IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDITION OF ORDNANCE AND OF PROIECTUS TO BE HERD IN ORDNANO
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Montgomery Storm, of New York. in the
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONDITION OF ORDNANCE AND OF PROIECTUS TO BE HERD IN ORDNANO"
Sealed the 19th July 1861, and dated the 8th February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION by the said William Montgomery
Storm at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th February 1861.
1, WILLIAM MONTGOMERY STORM, of New York, in the United States of
America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORDNANCE AND OF PRO.
JECIILES TO BE USED IN ORDNANCE," to be as follows:
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in breech-loading cannon
whereby they will be effectually secured against the escape of lateral fire, and
the operation of loading the gun will be greatly facilitated.
The main object of this part of the Invention is the application of the gas
check or valve adapted to my improved breech-loading fire-arms, and secured
by Provisional Protection, hearing, date 29th November 1860, No. 2933.
This gas valve consists of a loose tubular lining which fits into the barrel of
the weapon, and covers the junction between the barrel proper and the breech
piece and being capable of an endway movement by reason of the expansive

page_text: force of the ignited powder will completely seal the joint between the breech
and barrel.
In applying the gas check or valve to breech-loading cannon, provide the
barrel of the cannon at its inner or rear end with a screw thread, which takes
into a hollow screw tapped in the breech frame. This hollow screw or ring
carries the trunnions and forms the forward end of the breech frame. On the
under side of the trunnion ring two lugs are formed to receive an axle which
passes through a similar lug formed on a hinge piece attached to the moveable
breech. Keyed to this axle is a weighted lever which serves to counter-
balance the breech, and thus facilitate the working of the gun. The rear end
of the breech frame is tapped to receive a quick screw which enters a hole
bored in the rear end of the breech, for the purpose of securing the breech in
position when the cannon has been charged. A recess is made in the breech
chamber to receive the gas check er valve, the front end of which projects into
the barrel.
The vent for firing the cannon I prefer to carry through the breech frame
to give access for priming, so that if by any chance it is attempted to fire the
charge before the breech is brought home," or to its proper position, the
"vent will be closed by the hole in the breech frame not being in coincidence
with the breech. To charge the cannon I withdraw the screw bolt, when the
breech will fall out of line, and the gas valve will come away with it. In the
breech chamber, contracted by the insertion of the valve which forms a lining
thereto, the cartridge is placed and the shot or shell is inserted in the barrel of
the cannon through the now open rear end; 1 then by means of the weighted
lever before mentioned raise the breech into position, and secure it there
by the screw bolt; the cannon is then ready for firing. For adjusting the
cannon to the proper angle for firing. I provide the elevating screw or
analogous device in advance of the trunnions instead of in rear thereof as
heretofore.
The Invention relates, secondly, to improvements in shot and shells adapted
alike to smooth and rifled barrels, the chief object of the improvements being
to prevent windage. To this end I form on elongated shots or shells rings of
packing. Near each end thereof 1 cast or turn an annular groove, and fill
the grooves with coils of copper or other suitable soft metal wire. Or. I make
the grooves of a double wedge shape in cross section, and fill them each with
a copper band of corresponding section, which bands I slit by cross cuts from the
opposite edges inwards to allow of their expanding sufficiently to pass over the
ends of the shot or shell. The outer periphery of these bands I propose to rib, that
they may bear well against the barrel when the piece is discharged without offer-

page_text: Storm's Improvements in the Construction of Ordnance and Projectiles.
ing unnecessary friction. By this arrangement of the shot or shell the instant
expansion of the packing rings will be ensured on the propulsion of the shot or
shell, and windage will consequently be prevented. In some instances I propose
to make the expanding packing of wood, forming it of inclined bent staves cut
to fit the wedge-shaped groove, and bound round with copper wire to ensure
their proper adhesion to the shot or shell. As a further improvement in shells
thus packed propose to make them in two pieces, the junction being across
the axis of the shell.. These pieces will be temporarily connected together by
a slight internal or external coupling, and in the cavity will be coiled a length
of wire, the opposite ends of which will be connected respectively to the two
halves of the shell. The remaining space in the cavity will be filled with
powder, and a fuze will be fitted in the rear end of the shell for igniting the
charge. When therefore this shell is discharged, say at advancing cavalry,
the powder enclosed in the shell will, when ignited. cause the separation of the
coupled parts and the lateral elongation of the coil wire, which on meeting
the advancing obstruction, will have a tendency to lap around it, and thereby
embarrass the movements of the cavalry.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Montgomery Storm in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. WILLIAM
MONTGOMERY STORM, of New York. in the United States of America
Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by ler Letters
Patent. bearing date the Eighth day of February. in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did. for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto
me, the said William Montgomery Storm. Her special license that I, the
said William Montgomery Storm. my execniors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as 1. the said William Montgomery Storm, 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 terin therein expressed,
should and lawfully night make. use, exercise. and vend, within the Luited
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORDNANCE AND
OF PROJECTILES TO BE USED IN ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst others).

