Improvements in Ordnance and in Projectiles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1592-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ordnance and in Projectiles.
I, JAMES RICHARDS HASKELL, Engineer, a citizen of the United States, residing
at Passaic, in the County of Passaic and State of New Jersey, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My present invention relates to ordnance, and it consists of certain novel parts
and combinations of parts particularly designated in the claims concluding this
Specification, wherein I will specifically point out the novel features of my
present invention, thereby distinguishing between what is old in the art and
the novel features of my invention.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several different forms of guns
embodying features of my present invention; but my invention is not limited to the
forms there shown, nor is it limited to the total combinations of elements illustrated
in either of said figures, except as designated in the claims.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the primary breech of my improved gun
upon the line of its axis.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the first magazine supplemental charge-
chamber, also upon the line of its axis.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section and a rear view taken on the line a¹ a¹, Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section and an end-view of the breech of the magazine
taken on the line e¹ e¹, Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a plan of a breech ring-plate that closes each and all of the cartridge
chambers in the magazines. The figure shows this plate viewed from the rear, on
the line, Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is an edge-view of this same ring.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of a short transverse section of the rear end of the
magazine breech.
Fig. 8 is an external view of the magazine, a longitudinal section of which is
shown by Fig. 2.
Fig. 9 is a detail to be hereinafter more fully described.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through a succession of supplemental magazine
chambers, taken on the line of their axis. This figure shows also a longitudinal
external view of one-half of each of said supplemental sections of the gun. The
parts of this figure are upon an enlarged scale and are intended to show more
distinctly the magazine breech ring-cap X in its different relations to the breech
of the magazine.
Fig. 11 is a detail upon an enlarged scale, hereinafter more fully described.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the gun taken upon the
line of its axis, showing also an external view of a portion of the gun.
Fig. 13 is a transverse section taken on the line a², Fig. 12, showing also a rear
view of the primary magazine chamber.
Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken on the line 62, Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 is a transverse section taken on the line c², Fig. 12.
Fig. 16 is a transverse section taken on the line d², Fig. 12.
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of gun.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the breech of a breech-loading gun, on
the line of its axis, with my improved gas-check applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan of my improved gas-check, being a front end-view of said
breech-pin.

page_text: Fig. 1B is a longitudinal elevation of my improved projectile as it appears in the
bore of the gun; and
Figs. 2 and 3B are cross-sections of the same, the latter representing a shell, and
the former, a solid shot.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 17, and in
Figs. 1 and 24, and in Figs. 1B, 2" and 3B.
My invention, among other things, consists, broadly of a multicharge gun in
which the supplemental charge-chambers or cartridge chambers are made, when
taken collectively, in the form of a magazine, each chamber of which concentrates
upon, and discharges into the bore of the gun successively behind the projectile in
its progress through the bore after the explosion of the charge in the primary
breech. The construction of such a gun will be understood from the following
description of the accompanying drawings, the features of novelty being pointed out
in the claims concluding this Specification.
The drawings show some of the forms in which my invention may be advan-
tageously applied. It will be understood, however, that it is not limited to the
precise forms herein illustrated and described, as various modifications may be
employed without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the
concluding claims.
This
A primary breech and charge-chamber of a gun is shown by Fig. 1.
drawing is made upon a slightly enlarged scale and the plan of breech shown by it
is old, it being the ordinary type of breech-loading breech now in common use,
which may be replaced by any other style or form of the breech-loading type
adapted to combine with the supplemental charge-chambers. The muzzle A of this
breech section is fitted in the breech B of the magazine, shown by Figs. 2, 8 and 12
of the drawings. The breech B should be snugly fitted upon the muzzle A of the
primary breech, the two parts being united together by means of screw-threads cut
into the respective parts. The second and third supplemental magazines, shown by
Figs. 10 and 12, are united together and to the primary magazine, shown by Figs. 2
and 8, in the same manner, substantially, that the primary magazine is united to
the primary breech or section of the gun. The principal part B, of the supple-
mental magazine may be made of any suitable cast or forged metal, and I prefer to
make it in one solid piece, the main bore e, the magazine chambers c³ ³, and the
concentrating chamber d being cut out of the solid metal by suitable boring tools.
The breech ends of the magazine chambers c³ are made conical, and are closed by
conic sections o, fixed to the inside of the breech ring-plate s, by means of screws P.
These conic sections or breech cones o of the magazine chambers are plainly shown
on the inside surface of the breech ring-plate in Fig. 6 and by dotted lines in Fig. 5.
