IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILITARY PROAL
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Rice Stack, late Captain in the 65th
Regiment of Foot, and Major of Brigade at Auckland, New Zealand,
now residing at Belgrave Villa, Finchley, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILITARY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Rice Stack
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the
24th August 1863.
I, FREDERICK RICE STACK, late Captain in the 65th Regiment of Foot, and
Major of Brigade at Auckland, New Zealand, now residing at Belgrave
Villa, Finchley, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILITARY BRIDGES,
PIERS, LANDING STAGES, AND ESCALADING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
military bridges, piers, landing stages, and escalading apparatus. For these
purposes each bridge, pier, landing stage, or escalading. apparatus is con-
structed longitudinally of two or more truss beams, and by preference, but not
of necessity, the upper and lower bars of the framed beams are of a curved
elliptical form, trussed with vertical trusses, and braced with diagonal rods or
bars. These parts are best made of iron, steel, or other light and strong
material, using as much as possible angle 'and T bars, in order to obtain
Stiffness and strength with lightness; but the whole may be of wood or partly
of wood and iron. The two or more trussed beams or frames are combined
together transversely, and the upper or lower parts of the combined beam

page_text: have a floor produced thereon by fixing thereto parallel fillets or narrow bars
of light wood or metal. The combined or framed beam is mounted near one
of its ends on an axle having two or more wheels, which may be readily
removed from and readily applied to the axle as occasion may require. At
that end of the beam which is mounted on the axle is applied a system of cross
bars, by which a number of men may be employed in pushing the beam
before them. Behind the axle and between it and the men employed in
pushing the apparatus a strong metal ball-proof shield is attached in such
manner as to protect the men, and also to aid in counterbalancing that part of
the machine which is beyond the axle. The shield is capable of being
retained in an inclined position, so as to cover the men who are behind it, and
it is also arranged to turn on axes, or otherwise, in such manner that when the
apparatus has been run into position the shield may be lowered, so as to form
an inclined platform, up which the men may more readily ascend to the-upper
surface of the framed beam. . In some cases four wheels are employed, and
provision is also made for harnessing horses or other animals to the. front
axle of the apparatus.
In addition to the above, the machine is made in a form applicable for the
attack of stockades, New Zealand pahs, or walled defences, even without
breaching, by means of jointing the beams or bars supporting the footway, so
that an inclined roadway will be made up to and down from the wall or like
defences into the enemies' stronghold. This is accomplished by means of
upright standards in or near the centre of the beam, which support wire or
other flexible ropes or jointed bars .attached to the ends of the beam, which
act as suspension or tie ropes or rods during the operation of conveying or
pushing the machine forward. When run into position, the ropes.or bars are
loosened, so as to allow the ends of the beam to fall, leaving a platform in the
middle, so as to enable any number of troops to ascend at one end and descend
at the other end of the beam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed s
by the said Frederick Rice Stack in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
RICE STACK, late Captain in the 65th Regiment of Foot, and Major of
Brigade at Auckland; New Zealand, residing at Belgrave Villa, Finchley, in 3
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-thee, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Frederick Rice Stack, Her special licence that I, the said
Frederick Rice Stack, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Frederick Rice Stack, 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 Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MILITARY BRIDGES, PIERS,
LANDING STAGES, AND ESCALADING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Frederick Rice Stack, my executors. or adminis-
trators, 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 Frederick Rice Stack, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
military bridges, piers, landing stages, and escalading apparatus. For these
purposes each bridge, pier, landing stage, or escalading apparatus is con-
structed longitudinally of two or more truss beams, but not of necessity; either
or both the upper or lower bars of the framed beams may be of a curved
elliptical form, trussed with vertical trusses, and braced with diagonal rods or
bars of any suitable material. These parts are for some purposes best made
of iron, steel, or other light and strong material, using as much as possible
angle and T or tubular bars, in order to obtain stiffness and strength with.
lightness; but the whole may be of wood, or partly of wood and iron. The
two or more trussed beams or frames are combined together.transversely, and
the upper or lower parts of the combined beam have a floor produced thereon
by fixing thereto parallel fillets of wood or other adaptable materials; or narrow
bars, or plates of light metal, and even perhaps a platform of strong basket-.
work or wire netting might be maile suitable: The combined or framed beam
;

