IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATING AND IN BATTERIES OF WAR
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Oswald Papengouth, of Russell Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATING AND IN BATTERIES OF WAR."
Sealed the 20th October 1864, and dated the 28th April 1864.
H
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Oswald
Papengouth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th April 1864.
I, CHRISTOPHER OSWALD PAPENGOUTH, of Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the. said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOUR PLATING AND IN BATTERIES OF WAB,"
to be as follows:-
.
This Invention relates, firstly, to certain improvements in the application
of armour plates-to vessels and batteries of war in order to enable such
armour plates. to resist the penetration of shot or shell; and, secondly, to
improvements in. the construction of batteries of war for attack and .defence..
. I propose, instead of attaching or fixing armour plates to batteries or vessels
of war by means of rigid or unyielding fastenings, such as bolts, or rivets,
whereby the plates are held firmly against the skin or shell of the vessel.or
battery, to apply the plates so that when they receive a blow from a projectile
[Price 8d.1

page_text: they shall yield to the force of the concussion by means of springs arranged
as follows: To the outer skin of the vessel or battery an elastic packing is
attached, such as india-rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable soft or yielding
substance, of about two inches. in thickness. Between this and the armour
plate a space of about twelve inches is left, and the plate is held in position
by means of screw bolts with large obtuse angled heads, which bolts pass
through the armour plate and the elastic material and skin of the vessel or
battery, and are secured by nuts and metallic washers with or without an extra
washer of india-rubber or other soft material. The bolt is enclosed or sur-
rounded with a powerful helical or spiral spring extending between the twelve
inches space left within the armour plate and outer surface of the vessel
or battery, and a large washer or bearing plate may be placed at each end of
the spring and on the bolt to enable the spring to take a firm bearing while
being compressed by the force of a projectile upon the armour plate. It
will thus be evident that the force or power of the shot striking armour
plates capable of yielding to their impact will be exhausted by driving the
plates inwards against the action of the springs instead of penetrating
such plates, which would be the result if such plates were fixtures or un-
yielding.
:
The principle of applying armour is to be carried out in my improved con-
struction of war battery, which I will now describe.
I propose to construct the battery of an elliptical or egg-shaped longitudinal
section, the ends being somewhat pointed. The battery is made in three
hundred and sixty longitudinal divisions, ribs, or sections, representing, as it
were, staves forming portions throughout of the ever-varying transverse
diameter of the battery; each of these staves or sections must of course be
formed of such transverse section as to register. together to form the, circle,
and therefore their exterior segment will be large, and their sides tapering
inwards towards each other to form the internal smaller segment. Here also
the springs and screw bolts are applied to the armour plate which constitutes
the exterior of the staves or divisions. Now in order to enable these staves or
armour plates to yield to the impact of a shot, it will be necessary to leave a
small space or opening between such openings or spaces, serving also for the
admission of light and air to the occupants of the battery. In the construction
of a flat or curvilinear nature, such as the side of a vessel, the plates may be
placed edge to edge or in contact, but in an elliptical form of battery the
universal arched outline would preclude. the yielding of the plates if spaces
were not left between each; these spaces are sufficiently small to preclude any
chance of ingress of an enemy's missile or projectile. Now in order to main-

