AN IMPROVED MEANS OF PROTECTING FORTS, SHIPS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND PLACES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Burge, of Albert Road, Regent's Park, in
the County of Middlesex, Contractor, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MEANS OF PROTECTING FORTS, SHIPS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND PLACES
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 10th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Burge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
April 1862.
I, GEORGE BURGE, of Albert Road, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF PROTECTING FORTS, SHIPS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES
AND PLACES AGAINST PROJECTILES AND OTHER STRIKING BODIES," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to protect forts, ships, and other structures
and places from projectiles and other striking bodies. For this purpose,
instead. of resisting or receiving the blow of the projected or striking body by
a fixed surface of masonry, brickwork, or other material, I employ a moveable
body herein-after called shield, that is to say, a body capable of receding,
retiring, or recoiling, or of moving backward or inward when struck with
sufficient force, and which may also, if desirable, be so arranged that after
having been so moved it shall be returned or. restored to its previous position
by balance weights or other contrivances; and I apply this shield to the ship,

page_text: fort, or other structure or place to be protected in such wise that it shall
present an outward face, front, or surface of iron, or other metal or material,
formed and arranged to resist or receive the blow of the projected or striking
body without sustaining much or any damage. The shield may be so con-
structed, if desirable, that it may be filled or loaded with iron or other
material. Any required number of shields may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Burge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BURGE, of Albert Road, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
tractor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Burge, Her special licence that I, the said George
Burge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Burge, 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 "AN IMPROVED
MEANS OF PROTECTING FORTS, SHIPS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND PLACES AGAINST
PROJECTILES AND OTHER STRIKING BODIES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Burge, 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 George Burge, 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:-
The object of my Invention is to protect forts, ships, and other structures

page_text: and places from projectiles and other striking bodies.
For this purpose;
instead of the blow of the projected or striking body being resisted by or
received on a fixed surface of masonry, brickwork, or other material, I employ
a moveable body, herein-after called shield, that is to say, a body capable of
receding, retiring, or recoiling, or of moving backward or inward when struck
with sufficient force, and which may also, if desirable, be so arranged that
after having been so moved it shall be returned or restored to its previous
position by balance weights or other contrivances; and I apply this shield to
the ship, fort, or other structure or place (to be protected) in such wise that
it shall present an outward face, front, or surface of iron, or other metal or
material to resist or receive the blow of the projectile or striking body.. The
shield may, if desirable, be constructed hollow, and be filled or loaded with
iron or other material. Any required number of shields may be employed. :
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention; I proceed to state that
various modes may be adopted for carrying the Invention into effect. The
shield may be of any desirable thickness, and constructed of wood, metal,
hide, cement, stone, or other hard or resisting material; or it may be made of
elastic material, or both hard and elastic materials combined. It may be flat,
convex, tubular, or otherwiso shaped on its outer and inner surface. The
form of face or front that I believe best adapted to receive the blow of the
striking body without sustaining much or any damage therefrom is convex,
but I do not restrict myself thereto. Hydraulic, steam, or electric, or other
motive agency may be used to return the shield to position after being struck.
Any number of shields may be disposed in convenient positions at the outside
of the structure or place to be protected. The shield may, in some cases, `be
fitted within a frame or recess of masonry or other substance, having front
edges projecting inward to prevent the shield from being forced too far
outward. The shield may travel (upon rails or otherwise) on à platform.or
surface supported by piles, masonry, or other means, and it may be guided by
metal prongs fixed to its sides, and weighted at their junction therewith, their
ends travelling in grooves in the sides of the recess or frame. Strong curved
bars or rings may be fixed horizontally in the back of the shield, and a plate
having openings in it may be set at the back of the recess or frame, having
behind it heavy blocks or fragments of iron, or other material, or caissoons, or
other contrivances, so that when the shield is forced inward the rings or
curved bars may pass through the plate and force themselves between the
weights, caissoons, or contrivances, so as to raise or move them, whereby the
shield will be returned to its previous position. Weights or heavy blocks
may be suspended by chains to the bottom of the shield to assist in restoring

page_text: it to position. Sometimes a block of india-rubber or other elastic substance,
or a strong spring or springs, may be fitted between the shield and the back
of the recess or frame, which said elastic substance or spring would be com-
pressed by the shield in recoiling, and afterwards would extend and restore
the shield to position. Other ordinary mechanical apparatus may be used to
return the shield to position. Felt or similar substance may be interposed
between the shield and the back of the recess to deaden the concussion. I do
not, however, restrict myself to the precise arrangements herein described for
carrying my Invention into effect, as other arrangements may be adopted for
the purpose without departing from the nature of my Invention, as herein
set forth.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the employment
of a shield constructed, applied, and acting substantially in the manner and
for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I,, the said George Burge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
M. HENRY,
Patent Agent,
84, Fleet Street, London.
GEORGE BURGE. (L.S.)