The office of this breech ring-plates is to fit against the breech end of each
cartridge chamber and close them all with cone stoppers simultaneously.
The operation of this breech ring-plates is as follows: It is embraced, as will be
seen, (Figs. 2 & 10) between the breech of the magazine and the breech screw
cap X, which is made to screw to and fro on the breech of the magazine. In the
breech end of the magazine, pins t are placed to fit in corresponding holes v in the
inside face of the breech ring-plate s, and in the edge of this ring-plate s a groove Q
is cut into which the pin Q enters through the screw-cap X. Assume, now, the
breech ring-plates and the breech screw-cap X and the magazine chamber c³ to be
in the position (with reference to each other) shown in the drawing Fig. 2. To
bring these several parts in their relation to each other shown by Y, Fig. 10, the
screw-cap X is screwed backward and this carries with it (through the agency of
the pin in the groove Q) without turning it, the ring-plate s until it clears the
pins t in the end of the magazine breech; as soon as that happens, the spring-pin r
is forced into a hole f (Figure 5), made in the breech ring-plates, carrying the
ring-plate around with it as the screw-cap continues to retreat until the hole c³ in
the ring-plate comes opposite the cartridge chamber and opposite the hole c² in
the screw-cap X, as shown by Y, Fig. 10. This brings the charging holes in the
screw-cap X and in the breech ring-plate s opposite each other-and-opposite the

page_text: The
cartridge chamber e³, ready for loading. The spring-pin r is driven forward at
the proper time by means of a cam u (Figures 2, 9, and 10, bolted to the section A
of the gun, and is thrown back by the spring as the pin passes the cam.
charging holes c² in Figs. 3 and 5 are the same charging holes in Y, Fig. 10.
These holes, like the cartridge chamber c³, are diagonal to the bore of the gun, but
are brought in their right relations with each other and the cartridge chambers by
the construction and operation of the breech screw-cap X and its attendants, in the
manner already described. Now, this screw-cap when screwed up hard in its place
against the breech ring-plate will doubtless stick and be hard to start back and
unscrew, to open the cartridge chambers for another charge. To meet this difficulty
I have bolted a bracket m to the periphery of the cap against which a starting
screw in a similar bracket n, bolted to the outside of the magazine chamber, is made
to act, and by which the cap X is started back from its bearings and is then
further unscrewed by a suitable wrench fitted upon pins set in the periphery of
the cap.
By the modified form of gun shown by Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 the
magazine form of the supplemental charge-chamber is retained, but the breech of
the several cartridge chambers of the supplemental magazines are closed by
separate screw breech-pins in the same manner, substantially, that the main breech
of the gun is stopped, the breech pin holders being shown by a, Fig. 13, of the
drawings. The cartridge chambers of the supplemental magazines B are shown
by c³, as in Fig. 2, the main bore of the gun being shown by e, into which all the
cartridges of the magazine are made to discharge, either into one common chamber,
or through several partition chambers made in the muzzle of each section
composing the gun, as shown by c Figs. 14 and 16. These figures show also a
modified form of the muzzle ends of the several sections, the muzzle ends of this
case being slotted as at c, Fig. 14, and continues across the space d, shown in
Figs. 2 and 10, the lands of the rifling being continued on the solid sections or
bridges between the openings c, c, c, forming the channels communicating between
To ensure a
the supplemental cartridge chamber and the main bore of the gun.
tight joint between the breech and muzzle ends of the several sections forming the
gun, I make the joint in the form of a conic section by bevelling down the muzzle
ends, and making a corresponding form in the breech ends, so that when the two
or more sections are screwed together the two parts of the joint lap past each'
other, the object being to cause the expansion of the muzzle ends, due to the
explosion and heat of the charge, to tighten the joint and prevent the escape of
gas. Any other suitable gas-check may be employed, however, as for instance,
those shown in an application for a patent filed by me on even date herewith.
The gun shown in Fig. 17 differs in substance from the gun shown in Fig. 12 in
the fact that an intermediate section B' is introduced between the magazine
sections B, the magazine sections being located further apart in this figure.
When the gun is made, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, with a large difference in
diameter at different parts of the same piece, whether cast or forged, there will be
a strain developed during the process of cooling, due to unequal cooling of the
different parts, which will weaken, to a greater or less extent, the structure. By.
having the castings or forgings made of cylinders of more or less equal diameter,
whether hollow or solid, the cooling is more uniform and a stronger structure is
thus made.