page_text: tain these divisions or sections in position, I propose to apply to the interior of
the battery, three sets of duplicate metallic rings, held in position by spring
fastenings, one set being in the centre or largest internal diameter, and another
set at or near each end of the battery. The bolts passing through the staves
or sections are brought between and within each of these double rings, and a
conical or wedge point on the end of the bolts serves to hold the entire series
of staves or sections securely to the rings; thus when a projectile strikes any
point or surface of the battery it will either glance away or be diverted, or
even if it should strike at a right angle to any point, the armour plate will yield
and exhaust the force of inpact.
In one or both ends of the battery I propose to place a piece of ordnance of
any construction, but by preference a breech-loader, the muzzle of which
extends into the pointed extremity of the battery. Now in order to discharge
the shot from the battery, in the absence of an open port hole, I propose to
form the port of the small pointed ends of the sections by attaching them with
hinges or joints to the fixed sections, so that the explosion and exit of the
projectile from the mouth of the gun shall suddenly open the port and permit
the shot to be fired; immediately after which, by means of springs to each
section, the whole will close together again, and render the battery secure
from ingress of the enemy's fire. Underneath the centre of the battery I
propose to arrange a circular turntable foundation, on which the structure is
supported by means of a central pivot or bearing, around which is a circular
groove or channel in which a series of wheels or rollers travel. These wheels
may be toothed, entering corresponding recesses in a toothed circular channel,
and such wheels may be actuated from the interior of the battery by means of
a vertical shaft and hand wheel and by mitre wheel gearing, so, that the
gunners may turn the battery in any required direction for discharging the
gun or guns. Underneath the port the battery derives support and protection
for the turntable and gearing by means of a shield, somewhat in the form of
a rudder, but presenting angular or wedge-shaped surfaces to the action of a
shot. This shield is made of armour plate exteriorly, and is provided with the
spring appliances before described; moreover, surrounding the turntable
there is fixed to the bottom of the battery a ring of a conical section, whose
apex is lowermost; this would be almost a sufficient protection to the turn-
table. The battery is capable of being taken to pieces and put together with
facility, and is thus rendered portable, and may be conveyed from place to
place by a few waggons.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher, Oswald. Papengouth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, CHRISTOPHER
OSWALD PAPENGOUTH, of Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of. Her
reign, did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Christopher Oswald Papengouth, Her special licence that I, the said Chris-
topher Oswald Papengouth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Christopher Oswald Papengouth, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 ARMOUR PLATING AND IN BATTERIEB
or WAR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Christopher
Oswald: Papengouth, 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 Christopher Oswald Papengouth, 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:
My Invention relates, firstly, to certain improvements in the application of
armour plating to vessels of war, batteries, and other defensive structures, in
order to enable such armour plating to resist the penetration of either shot or
shell; and, secondly, to improvements in the construction of batteries of war for
attack and defence.
I purpose, instead of attaching or fixing armour plates to batteries and
vessels of war with rigid and unyielding fastenings, such as ordinary bolts,
rivets, &c., whereby the plates are held firmly in one position without their
having any elasticity whatever, to apply armour plates in such a manner

page_text: as will hereafter be described, so that when they receive a blow from a pro-
jectile the said plates shall yield to the force of the concussion by means of
springs, which I. will now proceed to explain.. To the outer skin of the
vessel or battery an elastic substance or packing is attached, such as india-
rubber, gutta percha; or other suitable soft or yielding material, of about two
inches in thickness, more or less; between this and the armour plating a space
of one or two feet is left, and the armour plate is held in position by means of
bolts, with a thread at both ends, capable of being adjusted to the box or ring
fixed to the ribs of the vessel at one end and attached to the armour plate at
the other; such bolts being made on the telescope principle are separately
enclosed within a powerful helical or spiral spring extending within the one or
two feet space left between the armour plating and the outer surface of the
skin of the vessel or battery, a larger washer or bearing plate may be placed at
the end of the spring or on the ends of the bolts, to enable the springs to take
a firm bearing while being compressed by the force of a projectile upon the
armour plates. The force or the elástic power of each spring is proportionate to
the weight of the plate, and so calculated that the force and power of shot or
shell striking armour plating, according to my Invention, and capable of yielding
to this impact, will be exhausted by driving the plates inwards against the action
of the spring's instead of penetrating such plates, which would be the result if
such plates were rigid and unyielding.
In order to make the plates more capable of yielding to and resisting the
shot, I propose to make the surface of. steel plates of Low Moor or rolled iron,
and so small that each plate may be on the outer surface from one to four
square feet, more or less, such plates to be fastened to the sides of the 'vessel
or battery by means of yielding or telescopic bolts, such bolts being composed
of two or more separate cylindrical prisms or tubes entering one into the other.
so that if the superficial pressure is effected upon one end of the bolt the
whole can be diminished in length to half the whole former length or even to
less s than the entire half of such length. By such means, if the plate is pressed
by any projectile, and yields under the pressure of the same, the bolt by which
such plate is fastened to the sides of the vessel or battery will be diminished in its
length, the two or more parts of which such bolts is composed having entered one
into the other, according to my principle. The whole of the armour is so con-
structed that if a shot strikes the plate on any point the velocity and the power
or momentum of the shot is diminished by an extraordinary amount of elasticity;
and, secondly, also by extending the pressure or the momentum of the shot on
a. larger surface which can be better understood on referring to the Drawings
hereunto annexed.

