SHOT PLUG. 153 



the vessel. The conical wooden plug always projects from the 

 side of the vessel one or two feet, necessarily retarding its motion 

 in a very great degree. It also has the advantage of deceiving 

 the enemy, as it can scarcely be noticed either after or in being 

 inserted. 



This Shot Plug can also be used with the same facility in 

 stopping air ports, or side lights, when by accident they are 

 broken ; dead lights, horse pipes, when the cables are unbent ; 

 pipes passing through the sides of steam vessels, which are liable 

 to injury ; also holes caused by snags, or other accidents of the 

 kind. 



Fig. 2 represents the Shot Plug in an expanded shape, and 

 is better described and explained by the following remarks, 

 having reference to the letters designating its different points 

 from A to G. 



A is the conical head into which the outer end of the shaft is 

 screwed. It is made of cast iron, in the shape of a cone, and of 

 sufficient size in length and breadth, having a circular cavity in 

 its large end, forming a curb or ring, for the purpose of receiving 

 and protecting the joints of the springs, and forming a shoulder 

 or stop, against which the wings strike when expanded. 



B is a centre plate or ring, circular or many-sided, to which a 

 number of springs are attached, having an opening in its centre 

 to admit the shaft, over which said plate or ring is slipped, and 

 secured by the head and shoulder, as represented in descrip- 

 tion A. 



C is ten or more slightly curved radial springs, of any desired 

 length, hinged to the central plate B, made flat, and slightly 

 tapered and widened outwardly, and also curved at their ex- 

 tremities, to prevent their catching in the ship's sides. 



D is the central cylindrical shaft, which is passed through the 

 circular plate to which the springs are hinged, and screwed into 

 the conical head represented by A. This shaft has a screw cut 

 on each end : one for the conical head, the other to receive the 

 wrench by which the shaft is drawn inward through the buckler, 

 represented on the shaft of the contracted Shot Plug in first cut. 



