IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, AND IN FORTS, BATTERIES, AND OTHER ARMED OR MILITARY STRUCTURES, OR APPARATUS FOR USE ON SEA AND Land.”
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Longsdon, of Denmark Hill, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, AND IN FORTS, BATTERIES, AND OTHER ARMED
OR MILITARY STRUCTURES, OR APPARATUS FOR USE ON SEA AND Land.”
OR MILITARY STRUCTURES, OR APPARATUS FOR USE ON SEA and Land.'
Scaled the 23rd July 1872, and dated the 14th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Longsdon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th March 1872.
I, ALFRED LONGSDON, of Denmark Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, AND IN FORTS, BATTERIES, AND
OTHER ARMED OR MILITARY STRUCTURES, OR APPARATUS FOR USE ON SEA AND
LAND," to be as follows:-

page_text: ordnance, or offensive and defensive military appliances, and they have
principally for their object constructing the same in such manner that
the turrets or other structures or apparatus carrying the said ordnance
or appliances, or the ordnance or appliances themselves, may be raised
and lowered as required, so that when not in use or action they may be
wholly or partially below the deck, upper deck, or firing level, or exposed
surface or part of the ship, fort, or structure. By these means they, as
well as the soldiers or sailors, are protected, and in the case of vessels
of war, especially turret ships, increased safety and seaworthiness are
obtained.
The contrivances employed for raising and lowering purposes are so
disposed as to be protected as above described.
In applying my Invention to ships of war I construct them in such
manner that the turrets with their guns or ordnance, armour plating,
turning gear, and other accessories are lowered entirely or partially below
the level of the deck or upper deck into such position that when they
are so lowered the centre of gravity of the vessel will be lowered, and
the top weight will be considerably reduced, so that the vessel will
withstand with greater facility heavy seas, gales, and storms.
.
When the vessel is out of action the normal position of the turret is
wholly or partially below the deck or upper deck, and when it is
desired to fight the ship or work the guns the turret with its contents is
elevated to the desired level by means of hydraulic, hydrostatic, pneu-
matic, steam, or other motive power or mechanical means, preference
being given to hydraulic or hydrostatic power.
My Invention applies in like manner to vessels of war without turrets,
the armament being supported on a stage, platform, or other contrivance
which is raised and lowered as required by any of the above means, so
that when out of use the armament is below the level of the deck or
upper deck.
In like manner the ordnance of ships of war may be raised or lowered
without turrets, platforms, or protecting shields.
In constructing land forts or batteries I place the guns or other
armament in turrets, or on stages, or platforms, or frames protected or
not by shields, armour plating, or other defensive contrivance, and
caused to rise and descend by the means herein-before described, so that

page_text: they may be lowered into a protected position when out of action below
the upper part or firing level of such forts or batteries, and be raised
into proper position when to be brought into action. Or the forts may
be so contrived that the guns alone may be lowered in order to be loaded,
sighted, and then raised in order to be discharged, without exposing the
gunners or the elevating apparatus to the enemy's fire.
I sometimes construct ships of war in such manner that their armour
plating or other defensive contrivances may be raised and lowered,
either entirely or partially or in sections, by hydraulic or other
power.
In order to economize space in turret ships, and avoid too great depth
of hold or draught of water, I place the hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus
or other elevating contrivances either within the turrets or externally
thereto, in such position that the tops of the rams, pistons, or other
elevators shall be level or nearly so with the top of the turret, and there-
fore only a little below the deck or upper deck. Sometimes the turret
and elevating apparatus may be only partially below the deck level; or
in some cases the elevating machinery may be placed below the turret
when in its lowest position.
I sometimes place the hydraulic or elevating apparatus within the
turret in the centre thereof; and sometimes I place two, three, or
more of such hydraulic or other lifting mechanism near the circum-
ference of the turret, either within or without it, and I construct such
turrets with strong girders or framing to support the weight, and so
disposed as to receive the thrust of the rams or other elevators, and to
transmit the weight and divide the load equally between the rams or
elevators.
The turret may rotate wholly or partially, or it may be fixed as regards
its horizontal movement, and the ordnance with their platform or carriage
may rotate so as to command all points of the compass.
When the turret is raised into position, strong supports preferably of
small projection and great depth, and actuated by steam or other power,
or by the upward movement of the rams or other elevators, are brought
under or into such position as regards the turret as to take or carry its
weight, and maintain it in such position so that the rams or elevators may
be lowered, and the turret or guns left free to rotate. These supports
are withdrawn or retire when the turret or guns are to be lowered. This
A 2