page_text: is mounted near one of its ends on an axle, with or without springs, having
two or more wheels, which may be readily removed from and readily applied
to the axle as occasion may require. At that end of the beam which is
mounted on the axle there may be for some purposes applied a system of
cross bars, by which a number of men may be employed in moving the beam
in the required direction. Behind or before the axle, or between it and the
men or horses, or other motive power employed in pushing or pulling the
apparatus, a strong metal ball-proof shield is attached when necessary in such
manner as to protect the men, and also sometimes to aid in counterbalancing
that part of the machine which is beyond the axle. The shield is capable of
being placed at any part of the machine, but preferred at a spot behind the
axle; other materials may be used as a counterbalance, and the mantlet or
shield may be either fixed or moveable. The shield is capable of being
retained in an inclined position so as to cover the men or other motive power
who are behind it, and it is also arranged to turn-on axes, or otherwise, in such
manner, that when the apparatus has been run into position, the shield may.
be lowered so as to form an inclined platform up which the men may more
readily ascend to the platform of the framed beams. In some cases four
wheels are employed, and provision is also made for harnessing horses or other
animals to the axle or other part of the apparatus. The machine can also
be made in such a manner that when not required for use or for transport
on board ships, it can readily be taken to pieces, and compactly stowed in a
small compass; for transport on land, it can either be taken to pieces or
folded within or upon itself, or slid within itself. The axles, wheels, and
shield may be so used as to form a sort of cart or wagon, into which all the
short lengths and other portions of the structure can be conveyed, and at other
țimes a pair of smaller wheels may be added, although an adaptation of only
one additional wheel, or if more convenient, the whole apparatus can be con-
veyed from place to place as a common cart, simply on its two wheels. In
addition to the above, the machine is made in a form applicable for the attack
of stockades, New Zealand pahs, or walled defences, even without breeching,
by means of jointing the beams or bars supporting the footway, so that an
inclined roadway will be made up to and down from the wall, or like defences,
into the enemies' stronghold. This is accomplished by means of upright
standards in or near the centre of the beam, which support wire or other
flexible ropes, or jointed bars attached to the ends of the beam, which act as
suspension or tie ropes or rods during the operation of conveying or pushing
the machine forward. When run into position, the ropes or bars are loosened,
so as to allow the ends of the beams to fall, leaving a platform in the middle,

page_text: so as to enable any number of troops to ascend at one end and descend at the.
other.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side view of one plan of an escalading apparatus, con-
structed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan thereof, partly in
section; Figure 3 shews a side view of the apparatus, prepared ready for
transportation; Figure 4 is a transverse section (on a larger scale) taken at
the line K, K, Figure 1. The same letters are used to indicate like parts
in all the Figures.
The apparatus is constructed longitudinally of two or more truss or other
beams, which are made up of several short pieces, and connected together by
the cover. plates a', a'; the upper and lower bars a, a, of which these pieces
are constructed may be of a straight or curved form, or the upper bar may
be straight, and the lower curved. These bars are shewn trussed with
diagonal braces, but other bracing may be used. Some parts of the apparatus
are constructed of angle iron, steel, or other material, in order to obtain
stiffness and strength with lightness. The two beams are combined trans-
versely by frames or diaphragms of angle steel or other material, and on the
upper bars of the two beams a, a, is laid the flooring b, which in the arrange-
ment shewn is constructed of fillets of wood, but other materials may be
employed for this purpose. These combined beams are mounted near one of
their ends on an axle c, on which are mounted the wheels d, d, for moving the
apparatus from place to place. The wheels d, d, are made so as to be readily
removed from the axle c, and as readily applied thereto. At that end of the
beam a, a, which is mounted on the axle c is applied a series of cross bars e, e,
by which the apparatus may be moved into position, an arrangement is made
for harnessing horses or other animals to the axle or other parts of the
apparatus. Behind or before the axle c, and between it and the enemy, is
applied a strong ball-proof shield f; in this case it is hinged at f¹ to the
beams a, a, in such a position as to protect the motive power used in moving
the apparatus. The shield is capable of being raised or lowered by means
of the wire rope g, which passes over the pulley h to the drum of the crab
or windlass i, applied as shewn in the Drawing. The shield also may serve
to counterbalance that part of the apparatus which is beyond the axle c; the
shield may be placed in any position; I, however, prefer to place it as shewn
in the Drawings. When the apparatus has been run into position, the shield

