IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS AND VESSELS OF WAR
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Napier, of Glasgow, Engineer and Ship
Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS AND
VESSELS OF WAR."
Sealed the 19th February 1867, and dated the 16th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Robert Napier at the
Office of the Commissiouers of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th October 1866.
I, ROBERT NAPIER, of Glasgow, Engineer and Ship Builder, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING SHIPS
AND VESSELS OF WAR," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in building ships and vessels
of war; for these purposes in building a ship or vessel of war where "turrets"
or "cupolas" are used, such "turrets" or "cupolas" are formed, carried, and
worked in the following manner :-Immediately under each of the turrets or
cupolas (which I propose should work their guns over the upper deck) I place
an armour-plated cylinder, rather less in diameter than the turret, and of a
depth sufficient to extend from the deck, at the level of which the outside
armour plating of the ship stops to a little above the level of the lower edge
of the wall or sides of the turret; the lower edge of the walls of the turret thus
_a little overlapping and protecting the upper parts of the armour plated
cylinder. On and around the upper parts of the cylinders or under the floors

page_text: of the turrets circular tracks or rails are formed on which the cupolas or
turrets are supported, and revolve on rollers or wheels. The amount of over-
lap of the walls or sides of the turrets on the cylinders depends on what is
necessary for the protection of the rollers or circular tracks. The cylinders
are to be securely fastened to the main or other deck on which they rest, and
otherwise to be properly secured and supported by suitable frames and pillars
underneath. For causing the turrets or cupolas to rotate bydraulic or other
power may be applied, either through the intervention of pinions and racks
fixed on the floors or sides of the turrets or on the tops of the circular walls
of the cylinders, or through the intervention of wheels and gearing; in each
case turning a strong vertical shaft attached to the centre of the floor of a
turret and extending down, and stepped on one of the lower decks or
keelsons. From the lower end of this shaft diagonal struts or supports may,
if wished, extend up to the floor of the turret, so that part of the weight of the
turret may be carried through the vertical shaft or pillar to the step.
The
cylinders and turrets are to be constructed and covered with armour plates
according to the strongest and most approved plans for resisting shot.
By the foregoing arrangement and construction of these parts of a turret or
cupola ship or vessel of war great advantage will be obtained, amongst others
greater seaworthiness, better ventilation, a safe communication and passage
for men and ammunition between the main and lower decks and the insides
of turrets or cupolas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Napier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
NAPIER, of Glasgow, Engineer and Ship Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of: October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Napier, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Napier, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Napier, 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING
SHIPS AND VESSELS OF WAR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I; the
said Robert Napier, 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 Robert Napier, do bereby declare
the nature of the 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, that is to say:-
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in building ships and vessels
of war. For these purposes in building a ship or vessel of war where
"turrets" or "cupolas" are used such "turrets' or cupolas are formed,
carried, and worked in the following mȧoner :-Immediately under each of
the turrets or cupolas (which I propose should work their guns over the upper
deck) I place an armour-plated cylinder, rather less in diameter than the
turret and of a depth sufficient to extend from the deck, at the level of which
the outside armour plating of the ship stops to a little above the level of the
lower edge of the wall or sides of the turret; the lower edge of the walls of the
turret thus a little overlapping and protecting the upper parts of the armour-
plated cylinder. On and around the upper parts of the cylinders, or under
the floors of the turrets, circular tracks or rails are formed on which the
cupolas or turrets are supported and revolve on rollers or wheels. The amount
of overlap of the walls or sides of the turrets on the cylinders <lepends on
what is necessary for the protection of the rollers or. circular' tracks. The
cylinders are to be securely fastened to the main or.other deck on which they
suitable frames'
rest, and otherwise to be properly secured and supported
and pillars underneath. For causing the turrets or cupolas to rotate hydraulic
or other power may be applied, either through the intervention of pinions and
racks fixed on the floors or sides of the turrets or on the tops of the circular
walls of the cylinders or through the intervention of wheels and gearing, in
ench case turning a strong vertical shaft attached to the centre of the floor of
the turret, and extending down and stepped on one of the lower decks or
keelsons. Froin the lower end of this shaft diagonal struts or supports may,
if wished, extend up to the floor of the turret, so that part of the weight .of.
the turret may be carried through the vertical shaft or pillar to the step. The..

page_text: cylinders and turrets are to be constructed and covered with armour plates.
according to the strongest and most approved plans for resisting shot.
. By the foregoing arrangement and construction of these parts of a turret
or cupola ship or vessel of war great advantage will be obtained, amongst
others greater sea worthiness, better ventilation, a safe communication and
passage for men and ammunition between the decks and the insides of turrets
or cupolas.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed is represented a vertical transverse
section of so much of a vessel or ship of war as will enable me to describe my
Invention.
A is a cupola or turret of an ordinary construction supported on and carried
by a cylinder B according to my Invention; C is a vertical shaft which rotates
in a step or bearing at c. The shaft C is fixed below the floor a of the turret A,
and there are diagonals D, D, which connect the floor of the turret with the
circular plate E fixed at the lower end of the vertical shaft. The cylinder B
is supported by pillars or uprights F, F, as shown, and the cylinder B is
armour plated to resist projectiles passing through its sides. The turret is to
receive motion from hydraulic, steam, or other power, and it is preferred that
such power should be applied at the lower end of the upright shaft, but this is
not essential. In the arrangement shown by the Drawing G, G, is a circular
toothed rack fixed to the deck below the circular plate E, into which a pinion
on the shaft H gears; on this shaft is a toothed wheel H¹, into which gears a
small pinion on the driving.shaft of an engine carried by the circular plate
E; this engine is not shown in the Drawing. The steam or other fluid under
pressure employed for working this engine is led up through the lower portion
of the vertical shaft C (which is made hollow for the purpose), and thence by a
branch pipe to the engine. The opening in the upper deck through which
the turret works is to be closed by any convenent means, but this is preferred
to be done by an apron or ring of vulcanized india-rubber fixed round the
turret above the upper deck, the lower edge of the india-rubber being received
into a hollow groove or trough fixed on the upper deck; around the turret
I, I, are wheels or rollers on radial axes fixed to the beams of the floor of the
turret; these wheels or rollers I, I, run on the circular track J, J, fixed on
the upper end of the cylinder B.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would remark that the manner of forming and armour
plating the turret, and also the cylinder, may be varied; and such is the case

page_text: in respect to the manner of supporting the cylinder and turret, and also to the
mode of giving motion to the turret. The peculiarity of the Invention consists
in the manner herein described of combining the use of a turret or cupola
with a supporting cylinder.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Napier, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
ROBERT NAPIER. (L.s.)