IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROJECTILES." -A communication from N.. Scholfield, of Norwich,
Connecticut, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 12th May 1857, and dated the 29th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1856.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare .the nature of the said. Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROJECTILES," a communication from .N. Scholfield, of Norwich,
Connecticut, in the United States of America, to be: as follows:-
This Invention.consists.of a peculiar construction and application of expan-
sion and extension wings or guides for the purpose of governing the direction
of bombs or other projectiles to be fired. from a gun.during their passage
through the air, and in applying spiral projections or grooves along the surface
of projectiles to produce a rotation on their. axis along with their projectile
motion, and also, in applying a case or collar thereto to be fired from a rifled
gun...The bomb or other projectile is made in a cylindrical form, and has
guiding wings applied to it, so as to. fold down on its surface to enter the gun,

page_text: and to be opened or expanded when free; in some cases these wings are also
made to slide to the rear of the projectile. The projectile may have a case on
the rear, and which after its discharge slides back, so as to bring the centre of
magnitude and resistance in the rear of the centre of gravity and percussion;
or a case or collar on the projectile may have studs or projections on its
surface to fit and slide in the spiral grooves of a rifled gun, so as to commu-
nicate a rotatory motion to the case, and by contact of surfaces to impart a
rotatory influenco to the projectile. It is also proposed to apply spiral grooves
or projections or spiral surfaces to a projectile, and giving spiral forms to the
guiding wings, or placing them in positions diagonal to the axis, to impart a
rotatory motion to the projectile whilst passing through the air, so as to
preserve more perfectly their direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th May 1857...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of 166,
Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Johnson, Her special license that I, the said William Johnson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or. such others as I, the said.
William Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and, no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROJECTILES," a communication. from N. Scholfield, of Norwich,
Connecticut, in the United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Johnson, 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.

page_text: .
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention consists of a peculiar construction and application of
expansion and extension wings or guides, for the purpose of governing the
direction of bombs or other projectiles to be fired from a gun during their
passage through the air, and in applying spiral projections or grooves along the
surface of projectiles, to produce a rotation on their axis along with their pro-
jectile motion, and also in applying a case or collar thereto to be fired from a
rifled gun. The bomb or other projectile is made in a cylindrical form, and
has guiding wings applied to it, so as to fold down on its surface to enter the
gun, and to be opened or expanded when free; in some cases these wings are
also made to slide to the rear of the projectile. The projectile may have a
case on the rear end, which after its discharge slides back, so as to bring the
centre of magnitude and resistance in the rear of the centre of gravity and
percussion; or, a case or collar on the projectile may have studs or projections
on its surface to fit and slide in the spiral grooves of a rifled gun, so as to
communicate a rotatory motion to the case, and by contact of surfaces to
impart a rotatory influence to the projectile.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout all the
figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a sectional view of a lance shell for killing.
whales, shewing a cavity c, c, containing powder, both in the main body of the
shell A and in the piercing point P. D is the safety fuse chamber; E, the
breach screw;
F, the safety screw; e, the protecting bar; b, b, leaden collars;
and G, the expanding breach collar.
The main body of the shell is made of wrought-iron pipe, about an inch in
diameter, and from eight to twelve inches long, the piercing point of cast iron;
the safety fuse chamber is formed of malleable cast iron, the breach nut of
malleable cast iron or brass, the safety screw F of brass, and the protecting
plug e of any metal that may be cast in a mould.
⚫ The fuse is inserted in the conical aperture v in the breech nut after being

