Forts and Apparatus in Connection therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Forts and Apparatus in Connection therewith.
I, RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 40 Queen Margarets Grove Mildmay Park
London N. Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
Follows:-
The object of my Invention is the construction of a Train of armour clad carriages,
Trucks, or Fort Cars carrying Guns, ammunition and Troops, the means for propulsion
being a Locomotive in which the power is derived from a motor operated by Petroleum
or similar combustible fluid, hydro-carbons, compressed air or combustible gas.
The armour clad Train according to my Invention is provided with means for
storing sufficient petroleum to enable an attack to be made upon distant forts in a
hostile country and the armament is arranged to be effective in any direction.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a suitable armour clad Car every part of
the outline of which is curvilinear or Turtle back plating so as to minimize the risk of
damage from the enemy's shots-Within said armour clad car I arrange one or more
petroleum engines suitably coupled to the driving wheels so that the motion may be
reversed independently of the shaft of said engine or engines which may or may not
revolve in one direction only. I may support said Locomotive and other cars upon
Bogie trucks" with intermediate driving wheels or I may allow the whole weight to
be borne by the driving wheels in order to increase "adhesion." The forward part of
the Locomotive Car is provided with a projecting conning tower or shielded lookout
and also with a revolving Turret for the purposes of observation and ventilation herein-
after to be fully described.
"
The Locomotive may be detached from the cars and be so arranged as to comprise
a combined Fort independent of or operate conjointly with the other cars.
A series of compound or other tubes for holding a certain quantity of petroleum are
arranged so as to supply the engine or engines aforesaid for a given time the bulk of
petroleum being scored elsewhere in the train in cylinder tubes or reservoirs secured
in such a manner under the cars or any convenient part thereof which insures safety

page_text: of storage and in the event of a shot striking one (or other damages) the remainder
are intact, they are also connected with necessary appliances and means for drawing
off and recharging the hydro-carbons for operating the motors which will be more
particularly specified hereafter. I may also provide an air pump or pumps and
petroleum pump in connection with the engine or engines so that when the train is at
rest air may be stored under pressure in a suitable receiver for ventilating purposes I
may accomplish said ventilation by any approved means but I prefer to make use of a
nozzle or nozzles with a contracted orifice projecting into two or more inverted cones
superimposed or other suitable means, the apex of said cones are open within the turret
before referred to or any convenient part the whole forming an air ejector.
The velocity of the stream of compressed air issuing from the nozzle above
mentioned causes a partial vacuum to exist in the cones which in turn causes a current
of air to circulate within the car or cars.
I may also arrange a dynamo Electric-Generator to be driven by the engine or
engines or cars for the purpose of creating an electric current for operating an
electrical projector, range finder or search light fitted within one of the turrets of the
locomotive or other cars forming the armour clad train. 1 further provide in the
several cars, Field guns, machine and magazine guns arranged to be directed and fired
through suitable ports pierced in the armour clad sides or other parts of said cars the
said parts and the sides or ends of cars may be hinged or otherwise suspended in
such a manner that they may be opened and filled with a suitable locking device which
will be more fully described hereafter.
I also arrange suitable pieces of ordnance either pointing through diagonal or other
ports or within revolving turrets so as to enable the gunners on board the train to
deliver a cross or circular fire and I also provide any type of rapid firing gun in each
revolving turret for the purpose of taking advantage of the trajectory curve and by
elevating said gun to deliver a rapid fire upon the fort or other position or vessel that
is to be attacked.
I may utilize a portion of said armour clad train for army hospital purposes and
also provide room and necessary appliances for Engineers so that they may carry out
any duties devolving upon them under cover of the train.
1 may further form one of said armour clad cars of hemispherical or dome shaped
outline and arrange therein a series of tubes or cylinders containing a supply of
petroleum, hydro-carbon, compressed air or combustible gas, and said reservoir car
may be coupled in any part of the train and pipes with flexible joints or other devices be
fitted so that a given supply for the locomotive may be pumped or otherwise delivered
to the tubes or cylinder carried by said locomotive as before referred to.
The ventilating appliance according to my Invention may also be adapted to the
turrets of each car suitable reservoirs for the compressed air being placed under the
floor or any suitable place and connected to the compressor on the locomotive car by
means of flexible tubes or other means.
In the manner above described 1 construct an armour clad train or moving fort for
military purposes which is able to carry self contained and independent fuel for an
extended period of time and also suitable field guns and machine guns and other
pieces of ordnance.
101
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, E.C.,
Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Forts and Apparatus in Connection therewith.
I, RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON, of 3 Clyde Street Radcliffe Gardens,
South Kensington London, S.W. Engineer 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 :-
The object of my Invention is the construction of a train of armour clad carriages,
trucks, or fort cars, carrying guns, ammunition and troops; the means for propulsion
being a locomotive in which the motive power is derived from a motor operated by
petroleum, or similar combustible fluid, other hydro-carbon, or combustible gas.
The armour clad train according to my invention is provided with means for storing
sufficient petroleum to enable an attack to be made upon distant forts in a hostile
country, and the armament is arranged to be effective in direction.
any
In order that the said invention may be perfectly understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures upon the accompanying sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures where such method of lettering is
practicable.
Figure 1 sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a central sectional
elevation of an armour clad locomotive, intended for the propulsion of the train
hereinafter to be described.
Figure 2 sbeet 1 is a sectional plan of the same upon the line A B Figure 1.
Figure 3, sheet 2 is an elevation of an armour clad train, completely equipped,
according to my Invention.
Figure 4, sheet 2 is a section of the electrical couplings employed by me for the
purpose of conducting a current of electricity from the locomotive to each or any of
the cars, for a search light, or other purposes.
Figure 5, sheet 2 is a section of the petroleum, or other hydrocarbon, tube coupling,
and Figure 6 is an elevation of the same.
Fig. 7, sheet 2 is a diagram of an alternative arrangement for reversing the
direction of motion of the locomotive.
mounted
upon
Referring first to figures 1 and 2, sheet 1 A is an armour plated car,
a suitable truck B, and is provided with a conning tower, or hood C. One driving
wheel of each pair D D' is provided with an annular friction drum, E E¹. so arranged

page_text: as to be driven by the corresponding drums F F attached to the shafts of two
petroleum, or other hydrocarbon, or gas motors, G G¹. These are so arranged that
the direction of rotation is opposite in each, and the beds or frames carrying the
cylinders, guides and shaft bearings, are supported by shafts, H H, furnished with
cranks, shewn more particularly by Figure i, at I. This method of carrying the
engine frames G G₁ allows of either friction drum F F1 being raised from contact
with the drums E E¹ which are attached to the driving wheels D D³, and the
direction of the motion of the locomotive may be thereby reversed at will, by
means of the screwed spindle J, operated by the hand wheel K, or the motion of
said locomotive may be stopped altogether without stopping the motors G G₁, since
the starting of this type of motor from a position of rest is a matter of difficulty.
The back bearings LL', carrying the free ends of the shaft of said motors G G¹
may be supported by guides and moved uniformly with the engine frames G G¹
by means of suitable levers, or other equivalent device.
A water tank M is arranged so as to carry immersed pipes or tubes containing
petroleum or other hydro-carbon for the purpose of maintaining the power when the
locomotive is detached from the rest of the train.
A dynamo electric generator N is attached to the framework of the locomotive in
such a manner as to be driven by one of the motors when the latter is raised by the
hand wheel K and spindle J so as to be disengaged from the driving wheel or
wheels D D', and the electric current so produced may be conducted to one or more of
the cars, in which an electrical projector or search light may be fitted, within.a revolving
turret, as shewn by O, Figure 3, sheet 2. In order to allow of the proper coupling
of the cars so that said electric current may be conducted from the generator, I
prefer to adopt the system of coupling shewn by Figure 4, sheet 2.
One end of the insulated wire a is provided with a screw thread b, and the other e
with a corresponding coupling nut c which freely revolves upon the shoulder or
collar d formed upon, or attached to, the wire e. By means of this appliance the free
ends of the electric mains or cables may be connected together, and a good contact
established to carry the requisite current without undue heating, or the addition of
unnecessary resistance to the circuit. A hood or sleeve f of india rubber, gutta
percha or other elastic and weatherproof material is so arranged as to be easily slipped
over the coupling, as shewn.
The locomotive, being supplied with suitable ordnance, P, Figure 1 sheet 1, and
Figure 3 sheet 2, and also carrying a supply of petroleum or other hydro carbon in
the reservoir or storage tank M, may be used as a separate moving fort, or armour
clad car, independently of the rest of the train.
This supply of fuel, however, being inadequate for the propulsion, and main-
tainance of continued motion, of the train, I may store petroleum or other hydro
carbon within tubes or cylinders, immersed in water, and carried in or under each or
any of the cars or carriages composing the train, as shewn by Q Figure 3, sheet 2,
where a portion of the side of one of the cars is removed for the better illustration
of the device.
