IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE MODE OR MODES OF APPLYING AND SECURING THE METAL PLATES OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND OTHER ARMOUR-PLATED STRUCTURES
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Coope Haddan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th March
1861.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of No. 14, Bessborough Gardens, Pimlico, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE MODE OR MODES OF APPLYING AND
SECURING THE METAL PLATES OF ARMOUR-PLATED SHIPS OR VESSELS, AND OTHER
ARMOUR-PLATED STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
It is apprehended that the hitherto modes of bolting or securing the plates
to or upon armour-plated vessels or structures by making the plates with butt
joints are open to serious objection, from the proximity of the bolts or rivets to
the edges of, the plates, and that the joints when other than butt, joints, and
constructed with the assistance of stringers, or longitudinal or continuous
binders, or edge, clipping or holding pieces in accordance with the modes
hitherto practised or suggested, are also more or less objectionable for, various
reasons. :
The present Invention has reference partly to the improved disposi-
tion of the, plates and the formation of the joints, or securing or placing
together the edges of the plates, whether with or without the assistance of
stringers; and embraces the arranging the plates to lap or partly lap one over
the other, after the manner of weather boarding, so as thereby to obtain an
inclined surface, that is to say, inclined with regard to the general line or
system of plates. And the forming and arranging or disposing the plates and

page_text: the bolts or rivets, or fastenings, so that the edges may lap and cover the bolts
or rivets, or fastenings, and so that the edges of one plate or row or set of
plates may lock into or dovetail, or so fit against those of another plate or row
or set of plates as that the fixing or securing of the one may consequently
ensure the fixing or securing of the other. And the producing such locking,
dovetailing, or securing quality or character to or upon the edges, either with
or without flanges, ribs, or projections beyond the general thickness of the
plates as manufactured, and by planing or cutting, or otherwise forming the
edges or parts of them to the desired shape. And the locking or securing
together of adjacent plates with lapped edges by wedges or key-pieces, or
tongues. And the securing, holding, or clipping the edges of plates by means
of projecting stringers lapping over and interposed between the pair of edges.
And the securing, holding, or clipping by non-projecting stringers (as in
Lancaster, Brown, and Hughes' recently specified Inventions with reference to
ordinary plates,) my improved manufacture of compound armour plates, as
herein-after set forth, the edges of the plates being inclined, or so shaped-for
the purpose, and the flush stringers, being made as in their plan to correspond,
so that the parts may properly dovetail or lock together. And the so forming,
arranging, and disposing the plates and their edges as that while constituting
butt joints at and adjacent to the external surface of the vessel or structure, or
scarf joints (as the case may be), the edges or returns of the plates at a short
distance away from such external surface shall clip, embrace, or hold between
them'stringers, tie rods, or plates for bolting or securing to the skeleton or
framing of the vessel or structure; and so as to conceal or protect them. In
accordance with any of the foregoing modes of construction the plates may be
disposed either vertically or inclined, and the several separate plates may be
either straight (that is, plain,) or curved.
3
Also the Invention has reference to the manufacture of the plates, and
consists in constructing or forming them of the desired thickness by rivetting
or securing together two or more thinner plates, and when with more than
two plates, either so that the rivets or fastenings may pass completely through
the mass or otherwise, so that the several separate rivets or fastenings may
pass through only the plates in contact with each other, or through two or
three adjacent plates, but not through the mass, and in such case so that the
rivets in the various laminations or strata forming the mass may not come
opposite to each other, but may break joint with and properly bond or bind
the parts together. It is apprehended that plates so constructed will be 'less
penetrable than if of solid metal. The edges of the plates may be welded
together.
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page_text: The word "edge" or "edges" as herein used is to be understood as including
not only the edge or edges proper, or arrisses, but the surfaces and parts
adjacent thereto, so far as such signification is not inconsistent with the context.
The several features of the Invention are intended to be used in the com-
binations in which they are above described, or in other combinations, or
separately, as may be preferred.
The structures herein referred to other than vessels are forts or fortifica-
tions, or any erections which it may be desirable to protect by means of
armour plates.