page_text: may be lowered into the position shewn by the red lines in Figure 1, it then
forms an incline, up which persons may readily ascend to the flooring which
is applied to the upper parts of the frames a, a. One end of each of the
beams a, a, may be formed of metal plates, which, when the other parts of
the apparatus are taken to pieces, may form the sides of a cart, on which
the apparatus may be transported from place to place. In order to pack the
apparatus for transport, the cover plates a¹, a¹, are removed, and each of the
pieces of which the beams a, a, are composed is placed within the cart, which
is also capable of containing the flooring, which is to be made so as to be
readily removed from the beams. Although in the arrangement shewn the
apparatus is capable of being taken to pieces, it will be evident that it may be
made to fold or slide within itself. In this arrangement, when the apparatus
is packed ready for transport, I apply one or two wheels in front, as shewn in
Figure 3. When it is necessary to run one apparatus over another, I removó
the wheels d, d, and apply a smaller pair placed nearer to each other.
Figures 5 shew some details, on a larger scale, of the crab or windlass for
raising and lowering the shield, and Figures 6 shew on the same scale the
frame for supporting the pulley h, the nature of which will be clearly under-
stood by reference to the Drawings.
Figures 7 and 8 shew two Diagrams of an apparatus, arranged according to
my Invention, suitable for the attack of stockades, New Zealand pahs, or
other walled or fenced defences, without first breaching them. In this
arrangement the two longitudinal beams are constructed in three parts k, l, m,
and hinged together at the parts n, o.
Figure 9 shews, on a larger scale, the part of the beam k; it is constructed
of angle iron or steel, or other material, and is capable of having wheels
applied to the axis, as in the former arrangement; it also has the crab or
windlass for raising and lowering the shield, and which also serves to raise
and lower the other parts of the beam I, m.
Figure 10 shews the two parts 2 and m of the beam. On the part is s
bolted, or otherwise secured, the standards or uprights p, over which wire
ropes por it may be jointed rods pass. These wire ropes are first passed
round the drum 9 of the crab or windlass, and then over pullies supported
by the uprights or standards p, and then firmly secured to the end of the part
m of the beam.
When the apparatus is in use, it is first run into the position shewn by
Figure 7, the wire ropes p' are then slackened until the part of which the
beam is constructed rests upon the top of the stockade or other defence, as
shewn by the position marked m³ in Figure 7;. the wire ropes are further.

page_text: slackened until the end of the part m of the beam assumes the position m² in
Figure 7, and by Figure 8; the shield is at the same time lowered into the
position shewn by the red lines in Figure 7; thus it will be seen that a clear
way will be formed up to and down from the wall of a stockade or other like
defence. In all other respects this apparatus is arranged in a similar manner.
to that shewn by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First, the placing of girders or beams upon wheels, so as to enable the
structure to be quickly run into the required position for escalading purposes,
or for landing people or materials.
Second, the forming and placing a moveable or fixed bullet-proof shield at
one part of the apparatus in front of the men, or cattle, or other motive
power, in such a manner that they may be protected by the shield from the fire
of the enemy when the machine is required for the purposes of escalading.
Third, the so forming the said structure in such short lengths that it
may be taken to pieces for convenience of transport in ships, or for transport
on land, or that it can be folded up, slid, or placed together in a cart or
wagon.
Fourth, the construction and adaptation of the apparatus in such a form
that it can be readily applied for the attack.of stockades, New Zealand pahs,
walled or like defences.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Rice Stack, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
FRED. RICE STACK.
(L.S.)