page_text: may be effected by reversing the movement of the apparatus which
moves them to their work, or by steam or other power, or on the rising
of the rams or other elevators which lift the turret, and the supports
retire by their own gravity. By this arrangement, the rams being with-
drawn; the turret only is presented to the fire of the enemy.
In some cases I construct ships or forts with turrets which shall of
themselves or the lower portion thereof form a ram, the outside being
surrounded with a cylinder or casing fitted with leather glands, or
other packing, so that water may be admitted beneath and around the
turret.
In ships of war and forts or batteries without turrets I provide sup-
ports similar to and actuated like those above described, so that ordnance
may be maintained in position when the rams or elevators are lowered,
leaving the gun free to recoil, or to be traversed or rotated. Where
desirable I place the raising and lowering apparatus underneath the turret
or ordnance to be acted on so that one hydraulic ram would sometimes
suffice.
In ships of war without turrets, and forts or batteries wherein the
ordnance is to be raised and lowered, and when two or more rams or
elevators are used, strong girders or supports sustain the platform or gun
carriage and carry the gun and any defensive appliance. It takes the
thrust so as to ensure steady action, which is further secured by guides.
I connect these rams when hydraulic or pneumatic power is used by
pipes or otherwise, so that the rate of motion of the ram in each cylinder
or machine may be identical, and their simultaneous or uniform rise and
fall obtained.
I sometimes dispose the elevating machinery in such situation with
reference to the gun that the upper ends of the rams or elevators shall,
when the ordnance is depressed, be only a little below the level of the
deck or fort, so that the depth of a ship, or the excavation or foundation
of the elevating machinery, may be reduced.
When the fort or battery is placed above the ground level this arrange-
ment allows of it being of much less height than if the elevating
machinery were underneath the gun carriage or platform.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Longsdon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED.
LONGSDON, of Denmark Hill, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Longsdon, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Longsdon, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Longsdon, 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
SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, AND IN FORTS, BATTERIES, AND OTHER ARMED
OR MILITARY STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS FOR USE ON SEA AND LAND,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Longsdon,
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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Longsdon, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:

page_text: ordnance or offensive and defensive military appliances, and they have
principally for their object constructing the same in such manner that
the turrets or platforms or other structures carrying the ordnance or
appliances may be raised and lowered as required, so that when not in
use or action they may be wholly or partially below the level of the
deck or firing level of the ship, fort, or structure.
My Invention consists in constructing, arranging, and combining
apparatus substantially in the manner herein-after described for the
above purposes.
my
When applied to gunboats or ships of war of the "turret class"
improved arrangement provides that the normal position of the turret.
with its heavy ordnance, massive armour plating and accessories, shall
be more or less below the load water line. In such position the centre
of gravity of the vessel will be lowered, and the top weight will be
considerably reduced, so that the vessel will withstand with greater
facility heavy seas, gales, and storms. Thus the equilibrium of the vessel
in heavy seas is better maintained, and general seaworthiness greatly
augmented. When it is desired to fight the ship or work the guns, I
elevate the turret to its fighting level by means of hydraulic, hydrostatic,
pueumatic, or steam, or other motive power, preference being given to
hydraulic or steam power or pressure.
፡
My Invention in like manner applies to ships of war without turrets,
or to land forts or batteries, the ordnance armament or armour plating
or other defensive appliances, wholly or in sections, either with or
without the stages or platforms on which they rest or are carried, being
so contrived and arranged as to be raised and lowered at will' by similar
means to those above referred to.
When constructing turret ships according to my Invention and in
order to economize space and avoid too great a depth of "hold" or
draught of water, in some cases I place the elevating machinery (by
preference hydraulic) either within the turrets themselves or externally
thereto, but in such position that the upper ends of the rams or other
elevating appliances shall be but little below the roof or top of the
turret, strong girders or framing being provided and so disposed as to
receive the thrust of the elevators and distribute the load equally thereon,
or in other cases the turret and its elevators may be only partially below
the upper deck level, or in those instances in which the depth of vessel

