Improvements in Means for Plugging Shot-holes in Iron Clads and other Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1832-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1891
COME LEIE DI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Plugging Shot-holes in Iron Clads and
other Vessels.
Colonel JOHN EMERY GOWEN, Gentleman, residing at 84 Rue Lauriston,
Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention has for its object to provide means for enabling shot-holes in iron
clads or other vessels to be rapidly plugged with ease and cheapness during a naval
engagement or at other times. The purpose of the plug is to arrest the inflow of
water into the men-of-war or other vessel.
Broadly speaking, the means consist of a plug or obturator which is made to
close the shot-holes through the intervention of mechanical contrivances.
As the shot-holes produced may assume varied configurations, the plugging or
obturating device can be devised in various ways, so as to suit each particular case.
In the drawings hereto annexed, I have shown by way of examples, different
methods of arranging or contriving the plugging or obturating device.
Fig. 1 shows one particular arrangement, in which the shot-hole is plugged by
means of a contrivance composed of a cone a connected by a rod 6 to a bearing
contact c, which rests against the inside of the vessel. Over the cone a is slipped a
cone d made of soft rubber or any other suitable material sufficiently pliable to
make a joint when pressed firmly against the outside of the iron e which clads the
vessel. The rod 6 is screw-threaded to receive a nut provided with arms g, g by
The end of the rod b is
which the rod 6 can be tightened or loosened by hand.
provided with a head h which is so connected to the outer face of the cone a so as
to be prevented from rotating in the cone a when turning the nut f by means of the
arms g, g. The cone a is provided with one or more rings i, i by which the
contrivance can be suspended when being lowered down against the outside of
the vessel.
Fig. 2 shows another arrangement in which the shot-hole is similar to the one
shown in Fig. 1. Instead of the rubber cone d I use a rubber disk d which is held
upon the rod b between an outer disk a which can be made of metal or other
suitable material, and an inner disk j, which can be made of wood or other material
The rubber disk d is held between the two disks a & j, the latter being secured by
a pink passing through the rod b. The remaining parts are the same.
Fig. 3 & 4 show another arrangement in which the shot hole is similar to the one
shown in Fig. 1 & 2, but is plugged by means of a somewhat different contrivance.
Fig. 3 shows the plug before and Fig. 4 after it has been introduced and tightened.
In this instance, the plug proper d which is fitted over the rod bis held between the
outer disk a and an inner disk j; the latter is moved against the plug d by a tube /
and a nut m fitted over the screw-threaded portion of the rod b. The plugging is
effected by two operations: first, introducing the plug into the shot-hole of the
iron e and pressing it firmly thereagainst by tightening the nut ; second, com-
pressing the plug by tightening the nut m so as to cause the disk ; to move
upwardly and press firmly against the plug.
Fig. 5 shows another arrangement in which the shot-hole to be plugged is similar
to the one shown in the previous instances.
The contrivance differs however in the manner in which the rod b is connected to
the disks a &j which hold the rubber disk d between them. It also differs in the
manner in which the disks a & ; are connected together. It also differs in the
manner in which the contrivance is applied to the shot-hole.
The rod 6 is connected to the disk by a bayonet-joint which is well known and

page_text: I
needs no special description; the disks a & jare screwed into each other, as shown
in the drawing and hold the rubber d between them.
In applying the contrivance, the parts.a, d, j, i, i, forming one body are lowered
down against the side of the vessel until the rubber disk d is presented opposite the
shot-hole after which the rod is introduced and secured into the cavity of the
disk or nut and is then tightened, as will be readily understood...
Fig. 6 shows another arrangement which differs from the arrangement shown in
Fig. 5. previously described by the manner in which the rod b is connected to the
disk j. In this particular instance, the disks a & j are connected to each other by
..t screw n for holding the rubber disk d between them. The screw n terminates in
an eye o into which engages a hook p at the end of the rod b. In other respects,
the arrangements shown in Fig. 5 & 6 are the same, except that between the nut
and bracket c may be interposed an annular friction-washer g, as shown in Fig. 5
or a semispherical one r, as shown in Fig. 6.
