IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTILLERY AND FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Whitworth, of the City of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ARTILLERY AND FIRE-ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Whitworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
October 1855.
I, JOSEPH WHITWORTH, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS. IN ARTILLERY AND FIRE-ARMS " to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in apparatus for breech-loading, wherein a
yielding or an elastic breech is employed, which is withdrawn to admit the
charge at the rear end of the barrel; also in apparatus for breaking and,
controlling the force of the recoil, which is effected by means of a yielding or
an elastic breech, or by causing the recoil to produce a spiral motion, these,
means being employed either separately or in combination.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Whitworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPII
WHITWORTHI, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date Twenty-ninth day of October, in the
year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Whitworth,. IIer special licence that I, the said Joseph Whitworth,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Josephi
Whitworth, 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, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTILLERY
AND. FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Whitworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the 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 Royal Letters, Patent.
K
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said Joseph Whitworth, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
the same is
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-(that is to say):-
These improvements consist in apparatus for breech-loading," wherein a
yielding or an elastic breech is'employed, which is withdrawn or drawn back
to admit the charge at the rear-end of the barrel, as is shewn in the Drawings
hereunto annexed; also in apparatus for. breaking and controlling the force
of the recoil, which is effected by means of a yielding or an elastic breech, or
by causing the recoil to produce a spiral motion, these means being employed
either separately or in combination.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end
view, and Fig. 3 is a detached section, of my improved apparatus, consisting
of a yielding or elastic breech for-breaking and controlling the force of the

page_text: recoil, applied to rifles, muskets, and other small arms. A portion of the
stock is shewn, as also the trigger, hammer, and nipple, which parts being
the same as in ordinary use, their description is unnecessary.. A, A, repre
sents the barrel, which is screwed into the breech piece B, B, which is fastened
to the stock by the screws a, a. The breech piece B, B, is bored from end to
end, and at the part b, b, next the end of the barrel' A, A, is bored slightly
larger in diameter than the barrel, and receives the powder; the projectile
C, C, being placed at the extreme end of the barrel A, A. The breech piece
B, B, is bored of the same diameter for a portion of its length to receive and
allow of the movement (as hereafter 'described) of the copper. shield c, c, and
the elastic wads d, d. Beyond this it is screwed to receive and admit of the
receding screw D, D, which is three-threaded and of half-inch pitch. The
end of the breech piece B, B, is recessed; and screwed with an ordinary
thread, and receives the abutment piece E; E. Both ends e, e, of the receding
screw D, D, áre plain to serve as guides, and on the outer end is fixed the
milled head ff, for turning the screw by hand. The outer end passes
through the abutment piece E, E, and is made smaller than the front end; 'so
as to form a shoulder or stop, which arrests the motion of the receding screw
on its coming in contact with the abutment piece E, E, when the force of the
recoil is finally expended. At h, h, is cut a transverse 'slot or opening in'
the screw 'D, D, in which are placed the screwed dies FF, which by
preference are made of brass. These dies are screwed on their peripliery, and
take into the screwed interior of the breech piece B, B, and their inner
surfaces abut against a taper screw pin G, which passes through the receding
screw D, D, into which it takes with its screwed end, having a head i by.
which it is turned: When moved forward the taper part of the pin-acts
upon the two dies F, F, so as to cause them to protrude and press upon the
screwed interior of the breech piece B; B, by which means the friction of
the receding screw D; D, in moving through the breech piece B, B, may be
regulated. The piece is discharged in the same way as other fire-arins, aud
the sudden shock from the explosion is 'received by the copper shield c, c,
and elastic wads d, d; these are consequently compressed, and the force of the
recoil becomes imparted to the receding screw D, D, causing it to revolve and
recede a certain distance until the shoulder or 'stop'g, g, comes in contact
with the abutment piece E, E. The effect arising in ordinary fire-arms from
the suddenness of the shock is thus lessened, the action of the recoil being
prolonged and gradually absorbed. The first 'shock acts suddenly upon the
metal 'shield c, 'c, and elastic wads d, d; its force is then imparted to aud
gradually expended by the prolonged action of the receding screw D; D,