page_text: will permit the hydraulic or other elevating mechanism may be situated
underneath or below the level of the turret when in its lowest position.
In all instances I propose when the turret or gun armour plating or
platform is raised to its highest position to provide that powerful
supports shall be brought into such positions as to take the weight.
thereof, and release the elevators from the work of sustaining their load.
By reversing the movement or action of the power or means employed
to bring these supports into position, they are made to retire to allow of
the descent of the objects desired to be lowered, or these supports may
be so contrived as to retire or slide back by their own gravity. The
turret may rotate wholly or partially, or it may be fixed as regards its
horizontal movement, and the ordnance with their platform or carriage
may rotate so as to command all points of the compass.
In some cases I form the turret itself or the lower portion thereof so
that it shall act as the ram, and I surround its exterior surface with a
cylinder or casing fitted with hydraulic leathers, glands, or other
packing, so that water may be admitted beneath and around the portion
of the turret so constructed. I connect these rams when hydraulic or
pueumatic power is used by pipes or otherwise, so that the rate of motion
of the ram in each cylinder or machine may be identical, and their
simultaneous or uniform rise and fall ensured.
I sometimes dispose the elevating machinery in such situation with
reference to the gun that the upper ends of the rams or elevators shall,
when the ordnance is depressed, be only a little below the level of the
deck or fort, so that the depth of a ship, or the excavation or foundation
of the elevating machinery, may be reduced.
When the fort or battery is placed above the ground level this
arrangement allows of its being of much less height than if the
elevating machinery were underneath the gun carriage or platform.
I proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
modes of carrying the Invention into practical effect. The modes are
illustrated by the accompanying Sheets of Drawings 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a transverse section of a gunboat provided
with a turret capable of being raised or lowered at will, and so arranged
that the turret shall when out of use be situated in a much moro

page_text: favourable position to preserve the equilibrium of the vessel than is the
case in gunboats as at present constructed (with their turrets, massive
armour, heavy ordnance, and other weighty accessories placed above the
load water line). The position of the turret when lowered is indicated
by dotted lines. A is the framing of the turret; B, the exterior armour;
C, teak backing; D, inner plating; E, bottom girders and framing to
support the gun slide; F is a central column or post on which the turret
rotates. This column may consist of a cast-iron tube or cylinder, or of
wrought-iron plates curved into shape and united and strengthened by
butt plates, angle or Tirons, or it may be formed after the manner well
understood of building large masts and spars, but in every case it must
be formed of considerable diameter and rigidity, and be well secured at
foot either to the bottom of the ship or to any intermediate deck or
girders that may be available. In the Drawing Figure 1, Sheet 1, it is
shewn secured at its base to the ship's framing, and passing through and
receiving support from a girder G. The gun slides are so disposed as to
permit the column F when the turret is lowered to find room for itself
between them. The girder G carries at H a bed plate or resting frame of
teak strengthened by angle iron to receive the turret when in its lowest
and ordinary position. This bed plate may be either completely circular
on plan, or made in segments of adequate dimensions. I shews one of
several ordinary hydraulic lifts of any desired capacity or power. One of
these lifts is separately shewn in vertical section in Figure 2, and plan in
Figure 3, and front elevation in Figure 4. Their rams J carry at their
upper ends massive frames or castings K working in cheeks or guides I*
formed or cast on the outside of the lifts or cylinders I. These frames K
have brackets K' which project beneath the under edge of the turret,
and upon which the turret is supported during its elevation or descent.
In order to prevent any lateral strain being thrown on these rams J
when lifting the turret or on the central column F, and to preserve the
turret always in its true position, I provide powerful guides placed at
four or more points of the outer circumference of the turret in such
situations as to act thereon at all times when the turret is up or down.
These guides may be secured rigidly to the deck girders or other framing,
or to the bulkheads, or the guides may be so constructed as to be capable
of lateral movement so as to adjust themselves to any sudden change of
position or alteration of form by action of shot, or they may be drawn
back to allow free passage when the turret is turning to any plates or
parts damaged or displaced by the enemy's fire.