page_text: To illustrate the idea more fully, the bolts by which the plate is attached
to the vessel consist of two or more hollow cylinders entering. one. into the
other on the same principle as the tubes of a telescope; the diameter of such
telescope bolts will entirely depend on the size of the plates. The form of the
armour plates will either be square or octagonal, such plates will be arranged
side to side, so as to cover the whole surface of the vessel or battery, and in
order to prevent the water entering vessels of war plated, according to my in-
provements, and at the time the armour yields under the pressure of projectiles,
provision is made that each plate will move inside of a. square or octagonal
chamber or recess fitted accurately to the edges of the plates and covering the
springs placed behind the same; such chamber or recess can be made of india-
rubber, or composition of india-rubber mixed with cork, or other suitable
materials capable of being compressed by means of such chambers or recesses
made for this purpose, each plate will be perfectly water-tight and separated
one from the other, so that when the plate yields under the pressure of pro-
jectiles the water will be prevented from entering under or between the plates
into the vessel. In order to protect the joints between the plates and to
prevent any shot from entering, provision is made for protecting them by
means of prisms or pins or keys with half spherical heads, or even prismatical
heads, so arranged as to overlap what space is left between any four plates
and the pliable chambers or recesses connected therewith, as previously
described. Such prisms, pins, or keys will move on a T iron placed horizon-
tally and bolted to the skin or ribs of the vessel, such pins or keys having a
slot or groove cut within itself and so adjusted on to the aforesaid T iron that
it will move in the direction of the projectile by which it is struck; it is quite
independent from the armour plate, so that when the plate yields to a shot the
pins or keys that protect the joint remain unmoved, but should the pin or key
be struck it would then yield and press inwards the four plates surrounding
the same, which can be better understool on referring to b*, Figure 4, of Sheet
No. 1 of Drawings annexed, in regard to the armour plates. They may be
manufactured with outer surfaces, flat, curved, or convex, as will be better
understood on referring to Drawings annexed.
I will now proceed to describe the principle of applying armour plating
according to my Invention, and the improved mode of construction adopted
for my war battery, and likewise the means employed for carrying out
the same. I propose to construct this battery of an elliptical or egg-shaped
longitudinal section, the ends being somewhat pointed, and made of 360
more or less, longitudinal divisions, ribs, or sections, forming portions
throughout of the ever-varying transverse diameter of the battery. Each

page_text: of these sections must of course be formed of such transverse section as to
register together to form the circle, and therefore these outer surfaces will be
larger than the inner, the sides tapering inwards towards each other to form
the smaller inner surface. Here also the spring and telescope bolts are applied
to the armour plates, which constitutes the exterior of the staves or divisions,
and in order to enable these staves or armour plates to yield to the impact
of a projectile they will be arranged on the same principle as my war vessel,
although I do not confine myself to that form alone. It will be necessary to
leave a small space or opening between each row of plates, on the same principle
as the upper covering of my war vessel, for the admission of light and air to
the occupants of such battery.
In the construction of the flat or curvilinear nature, such as the side of a
vessel; the plates may be fastened by means of a groove or dovetail, edge to
edge, or in the form of a cross, as shewn on Figure 6 of Drawing No. 1, but
in an elliptical form of battery. The universal arched outline would preclude
the yielding of the plates if spaces were not left between each. In this
arrangement of plates I use the bolts as shewn on Figure 5 of Drawing No. 1
annexed. These spaces are sufficiently small to preclude any chance of
ingress of an enemy's missile or projecture. Now in order to maintain these
divisions or sections in position I propose to apply to the interior of the
battery three duplicate sets of metallic rings held in position by spring fast-
enings, one set being in the centre or largest internal diameter, and another
set at or near each end of the battery; the bolts passing through the staves
or sections are brought between and within each of these double rings, and
conical or wedged point on the edge of the bolts serves to hold the entire
series of staves or sections securely together to the rings. Thus when a pro-
jector, strikes any point or surface of the battery it will either glance away or
be diverted, or even if it should strike at a right angle to any point, the
armour plate will yield and exhaust the force of impact. Underneath the
centre of the battery. I arrange a circular turntable foundation, on which the
structure is supported by means of a central pivot or bearing, around which
is a circular groove or channel, in which a series of friction wheels or rollers
travel; these wheels may be toothed, entering corresponding recesses in a
toothed circular channel, and such wheels may be actuated from the interior
of the battery by means of a vertical shaft and hand wheel, or by mitre wheel
gearing, so that the gunners may turn the battery in any required direction
for discharging the guns underneath the port. The battery derives support
and protection for the turntable and gearing by means of a shield somewhat
in the form of a rudder, but presenting angular or wedge-shaped surfaces to

