CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING GUN AND PISTOL BARRELS, APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER KINDS OF TUBES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Richard Burr, of Halesowen, in the
County of Worcester, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING GUN AND PISTOL BARRELS, APPLICABLE TO
THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER KINDS OF TUBES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Richard
Burr at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th October 1852.
I, ARTHUR RICHARD BURR, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING GUN AND PISTOL
BARRELS, APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER KINDS OF TUBES,"
to be as follows:-
First, a new method of winding up the coil for twisted barrels by
passing the iron between two small rollers or spindles of unequal
diameter, the smaller one of which is furnished with a fixed spiral
guide to give the coil the proper direction. The inequality of the
rollers causes the iron to bend round the smaller one, which effect is
further assisted by its lower portion being enclosed in a case. This

page_text: process may also be effected by winding the iron upon a mandrill, under
the operation of three rollers, arranged in a similar manner as for
straightening shafting.
Second, a new method and apparatus for forging the barrels or tubes
by swage tools fixed in the ends of a lever, which has a rapid recipro-
cating motion communicated to it by the action of an eccentric. The
swage tools. in the lever are adjusted to similar..tools.in the anvil.blocks.
If thought more desireable, the eccentric may communicate a direct
action to the tools without the intervention of the lever.
Third; the use of rhomboidal shaped iron(or of this Figure
A)
for making the coil of twisted barrels, in order to obtain a lap joint in
the weld.
Fourth, the use of very narrow rods coiled upon a hollow tube, and
then consolidating the whole together, under the action of the forging
machine, at a welding heat.
SPECIFICATION.in.pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur Richard Burr in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 2nd-April-1853:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
Arthur Richard Burr, of Halesowen, in the County of Worcester,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight. hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant. unto me, the said Arthur Richard Burr, Her special
license, that I, the said. Arthur Richard Burr, my executors,, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Richard
Burr, 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,

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands; and Isle of Man, an Invention' for
"CERTAIN. IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING, GUN AND PISTOL BARRELS, APPLI-
CABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER KINDS OF TUBES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Arthur Richard Burr, by an instru-.
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
andrascertain the nature of the, said Invention, and in what manner thie.
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within. six calendar months next and immediately.
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
་།
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur Richard Burr, dó 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):
My Invention.consists, firstly, of a method of winding up or coiling a.
rod of iron or other metal or alloy for making twisted gun and pistol.
barrels and other 'tubes.
Figure 1, represents a side elevation (partly in section) of this part
of my Invention; and Figure 2, represents an end elevation of the
same (partly in section). It consists of two spindles or: axlės b₁.
working in collars or bearings c, c, d, d, in the frame e, of the machine..
The said spindles or axles are geared together by the pinions f,-g; one
of the said axles or spindles, namely, that marked b, on which the rod.
of iron or other metal or alloy is wound, works in a case or hood h,
attached to the frame e, of the machine. The said case or hood h; is.
furnished with a bearing or stop i, the face of which is of a spiral
figure; the pitch of the said spiral being equal to the width of the rod.
to be operated upon. The other axis or spindle a, carries a plain
roller, which enters a hole in the upper part of the hood or case h,
the cylindrical surface of the said roller k, being parallel to the axle. b,
and at a short distance therefrom, the exact distance between the said
rollér k; and the said axis b, being equal to the thickness of the rod to
be coiled. The end of the rod 1, to be coiled is introduced into the
case or 'hood i, at h', (see Figure 2,) and the said rod l, is drawn into
the said case or hood and coiled round 'the axle or spindle b, the

page_text: inclination of the coils being determined by the inclined face of the
bearing or stop i; by the action of the machine the said rod is drawn in
the said hood or case h, and coiled round the axle or spindle b, each
portion of the coil as it is formed being made to slide along and off'
from the taper end of the axle or shaft b, and protrude from the open
end of the hood or case h, the said sliding off and protrusion of the said
coiled portions of the said rod being effected by that portion of the rod
entering the machine bearing against the stop or bearing i, and dis-
placing the part of the rod which had previously entered the said
hood or case h. The rods operated upon may either be heated pre-
vious to their introduction into the machine, or may be used at ordinary
temperatures.
My Invention consists, secondly, of a machine for coiling rods of
iron or other metals or alloys, which said machine is constructed in the
following manner, and the construction of which is illustrated by the
Diagram, Figure 8-The said machine consists of a horizontal central
or driving shaft carrying on its end a pinion, which said pinion engages
in three other pinions, 'the said three pinious being fixed respectively on
three horizontal axles. The said three axles are arranged at equidis-
tant points around the axis of the first-mentioned horizontal central or
driving shaft, and receive motion from the said driving shaft, the 'axes
of the said three axles being parallel to the axis of the said driving
shaft. Each of the said three axles carries or is connected to a roller,
and one of the said axles with its roller is made to be easy of removal
from its place, by lifting or otherwise, so as to admit of ready access to
the end of the driving shaft. A hole in the end of the said driving shaft
receives a fourth axle or mandril, on which the rod is to be coiled, which
said mandril, when connected with the end of the said driving shaft, con-
stitutes a prolongation of the said driving shaft, the said mandril being
parallel to and equidistant from each of the said three axles or rollers;
that is to say, thé said mandril is in the axis of the system of the three
said axles or rollers. The end of the rod to be coiled is attached to
the said mandril by being taken hold of by a jaw on the said mandril, or
otherwise, and by the rotation of the said mandril the said rod is coiled
thereupon, every portion of the said coil being pressed closely upon the

