The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-17
PNEUMATICS

LIST. Taking the strain of the ships side, when a
gun is fred
%. Checking the reeoil FROM and
Sd. Assisting the return to battery, without any
jar;
4th. Safely increasing the training;
9Th. Increasing the range;
9th. Edeetually checking the gun, under any cir
cumstances;
7ih. Requiring only a.hosting, and not strainrs-
ssting power in the vessel or lighter
9Th. Authorizing reduction in the size Of The
tacklng Of the gum
9Th. Adding but trihipg weight;
10th. Relieving the jar on the ships side, when
bowsng out the gun
llth, Throwing the wear, tear, shock, and strain
Of gun-service upon the carriage;
18th. Being entirely self acting;
18th. Increasing greatly the battery Of the ship;
l4th. Controlling considerably the heated gun;
18th. Using elastic counter action, that must
lessen the wear and tear;
18th. Avoiding any sudden jerk
18th. Rendering it unnecessary to put more metal
in gun than is really required for wthstanding the
charge
18th. Enabling the strength Of powder to be tested
anywhere
18th. Requiring butilttlo alteration in the old.
fashioned gun.carrage;
Goth Rendering it almost impossible for gun to
break loosej
2lst. Being cheap, durable, and strong;
% Being inaccessible to shot, except the gun be
at the time dismounted;
23d BY being capable Of working entirely within
the gun-cheeks, underneath the trunnions;
oath. So not to interfere either with the aim
ing, training, or bowsing out Of the gun;
25th. Materially reducing the number CT men now
required for working gun
26th Enabling the carriage to be geared more CON-
pletely than at present;
27th Allowing free ventilation when the decks are
washed
2sth Making small vessels of great efficiency
where, in sudden emergency, they would now be Of
little service, Sc. sc.
| This Pneumatic counteraction is attained by means
of brass cylinder constructed like the air pump of
steam engine, and Is worked by rolling axle such
as is used now on railroad cars.
The cylinder either works by pressure or by caus-
ing vacuum.
IL the former mode is adopted, the power counter
acting the reco depends upon the length Of stroke
given to the piston. Thus, if the air is compressed
to onehalf its bulk, is lbs. the square inch at
tanned if TO three fourths 80 lbs if to seveneigbths
As lbs, and so on
If the latter plan is used, the power is equal to Is
pounds on the square inch and can neither be in-
creased nor diminished.
The tendency Of air to resume its atmospheric
bulk, or to annul vacuum, gives similar power,
with which TO run the gun to battery.
The diameter of the cylinder must be determined
by experiments on naval cannon, (lee and weather
guns) such as will denote the mean power of recoil
under various charges.
There is third mode of working the ar-cylindcr,
(provded il be used in conjunction with Lieut. Wards
plan for running the gun to batery) viz: by sucking
the air in and forcing it out the piston rises and
falls 10 the cylinder.
The few moments required for loading, running
gun to battery, and firing the same present pros
pective guarantee for the efficiency Of the plan, with
regard to vacuum or to compression and certainty
| for the working of the third mode.
The results, thus far, Of firing an imperfsctIy con-
structed miniature model, has been the following
Charge of powder, l65 grains.
Weight of ball, $50 grains
Recois with and without the Pneumatic appara-
tus, as !! to3.
reduction Of "a grains Of powder is required in
order to equalize the recoils, l65 grains of pow
der with the cylinder, and only II grains without it.
From the foregoing, (as well as from some crude
experiments it may be reasonably deduced, that the
penetration of the ball would be found proportiona
bly, increased
In addition, it is proposed to simplify the cannon
lock. hammer, shaped to suit, and shaft work
ing in the cascable) with circular inclined plane
upon it, constitute the whole plan.
The blast from the vent has been known to raise as
much as 1900 pounds. If the closing of the vent
prove practicable, the whole projecting power Of the
powder be used and the ball thrown lust 80 much
further.
Besides the vent will not be burnt, and the uncer-
tainty in trusting to the thumb, while the heated gun
IS reloaded, will be avoided.
Though the materials for reflection, emapatnr
from study Of Gunnery, have been exceedingly in.
congruous, have analysed Them throughout their en-
tire bearing, and fortunately for m, plan, 1 have
found that meets all well-bsscd requirements Yet
It is not to be expected that in the limits of this pa
per, can wander through the mazes Of the mutifa-
rous desutory and disjointed conversations and re-
searches lhave held or reduce them to consecutive
series, sweeping progressively over the metallursy
fabrication, mechanical APPENDICES and marine prsc
tIce Of gunnery.
~ Monsieur KoRroNIY, II will be perce;v,d bv !
.dv art,.. L. 4
commence his instructions to-day, at Csrusis Saloon.
in the celebrated and fashionable dance Of the Polka
5 rangers and citizens now have an opportunity Of
petfecting themselves in anticipation of the Ipsnpu.
ration Balls.