page_text: the action of a shot. This shield is made of armour plate exteriorily, and is
provided with the spring appliances, as previously described. Surrounding
the turntable there is fixed to the base of the battery a ring of a conical
section, the apex of which is lowermost; this would be almost a "sufficient
protection to the turntable. The battery is capable of being taken to pieces
and put together with facility, and is thus rendered portable, and may be con-
veyed from place to place by a few waggons. In one or both ends of the battery
I place a piece of ordnance of any construction. but by preference a breech-
loader, the muzzle of which would extend into the pointed extremity of the
battery. Now in order to discharge this piece of ordnance in the absence of
an open port hole I form the port of the small pointed ends of the 'sections
by attaching with hinges or joints to the fixed sections, so that the explosion
and exit of the projectile shall suddenly open the port; immediately after
which, by means of springs to each section, the port will close together again
and render the battery secure from ingress of the enemy's fire. I will now
proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet No. 1, represents a vessel of war plated with armour on
this principle and according to my application, such vessel being elliptical or
egg-shaped, with pointed ends; .but I do not confine myself to any particular
form or shape. my principle being applicable to all kinds of vessels of war
and land batteries. For the better adaptation of my principle to vessels of
war and land batteries, it will be necessary to have some means of ventilation,
admission of light and air, and also for the exit of smoke, and for the better
protection of a smoke pipe or pipes, and 'to do this I arrange my plates in
such a manner that I obtain these requisites in a simple manner, as will be
,seen on referring to Figure 1 of Drawing No. 1:
1.
.
A, A, are two domes or coverings for the protection of a smoke pipe or
pipes, with vertical divisions a for the admission of light and air, and for
other purposes. These divisions or spaces are sufficiently small to prevent the
admission of shot, and being arranged on my principle quite impregnable to
shot or shell. These divisions or spaces occur all over the upper part of the
. vessel, or only partially, as may, be deemed necessary for ventilation. In
arranging the plates so as to allow for these openings I make use of the
bolis T, Figure 5, Sheet 1. The pins or keys, as previously described, occur
in between every four plates, as shewn and represented in diamond form in
Figure 1. Sheet 1.
Figure 2: Sheet 1, shews a vessel constructed on the same principle, but