page_text: and if not absorbed thereby it is finally arrested by the stop or shoulder g, g:
It will be thus seen that the shock of the recoil may be so controlled as to be
principally expended either in compressing the elastic wads d, d, or in over-
coming the friction of the screw D, D, or in finally driving the stop or
shoulder g, g, against the abutment piece E, E, and the resistance at cach
stage may be respectively increased or diminished, as may be found desirable.
It will be thus seen that there are three stages at which the controlling power
may be exercised; but in some cases, for the sake of simplifying the means to
be adopted, it may be found desirable, to interpose an elastic medium between
the stop 9, 9, and the abutment piece E, E, and the use of the taper pin G, G,
in connection with the protruding dies, F, F, may be dispensed with, or the
faces of both the stop and abutment may be made of hard metal so as to
diminish the effects of sudden or violent impact.
In speaking of elastic media, it may be observed generally that there
are many substances, either naturally elastic or rendered so by their form,
which may be employed for the objects contemplated. I have, however;
found that ordinary woollen wads, which are cheap and easily renewed, are
sufficient for the purpose.
:
Fig. 4 is an end view, Fig. 5 is a side view, and Fig. 6 a detached section,
of my improved apparatus applied to rifles and other fire-arms for breech
loading, wherein the above-mentioned yielding or élastic breech is drawn back
by a screw to admit the charge through an opening. A, A, is the barrel;
screwed into the breech piece B, B, secured to the stock by the screw 'a:
The breech piece B, B, has an opening C', C', cut obliquely through the top
side to enable the charge to be conveniently inserted. The breech piece
B, B, is formed as a tube, having at its rear end the compound screwed
piece E, inside which works the receding screw D, D, with the milled head h,
and on the outer end of the compound screwed piece E is the milled head f,
which is made in two parts, and connected together by the screws g; g. The
receding screw D is made tubular to receive the pin F, F, which has on its
end the copper shield c and elastic wads d, d, the other end having screwed
into it the small retaining screw i. The action of the yielding breech is the
same as before described; but it will be seen in the arrangement now.
described that by turning the compound screwed piece E, E, the receding
screw D, D, may be drawn back beyond the opening C in the breech piece
B, B, so as to allow of the insertion of the charge, and by the same means it
may be forced forwards again until such charge is brought to its proper
position in the barrel A, A, to be discharged. The friction requisite to control
the action of the recoil is regulated by the compound screw piece E, E, which

page_text: receives more or less pressure as required from the two small screws g, g, in
the milled head f. It will be thus seen that in this arrangement the
compound screwed piece E, E, answers a similar purpose to that effected by
the taper screw pin and dies in the arrangement above described.
;
The middle
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 shew an application of my Invention to cannon, an elastic
or yielding breech being employed in combination with apparatus for breaking
and controlling the force of the recoil, by causing the backward rectilineal
motion of the barrel to produce a spiral one, acting in the same direction' as
the projectile. A, A, is the barrel,. which is tubular, being bored from end to
end, and having the screwed part B, B, cut on its exterior, on which fits the
screwed hoop C, C, having the trunnions fixed upon it. The breech end of
the barrel A is prolonged, and at its extremity a screwed recess is formed to
receive the abutment piece E, E. A little further up, the barrel A, A, is
screwed, of a smaller diameter, but with a quick turn, to receive the receding
screw D, D, which passes through the abutment piece E, E. The receding
screw. D, D, at its front end is plain, and fits into the barrel A.
portion a only is screwed, and at this part a slot or opening is cut across it to
receive the diès F, F. The outer part, passing through the abutment piece E,
is of smaller. diameter than the screwed part, so as to form a shoulder at the
termination of the screw, and at the outer end is keyed the head f. The
receding screw D is hollow, and screwed in its interior at the outer end to
receive the pin G, G, which is also screwed, and is taper at h, where it comes
in contact with the dies F, F, and at the outer end is the head i, provided with
holes, by which it is turned. Immediately in the front of the receding screw
D, D, are placed the elastic wads d, d; and before them is the copper shield 'c,
which is close to the touch-hole and in the rear of the charge 6 and the pro-
jectile C. The interior of the barrel and the bearing part of the projectile
c, c, are shewn of the form of a polygonal spiral, but may be of any other
desired form.. A hinged sight piece H, H, is shown, the plain pin now in use
being inapplicable in this form of cannon. The action of the elastic or yielding
breech is similar to that described above in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; as applied to
rifles and other small arms; but at the instant of explosion the barrel A, A, is
forced back by the recoil through the screwed hoop C, C; carrying the trun-
nions, which are held by the gun carriage in the ordinary way; the barrel in
receding is made by the screw B, B, to rotate, which two motions combined.
produce a spiral motion, which has the effect of breaking and controlling the
force of the recoil, and the rotary motion acquired by the barrel is imparted to
the projectile, in addition to that it receives from the rifling of the interior..
In Figures 10 and 11, instead of employing the hoop.carrying the trunnion,