Another feature of my invention particularly relates to the breech-plug of a
gun, and to a gas-check applied thereto.
The following is a description of the breech-pin of a gun shown in the accom-
panying drawings, which embodies my invention in the form which I now prefer to
employ.
Fig. 2 is a plan of my improved gas-check, being a front-end-view of said
breech-pin.
A illustrates a gun barrel of the simplest construction. It may be made in any
of the various ways now known to the arts, or in any other suitable way. As far

page_text: as the application of this feature of my present invention is concerned it is
immaterial whether it be a single-charge gun, or a multicharge gun. If, however,
it be a multicharge gun, I prefer to provide the supplemental chambers, as well as
the main charge-chamber, with my improved breech-pin and gas-check hereinafter
described. B is a breech-pin, hereinafter fully described, made of suitable metal,
such as steel. The inner end of this breech-pin is formed with a projecting
circumferential rim in the form of a dish. This device of itself forms an excellent
gas-check and may be used without the addition of the copper dish hereinafter
described. It will be readily seen upon the consideration of this structure that
the force of explosion will expand the rim of this dish-shaped cavity, forcing it up
against the wall of the barrel and effectually preventing the escape of gas from the
chamber.
A gas-check made only as above described is open to objections when applied to
a part of a gun which is frequently removed and replaced, as is the breech-pin,
because it soon wears and when worn out it is not easily repaired and more or less
difficulty will be experienced in removing the pin after firing. To avoid these
difficulties and to make the gas-check still more effectual, I prefer to provide the
end of the breech-pin (preferably dish-shaped, as shown) with a rim of soft or
ductile metal C, such as copper, which I have found to answer perfectly. The
rim of the copper dish extends beyond the rim on the face of the breech-pin and
in contact with the gun barrel.
As is very well understood, great difficulty is often experienced in removing the
breech-pin after the charge has been fired, on account of the jambing and wedging
of its inner end against the barrel, caused by the force of explosion. This copper
dish not only furnishes a means whereby the escape of gas from the rear of the
charge chamber is effectually prevented, but it also has the important advantage
that it is not jambed by force of the explosion so as to make the breech-pin stick
or to interfere with its easy removal. The copper-dish is the part of the structure
which is most exposed to the forces which tend to jamb the end of the breech-pin,
and as this is made of soft or ductile metal it is readily withdrawn even when it is
pressed with great force against the bore of the gun. The end of the breech-pin
may, therefore, be plain and not recessed, and an effectual gas-check according to
the principles of my invention thus be constructed. When the end of the breech-
pin is dish-shaped the steel rim and the copper rim are both forced or expanded
outward against the inside wall of the gun-bore thus forming a double expanding
cup, which is the form I prefer to employ. After the explosion of the charge the
elasticity of the steel flange apparently loosens the flange of the copper dish, and
the whole is then readily withdrawn with the breech-pin.
I prefer to attach the copper dish removably by some suitable means, such as the
pins E shown, so that it may be renewed as often as its flange becomes so far
burned away as to make it ineffectual, but it will last a long time and is quickly
and cheaply replaced by a new one.
This
Referring now to the breech-pin shown in the drawings, F is a cylindrical piece,
provided with an interrupted screw-thread of ordinary design. The breech of
the gun is also provided with a corresponding interrupted screw-thread.
cylindrical piece F is bored out to receive the pin G, forming a sleeve for the
pin. The outer end of this pin is screw-threaded and is provided with a nut 'H.
This nut is so adjusted on the end of the pin G that when the breech-pin is in
position for firing the gun, the nut H is not in contact with the end of the sleeve F.
Now, after firing, when power is applied to the sleeve F to revolve it, it starts
back and travels an appreciable distance before it strikes the nut H and exerts
the force necessary to start the said pin to the inner end of which the gas-check
is attached. This construction has a double advantage. In the first place, every
part of the breech-pin is to some degree wedged by the force of the explosion
and requires more power to start it than to continue its rearward motion. As the
pin G and sleeve F are not started at the same time, 'the increased exertion
required to start them is divided by arranging the structure so that the sleeve F

page_text: started and got under way before the pin G is started. In the second place, as
the sleeve F is in motion when it strikes the nut H, the force to start the pin G
is applied with a hammer-like blow, which is much more effectual for the purpose
than a steady strain. This construction, therefore, co-operates with my improved
gas-check to make a breech pin which is easily removed after firing and which is
durable and exceedingly efficient and they completely solve, I believe, one of the
most serious problems connected with the use of high-power, breech-loading
ordnance. The function of the nut H is to form a projection on the pin G with
which the sleeve F engages when travelling rearwardly. I prefer to make it in the
form of a nut, because the parts are then readily assembled, and because it is
adjustable, so that a greater or less independent motion of the sleeve can be secured
as desired. It may, however, be made in other forms.