page_text: A simple and effective method of constructing and actuating the
guides is represented in Figure 1, Sheet 1. This guide is so situated as to
be capable of acting on the turret at all times. L is a powerful hydraulic
cylinder carried upon girders, or otherwise supported in position, and
taking an efficient abutment against the side ribs of the vessel or against
a bulkhead, so that it may be capable of withstanding the great pressure
or weight of the turret, which may be thrown upon it by the movement
of the ship in a heavy sea; L is a piston or ram of area sufficient to
yield at a moderate pressure per square inch a force capable of
maintaining the turret in position. This ram at its outer end has a
casting L³ sliding on a bed plate, which may form part of one end cover
to cylinder. The casting L³ is fitted with antifriction rollers L, which
press against the outer surface of the turret and retain the same steadily
in place, and prevent all lateral strain on the rams or central column,
and offer the least possible resistance to the ascent or descent of the turret.
When it is required to rotate or partially turn the turret I relax or
remove the pressure of these guides. This is effected by reversing the
motion of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder, so that the rollers L' may
offer no impediment to its free rotary movement.
In lieu of these rollers L' I may use balls free to move in any
direction, or instead of the balls a double set of guides and rollers, or
rollers only having their axes in opposite directions to act upon the
turret when moving either vertically or horizontally. These hydraulic
guides are in connection with an air vessel or air vessels to ensure them
against rupture or injury by sudden concussion in manner well under-
stood in hydraulic machinery; and for this purpose I make use of the
central column F when made of a hollow casting or construction for
such air vessel, leading the pipes which supply pressure to the guides to
the central column. But a separate air vessel or vessels may be used if
required. Additional guides W also fitted with antifriction rollers are
provided, and so situated as to come into action in the event of any of
the hydraulic guides becoming disabled.
When the turret is elevated into proper position for working its guns
I relieve the hydraulic rams, or other elevating contrivances, from the
duty of supporting its enormous weight; and this I effect by providing
supports which shall be caused to advance towards the central axis of
the turret, or be swung round or otherwise brought under the bottom of
the turret; and these supports carry rollers upon which the turret may

page_text: rest, and be free to revolve. These supports are further provided with
gearing for rotating the turret.
On Sheet 1 I have represented one method of supporting and
operating the turret. M is one of a number of strong cast-iron or
other frames free to slide backward or forward on its bed M', when
caused to do so by the agency of a rack and pinion, as shewn in
Figure 1, and also in Figure 5 a back elevation, and Figure 6 a plan
of one of these frames, or by hydraulic power, as shown in Figure 7
a plan, and Figure 8 a vertical section, or by steam or other available
power, or it may be made to advance and retire by the upward and
downward movement of the turret or of its elevators. This frame M
has a flat table M³ on which are carried in plummer blocks or other
suitable bearings the rollers N, N. On this table M³, and in true line
with its centre, are fixed bearings M³ which support the shaft on which
are keyed the pinion O and bevil wheel P. Q is a small shaft with two
bevil pinions P¹ and P³, and having at either end a crank handle R for
working the gearing. This shaft Q has a clutch S for causing the
power to be directed either to the turning of the turret or to the ad-
vancing and retiring of the frame M. When therefore the turret is
raised to its highest position a little above its fighting level, the bevil
pinion P is thrown into gear with its fellow wheel P³, which transmits
the power to the pinion T, which takes into the rack T fixed on the bed
plate M. The men stationed at the crank handles will then cause the
frames M to advance simultaneously, until their forward movement is
arrested by the stops M. The rollers N, N, will then be in proper
position to receive the turret, and the pinions ○ will be directly
underneath the circular rack O¹ fixed beneath the turret. The turret
will then be lowered until the plate or roller path V finds a bearing on
the rollers N, and the rack O¹ is in gear with the pinions O. Pressure is
then withdrawn from the rams J, and they are allowed to descend or
subside into their cylinders, the pressure of the guides is also slightly
relaxed, and the turret is then in fighting position and free to bring its
guns to bear upon any point of the compass. The clutch on the shaft Q
is then reversed and the bevil pinion P¹ brought into gear with the
wheel P, so that the power may be employed in rotating the turret.
When the turret is in its lowest position with its roof flush with the
upper deck, as indicated by dotted lines, a water-tight joint may be
made at the junction between them in the manner shewn in Figure 30,