page_text: enlarged at its rear end, by winding it with waxed twine or any suitable
material, so that it cannot be drawn quite through. The forward end of the
fuse is then passed through a similar conical aperture a, leading from the fuse
chamber to the cavity for powder, after a similar enlargement, at a little
distance from. its end, so that it may be drawn tight into the passage
without being forced through beyond the enlargement. The fuse should be.
from six to eight inches in length, and coiled up in a spiral form in the
chamber D.
Within the rear cavity of the breech nut is a circular plug e, of such size as
to just pass into the cavity and to bear on the end of the fuse. This plug has a
very small perforation made through its centre, which communicate from the
fuse to the vent chamber f. The screw F forming this chamber is screwed hard
down on the plug e in the breech nut. This screw has a small perforation in
the rear, connecting the vent chamber with the charge of powder in the gun.
When this shell is discharged from a gun, the flame of the charge passes
through the perforation in the screw F into the vent chamber, and thence
through the perforation in the protecting plug e to the end of the fuse, which is
ignited thereby, and burns, by ejecting its flame backwards through these per-
forations in the rear. The fuse chamber D may, if preferred, be smaller in.
diameter, so as to be inserted within the body of the shell; or it may be dis-
pensed with, and a fuse pipe of sufficient size to contain the fuse, connected
firmly to the conical cavity of the breach nut, and reaching forward a sufficient.
distance to include the length of the fuse, may be used.
The piercing point P should have its transverse section triangular for
penetrating more easily, and is made with a cavity c to contain powder, so as
to explode with the shell. This is screwed into the cylindric body of the shell,
and carries a leaden collar b, which is of a size to fit tightly into the gun, and
when fired from a rifle it may have small lips or projections on its edge to fit
in the rifled grooves, which will more perfectly insuro rotation. Another similar
leaden collar b is carried in like manner at the rear of the projectile by the
breach screw E.
An expanding collar G is also screwed on at the rear end of the safety screw
F. This collar is made concave in the rear, so as to expand by the force of
the powder, and thereby completely fill and press hard on the surface, of the
bore, to act more perfectly on the rifled grooves..
.
Figure 2 is an external view of this shell, fitted also with, the guiding wings.
W, W, or X. For the purpose of applying these wings, the rear of the cylin-
drical projectile is turned a little smaller than the bore of the gun, to allow for
the thickness of the metal of which the wings are composed, when folded down

page_text: on the surface, to enter the gun. These wings are composed of tin or sheet
brass, and are suspended on wires h, the anterior extremities of which are
soldered or otherwise fastened firmly to the surface of the projectile, whilst
the rear ends pass loosely into perforations in the collar 6 which collar for
this purpose should consist of some metal harder than lead. The wings W
have on one of their edges ears m, n, q, to clasp the wire, on which each may
turn as an axis. The rear clasp q may be soldered or otherwise fastened firmly
to the wire, while m and n are loose, so that when the wire is in its natural
state the wing shall stand upright from the surface, and will always return to
that position by the spring or tension of the wire when left free after having
been folded down on the surface. Instead of being connected to the wire at
the rear end, as shown by the wings W, the rear end of the wing may be
clasped loosely, as shown at the wing X, by a clasp t, which is soldered to the
axis in such position as to stand upwards from the surface when free, as
shewn. This may also bo folded down by folding or turning the clasp, by
which means the wire is twisted and will be again thrown up by the clasp.
when free, and when once in a vertical position the wing will slide to the rear
till the middle clasp n comes in contact with the clasp t, by its resistance in
passing through the air, it having been prevented from thus passing to the
rear while being folded down by the collar b. A cross section of the clasp t
with the axis and wing is shown in detail at Figure 3. The wings W are
represented as being folded down on the surface of the projectile, whilst the
wing X stands outward therefrom.
The wire for the axis of the wings should be of steel or brass and very
elastic to act effectually, and the wings should be set slightly diagonal on the
surface of the projectile even when fired in a gun with a smooth bore, and
when used in a rifle should be set sufficiently diagonal to correspond with the
incline of the rifle grooves.
If the wings are short compared with the length of the projectile, or if the
wire axes on which they are hung do not possess sufficient elasticity to act
perfectly thereon, these wires should be produced forward, so as to extend to
or near to the anterior extremity of the cylindrical portion of the projectile
before being soldered or fastened thereto, as shown by the dotted lines p
(Figure 2), extended to the point g, for when the lengths of the wires or axes
are increased their elasticity is not so easily impaired by folding, as they are
thereby susceptible of a greater range without being strained; but in this case
of extension forward the axis should be confined in bearings or sockets just
forward of the wings, so as to keep them in their places on the surface, and if

