AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INCREASING THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF ORDNANCE AND SMALL- ARMS, AND OF PROJECTILES, IMPLEMENTS, OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR OFfensive AND DEFENSIVE PURPOSES IN MILITARY OPERATIONS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR NAVAL WARFARE
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Thomas Parlour and Alexander
Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July
1877.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, Shipwright and Engineer, and ALEXANDER ROBINSON,
Engineer, both of 8, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
AND MEANS FOR INCREASING THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF ORDNANCE AND SMALL-
ARMS, AND OF PROJECTILES, IMPLEMENTS, OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR OFfensive
AND DEFENSIVE PURPOSES IN MILITARY OPERATIONS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS
APPLICABLE TO SHIPS OR VESSELS FOR NAVAL WARFARE."
Our Invention relates to a method of and means for increasing the effect or
power of arms or weapons and apparatus used in military operations, by rendering
the artillery and small-arms more destructive, and connecting with the projectiles
fired from the same various appliances which render them effective over a greatly
extended area.
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It also relates to the provision of tractive power for moving pieces of ordnance or
artillery and other weapons, and to the novel use of locomotives for this purpose,
and for various military operations. And by the above and other means herein-
before specified the said Invention increases the capacity of an army, and renders
it practicable for a small army acting in defence of an invaded country or district,
or otherwise, to repel and destroy an invading or attacking army of much greater
force.
Our said Invention is carried into practice as follows:-For the repulse of
troops on a hill side, or on an open plain or other like space, we employ two or
more guns, such as cannon, mortars, or rifles, or spring, steam, or air guns. These
are placed at any determined distance apart, which distance may vary from a few:
yards to a mile, or even more; but they should be so placed that their lines of
action are parallel. Before or after these guns are loaded, their projectiles are
connected by wire or other ropes, chains, steel bands, or other suitable means.
The projectiles used may be spherical, or elongated, conical, or cylindrical, and
either hollow or solid.

page_text: The breeches of the cannons or other guns are connected by a wire or other
electrical suitable conductor, or by other means suitable for exploding a train of
gunpowder or other explosive; and at the proper moment the said guns are
simultaneously discharged; the projectiles with the rope, chain, band, or other
connecting line attached to them will carry the same with them, and the said rope,
cord, or line will cut down and destroy all that it meets with till the projectile
force is expended.
It will be seen that the artillerists or gunners employed or required for this
kind of firing are comparatively few, and are but slightly exposed to danger.
The apparatus consisting of the guns and projectiles connected as above described
may consist of a number or series at different elevations, so that the area of their
destructive range may be greatly extended; and in some instances we arrange at
the mouths of the gun, frames, whereby tiers or rows of ropes or other connecting
lines may be simultaneously discharged and caused to sweep the ranks of the
opposing force.
Moreover, we provide for greatly increasing the destructive action of the above
apparatus by attaching to the connecting lines of the projectiles weapons like
swords, or scythes, or heavy masses, or nets, or other implements which will cut,
crush, break, or overturn all obstacles in the path of the said projectiles and their
connecting lines.
In some instances it may be desirable to use balloons, parachutes, or the like, to
assist in keeping the said chains or other connections at the proper height; and for
this purpose we connect the said balloons or parachutes to the projectiles or their
connecting lines. Or we may employ inclined planes or wheels to assist in
obtaining the necessary elevation.
For naval purposes these connected guns and projectiles may be used either with
or without floating attachments or appliances, so that they may be used with great
effect against boats or otherwise; or they may have anchors connected with them
for tearing up submerged mines and torpedoes; and series or sets of the said guns
may be arranged at different elevations on board ships, gunboats, or the like, and
will then prove very destructive when used against an enemy's vessel.
When our Invention above described is to be carried into practice with rifles or
small-arms, these arms may be fired from the shoulder, or may be mounted on
portable frames, the simultaneous discharge being effected by fuses, frames, or
electrical apparatus.
According to another part of our Invention we increase the effectiveness of this
new method of warfare by using locomotives connected by wires, wire, or other
ropes, chains, or the like, coiled upon drums or windlasses moved by hand, or by
steam, or hydraulic power. These drums or windlasses may be set in action by
hand, or by clockwork, or time fuses, or by other suitable means. The said loco
motives may be any desired practicable distance apart.
We may in some instances use locomotives provided with a portable railway or
track, which they lay down and take up as they advance like some of the traction
engines now in use. The said locomotives are provided with shields or defensive
armour of any suitable construction. To these connecting ropes or lines we attach
wheels, scythes, lances, balls, weights, fuses, explosive shells, or revolving or other
fire-arms, which will be very destructive to an enemy's forces, or to any objects
which are in the path of the said lines. The latter may also be connected with
balloons or the like to facilitate their action. These locomotives may be started
and sent upon their way to act mechanically or automatically; or they may carry
engineers or soldiers armed in any desired manner.
The said locomotives are preferably operated by steam, air, magnets, electricity,
or other mechanical power, but in case of necessity they may be drawn by horses.
They are provided with adjusting frames or other means, whereby their connecting
ropes or lines may be elevated or depressed as required.
In like manner we may utilize our Invention for naval warfare by connecting
steamships or other vessels by ropes, chains, or other lines, and which, when

page_text: propelled or moved along the water will carry between them the said lines, and
sweep from their path the enemies' vessels; or they may be utilized for removing or
destroying torpedoes, and for similar purposes.
According to another part of our Invention, in cases where it is not practicable
or desirable to use locomotives connected as above described, we construct loco-
motives on a very large scale and render them practically impregnable, and man
them with troops furnished with guns and all necessary material.
The wheels of these locomotive fortresses are constructed or provided with india-
rubber or other springs, so that they will move easily over the ground without being
injuriously affected by its inequalities.