page_text: Sheet 4. a is the top or covering plate to the turret, which is made to
project beyond the outer edge of the armour plating 6, and is stiffened
by the angle iron c; a rib of iron d is riveted to the under side of the
plate a. The glacis plate e has a mortice f cut on its upper face into
which a thickness or packing g of vulcanized india-rubber, felt, or other
material is laid and fastened. When the turret is down the rib d.
presses against or into this packing g, and the passage of water is pre-
vented. When the turret is up the ordinary gutter hand leather i are
fixed in the position shewn in Figure 31 to arrest and carry away rain
or sea water.
On Sheets 2 and 3 I have illustrated the application of my system of
raising and lowering turrets to a turret ship of war of the largest class
capable of carrying the heaviest ordnance and most massive armour
plating.
Figure 9 on Sheet 2 shews a vertical section through the ship and
centre of turret; Figure 10, Sheet 3, a half plan of the mechanical
arrangements for operating the turret. A, A, are hydraulic cylinders
or lifts, four in number, carried on the bottom framing of the ship, and
deriving additional support and steadiness from a girder G. These
cylinders are placed on plan at such distance from the central axis
of turret as to allow their rams B to act directly underneath the turret
at its strongest and heaviest part, viz., immediately below the armour
plating, a strong box girder Z being provided to make up the depth of
structure of this part, and to carry the plate C which forms the roller
path and also the rack D for turning the turret. The central post on
which this turret revolves is similar in construction to that provided for
the gunboat represented on Sheet 1.
In those cases in which it is essential that no part of the interior of
the turret when it is down shall be occupied by the central post, I
construct this post so that it shall rise and fall with the turret, and this
I effect in either of the methods shewn in Figure 11 or Figure 12,
Sheet 4. In Figure 11 a cylinder E is secured to the bottom of the
ship with its centre coincident with the vertical axis of the turret. The
interior surface of this cylinder is bored to receive a second cylinder E¹,
having its outer surface truly turned to make a hydraulic joint. This
second cylinder E¹ has its inner surface bored to receive a column F,
the lower end of which is of increased diameter and is provided with
hydraulic leathers. The upper end of this column passes into a massive

page_text: casting H secured to the bottom girders of the framing of the turret ;
a collar of the curved shape shewn is formed on the column F, and is
encircled by a cast-iron flanged cup piece H¹ bolted to the under side of
the casting H. Antifriction rollers I are carried by the casting H.
The upper end of the column F is made hemispherical to allow of
considerable canting or tipping up on one side of the turret without
any injurious lateral strain being exerted on the column F or its
supporting cylinders. When the turret rises the column F is lifted
with it by the collar f, and the second cylinder E¹ will also be carried
up a short distance. On the turret reaching its resting place on the
rollers water is allowed to flow into the cylinder E until its interior and
so much of the second cylinder E' as is below the column F become
full. The supply is then cut off, the water by being unable to escape
will then serve as a bearing for the column F, and the several parts
being prevented from turning by feathers and grooves, an effective
central post is provided on which the turret can rotate.
When the vessel affords sufficient depth to allow of it the second
cylinder E¹ may be dispensed with, and one cylinder and a column F
of increased vertical dimensions employed.
In Figure 12, Sheet 4, another modification is shewn. It consists
in making the column F with a broader base F", and in lieu of the
cylinders or cylinder a bed plate B' may be caused to advance, beneath
the column when raised; and when the turret is lowered into its place
on the rollers this central column drops into a square collar on the
moveable bed plate B', and takes a solid bearing thereon.
When it is desired to lower the turret the bed plate B₁ is withdrawn
from beneath the column F, and this latter descends with the turret.
Guides C¹ and C² keep the column always truly vertical. Or again
a strong cylinder may be fixed to the bottom girders of the turret, and
a strong post be secured to the bottom of the ship or any intermediate
deck or girder. This cylinder surrounds the post, and turns thereon
when the turret is made to revolve.
The mode of supporting the turret in fighting position which I
recommend is to provide at intervals around the outer circumference of
the turret, and as near thereto as possible, strong columns T having a
brackets T cast on or attached thereto, which brackets carry the
rollers N, N, on which the turret is rotated; such columns being free to

