IMPROVE- MENTS IN PROJECTILES."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROJECTILES."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th March 1855.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES," (communicated to me by a foreigner residing
abroad,) to be as follows:-
The objects of the said Invention are, first, to enable a projectile to be fired
from a common smooth-bored cannon or fire-arm without any loss of the force
by what is termed "windage," or the space in the bore of the gun which the
ball does not fill, by this means considerably increasing the range of the shot;
and, second, to give a rifle or rotary motion to a projectile when fired from a
round smooth-bored cannon or fire-arm, by this means enabling cylindrical or
conical shot to be fired, the effect of which is much greater than that of
spherical shot, owing to the greater weight of the former.

page_text: The annexed Drawing represents three different forms of projectiles with
their caps attached for stopping the windage by the action of discharge or by
ramming home the shot.
Figure 1 represents a spherical shot A, with a lead or other soft metal cap B
attached. This cap is so made that it can be put into the gun before the shot,
and when the ball is rammed home it will fit into the cap, so that when the
charge is ignited the sides of the cap are forced forward, so as to fit the ball and
stop the entire windage; that is one object in leaving the space between the
shot and the cap.
Figure 2 represents, in section, a cylindrical concave shot A, with a cap B
attached. This shot is put into the gun with the cap on, and when fired
the cap (or a ring which will have the same effect) is forced forward against
the shoulder left on the end of the shot, and will be upset, so as to stop the
windage, and at the same time it will be forced into the dovetailed part of the
shoulder, as will be seen by reference to the Figure. C, C, represent spiral
holes, whereby the rifle or spinning motion is obtained by the action of the air
passing in at the large hole in the point or forward end of the shot, and
passing through to the outside in a winding or spiral direction, as shown in
dotted lines.
Figure 3 is an end view of the same shot. Thus it will be scen when the s
shot is rammed home and the cap on the powder, the discharge will at once
shut off the windage, and the velocity of the shot, by the action of the air
rushing through the three spiral holes, will produce the spinning or rotary
motion, and of course be sure to keep the point always forward, as in the
"Minié" rifle. A rifle motion can be obtained by allowing the force of the
discharge to pass out through spiral holes from the other end, but then there
would be a loss of power. A rifle motion can also be produced by spiral
grooves on the outside of the ball starting from the point and running back
past the centre of the shot; this plan may be adopted when firing shells.
Figure 4 shews a shell, in section, with the cap attached, but of a different
shape; the effect in stopping the windage is, however, the same. D is the
hollow space for the charge of the shell, and it will be seen at once how it is
fired from the point when coming in contact with any object by forcing the
thin plate a upon the wafer b. It is perfectly safe in handling or exposure to
the weather, as the two plates that hold the percussion cap are put in perfectly
water-tight, and so far in that the ramrod cannot cono in contact with them.
Figure 5 represents the windage cap before it is put on. The caps or rings
can be put into the gun and sent home upon the powder before the shot, or
put upon the shot at the time of loading.

page_text: Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 4. The windage caps or rings may be
made of wrought iron, brass, lead, or other soft metal.
The arrangements before described are applicable to guns of all sizes, from
the musket to the largest cannon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence, that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 PROJECTILES," (communicated to me
by a foreigner residing abroad,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in constructing solid projectiles and shells in such
manner that they may be fired from the common round smooth-bored fire-arms

page_text: or cannon without windage, and with a rifle motion or rotary motion about
their axes, such as is imparted to elongated or conical projectiles when fired
from rifled or spirally grooved arms.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing is a longitudinal section of a shell con-
structed according to the Invention, and Figure 2 is an end view of the same;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal view of a conical ball, partly in section, and Figure 4
is an end view of the same; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a ball for
muskets and small arms; Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same;
Figure 7 is a side elevation, and Figure 8 an end view. Similar parts are
marked with the same letters in all the Figures.
C, C, is the body of the shell and of the balls; E, E, are spiral holes, com-
mencing at or near the point and terminating near the base. The number of
these holes may be varied, and their form may also be varied without depart-
ing from the principle of their construction. In the shell shewn in Figures 1
and 2 there are four of these holes, running nearly parallel with the exterior of
the shell, but in a spiral direction, this arrangement being adopted so as not
interfere with the hollow of the shell and the means of firing it. In the
solid shot, represented in Figures 3 and 4, there are two spiral holes shewn,
which terminate in one at the point or forward end; and in the ball shewn in
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, there are eight spiral holes formed in a belt which runs
round the ball. The principle on which these projectiles are constructed con-
sists in applying the resistance which the air opposes to their projection in
such a way as to produce their rotation or rifle motion; this is effected by means
of the spiral holes E, E. When the projectiles are fired, the air rushes through
the spiral holes, and in so doing produces the rotary motion of the projectiles
about their axes, in the same manner as water rushing out of a turbine wheel
effects the rotation of the latter. The rotation or rifle motion may also be
produced by making the spiral holes E, E, to spring from the base or bottom
part of the projectiles, so as to allow the force of the discharge to effect the
rotation.
The shell shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is of the percussion class, that is, it is
caused to explode by the act of striking the object against which it is directed.
D is the cavity which receives the charge of powder; F is a round hole or
recess at the front part of the shell; and G is a passage through which the
fire is communicated to the charge. This passage is stopped by a disc a',
having a central aperture, over which is placed a piece of some detonating
mixture, which latter is completely covered by a second disc a³, having at the
centre a projection, which is prevented from coming in contact with the
detonating compound until the shell strikes an object by means of an annular

page_text: flange formed for that purpose around the disc a³. The prevention of windage,
which is essential to secure the greatest possible range, and to ensure a true
direction, is effected in the following manner :-A dovetailed or undercut groove
is formed around the shell or ball at its rear end, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3,
and a ring or band E, composed of some malleable metal is fitted thereto. The
force of the discharge drives the ring or band forward into the dovetailed
groove, and at the same time expands it, so as to cause it to completely fill the
bore of the cannon, thereby effectually preventing windage. It will be found
advantageous to wind the body of the shell or ball at A with spun yarn dipped
in grease, in order to lubricate the bore of the piece.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is, the mode
of constructing projectiles so that they shall receive a rifle motion or a rotary
motion about their axes when discharged from plain smooth-bored fire-arms
and cannon by the employment of spiral holes or passages E, E, formed
therein, as herein-before exemplified and described; and also the mode of
constructing projectiles with a dovetailed or undercut groove formed around
the base thereof to receive à ring or band of malleable metal which is expanded
by the force of the discharge so as to effect the prevention of windage, as also
herein-before exemplified and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.