page_text: the anterior portion of the projectile is larger in diameter than that portion
covered by the wings, as shown by the Drawings, longitudinal grooves should
be cut in the surface for the wires, and a thin collar r of tin or sheet brass
may be applied thereon just forward of the wings to hold these wires in their
places. The wings may be firmly attached to their axis forward as well as
in the rear, and depend wholly on the elasticity of the extension of the wires
forward for their action, but this would not produce so desirable a result as
when the elasticity of the whole length of the axis is brought into action.
When fired in a smooth bore, a collar of leather which will accurately fit the
bore may be substituted for the expanding breach collar G.
Figure 4 represonts a sectional view of another form of lance shell suitable
for killing whales. This shell has a cylindrical sliding case H covering its
rear end, and fitted loosely thereon, so as to be capable of sliding backward
towards the rear, thereby extending its visible length and removing the centre
of magnitude and resistance in the rear of the centre of gravity after being
discharged from a gun, in order that its position shall be maintained point for-
ward. In using this shell, the forward end of the case should be contracted a
little by the internal ring or contraction i, so as to be incapable of sliding off
over the flange of the breech screw in the rear, which is for the purpose of
holding it, and it should be made rather larger than the cylindrical body of the
shell. In using this, a metallic disc N of a size accurately to fill the bore should
be attached to the rear of the case, or should immediately follow it, otherwise
the projectile would be uncased before leaving the gun and be torn from its
connections. The rear disc N of the case should have a small perforation in its
centre to allow the flame from the gun to pass in and ignite the fuse, and this
may be conducted directly into the vent chamber f by a small adjustment,
attached to this disc, and passing through an enlarged orifice in the safety
screw F and into the vent chamber, and for this purpose the outside of this
adjustment should be conical, and should enter into and fill a conical aperture
in the screw F when in place, and while in the gun, during the discharge, the
pressure of the exploding charge will keep the disc N always in contact with
the breech screw E, and consequently the adjustment will be always in its.
place; but when the projectile leaves the gun, the case, by the resistance of
the air acting thereon, will pass to the rear, till the internal collar or con-
traction comes in contact with the flange d of the breech screw, and carry-.
ing the adjustment with it, allows free vent to the fuse, while it affords
adequate protection thereto from the force of the discharge while in the gun..
The resistance of the caso in its flight through the air is generally sufficient

page_text: to carry it to the rear, but if this is not in all cases sufficient it may be
uncased by slitting up portions near the rear end, which may be sprung so
as naturally to rise up from the surface and take wind when free.
Instead of a safety fuse chamber, as at Fig. 1, a fuse pipe L, made of
copper, brass, or tin, about one quarter of an inch in diameter, and from six
to eight inches long, is inserted into the conical aperture in the breech screw E
(Figure 4), and is made to completely fit that aperture by expanding the end,
if necessary, and then it should be made tight by soldering. The fuse is
inserted and held the same as at Figuro 1, but passes through the fuse pipe,
which is contracted a little by pressure at the end forward, so that the fuse
cannot be easily forced through.
The sliding case H may, if preferred, be slit into surface guiding wings M,
as shewn at Figure 5. In this case the flange d of the breach screw should
be of a size accurately to fill the bore, and the wings being sprung at or near
the collar h, so as naturally to stand at an angle from the surface when brought
in their positions, and when closed down on the surface they may be entered
into the gun and kept from sliding to the rear whilst in the gun by the flange d;
but when liberated by the discharge, they spring up by their clasticity, and
the resistance of the air thereon carries them to the rear, till the collar h comes
nearly in contact with the flange d of the breach nut. They are represented
in the Drawing as expanded and carried partly to the rear.
These expanding
extension wings may consist of any sheet metal possessing sufficient clasticity.
to resume their normal guiding positions after being folded down to enter the
gun; they may, if preferred, consist of separate pieces M, attached to a
sliding collar h, and may consist of any number, but I prefer four.
Another mode of guiding a projectile is by using reversing extension wings,
as represented in Figure 6. k, k, k, are wings, of which four are supposed to
cover the circumference of the cylindrical projectile when folded thereon;
these are hung on joints or hinges j at one end on the breech nut, with their
other end loose and exposed to the resistance of the air; when projected they
are formed of sheet metal, possessing some degree of elasticity, and are fitted
so as naturally to stand a little distance off from the surface of the projectile,
by which means the resistance of the air during their flight at once opens and
reverses their positions to ¹, with their concave surfaces turned outwards, and
the end which was foremost is changed to the rear. The joints on which they
are hung should be so formed, and their connections should be such, that when
the wings are reversed and extended they may all stand at a given angle with
the axis, and should expose as near as possible an equal surface.
Wings of this construction and action may be shorter than those in the

