An Improvement in Mantlets or Shields for Troops in the Field.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1900-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1900
An Improvement in Mantlets or Shields for Troops in the Field.
I, Captain ALBERT DONALD FURSE, of Glenwood, Chelverton Road, Putney,
Surrey, a Retired Army Officer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
I claim as my invention (a) a portable mantlet or shield in the shape of a
cylinder, drum or roller that can be easily taken to pieces in all its parts for
facility of transport, and easily moved in the field (3) the construction of such
a mantlet.
Preferably I should construct my mantlet in sections, each of which would
consist of a number of parallel wheels, hereafter called frame wheels, at a
certain distance apart from each other, and kept in their places by a common.
axletree.
Flexible steel plates would be fixed by means of screws round the tyres of
each two adjoining wheels. Thus a steel drum or cylinder would be constructed.
To increase the resistance of the mantlet, rigid steel plates would be so adjusted
as to form a vertical mantlet within the cylinder, being fixed by rings or other
similar contrivance to the axletree between each two frame wheels, and being
so balanced and weighted as to retain a vertical position. Thus three different
surfaces would be opposed to the enemy's fire.
To diminish friction in motion, two wheels of a somewhat greater diameter
than the frame wheels would be fixed one at each extremity of the axletree,
and perhaps a third one about the centre of the drum; and this last one might
be a trifle larger than the other two, so as to allow more easily of a change of
direction.
A rod fixed to the two extremities of the axletree, and passing along the
outward length of the drum, would serve as a handle to enable one or more
rows of men to push or draw the drum along. This rod might have one or
more horizontal rings to allow of poles being passed through them into the
ground so as to prevent the roller from being moved.
The number of the parts, their dimensions, and the material of which they
are constructed may vary according to circumstances, and do not form a material
part of my invention.
An Improvement in Mantlets or Shields for Troops in the Field.
I, Captain ALBERT DONALD FURSE, a Retired Army Officer, of Glenwood,
Chelverton Road, Putney, Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
Price 811

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
The object of this invention is to afford protection from the enemy's fire to
troops in the field. For this purpose I have devised a portable mantlet or
shield which consists mainly of the following parts: 1, A horizontal drum,
roller, or hollow cylinder, strengthened within by parallel vertical wheels here-
after called frame wheels, joined together at intervals, and kept in their
places by an axletree. 2. One, two, or more sustaining wheels of a diameter
somewhat larger than that of the drum, and joined by the same axletree as the
frame wheels. 3. A handle.
"
"
To these parts may be added an attachment for the protection of the men's
heads, as will be stated hereafter.
Preferably, I should construct the mantlet in sections, each of which would
consist of two or more frame wheels as above, at a certain distance from each
other, round which would be folded a sheet, or plates of the toughest steel, or
other suitable material, firmly fixed by means of screws, nuts, or some similar
device. Thus the drum or cylinder would be constructed.
To diminish friction in motion as much as possible, the cylinder as above
constructed would be raised above the ground, and sustained by a wheel in the
centre of the cylinder, wheel-barrow fashion, or by two wheels, one at each
extremity of the cylinder, or by one at each extremity and one in the centre.
In any case, the wheel or wheels would be of a somewhat greater diameter than
the cylinder, and fixed to the same axle as the frame wheels, but detached from,
and independent of the cylinder. Preferably, I should use two such sustaining
or carrying wheels, one at each extremity of the cylinder; and, in order to afford
sufficient protection to the men's bodies, and at the same time to allow of a
double tier of fire while on the halt, I should fix by preference the diameter of
the cylinder at three feet four inches, and that of the sustaining wheels at five
feet eight inches, thus leaving a space of one foot two inches between the
cylinder and the ground.
In order to push the mantlet forward, or to draw it away, a rod bent in the
shape of three sides of a square, and the two ends of which would turn round
the axle tree at the two extremities of the cylinder, would serve as a handle,
much in the way of the handle of a garden roller.
In order to render the mantlet more portable, it might be so constructed that
every one of its parts could be composed of several pieces easily detachable.
By making the top portion of the cylinder detachable, the mantlet could be
turned into a cart to carry provisions, ammunition, or even a wounded man
suspended within on a hammock; while if the portion of the handle running
parallel to the cylinder were so constructed as to have one or more vertical
holes in it, these could be utilized either for harnessing one or more draught
animals to the cart, or to render the mantlet immovable while on the halt by
passing rods through the holes and into the ground.
In action, the cylinder is made to turn with the axletree, while on the road
it is freed from the action of the axletree, so as not to revolve. This can be
done by means of a couple of screws.
To increase the power of resistance to fire of the mantlet, rigid plates of steel
or other suitable material might be so adjusted as to form a vertical shield
within the cylinder.
To obtain protection for the men's heads, a sheet, or plate of steel or other
suitable material could be kept above the cylinder by two rods running along
its sides, and produced downwards so that their extremities might turn round
the extreme ends of the axle tree of the mantlet. The plate or sheet should be
kept in a slanting position by two other rods fixed obliquely to the side portions
of the handle. The plate should be so fixed as to allow a little horizontal space
between its own lower extremity and the top of the cylinder, for the men to
see through.

page_text: By detaching the oblique rods fixed to the handle, the plate or sheet would
be left free to revolve in a circular direction round the axle of the cylinder
either forward or backward. It could thus be lowered in front so as to form
a foot screen, or protection for the men firing from below the cylinder; or by
lowering it in rear to the level of the handle, it could form a seat for a
driver, or for wounded men.
The invention is fuly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the mantlet, with protection for the head, while
on the halt.
Fig. 2 is a profile of the mantlet showing various adaptations of the head-
cover shield.
In both figures
a represents the horizontal drum, roller or hollow cylinder, which forms the
body of the shield.
represents two sustaining wheels.
c represents the handle.
represents the attachment for the protection of the men's heads. In Fig. 2,
is shown in three positions, viz. as d, as head-cover for the men's heads;
as, as cover for a lower tier of men firing prone; as 2, as a seat for a driver,
or for wounded men, if the mantlet were adapted as a cart.
g represents the oblique supports of the head-cover attachment d.
The number of the parts, their dimensions, and the material of which they
are constructed may vary according to circumstances, and do not form a material
part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
(a) A portable mantlet or shield in the shape of a drum, roller or cylinder,
that can easily be moved in the field.
() A mantlet or shield as above that can be converted into a cart.
(c) The construction of such a mantlet, and also of an attachment for afford-
ing head protection to the men.
Dated this 20th day of Santomban 1000