page_text: that 1. the said William Montgomery Storm. 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 Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1. the said William Montgomery Storm, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say): **
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in breech-loading cannon
whereby they will be effectually secured against the escape of lateral fire during
a discharge, and the operation of loading the gun will be greatly facilitated.
The main object of this part of the Invention is the application of the gas
chock or valve adapted to my improved breech-loading fire-arms, and secured
by Letters Patent bearing date 29th November 1860, No. 2933.
This gas
valve consists of a loose tubular lining which fits into the barrel of the weapon
and covers the junction between the barrel proper and the breech piece, and
being capable of an endway movement, by reason of the expansive force of the
ignited powder, will completely seal the joint between the breech and barrel.
In applying the gas check or valve to breech-loading cannon, 1 adopt the
arrangement shewn in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings. where Fig 1
is a plan view of the improved cannon: Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the
same and Fig. 3, a partial plan, shewing the breech removed from the breech
frame.
A is the barrel of the cannon, provided at its inner or rear end with a screw
thread, which takes into a hollow screw tapped in the breech frame B. This
hollow screw or ring carries the trunnions, and forms the forward end of the
breech frame. On the under side of the trunnion ring two lugs are formed to
receive a transverse axle u, which passes through a similar lug formed on a
hinge piece C. attached to the moveable breech D. Keyed to this axle is a
weighted lever b. which serves to counterbalance the breech. and thereby faci-
litates the working of the gun. The rear end of the breech frame B is tapped
Lo receive a quick screw E. which is operated by a winch handle F, and enters
a hole bored in the rear end of the breech, for the purpose of securing it in
position when the cannon has been charged. A recess is made in the breech
chamber to receive the gas check or valve G, the front end of which projects
into the barrel. The vente for fring the cannon I prefer to carry through the

page_text: breech frame to give access for priming, so that if by any chance it is attempted
to fire the charge before the breech is brought "home" or to its proper posi-
tion, the vent will be closed by the hole in the breech frame not being in
coincidence with that of the breech. To charge the cannon I withdraw the
screw bolt E by means of the winch handle F, and let the breech fall into the
dotted position of Fig. 2. when the valve G will come away with the breech.
In the breech chamber, contracted by the insertion of the valve G which forms
a lining thereio, the cartridge is placed, and the shot or shell is inserted in the
barrel of the cannon through the now open rear end: I then, by means of the
weighted lever b, raise the breech into position, as shown at Fig. 2. and secure
it there by the screw boli E. The cannon is then ready for firing. For
adjusting the cannon to the proper angle for firing. I provide the elevating
screw or analogous device in advance of the trunnions instead of in rear
thereof, as heretofore.
i will be understood that the barrel of the cannon may have a smooth hore
or he rifled as thought most desirable, and that shots or shells of any suitable
construction may be employed therewith. The part of the gas check or valve
G, which overlaps the rear end of the barrel, is, by preference, formed with a
curved face, the curve being struck from the axis of the supporting hinge.
The Invention relates, secondly, to improvements in shot and shells adapted
alike to smooth and rifled barrels, the chief object of the improvements being
to prevent windage. To this end form on elongated shots or shell rings of
packing of some suitable yielding material which is not liable to injure the
inner periphery of the gun while being loaded or fired. Near each end of
the shot I cast or turn an annular groove, and I fill these grooves with
the packing.
At Fig. 4. Sheet II.. a hollow shot is shewn in longitudinal section with a
packing applied according to this part of my Invention. The packing in this
example is composed of coils of copper or other suitable soft metal wire a. a.
In some instances I make the grooves of a double-wedge shape in cross sec-
tion, as shewn ai Fig. 3, and fill them each with a copper band b. b. of corre-
sponding section. These bands I slit by means of cross cuts running from the
opposite edges inwards, to allow of their expanding sufficiently to pass over the
ends of the shot or shell. The outer periphery of these hands I propose to rib,
that they may bear well against the barrel when the piece is discharged with-
out offering unnecessary friction. By this arrangement, the instant expansion
of the packing rings will be ensured on the propulsion of the shot or shell, and
windage will consequently be prevented.
In some instances I propose to make the expanding packing of wood,

page_text: forming it of inclined bent staves, cut to fit the wedge-shaped groove or reces
before mentioned. An example of this modification is shown at Figs. 6. 7
and 8. Fig. 6 being a side view. Fig. 7a longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 a
cross section, of a hollow shot fitted with expanding wood packing. The
packing is bound round with copper wire. to ensure the proper adhesion o
the inclined staves to the shot or shell.
As a further improvement in shells fitted with packing rings, I propose to
make shells in two pieces, the junction being across the axis of the shell, and
to enclose in the cavity (together with the ordinary exploding powder) a length
of coiled wire, the opposite ends of which will be connected respectively to the
two halves of the shell, the object being to cause the pieces of the shell to parl
during its flight, and to extend the length of coiled wire, and thus to present a
formidable obstacle to an advancing enemy. This form of shell is shewn in
longitudinal section at Fig. 9, wherein c and d are the two pieces composing
the shell. To each of these the coil of wire e. e. is firmly secured, and the paris
are temporarily held together by means of a fuze holder f. the tubular part of
which holding the fuze is tapped in the piece d, and a forked extension fis
tapped into the part c. When therefore this shell is discharged. say, at
advancing cavalry, the powder enclosed in the shell will become ignited by the
fuze, and exploding it will cause the separation of the coupled parts and d.
The elongation of the coil of wire laterally will consequently follow, and the
wire on meeting an obstruction in advance will have a tendency to lap around
it, and thereby embarass the movements of the cavalry.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Ordnance and of Projectiles to be used in Ordnance," and
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect. I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
First, the novel construction of breech-loading ordnance, as above described.
And. secondly, the improvements in the construction of projectiles, as above
set forth.
In witness whereof, I. the said William Montgomery Storm, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July. in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WM. MONT. STORM. (..s.)