Referring to Figs. 1B, 2B and 3B, A is a projectile made of any suitable metal,
a little less in diameter than the bore B of the gun. bbare gas check rings, shown
as corrugated, either made an integral part of the projectile, or made separately
and placed thereon, which rings accurately fit the bore of the gun and prevent the
escape of gas past the projectile.
c are longitudinal grooves on the projectile, made diagonal to fit the rifling of the
gun and give the desired rotary motion to the projectile. These grooves are fitted
in any suitable way with any suitable anti-friction bearing pieces a, a¹-as, for
instance, copper or Babbitt metal. The bearing-pieces ride upon the bands of the
rifling in the gun. The bearing-pieces a are shown as screws, so that by means of
them the projectile may be accurately centered. This projectile is designed for all
uses to which a projectile may be put and may be used in a gun in connection
with high explosives as well as powder. In Fig. 3B, a shell is shown of the same
thickness of metal at all points provided with rifling as above described. The
object of making the projectile as above described, is to diminish friction, center
and support the projectile, increase accuracy, and to prevent the undue escape of
the propelling gases. It will be evident that the great waste of power incident to
the old method of depending upon the progress of the projectile to cut rifling
grooves in soft metal bands on it, is entirely obviated thereby.
In the foregoing Specification, I have described what I conceive to be a good
practical method of making the gun and reducing the invention to practice, but I
have not endeavoured to specify all the modifications which may be employed, the
object of this Specification being to instruct persons skilled in the art to practice
my invention in the form which I at present prefer, and to enable them to under-
stand its nature, and I desire it to be distinctly understood that the forms mentioned
by me of a few modifications, are in no wise intended to exclude others not referred
to, but which are within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Many of the details and combinations illustrated and above described, are not
essential to my several improvements broadly considered, all of this will be indicated
in the following claims, as the omission of an element, or the omission of reference
to the particular features of elements mentioned, are intended to be formal declara-
tions of the fact that the omitted elements or features are not essential to the
invention therein covered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with a breech-section A, one or more separable supplemental
cartridge sections, each section consisting of a magazine of separate cartridge
chambers arranged around, and concentrating their fire into the bore of the gun.
2. In a multicharge gun, consisting of one or more supplemental charge-
chambers, composed of a magazine of two or more separate cartridge or loading
chambers, a suitable breech-piece or plate, operating in combination with a screw-
cap and simultaneously closing the breech of each and all of the cartridge or
loading chambers.

page_text: 3. In a multicharge gun, composed of one or more supplemental charge
chambers, consisting of a magazine having a series of separate charge or cartridge
chambers distributed around the bore of the gun and discharging into the same,
a breech cap X in combination with a breech ring-plate having pins or stops
operating to open and close simultaneously the breech of each and all of the
charge chambers.
4. In a multicharge gun, consisting of two or more separate magazine sections,
the bridges or supporting sections formed between the openings c at the end of the
muzzle of each section, by which a continuity of the bearing is maintained between
the several sections, to carry the projectile from section to section, and in case
the gun be rifled, to contain the lands of the rifling, substantially as described.
5. A gas-check for breech-loading ordnance, consisting of a separate metallic
dish C, having a circumferential projecting flange adapted to expand by the
explosive force of the charge, in combination with a similar shaped dish made in
the end of the breech-plug, the two dishes co-acting under the explosive force of
the charge to form the gas-check.
6. In a multicharge gun, the combination of a plurality of sections assembled
longitudinally, each section being substantially uniform in cross-section, so as to
cool uniformly when cast or forged and a magazine or magazines of separate
cartridge chambers arranged around, and concentrating their fire into the bore of
the gun.
7. A projectile of a diameter less than the bore of the gun correspondingly rifled
before it is introduced into the barrel and having one or more raised gas check rings
made to fit the internal surface of the barrel.
8. A projectile having grooves made in the surface thereof to fit the rifling of
the gun, said grooves being provided with suitable anti-friction bearing pieces for
the purpose of diminishing friction.
9. A hollow projectile having longitudinal grooves in its exterior surface and
corresponding projections on its interior, the wall of the shell being of equal
thickness through its entire circumference.
Dated the 11th October 1800
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.