page_text: turn in steps; or the brackets themselves may be moveable and
the columns fixed. In Figure 9, Sheet 2, such supports are seen in
elevation, and in Figure 10, Sheet 3, a number of them are seen in plan
in proper position for carrying the turret. Others are represented turned
a quarter revolution to permit the turret to descend.
At four equidistant points are placed supporting columns T³, one of
which is shewn on Sheet 3, in side elevation in Figure 13, in front
clevation in Figure 14, and in plan in Figure 15. In addition to the
roller N, this column T is provided with bevil gearing for transmitting
power from the crank handles O, O, to the spur wheel P, which takes
into the circular rack D fixed to the turret, as shewn. The roller N has
only a loose bearing on the shaft p which carries the spur wheel P, so
that it is not affected by its revolutions. Q is a capstan head, by which
the column may be readily turned the quarter revolution necessary to
bring its roller and bracket clear out of the way for the descent of the
turret; are lugs cast on the column; " are similar lugs cast in two places
on the step casing M. Within the lugs a small plate is pivoted, which
drops between the lugs and receives a pin passed through it, and these
lugs to retain the column firmly in position either when its bracket is
projected towards the centre of turret, or when turned back to clear the
same. Or in lieu of these lugs and pins the supporting columns or
brackets may be connected by rods or levers, by which they may be
firmly held in place or made to move simultaneously on their axes.
Guides similar in construction and position to those before described
are made to act on the outer circumference of this turret. One of these
guides is shewn separately in longitudinal section in Figure 16, plan in
Figure 17, front elevation in Figure 18, and transverse section in
Figure 19.
The pipes and t, which serve alternately for pressure or waste
according to the direction in which it is required to move the ram Lare
connected with a four-way cock u, and from that are conducted to an air
vessel situated in any convenient part of the ship, so that any sudden
concussion acting on the turret may be neutralized by the elasticity of
the volume of air contained in such vessel, and injury to the guides or
their component parts prevented. The hollow central post may serve as
air vessel to these guides. Strong abutment frames or trusses w serve
to strengthen these guides in their rear. Auxiliary fixed guides y, y,

page_text: are provided to retain the turret in position at all times in the event of
any or all of the hydraulic guides becoming disabled.
Figure 20, Sheet 4, is a diagram shewing the disposition and arrange-
ment of the hydraulic force pumps and the regulating valves, and their
connections with the lifts and guides. 1, 1, are the hydraulic force
pumps placed intermediately between the two turrets, which it is cus-
tomary for turret ships to carry. One set of pumps would ordinarily
be sufficient to operate both turrets, but a spare set is provided in case
of need. 2, 2, are the lifts; 3 is a valve stand receiving the pressure from
the pumps and delivering it to the lifts by the pipes and connections 4,4;
5 is a second valve stand for receiving the waste or return water from
the lifts through the pipes 6, 6, and delivering it to a tank situated at a
higher level than the hydraulic lifts and pumps, in which the water may
be stored or accumulated in order to be utilized over again by the force
pumps. All these pipes and connections and water ways serving to
supply the pressure from the force pumps to the lifts, and from the lifts
to the waste valve, must be made of precisely equal capacity, so that
the rate of motion of the rams shall be the same in each of the cylinders
or lifts; 7, 7, are the hydraulic guides; 8, 8, their regulating cocks or
valves; 9, 9, air vessels; and 10, 10, their pipes and connections. The
dotted lines 11, 11, shew the pipes from the guides connected with the
central column 12, when that is made to serve as the air vessel, as
herein-before described; and 13 are the force pumps for operating these
guides.
The turret is also provided on its under side with a strong circular
bearing plate of teak K, upon which it rests on the corresponding plate K',
supported by the box girder K³, carried upon the girders G. The bed
plate K' is also circular on plan or in segments, as shewn in Figure 10,
Sheet 3.
Figures 21 and 22, Sheet 4, shew a modified arrangement whereby a
continuous roller path is provided beneath as well as above the rollers
which carry the turret, and the rollers are freed from their positions in
bearings fixed to the brackets on the columns. The continuous, lower
roller path is composed of an annular iron plate or plates C² and bevilled
plate with teak packing between them; and this lower roller path is
kept concentric with the turret by small arms and rollers z.
22 is a
bevilled plate which corresponds with the plate n', and forms the upper
roller path. The rollers N, N, are arranged at equal distances between

