs, instead of exerting its full power on the spot struck, as is the
case with rigidly-fixed armour-plates.
In order to protect the wheels and under part of the car, a hinged extension
is pivotted to the frame a preferably by the pins d. These plates 7 preferably
correspond in number to the plates and may be lifted up into the position
shown in Figure 1 when out of action, being lowered as shown in Figure 2 when
the car is under fire. They may be operated by chains or cables m attached as
at n near the lower edges of the plates and passing through holes o in the plates c
provided with anti-friction pulleys p, and thence round other pulleys inside
the car to a drum (not shown) operated by the motor which drives the car. The
chains or cables m from all the plates may be wound on the same drum; when
the plates are in the position shown in Figure 2, on revolving the drum, the
plates will first be drawn up flush with plates c and if the washers f be then
turned into a horizontal position and the drum further revolved, all the plates
and c will be brought into the position shown in Figure 1. When the plates / are
in their lowered position (Figure 2) they bear against springs r fixed to the
under side of the car.
The car may carry quick-firing guns s projecting through apertures t in the
armour plates c. The guns are preferably provided with shields u which protect
the openings t in whatever direction the guns are trained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Hinged armour with or without a cushioning device.
2. The combination with a vehicle of hinged armour with or without exten-
sions such as or cushioning devices.
3. The combination with hinged armour of rods e, springs k, and washers f,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The complete armoured car substantially as and for the purpose described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1899.