page_text: I make the exterior of the hoop C spherical, and it may be térmed a spherical
trunnion. It is placed in a frame or socket H, H, which is attached in any
suitable manner to the carriage or other framework.supporting. the gun. The
frame H, H, .consists of an..upper and lower part, being. hinged at I, with
a cotter pin J on the opposite side to admit of being readily taken to pieces; a
portion K, K, of the upper part is. cut away, so as to allow of the sight being
taken. The spherical trunnion forms a universal joint, which permits the gun
to be pointed in any direction; a suitable, support must be provided which will
admit of vertical and horizontal adjustment.......
In Figs. 12 and. 13 are shewn my improved elastic or yielding breech and
breech-loading apparatus applied to. ordinary cannons.or.ordnance, in which
A; A, is the barrel, bored from end to end, having á slot or opening B cut
through its top siderobliquely, for the more convenient insertion of the charge.
The end of the barrel A is recessed; and a screw.cut in it. to receive the abut-
ment piece E. The barrel A.is.screwed ito. receive the quick. turn receding
screw.D, which is hollow, and through its centre is passed the pin F..On its
inner end are fixed the elastic wads.d, d, and: the metal shield c, the whole
being retained in their place by the screw a The outer .end of..the receding
screw D.is furnished with a capstan like head f, by which it is turned when
required to be drawn back. The. abutment piéce E projects beyond the end
of the barrel A; where it is made plain to receive the head E',.and is split for
a portion of its length to render it elastic.. The head E is made in two parts,
connected together: by the two screws b, b, by which the abutment piece E
may be, tightened upon the receding-screw: D, and so regulate the friction
when receding. The action of the elastic and receding breech is the same as
the one before described as applicable to small fire-arms. The receding screw
Dis driven back some distance by the explosion, and is: moved still further
back by, hand, so as to carry the shield c. beyond the slot B, and allow of the
charge being. inserted: When the charge has been inserted, the head fis
turned in the opposite direction until it comes close to the abutment piece E,
and the piece is again ready to be discharged, as shewn in the Drawings:..
Fig. 14 shews another, application to cannons and ordnance of my elastic
and yielding breecli without the receding screw. A is the barrel, bored
throughout and screwed at the end to receive the breech 'piece B, through
which passes the pin F, having a split cotter a, by which it is retained in
position: On the inner end of the pin F is the copper shield c, and between.
it and the breech piece B are the elastic wads d, d. The projectile Cand
charge b are placed in-advance of the copper shield c. The discharging of the
piece is accomplished in the same, manner-as in-ordinary cannon, but a part of

page_text: the force of the explosion is received by the elastic wads d, d, which act as a
cushion or buffer, and diminish the destructive effects of the sudden shock
acting upon the solid unyielding breech now in use. To remove and replace
the elastic material, or to insert a fresh charge when it is desired to load at the
breech, the breech piece B is unscrewed. The arrangements of the apparatus
for breaking and controlling the force of the recoil, above described, will be
found particularly advantageous in the case of ordnance intended to be used
for vertical firing.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details and arrangements of parts, which may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim, as herein described,
the combination of parts forming the apparatus for breech loading; also the
various combinations of parts forming the apparatus for breaking and control-
ling the force of the recoil; also the employment of the receding screw, and of
the method of regulating its action; also the use of the elastic media attached
to the breech of ordnance and fire-arms; also the employment of a screw with
a quick turn cut upon the exterior of the piece, working in an interior screw
cut in a hoop or spherical trunnion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Whitworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, One thousand eight
JOSEPH WHITWORTH. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Joseph Whitworth, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.