In the various examples hereinbefore described, it has been assumed that the
projectile directed against the iron-clad has produced a more or less straight hole
across the iron c. It may however happen that a shot may cause more serious
damage to the vessel and produce not only distortions of the iron plate e, but also
larger holes. It has been supposed that a shot has produced an opening similar to
the one shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 7 shows another arrangement which differs essentially from the arrangements
previously described. In this particular case, I retain the tightening mechanism
composed of the parts a, b, c, f, g, g, i, i and r and I add thereto one or more
superposed disks or plates of soft rubber d, d, the size of which is determined by
the size of the shot-hole. The operation of this particular contrivance will be
clearly understood from the drawing.
Fig. 8 & 9 show another arrangement which resembles in a great measure the
arrangement shown in Fig. 3 & 4. In this instance, the plug d, instead of having
an annular flange (as in Fig. 3 & 4) which bears against the outside face of the
iron e is almost cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 8; but in other respects, the remaining
parts are the same.
+
A special feature of this contrivance is that the plug can be introduced from the
inside of the ship, instead of from the outside, as in the previous instance. For
this reason, the outer disk a is unprovided with suspension rings i, i as in the
previous contrivance.
The operation is as follows: the plug d together with its rod b, tube and nut m
are introduced from the inside of the ship into the shot-hole, until the parts assume
the position shown in Fig. 8, after which the bearing bracket c and tightening nut g
are fitted onto the rod b. The plug d is then dilated into the shot-hole by screwing
up the nut m so as to compress the plug, until it effectually closes the hole, as
shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 10, 11 & 12 show another arrangement in which the contrivance is introduced
from the inside, as in the instance illustrated in Fig. 8.& 9, but the contrivance
differs in construction & operation.
In this particular instance, the contrivance is collapsable, so that when it is to be
introduced, it will fold up to such a size as to easily pass through the shot hole,
but will unfold afterwards & lay flat against the outside face of the iron e.
The device is composed of a metal disk a, the diameter of which is slightly less
than the size of the shot-hole; so as to easily pass therethrough; the said disk is
secured upon the rod 6 by a nut and washer and bears against a metal carrier s upon
which are hinged several arms t which hold the rubber disk d. u is a washer
resting against a shoulder on the rod b. The rubber disk d is secured to the arms t
by means of one or more pairs of clips which clamp the rubber and are connected
together by means of bolts w.
In Fig. 10, the device is shown while it is being introduced, the device being
collapsed, whilst in Fig. 11, the device is shown after its introduction and after it
has been unfolded. Fig. 12 is a plan of Fig. 11.

page_text: Fig. 13 & 14 show another arrangement which differs from the constructions
previously described in as much as the bearing bracket c of the latter can be
dispensed with.
In this arrangement, the rubber plug proper d is taper and is secured upon a
rod bat each end of which is a disk a &a. The disk a is pressed against a
shoulder on the rod b and is held by nuts or otherwise; the disk passes freely
over the lower end of the rod b. The disk is formed with a rim having one or
more holes into which can be introduced one or more bars y by means of which the
disk can be securely prevented from rotating when turning the arms 9, g of the
nut f. In order to prevent the rod 6 from rotating when operating the arms 9, 9,
it has a pin z secured to it which engages a mortise in the hub of the disk a.
The operation will be easily understood from the drawing. The whole device is
introduced into the shot-hole until it approximately assumes the position in Fig. 13
after which the bar y is introduced into one of the holes in the hub of the disk x.
Upon turning the arms 9, the rod 6 will be drawn forward without rotating and the
plug d will expand, as shown in Fig. 14.
I wish it to he clearly understood that the annexed drawings only show a few of
the various manners in which my improvements can be executed, as it will be
evident that apart from the materials which could be employed in each case, the
invention can be applied in various other ways which would still be within the
Bcope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1-The application of a soft or elastic material as means of plugging shot-holes
in men-of-war, the said material being either pressed against the holes in the side of
the vessel or being expanded into the said holes by any suitable mechanical device,
as hereinbefore described.
2-The arrangement of plugging devices, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 1 & 2 of the drawing.
3-The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 3 & 4 of the drawing.
4 The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 5 of the drawing.
5 The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 6 of the drawing.
6-The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 7 of the drawing.
7-The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 8 & 9 of the drawing.
8-The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 10, 11 & 12 of the drawing.
9-The arrangement of plugging device, substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 13 & 14 of the drawing.
Dated this 29th day of June 1892.
BABYY M
W. F. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.