IMPROVEMENTS IN PRO- JECTILES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Horace Brandon, Engineer, of 13, Rue
Gaillon, Paris, France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRO-
JECTILES." A communication by Burkley Benjamin Hotchkiss, also
residing at 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris.
Sealed the 6th February 1872, and dated the 31st August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Horace
Brandon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 31st August 1871.
I, ALEXANDER HORACE BRANDON, Engincer, of 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES," a communication to me by Burkley
Benjamin Hotchkiss, also residing at 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, to be as
follows:-
The object of these improvements is to cause a projectile during its
flight through the air to produce a very considerable noise or sound.
compared to that naturally resulting from the inequalities of its surface
or the irregularity of its flight. For this purpose I attach to or I form

page_text: on the projectile itself, or its fuse in the case of hollow shells, one of
the organic agents of wind instruments, such as a reed, a whistle, or
other contrivances for producing sound.
In the case of a whistle, for instance, when attached to or forming
part of a fuse, I adapt it to the extremity of the fuse which usually
projects slightly from the point of the projectile; and when attached to
or forming part of the projectile itself I form a circular cavity in the
conical head of the projectile, the front part of which is opened to the
atmosphere, and terminated by a sharp bevelled edge against which
the air is caused to strike; and in order to augment such body of air ]
at a certain distance in front of the said cavity I attach a ring to the
head of the projectile in such a manner as to leave a circular space
between the head of the projectile and the ring, which space is situated
opposite the above-mentioned bevelled edge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Horace Brandon in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 23rd February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
HORACE BRANDON, Engineer, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, France, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Horace Brandon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, tho Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES," a communication to me from
Burkley Benjamin Hotchkiss, also residing at 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Horace

page_text: Brandon, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the samo to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
-
The object of these improvements is to cause a projectile during its
flight through the air to produce a very considerable noise or sound
compared to that naturally resulting from the inequalities of its surface
or the irregularity of its flight. For this purpose one of the organic
agents of wind instruments, such as a reed, a whistle, or other con-
trivance for producing sound is attached to or formed on the projectile
itself, or its fuse in the case of hollow shells.
In the case of a whistle, for instance, when attached to or forming
part of a fuse, it is adapted to the extremity of the fuse which usually
projects slightly from the point of the projectile; and when attached to
or forming part of the projectile itself a circular cavity is formed in the
conical head of the projectile, the front part of which is opened to
the atmosphere, and terminated by a sharp bevilled edge against which
the air is caused to strike; and in order to augment such body of air at
a certain distance in front of the said cavity a ring is attached to the head
of the projectile in such a manner as to leave a circular space between
the head of the projectile and the ring, which space is situated opposite
the above-mentioned bevelled edge.
In order that the said improvements may be clearly understood I
will proceed to describe them conjointly with the seven Figures of the
accompanying Drawing, of which Figures 1 and 2 represent the manner.
of adding a whistle to an ordinary existing fuso; Figures 3, 4, and 5, the
manner proposed for constructing in one piece a fuse with its whistle;
and Figures 6 and 7 the application of a whistle to the projectile itself.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation partially in section, and Figure 2
a front elevation of an ordinary fuse to which is added a whistle. a is
the fuse, and e, f, g, the whistle. In a is formed the cavity c surroundert
by the bevilled edge d, and in the centre of the said hole is drilled a

page_text: .
hole in which is inserted or screwed the stem e of the whistle. This
latter, it will be seen, is composed of a bell-mouthed ring f, which can
be cast with the hemispherical central button 9, which is terminated at
its other extremity by the above-mentioned stem e. During the flight
of the projectile the air passing between the ring and the button g
strikes the bevilled edge d, thus producing the result sought for.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal clevation, Figure 4 a similar elevation
partially in section, and Figure 5 a front clevation of a fuse with its
whistle made in one piece. a is the body of the fuse, in the head of
which is formed the cavity c surrounded or limited by the, bevelled.
edge d; fis the bell-mouthed ring, and g the central prominent button.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal elevation partially in section, and Figure 7
a front view of a cylindro-conical projectile formed in such a manner
as to produce itself the requisite noise or sound. For this purpose in
the conical head of the projectile is cast a circular chamber c, the section
of which is clearly indicated at Figure 6. The outer edge of this
chamber is formed with a bevilled edged, which can be turned true in
a lathe. On the apex of the projectile are also cast a certain number of
studs ½, for instance four, as shown in Figure 7, and around theso studs
is adapted in any appropriate manner, such as by means of the screws 6,
a metallic ring. During the flight of the projectile tho air passing.
between the said ring and the conical point of the projectile strikes the
above-mentioned circular bevelled edge d, and produces a remarkably
harsh and voluminous note, which can be heard at far greater distances
than the ordinary noise of a rifled projectile. To modify such note in
certain cases within the chamber c is placed one or more balls 1, which,
may be of metal, wood, or other appropriate substance, and they may
cither be hollow or solid.
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Having thus explained the nature of the said Invention, and the best
means that I am acquainted with for putting the same into execution,.
I do not confine myself to these specific modes of creating the desired.
sound, for various other appliances can be adopted for the purpose; but
what I claim is,
Firstly. A projectile so constructed as to create a whistling sound
during its flight in excess of the ordinary sound from projectiles either
by the shape of the projectile itself or by an attachment to the projectile..
Secondly. The adaptation of a whistle or other similar wind instrument
to an ordinary existing fuse, as described and illustrated.

page_text: Thirdly. The construction of a combined fuse and whistle as above
described and illustrated.
Fourthly, The construction of a projectile as above described and
illustrated for the purposes mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Lo Witness,
D. H. BRANDON,
13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris.
A. H. BRANDON. (L.S.)