page_text: plates y, y, furnished with arms and rollers x, x, to preserve the
rollers N, N, in true position between the bevilled plates n' and n²; n³ is
the circular rack for turning the turret. The gearing on the columns
must be arranged to adapt itself to this altered position of rack.
Brackets on columns similar to those shewn on Sheets 2 and 3 aro
brought beneath this continuous lower roller path to support the turret
when it is raised, and the rams or other elevators are also caused to act
on the under side of the lower roller path, when raising or lowering the
turret; thus this lower roller path, together with the rollers, rises and
falls with the turret; and this lower roller path serves to support the
turret upon the resting plates when in its lowest position.
Figure 23, Sheet 4, represents the application of my system of
raising and lowering ordnance, armour plating, or other offensive and
defensive appliances to land forts or batteries. a is the gun; 6, armour
plating or shield; c, platform on which the gun is carried; d, gun slide
free to move on rollers e; f,f, columns and brackets for supporting the
platform; g, g, hydraulic lifts; and k, a resting plate for platform and
its load when in its lowest position below the firing level of the fort or
battery.
Figure 24, Sheet 4, shews a gun capable of being raised and lowered
either on board ship or on land by elevating apparatus, so arranged that
when the gun is in its lowest position the upper ends of the elevators
shall be level or nearly so with the firing level of the fort or deck of the
ship from which the gun is to be fired. is the gun; 8, its carriage;
t, the slide; u are strong girders supported and lifted by the platforms and
columns wo, w; and x, x, hydraulic lifts made with perfectly cylindrical
exteriors for guiding and steadying the frames. When the gun is
elevated into its fighting position moveable supports not seen in the
Drawing may be caused to carry the gun and its slide or platform, so
that the elevating rams and girders and frames may descend out of
danger.
In some cases I construct turret ships in such manner as to utilize the
abundant steam power always carried by such vessels for raising and
lowering and turning their turrets. One mode of carrying this method
into practical operation is represented in Figure 25, Sheet 3, which is an
outline section of a ship with turrets capable of being raised and lowered
by steam power.
A is the framing of the turret; B, the central post

page_text: round which the turret rotates; C, the bottom girders of turret carrying a
strong cylindrical casting and trussed frame as indicated for steadying
the turret on the central post. E and E¹ are two helical rails arranged
like the threads of a double-threaded screw, so that the supporting wheels
and driving pinions situated on opposite sides of the turret may be on
one level. These rails are supported by strong girders, and on these
rails flanged wheels G which carry the turret are free to run. A helical
rack H equal in length to about one and a quarter circumference of the
turret is, secured to the turret, into which rack gear two or more pinions I
placed in convenient situations near the helical rail path. These pinions
are driven by steam power transmitted from the propelling engines of the
ship, or separate engines if necessary. The rotation of these pinions.
causes the turret to travel up the inclined rail path; about one revo-
lution and a half or two revolutions afford an easy gradient and give
sufficient length of rack to lift the turret from its lowest to its highest
position. A horizontal circle of rack fitted to the turret and pinions
suitably placed provide for the rotation of the turret to work the guns.
Quarter segments Q of the two rails E and E seen on plan in Figure 26,
Sheet 3, are made at top to rise the few inches necessary to bring them
into a true horizontal plane with two fixed segments Q', and thus a path
is provided on which the turret can rotate without either rising or falling
in a vertical direction. A bed or resting plate K is provided to receive
the turret when down.
A modification of this arrangement can be employed in which the
pinions are carried by the turret, and the rack or racks are fixed along-
side the helical rails: Power is derived from engines carried by the
turret, extra depth of turret being provided for that purpose, or the
power may be taken direct from the engines on board and applied in any
convenient manner. In this case segments of the rack or racks and of
the rails at top would have to be caused to rise to afford a horizontal
path for the rotary working of the turret. Or the abundant steam power
always available on board ships of war may be employed in raising and
lowering the turrets by the agency of screws or racks carried by the
turret, and by worm wheels or pinions conveniently placed to operate on
the same.
Or the expansive force of steam may be made to exert itself
against a portion or portions of the lower part of the turret encircled by
suitable cylinders and glands.
When omnloving nneumatic nower to elevate the turret the following

page_text: method may be adapted :--In this method the weight of the turret in its
descent is made to compress a volume of air in chambers or vessels such
as are used for holding compressed air, and this accumulated force may
be supplemented by an additional supply or supplies of compressed air
held in one or more auxiliary vessels, or by hydraulic or steam power.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Longsdon, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
E. EDMONDS,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
ALFRED LONGSDON. (L.s.)