page_text: former cases, as their concave surfaces exposed to the action of the air have a
greater guiding force than the convex surfaces of the former, and the wings
may be so connected as to stand at an angle with the axis of about 20 or 30
degrees.
Whenever a separate chamber for the fuse is connected to the shell, as at
Figure 1, these reversing extension wings may be connected to and cover the
surface of that chamber without extending any further on the shell.
The reversing action of these wings would be greatly facilitated by springs s,
so set as to elevate them partially from the surface when free after having
been folded down thereon, and the folding wings (Figure 2) may be opened or
expanded by the action of the air thereon without the spring or tension of the
wires on which they are hung if set a little diagonally on the surface of the
projectile, and curved in such manner that the air may act beneath their for-
ward extremities, and thereby cause them to be opened or expanded by the
resistance in its passage therein, and by a continuance of the same action
which causes them to be opened, a motion of rotation on its axis will be
imparted to the projectile.
The expanding breech collar A (Figures 1 and 2) will have a strong ten-
dency to become disengaged from the projectile before leaving the gun, on
account of its retardation by adhering to the surface of the bore, whilst the
main part of the projectile is comparatively free, but when properly adjusted
so as to turn with the projectile, it will generally impart a rotatory motion
thereto before becoming disengaged.
The sliding case H (Figure 4) will also tend to move more tardily in its
discharge while in the gun than the body of the projectile unless it is fitted
quite loosely in the bore, it should therefore be secured to the body in such a
manner as to be incapable of sliding thereon while in the gun.
Instead of igniting the fuse by the discharge of the gun, the shell may be
made to explode by percussion, by any of the usual methods, on striking any
object. The chief difficulty that has attended the explosion of shells by
percussion has been on account of the difficulty of keeping the projectile in
line so as to strike with its point; this is effectually overcome in the use of
these devices for guiding it.
Shells constructed on the same principle as those above described for
whaling may be used for military purposes, and are equally adapted to heavy
ordnance or to small arms. Their relative proportions and their constructions
may be varied to suit the objects to which they are applied.
Some of the advantages of this application will appear from the following:-
The metal composing a spherical shot of any given diameter will, when made

page_text: in a cylindrical form of half that diameter, be equal in length to two and two-
thirds the same diameter; this would be projected from a gun of half the
calibre of that required for the spherical shot, and if containing the same
weight of metal would be much stronger. The weight of powder for a
projectile of the same weight might be reduced.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general constructions and arrangements of cylindrical projectiles
fitted with expansion or extension guiding wings, in the manner and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Second, the application and use to and in cylindrical projectiles of sliding
cases or collars, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the application and use to and in cylindrical projectiles of collars,
having projections or studs formed on their peripheries for the purpose of
fitting into the rifle grooves of the gun, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.