Improvements in Guns for Throwing Externally-applied Projectiles, Applicable in Part to other Fire-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1889
o plete Specification Left, 12th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
Improvements in Guns for Throwing Externally-applied Projectiles,
Applicable in Part to other Fire-arms.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the firm of Fell & Wilding, of 1, Queen Victoria Street, in
the City of London, Patent Agents (a communication to me from abroad by Stephen
Henry Emmens, of the City of London, temporarily residing at Emmens, near New
Stanton, County of Westmoreland, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Engineer), do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
The objects of the present invention are:
**
First, to utilize a sbort barrel or powder-tube," for the propelling charge, in
connection with a relatively long thimble-shaped or externally-applied projectie, so
that the latter may be of any required length and may be guided to the requisite
extent without correspondingly lengthening the gun.
Second, to facilitate ejecting the cartridge-shells of fixed ammunition from a breech-
loading barrel or powder-tube coupled endwise to its breech-block.
Third, to properly support and guide a detached firing-pin within a combined
breech-block and coupling-piece or union.
Fourth, to render the firing-devices simple and effective, and to adapt them to be
controlled by a suitable trigger at any required distance back of the firing-pin.
Fifth, to facilitate handling the gun when heavily-weighted projectiles or heavy
charges are used.
The gun comprises a short barrel or powder-tube, a combined breech-block and
coupling-piece or union, a firing-device tube and a stock-tube, each of suitable metal,
together with a stock of suitable wood or the like, all of which are coupled together in
a single line and are or may be externally of cylindrical shape.
The projectile has an axial guide-bore, closed at its front end and open at the rear,
to which the said powder-tube, breech-block and union and firing-device tube are
fitted, and is preferably provided externally with wings or vanes to aid in controlling
its flight. Otherwise the projectile may be of any description suitable to be thrown
by the gun.
The powder-tube is fixed to the combined breech-block and union by means of an
interrupted-screw joint, the socket of which is in the powder-tube, and the front end
of the breech-block is recessed to receive the base of a centre-fire powder-cartridge,
which may fill the powder-tube to its front end.
A shouldered axial bore of small diameter opening through the front of the breech-
block accommodates a firing-pin, which is caused to rebound by a spiral spring through
which the pin extends, and which reacts against a collar fast on the pin. The spring
is preferably inclosed in a tube loosely fitted thereto within the chambered rear end of
the breech-block, which is capped to form a central rear guide for the firing-pin.
Externally the rear end of the combined breech-block and union is of reduced
diameter, and the front end of the firing-device tube is conveniently attached thereto
by screws, and thus coupled endwise to the powder-tube. The firing-pin is driven
forward by an axial hammer-rod, which extends rearward within said firing-device
tube to a suitable trigger, and may be of any required length without decreased
effectiveness. A pair of spiral springs are located on the respective sides of a collar
fast on the hammer-rod. The rear and larger spring reacts against a rear diaphragm-
disc fast within said firing-device tube, as the striking-spring, and the front spring,
which is relatively light and short, reacts against a front diaphragm-disc fast within
the firing-device tube, as a recoil-spring, to keep the front end of the hammer-rod
normally out of contact with the retracted firing-pin. One or more supplemental
diaphragm discs nearer the trigger may assist to guide the hammer rod."

page_text: The trigger is preferably a rigid cross-bar held upon the rear-end of the hammer-
rod by a nut, with its ends projecting normally through longitudinal slots in the top
and bottom or opposite sides of the firing-device tube. The gun is cocked by drawing
back the hammer-rod by means of the trigger, and turning the latter so that it
occupies detent-slots at right angles to said longitudinal slots. The gun is fired by
striking one end of the trigger so as to disengage it from said detent-slots, whereupon
said striking-spring throws the hammer-rod forward, causing its front end to strike
the firing pin and the latter to explode the cap of the cartridge. The firing-pin and
hammer-rod are instantly retracted by said recoil-springs. Any smoke and gases
which may penetrate backward along the firing-pin are afforded free escape by a
sufficient number of perforations in the firing-device tube.
The recoil of the rigidly connected powder-tube breech-block and union and firing-
device tube is sustained by a steel-disc interposed between the rear end of said firing-
device tube and the front end of the stock, and by the non-metallic stock. The
latter may be long or short according to the intended use of the gun, its size, etc.
A long-stocked gun, suitable to be employed with light charges for projecting
ropes in case of fire and for like uses, may be held by one or more men, with the stock
resting against the ground or any convenient support.
Short-stocked guns, intended for heavier-charges, or loaded with more heavily
weighted projectiles, may be conveniently handled by means of a metallic mount of
the following description: A suitable bed-plate, which may be bolted fast on any
convenient support has a central vertical socket in which rests the pivot of a frame-
piece having upright sides, which form bearings for the trunnions of a central socket-
piece. The periphery of the latter is provided with sockets, one of which receives the
stock of the gun, while the other accomodates a handspike for elevating or depressing
the gun by turning the socket-piece in a vertical plane. The gun is trained horizontally
by turing said frame-piece, which is also provided with a handspike socket. Caps
above the trunnions and a brake-block in contact with the vertical pivot are acted on
by screws to fasten the socket-piece and frame-piece after they are adjusted.