This method of storage ensures safety, inasmuch as when a shot may strike one
of these tanks, or other damage occur thereto, the remainder may remain intact.
I may provide an air pump or pumps in connection with the motor or motors G G¹,
Figures 1 and 2, sheet 1, so that when the train is at rest, air may be stored under
pressure in a suitable receiver for ventilating, or other purposes; also employing
conical ejector nozzles for facilitating this process.
In order to convey a supply of petroleum or other hydro carbon from each or any
of the storage tanks hereinbefore referred to, or for conveying compressed air from
one car or carriage to the other, I employ flexible tubes or pipes, of suitable
material and construction, and couple these together between the cars or carriages
by means of the screw coupling shewn by Figures 5 and 6, sheet 2. Referring to
these figures, the flexible pipe g is tightly affixed to a nozzle h and this being
provided with a conical seating k, admits of a perfectly tight joint being formed when

page_text: the conical nipple is pressed tightly into said seating k by means of the coupling
nut, or screwed sleeve j.
In cases where the two motors G G₁ are required to work in unison for the pro-
pulsion of the locomotive, (Figure 1, sheet 1) and said motors are both arranged to
run in one direction, I provide an arrangement shewn by Figure 7, sheet 2, for
reversing the direction of motion of the driving wheels, independently of the motors.
The driving shaft S, carrying the friction wheel or drum F, which is driven directly
by the motor also carries a frame R which is free to move upon said shaft as an axis
when operated by the lever V. A second friction drum T is supported by the
frame Rin such a manner as to be pressed upon the drum F and receive motion
therefrom, by means of the screw and hand wheel U. When the motor is depressed
by the hand wheel K Figure 1, sheet 1, the friction drum F may press upon the
drum E attached to the driving wheel D, and cause the said wheel to rotate, the
drum T meanwhile revolving idly. When, however, it is desired to reverse
the motion of the locomotive, the motor frame is raised by means of the hand
wheel K, spindle J, and crank I, Figure 1, sheet 1, until the drum F no longer
presses upon the friction drum E, which ceases to rotate. Now, the operation of the
lever may cause the idle drum T to press upon the periphery of E, and cause it to
rotate in the opposite direction. This position is indicated by the dotted circles l, m,
the direction of the movements caused by the operation of the handwheel K Figure 1
sheet 1, which moves the motor frame, and that of the lever V, Figure 7, sheet 2, are
indicated by the arcs n o.
As the electric search light hereinbefore referred to, is generally required where
the train is at rest, the frame or frames of the motor or motors may be raised so as
to disengage the friction gearing from the driving wheels entirely, and divert the
power of said motors to the dynamo electric generator N Figure 1, sheet 1, by
causing the periphery of the fly wheel, or fly wheels thereof to engage with or press
upon a friction drum attached to the armature spindle of said dynamo. In the same
manner a centrifugal pump for storing air for purposes of ventilation, may be driven
when the train is at rest. I may also make use of a pump or pumps for re-filling
the petroleum or hydro carbon reservoir M, when empty, from the reserve stores
carried upon or under, the other cars or carriages, or I may so arrange the level of
said reservoirs as to allow the liquid fuel to flow by the action of gravity, when
desired.
In the manner above described, I am enabled, according to my Invention, to con-
struct an armour clad train, for military purposes, carrying suitable ordnance and
ammunition, soldiers and requisite war stores, for attacking the enemy at a distance
from the point where the main body of the attacking army is situated, and I am
also enabled to store sufficient fuel for sustaining a continued attack, and to also
provide power for an electric search light, or range finder, and for ventilation of the
cars or carriages, when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is;
First. An armour clad train, substantially as herein described, deriving motion from
petroleum or hydro carbon motors, and provided with storage tanks or reservoirs for
the carriage of such fuel.
Second. In an armour clad train, substantially as described, the employment of
two petroleum, or hydro carbon motors, each arranged to revolve in an opposite
direction, with suitable gear for putting either or both, in or out of gear with the
driving wheels.
Third. In an armour clad train, substantially as described, the employment of a
double drum, or compound friction disc, or discs, for obtaining the reversal of motion,
as shewn by Figure 7, sheet 2, in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In armour clad trains, substantially as herein described, the arrangement

page_text: of a dynamo electric generator N, Figure 1, sheet 1, as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
Fifth. In armour clad trains, substantially as described, the construction and
application of pipe or tube couplings, as shewn by, Figures 5 and 6, sheet 2, for the
conveyance of fuel from one reservoir or storage tank to the other, or for compressed
air for purposes of ventilation.
DL: o 1
11000
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.