IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION Or ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hughes, of Millwall, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
Or ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 28th July 1865, and dated 1st February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
February 1865.
I, JOHN HUGHES, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of ships of war by strengthening
them with hollow stringers or girders running longitudinally, vertically, or
otherwise. These stringers are rivetted to the skin and frames of the vessel,
and form the backing for the armour plates; the spaces between the stringers
and also the hollow in the stringers may be filled with wood or any composition
that may be found suitable.
My Invention applies also to forts, turrets, cupolas, and other structures to
be protected by armour plating.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HUGHES, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said John Hughes,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Hughes, 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 CONSTRUC-
TION OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS, FORTS, AND OTHER LIKE STRUCTURES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Hughes, 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 John Hughes, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the construction of ships of war by strengthening
them with hollow stringers or girders running longitudinally, vertically, or
otherwise. These stringers are rivetted to the skin and frames of the vessel,
and form the backing for the armour plates; the spaces between the stringers
and also the hollow in the stringers may be filled with wood or any composition
that may be found suitable.
My Invention applies also to forts, turrets, cupolas, and other structures to
be protected by armour plating.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a section of a
portion of a

page_text: vessel of war, shewing longitudinal hollow stringers applied as a backing to
armour plates to strengthen the same; the stringers also act as longitudinal
girders to the structure.
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 a section on an enlarged scale,
shewing the manner in which the armour plates are fitted and secured against
the hollow stringers. A, A, are the hollow stringers, which are made with
double flanges, as shewn, to enable them to be rivetted to the inner skin B of
the vessel; C, C, is the armour plating, which is fixed by bolts D, D, passing
through the skin B and plating C, and between the stringers A, A.
Figure 4 is a section of a portion of a ship's turret, with hollow stringers A, A,
applied as a backing for the armour plates C, C; D, D, are the bolts for
securing the armour plates.
Figure 5 is a section of a portion of a wrought-iron shield with hollow
stringers A, A, applied thereto. This Figure also shows more clearly the
mode of securing the stringers to the structure.
Figure 6 is a section of a portion of a wrought-iron tower (with revolving
platform) for land fortifications. A, A, are the hollow stringers as before, and
C, C, the armour plates. The masonry E is also protected by hollow stringers.
Although I have only shewn the hollow stringers as running longitudinally,
yet I do not confine myself to that position, as I sometimes make them run
vertically or otherwise.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, constructing
armour-plated ships, forts, and other like structures with hollow stringers or.
girders running longitudinally, vertically, or otherwise, substantially in manner
and for the purpose herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hughes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
JOHN HUGHES. (L.S.)