Interchangeable long and short stocks may be employed, and the gun may be
otherwise modified as to mechanical details.
Dated this 12th day of Sontomban 1000
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Guns for Throwing Externally-applied Projectiles,
Applicable in Part to other Fire-arms.
A communication from abroad by STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of the City of London,
temporarily residing at Emmens, near New Stanton, County of Westmoreland,
in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Engineer.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the Firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1, Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS FOR THROWING EXTERNALLY-APPLIED
PROJECTILES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS,' and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
:-
«
"
The objects of the present invention are:
First. To utilize a short barrel, or
connection with a relatively long thimble-shaped or externally-applied projectile, so
powder-tube," for the propelling-charge, in
that the latter may be of any required length and may be guided to the requisite
extent without correspondingly lengthening the gun.
Second. To facilitate ejecting the cartridge-shells of fixed ammunition from a
breech-loading barrel or powder-tube coupled endwise to its bréech-block;

page_text: Third. To properly support and guide a detached firing-pin within a combined
breech-block and coupling-piece or union.
Fourth. To render the firing-devices simple and effective, and to adapt them to be
controlled by a suitable trigger at any required distance back of the firing-pin.
Fifth. To facilitate handling the gun when heavily-weighted projectiles or heavy
charges are used.
The nature of the invention, and the means proposed for carrying the same into
effect, will be understood on reference to a sheet of drawings accompanying this
specification, on which-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the gun, proper, shortened by breaks, with the
barrel unloaded and unfastened, and some of the inner parts in elevation; Figure 2 is
a like view of its barrel end, with the barrel loaded and fastened; Figures 34 and 5
represent cross-sections of the gun, on the lines 3-3 4-4 and 5-5, respectively;
Figure 6 is a top plan of a metallic mount by which to handle the gun when heavily-
weighted projectiles or heavy charges are used as aforesaid; Figure 7 is a sectional
elevation of the mount with an elevation of the gun as fitted with a short-stock and
loaded with an externally-applied explosive projectile, the latter in dotted outline;
Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the mount; and Figure 9 is an elevation of the gun
as provided alternatively with a long stock so as to be held by one or more men.
Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.
The gun, in either of its said forms, comprises a short barrel or powder-tube, A, a
combined breech-block and coupling-piece or union, B, a firing-device tube, C, and a
stock-tube, D, each of suitable metal, together with a stock, E, of suitable wood or the
like, all of which are coupled together in a single line, as shown in Figures 127 and 9,
and are or may be externally of cylindrical shape, as represented by the said cross-
sections, Figures 3 4 and 5.
The projectile, F, Figure 7, has an axial guide-bore, G; closed at its front end, and
open at the rear, to which the said power-tube A, breech-block and union B, and
firing-device tube C are fitted, and is preferably provided externally with wings or
vanes, H, to aid in controlling its flight. Otherwise the projectile may be of any
description suitable to be thrown by the gun. The particular projectile represented in
dotted outline at F,Figure 7, is a thimble-shaped projectile having an annular charge-
space (I) for high-explosives, as set forth in the complete specification forming part
of Her Majesty's Royal Letters- Patent No. 3616 dated 8th March 1888, minus the
firing-device therein described, such firing-device not being required in a projectile
applied to the present gun.
The powder-tube A is affixed to the combined breech-block and union B by means
of an interrupted-screw joint, J, Figures 12 and 3, the socket of which is in the
powder-tube A; and the front end of the breech-block B is recessed, as shown at r
Figures 1 and 2, to receive the base of a center-fire powder cartridge, K, Figure 2,
which may fill the powder-tube to its front end as shown.
A shouldered axial bore, b, of small diameter, opening through the front of the
breach-block B, accommodates a firing-pin, L, which is caused to rebound by a spiral
spring, S3, Figures 1 and 4, through which the pin extends, and which reacts against
a collar, c Figure 1, fast on the pin. The spring is preferably inclosed in a tube, T,
Figures 12 and 4, loosely fitted thereto within the chambered rear end of the breech-
block, which is capped by means of an annular plug, p, Figures 1 and 2, to form a
central rear guide for the firing-pin L.
Externally, the rear end of the combined breech-block and union B is of reduced
diameter,and the front-end of the firing-device tube C is conveniently attached thereto
by screws, s, Figures 12 and 4, and thus coupled endwise to the powder-tube A.
The firing-pin L is driven forward by an axial hammer-rod, M, Figures 1 and 5,
which extends rearwardly within said firing-device tube C. to a suitable trigger, N.
and may be of any required length without decreased effectiveness.
prings, S, S, Figure 1, are located on the respective sides of a collar, ², fast on the
A pair of spiral
hammer-rod M. The rear and larger spring, S, reacts against a rear diaphragm disc, d,
fast within said firing-device tube C, as the striking-spring, and the front spring, S²

page_text: which is relatively light and short, reacts against a front diaphragm-disc, d, fast
within the firing-device tube, as a recoil-spring, to keep the front end of the hammer-
One or more
rod M normally out of contact with the retracted firing-pin L.
supplemental diaphragm-dises, d¹, nearer the trigger N, may assist to guide the
hammer-rod M.