page_text: said mandril' by the rollers upon the three before-mentioned axles....
This machine may also be used for straightening and perfecting the
form of the barrel after it has been welded, for which purpose the said
welded coil or barrel is placed in the cavity formed by the three rollers, .
and subjected to the action of their revolving surfaces.
My Invention consists, thirdly, of a machine for forging or welding.
into a compact hollow cylinder the coils formed by the machines
herein-before described. Figure 3, represents a side elevation of this-
part of my Invention; and Figure 4, represents an end elevation of the
same, partly in section. It consists of a lever or beam m, having motion
upon the centre n; a link o, connects the said beam m, with a crank
or eccentric p; on the driving shaft q, and the rotation of the said shaft
communicates an oscillatory motion to the beam m, upon the centre n.
The shaft 7, carries a fly wheel r, to give steadiness to the motion of the
said shaft g, and fast and loose pullies s, t, by means of which the said
shaft g, may be readily connected with and disconnected from the
motive power employed. The ends of the beam are furnished with
dies or tools u, v, having a series of concave semi-cylindrical depressions,
and the anvil blocks w, a, situated under the ends of the beam m, are
also furnished with dies or tools having a series of concave semi-
cylindrical depressions, so that when either end of the beam m, descends
upon the anvil block under it the concave semi-cylindrical depressions
of the opposed dies or tools form cylindrical spaces. The said anvil
blocks rest upon eccentrics y, (see Figure 4,) by the motion of which
the said anvil blocks may be raised or lowered, so as to adjust them
accurately; or, instead of the said eccentrics, screws or wedges may be
used to adjust the said anvil blocks. By the rotation of the shaft q, a
rapid oscillating motion is given to the tram m, and the coils made in
the machines herein-before described, being heated to a welding heat
and jumped together, arc laid on the anvil blocks w, a, and being
subjected to the action of the said beam are beaten or pressed or
welded into the form of a hollow cylinder or tube. The said coils are
turned round during the action of the tools u, v, w, a, upon them. I
sometimes modify this machine by omitting one of the two arms of
which the beam m, consists, and using only one pair of dies or tools;

page_text: and I also sometimes modify it by placing the anvil block immediately
under the shaft ; and communicating from the eccentric or crank on
the shaft a direct vertical motion to the upper die or tool v, in
place of working the said upper die or dies by the beam.**
It is desirable that the barrels, after they are formed, should undergo
a cold hammering process, which I effect by subjecting them to the
action of a small tilt haimmer, carrying a slightly curved tool, and
working over a V shaped groove in the swage or anvil block, on 'which
the barrel is supported during the action of the said hammer.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in the use of bars, the sectional form
of which is rhomboidal, as-shewn in Figure 5, or of bars of the sectional
shape of Figures 6, and 7, for making the coils of twisted barrels,
whereby a scarped, rabbeted, or lap joint is obtained in place of the
common straight or jump joint.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in closely coiling very narrow rods
upon the outside of a hollow tube (either cylindrical or taper), and
consolidating the whole at a welding heat, either by the machine
Figures 3, and 4, or otherwise, and also drawing.it out into the proper
shape 'for a gun or pistol barrel, by which method of manufacture
the fibre of the metal is crossed and bound together throughout
the whole length of the barrel, and the liability of fracture greatly
diminished.
'I claim, firstly, the machines or apparatus herein-before described,
and represented in Figures-1; and 2, of the accompanying Drawings,
for coiling up rods of iron or other metal or alloy to be made into gún
and pistol barrels and other tubes; and also the three roller machine
herein before described, which last-mentioned machine is also applicable
tó straightening the barrels or tubes after welding.
Secondly, the forging of gun and pistol barrels and other tubes-in
swage tools by the machine herein described, and represented in Figures
3, and 4, of the accompanying Drawing; or any modification thereof;
also the hammering of barrels by a tilt hammer in angle shaped
grooves:
1°
Thirdly, the là, scarpéd, or rabetted joint in twisted barrels, as
lierein-before described.

page_text: Fourthly, the combination of a twisted coil wound upon the outside
a plain tube, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Richard Burr, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ARTHUR RICHARD BURR. (L.S.)