US236669A - burg-ess - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. BURGESS.

, Double Ended Ram. No. 236,669. Patented Jan. 18,1881.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 2.

P. BURGESS.

, Double Ended'Ram. No. 236,669. Patentedvjan. 18,1881

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. BURGESS. Double Ended Ram;

No. 236,669. Patented Jan. 18, 1881.

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'fpwmmm N. PETERS, PNOTOYLITHOGRAPNER, WASNING'LON. D Cv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHINEAS BURGESS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DOUBLE-ENDED RAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,669, dated January 18, 188 1.

ApplicationfiledMay 24,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHINEAS BURGESS, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Ended Rams or War -Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in that class of war-vessels having a ram at each end; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 of the drawings annexed presents a longitudinal section of a war-vessel constructed according to my invention, its length being somewhat contracted for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 00 ac; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan, partly in section.

The hull of the vessel is designed to have great width compared with its length, the dimensions in a given case being, length on deck two hundred and twenty feet, breadth sixtyeight feet six inches, and depth of hold eighteen feet, thus obtaining great stability. The vvater-line of the hull is intended to be three feet from the deck, and it will be seen that the hull tapers toward each end while the middle portion for a good length is parallel on the sides and flat on the bottom, thus obtaining great internal capacity. The hull is constructed in the ordinary way with a double plating, a a, and the vulnerable parts of the hull above water are clad with armor-plating of suitable thickness at the required points.

It may be observed that the main features of the vessel are duplex or similar on each end and on each side. Thus each end of the hull is similar to the other in form, and is terminated with a ram, b I), while a midship bulk-head, c, divides the interior of the hull longitudinally, being erected in line with the keel and extending vertically therefrom to the deck and longitudinally from end to end of the hull in line with and backing the rams, and also dividing the interior of the hull into two great longitudinal compartments communicating with each other by the doors d d, which in case of emergency may be closed water-tight. This midship bulk-head, in thus extending centrally from ram to ram and from keel to deck, gives unusual strength to the hull in all directions, but especially strengthens it longitudinally in the direction of the rams, thus enabling the vessel to ram at either end with great force and audacity. The battery is contained in a circular stationary casemate, c, situated above the deck, and of a diameter somewhat greater than the width of the hull, so as to overhang each side slightly, as seen best in Fig. 3. The sides of the casemate are protected with armor-plating of suitable thickness, and inclines at an an gleofforty-tivedegrees, or thereabout, thus giving the platin g greater shot-resistin g power. The guns f f are arranged atfrequent intervals within the casemate, being mounted on carriages of suitable construction and arranged to fire through portholes of approved form, as illustrated, which port-holes are provided with the usual stoppers. (Not shown.) Now, the overhanging portion of the armored casemate is continued slightly below the waterline, and in the protected spaces below the same the propellers are arranged, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, on each side of the vessel and at the center thereof. The propeller-shafts are supported in hearing at either end on arms g g, projecting from the hull, and each shaftis equipped with two screws, h 71., one arranged respectively toward each end of the shaft, thus providing two screws on each side of the vessel. The screw-shafts are each driven by an independent engine, 73, situated in opposite sides of the vessel, and connected with their respective screws by an oblique shaft, 7;, and universal joints, according to a patent previously issued to me.

To further continue and complete the duplex construction of the vessel, each end of the hull is provided with a distinct rudder, l, which are placed below and back of the rams, so as to be out of the influence of the blows of the ram and out of the reach of ram of an enemys vessel. Each rudder is preferably mounted on a central axis, so as to render them balanced, and thus reducethepower required to work them, and both are connected by about the usual gear with the steering-wheels m m in the pilot-house n n, so that both rudders may be operated simultaneously and harmoniously from the one source. The pilot-house TOO n is placed high above the casemate e, and is without armor, and is hence used only in cruising or when out of action. The pilothouse a, below the former, is used when in action, and is hence suitably armored and provided with spy-holes at proper points. The temporary quarters 0 0, above the casemate, may be occupied by the officers when the vessel is on a cruise or out of action, and these are so erected as to be readily removed when required.

The arrangement of boilers, engines, and coal-bunkers is shown in the drawings, and requires no special description, being designed as usual to be as compact, yet as capacious, as possible. The rest of the hull is divided upin a suitable manner into apartments for stores, ammunition, and quarters for officers and men, as will be readily understood.

It may now be observed that the duplex construction of the vessel as regards rudders, propellers, and rams, as well as the internal formation of the hull, gives her great power of endurance and ease and audacity of maneuvering, enabling the vessel to quickly ram an antagonist at either end, and to at once retire to avoid being struck in return by the enemys ram or torpedo. If the vessel is surrounded by an enemys fleet, her ram at either end and her double rudders and propellers give her great facilities of turning instantly in any direction and advancing with either ram against one antagonist, her guns being fired at the same time that the blow of the ram is delivered, after which the engines may be reversed to advance in the opposite direction on another antagonist, which may be rammed with the opposite ram, while the fire of the guns on the opposite side of the battery is delivered at the same time, all of which may be accomplished quicker than an ordinary vessel could turn round. The circular battery enables the guns of the vessel to be fired in all directions, or all the guns may be fired successively in one direction as fast as loaded by slowly turning the vessel on her center, which the double propellers and rudders enable to be effected with great ease and certainty. This described construction of the vessel will thus not only enable her to fight with great energy and audacity with both guns and rams, but will also enable her to endure a long fight and to withstand great injury before becoming totally disabled. Thus, if one side of the vessel is perforated and her engines on that side disabled, the engines and screws at the opposite side will yet sufiice to manage the vessel 5 or if one rudder or one set of screws is disabled the others will yet remain for efi'ective work, so that if the vessel is left with but one set of screws and one rudder she can yet do effective work with her guns and rams; or if all her guns are disabled she can yet use her rams, or, if necessary, make a successful retreat, her resources being thus much greater than ordinary warvessels as heretofore constructed, rendering her a formidable antagonist and an overmatch for a number of ordinary vessels.

If desired, a revolving turret may be erected above the casemate, thus combining the advantages of a turreted as well as a casemate battery.

In the vessel illustrated I have designed the battery to contain twelve fifteen-inch guns; but if larger guns are desired a less number will be used.

I am aware that longitudinal bulk-heads extending part of the length of the vessel have heretofore been employed, and I therefore lay no claim to such construction. my invention, so far as the longitudinal bulk head is concerned, being confined to a war-vessel having a ram at each end, and provided with a longitudinal bulk-head extending from rain to ram and keel to deck, whereby a strong backbone extending the whole length of the vessel is formed, making a powerful re-enforcement and solid backing for both rams, the vessel being at the same time rendered strongerin its general construction and more buoyant in case of a leak in one side from shots of an enemy or other causes.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A war-vessel provided with a ram at each end and a central longitudinal continuous bulk-head extending through the interior of the hull from ram to ram and from keel to deck,

substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. A war-vessel provided with a stationary armored casemate mounted on the deck, and having its exterior surface inclined and prolonged downward below the deck at the sides of the vessel, so as to overhang the sides,'with propellers arranged beneath and protected by said overhanging casemate, substantially as described.

PHINEAS BURGESS.

Witnesses DAVID A. MYERLE, GEO. WALSH.

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