page_text: covered with a thin cover of wood C, (by preference of oak,) with the upper
pórtion arranged for ventilation in the same manner as shewn' and" described
in Figure 1, Sheet 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line x, x, through
port holes i.i.i.i.i.i. shewing the arrangement of armour plates, the elastic
material forming the chamber or recess, and the box connecting the same to
the side of the vessel, d. being the armour plate; e, the elastic material sur-
rounding the telescope bolt and helical or spiral spring; and f, the box con-
taining cork and rubber mixed, or any other composition of any elastic nature;
this box being bolted through the preparation and skin of the vessel, thus form-
ing a water-tight covering to the side of the vessel. Figure 4 is an enlarged
sectional view through several of these armour plates and their connection to
the side of the vessel. a* is the armour plate held firmly in position by the pins
or keys b; e is the material forming the elastic chambers or recess surrounding
the helical spiral spring and telescope bolts. This material is made of gutta
percha, or other suitable substance capable of compression, and fastened to
a ring or disc, which is screwed to the inner side of the armour plate d*, and
fastened at the other end to and inside of the box. Inside of this box and on
the yielding material grests the helical or spiral spring G', and through
which spring passes the telescope. bolt h, composed, as will be seen, in two
or more picces, and capable of entering one into the other when the spring
is compressed by the action of a shot or shell on the face f; the armour
plate d", Figure 4*, is a side elevation of the same. Figure, is an enlarged
section of an armour plate, with a solid bolt T screwed into the plate, and
with a large head Y¹ resting on the inside of the skin of the vessel X, capable
of being compressed inwards several inches. This arrangement of fastening
being another mode of applying my armour plates, with this difference, that I
dovetailed the plates one into the other in a vertical line for the purpose of
ventilation, &c., or in the form of x cross x, with the surrounding plates
backed up by the telescope bolts, as will be better understood on reference to
Figure 6, Sheet 1, shewing the dovetail principle of the cross into the four
surrounding plates, which can also act on square or octagonal armour plates
in various ways.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, is a transverse of a war vessel built and armour
plated on my principle and according to this Invention, with one side
showing my application of armour plates; the red lines represent the outlines
of the Warrior, to shew difference between a vessel of my construction and
those in present use, obtaining, as will be seen, less draught of water, and with a
greater distance above the water line of the port holes than the Warrior or
other war vessels, and having at the same time the upper deck protected with

page_text: a roof formed of arches consisting of armour plating of the same description
as previously described for the protection of the side of the vessel. The
arches are curved and form an angle of from 30° to 35° with the upper deck,
as shewn in Figure 7, Sheet 2, the arches being of from one to two feet in
width, and resting upon angle iron, forming part of the riles of the vessel; or
space of about half an inch, more or less, is left between each of these arches,
thus admitting the light inside of the vessel, and for the escape of the smoke.
In the practical application of the various parts of my said Invention I do
not limit myself to the details and Figures represented in the Drawings
herein before mentioned or referred to, as they will vary according to the cir-
cumstances in each case. And having now to the best of my ability fully
explained the nature of my Invention, and described the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I have to state that I do not hereby restrict
myself to the precise forms as shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed, nor
do I confine myself to the exact arrangements thereby indicated or herein
described, but include all such modifications in former dimensions, arrange-
ment, and construction as may be deemed necessary or identical to my
principle of armour plating.
Having thus described my said improvements in the armour plating and
construction of vessels of war, and also my batteries of war, I wish it be
understood that what I claim is:-
First, the construction of yielding armour, without limiting myself to any
specific form or dimension.
Second, the mode of attaching the plates to the sides of the ship by means of
yielding bolts, or telescope bolts, or cross bolts, as previously described, or any
other kind or form of bolts, prisms, or cylinders, not being firmly bolted to
the side of the vessel, but yielding with the plate or acting in any other
way without preventing the plate from yielding under the pressure of either
shot or shell.
Third, the application of conical, spiral, or helical, helicac-spiral springs to
the armour plated vessels or batteries of war in order to render those armour
plates capable of yielding and also resisting the shot.
Fourth, the protection of the upper deck by means of an arched or curved
roof constructed of solid, or moveable, or elastic armour forming a certain
curve or angle with the deck of the vessel, and which also can remain as a
permanent protection for the upper deck, or folding and put to pieces, and
mounted only as a roof or as a protection of the deck in case of the naval
engagements.
1
Fifth, the construction of the portable battery of war formed of such solid

page_text: or elastic armour plate, and of such description as can render such battery
capable of resisting the heaviest cannon shot, and at the same time to be
easily put together or taken to pieces, and removed from one place to another
by means of a few waggons or carriages.
Sixth, I claim also the mode of protection of funnels by means of this
solid or elastic armour, with or without the arched roof or cover over it.
Seventh, I claim the formation of cement composed of india-rubber and
cork, serving as materials for rendering the ships water-tight, and also for
preserving from rust all the armour plate and all the metallic portions of the
vessels.
In witness whereof, I, Christopher Oswald. Papengouth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 27th day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
CHRISTOPHER OSWALD PAPENGOUTH. (L.S.)