The trigger N is preferably a rigid cross-bar, as shown, held upon the rear end of
the hammer-rod M by a. nut, n, with its ends projecting normally through longitudinal
slots, s1, 1, Figures 1 and 5, in the top and bottom or opposite sides of the firing-
device tube C.
The gun is cocked by drawing back the hammer-rod M by means of the trigger N,
and turning the latter so that it occupies detent-slots, s2, s2, at right angles to said
longitudinal slots s¹. The gun is fired by striking one end of the trigger N so as to
disengage it from said detent-slots 2, whereupon said striking-spring S throws the
hammer-rod M forward, causing its front end to strike the firing pin L, and the latter
to explode the cap of the cartridge K. The firing-pin L and hammer-rod M are
instantly retracted by said recoil-springs S3, S. Any smoke and gases which may
penetrate backward along the firing-pin are afforded free escape by a sufficient
number of perforations or outlet holes, h, Figure 1, in the firing-device tube C.
The recoil of the rigidly connected powder-tube A, breech-block and union B, and
firing-device tube C, is sustained by a steel disc, D¹, Figure 1, interposed between the
rear end of said firing-device tube and the front end of the stock E, and by the non-
metallic stock. The latter may be long or short according to the intended use of the
gun, its size, etc.
A long-stocked gun, Figure 9, suitable to be employed with light charges for
projecting ropes in case of fires, and for like uses, may be held by one or more men,
with the stock resting against the ground or any convenient support.
Short-stocked guns, Figure 7, intended for heavier charges, or loaded with more
heavily weighted projectiles, may be conveniently handled by means of a metallic
mount, Figures 67 and 8, of the following description; A suitable bed-plate, O;
which may be bolted fast upon any convenient support, has a central vertical socket
in which rests the pivot, z, of a frame piece, P, having upright sides which form
bearings for the trunnions, y, y, of a central socket-piece, Q. The periphery of the latter
is provided with sockets, a, w, one of which (r) receives the stock E of the gun, while
the other, w, accommodates a handspike for elevating or depressing the gun by
turning the socket-piece Q in a vertical plane. The gun is trained horizontally by
turning said frame-piece P, which is also provided with a handspike-socket, v, Figure 8.
Caps, u, u, above the trunnions y, and a brake-block, t, in contact with the vertical
pivot z, are acted on by screws, 83, 84, to fasten the socket-piece Q and frame-piece P,
after they are adjusted. The nuts of the screws s³, and the head of the screw s may
be provided with sliding lever bars, 2, as shown, or adapted in any other approved
way to be readily operated by hand; and the rear ends of the caps u may be sufficiently
hinged by means of loose bolts, q, or in any other approved way.
Interchangeable long and short stocks, E, may be fitted to one and the same stock-
tube, 1; the socket-piece Q of the mount may alternatively be fitted to the rear end of
the firing-device tube C, instead of to the short stock; and the gun may be otherwise
modified as to mechanical details.
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In combination with a projectile having an axial guide-bore,-a gun having a
short cylindrical powder-tube, a firing-device tube, and coupling-devices uniting said
tubes end to end, all of which are externally fitted to said guide-bore, a suitable stock
to which said firing-device tube is attached, inclosed axial firing devices, and a
suitable cocking and firing trigger, the latter projecting near the stock end of said
firing-device tube, whereby the gun is adapted to carry an externally-applied projectile
longer than the powder-tube, substantially as herein before specified.

page_text: 2. In combination with a powder-tube having the socket part of an interrupted-
screw joint at its rear end, a breech-block provided with the plug part of such joint,
and having its front recessed to admit the base of the cartridge-shell, substantially as
herein before specified.
3. In combination with a powder-tube, a firing device tube in line therewith, an
axial hammer-rod within the latter, and a detached axial firing-pin provided with a
recoil-spring,-
---a combined breech-block and coupling-piece having a shouldered axial
bore at its front end, and a chambered rear end, the latter capped to form a central
rear guide for the firing-pin, substantially as hereinbefore specified.
4. In combination with a breech-loading powder-tube, a breech-block, and a firing-
device tube, in line with each other, an axial firing pin and a recoil-spring therefor
within the breech-block, an axial hammer-rod in rear thereof having a collar fast
thereon, a suitable trigger connected with the rear end of said rod, spiral striking and
recoil springs behind and in front of said collar, respectively, and diaphragm-discs
fast within the firing-device tube to coact with the springs last named, substantially as
herein before specified.
5. In combination with a projectile having an axial guide-bore, and a gun proper
having a powder-tube, a firing-device tube, and coupling-devices uniting said tubes
end to end, all of which are externally fitted to said guide-bore, a metallic mount to
facilitate handling the same, substantially as hereinbefore specified with reference to
Figures 67 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.