The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-02-18
PNEUMATFCS


Applied 10 Heavy Ordnance,
BY THOs. GEO. CLINTON, M. d.
This plan covers the following points, viz
LIST. Taking the strain of the ships side, when a
gun is fred
I'd. Checking the recoil from; and
Sd. Assisting the return to battery;
4lh. Safely increasing the training;
9th. Increasing the range;
9th. Edectually checking the gun, under any cir
cumstances;
7,h. Requiring only floating and not strain-re-
sising power in the vessel or lighter;
9Th. Authorizing reduction in the size of the
tackling of The gun;
9Th. Adding but triaiDg weight;
10th. Relieving the jar on the ships side, when
bowsng out the gun;
18th. 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;
i4th. Controlling considerably the heated gun;
18th. Using an elastic confederation, that must
Essen the wear and tear;
18th. Avoiding any sudden jerk;
18th. Rendering it unnecessary to put more metal
in gun than is really required for outstanding the
charge;
18th. Enabling the strength of powder TO be tested
anywhere;
18th. Requiring but. little alteration in the old
fashioned gun.carriage
Goth. Rendering it almost impossible for gun to
break loose;
2lst. Being cheap, durable, and strong;
22i Being inaccessible to shot, except the gun be
at the same time dsmounted,
23d. BY being capable of working entirely within
the gun-cheeks underneath the trunnions,
oath. So as not to interfere either with the aim
ing, training or bowsing out of the gun;
18th. Materially reducing the number Ct men now
required for working gun
26th. Enabling the carriage to be geared more CON-
pacuy 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 DO Of
little service, &c. sc.
This Pneumatic counteracton is attained by means
of brass cylinder constructed like the cir 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.
acting the reco depends upon the length of stroke
given to the piston Thus, if the air is com pressed
to one-haf its bulk Is lbs. the square inch is at
tanned; if 10 three fourths 80 lbs. if to sevenegbth.
As lbs, and so on.
II 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 a 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 will denote the mean power of reco]
under various charges
There is third mode Of working the air-cylinder
(provided il be used in conjunction with Lieut. Ward,
plan for running the gun to battery) Wis by sucking
the air in and forcing it out the piston rises and
falls in The cylinder.
The few moments required for loading, running a
gun to battery, aud firing the same, present pros
pectve guarantee for the efficiency of the plan, with
regard to vacuum or to compresson and certsint,
for the working of the third mode
The results, thus far, Of firing an imperfec,ly con-
structed miniature model has been the following
Charge of powder, les grains.
Weight Of ball, 600 grains.
Recoils with and wthou, the Pneumatic apoar,.
tus, as to3.
reduction Of "a grains of powder is required in
order to equalize the rccois, e. I65 grains of DOW
der with the cylinder, and only II grains without if
From the foregoing, Gas well as from some crud.
experiments it may be reasonably dedueed. that tn,
penetration of the ball would be found proportions
bly, increased.
In addition, it is proposed to simplify the cannon
lock. hammer, shaped to suit, and a shaft work
ing in the cascsbIe) with circular inclined plane
upon il, constitute the whole plan.
The blast from the vent has been known To raise a,
much as 900 pounds. If the closing of the ven
prove practicable the whole projecting power of the
powder be used, and the ball thrown lust 40 muct
further.
Besides the vent will not be burnt and the upcer
tany in trusting to the thumb while the heated CUR
is reloaded, will be avoided.
Though the materials for reflection, emanatinp
from study OF Gunpery, have been exceedingly in
copgruous have analysed them throughout their en-
tire bearing, and fortunately for my plan, | have
found that IT meets all wel-bssed requirements Ye,
It is not to be expected that in the limits of this pa
per, can wander through the mazes of the multifa-
rious desuory and disjointed conversations and re-
searches have held or reduce them to consecutive
series, sweeping progressively over the metaliurgy,
fabrication, mechanical appendages and marine prnc-
tice Of gupnery.
~ Monsieur koRrosAY, it win be perceived by
an advertisement, has arrived in our city. He will
his instslciions to-day # Canal. 6, L..