IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPELLING SHELLS OR SHOTS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THEIR FLIGHT FROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH APPARATUS 18 APPLICABLE TO GUNS OR MORTARS USED ON BOARD SHIP, FOR PREVENTING THEM BEING ACTED UPON BY THE PITCHING OR ROLLING OF THE SHIP OR VESSEL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hale, of 6, John Street, Adelphi, in the
County of Middlesex,Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN IMPELLING SHELLS OR SHOTS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THEIR
FLIGHT FROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH APPARATUS 18 APPLICABLE TO GUNS
OR MORTARS USED ON BOARD SHIP, FOR PREVENTING THEM BEING ACTED UPON
BY THE PITCHING OR ROLLING OF THE SHIP OR VESSEL."
Sealed the 21st December 1860, and dated the 29th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hale at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
June 1860.
1, WILLIAM HALE, of 6, John Street, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN IMPELLING SHELLS OR SHOTS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING
THEIR FLIGHT FROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE TO GUNS
OR MORTARS USED ON BOARD SHIP, FOR PREVENTING THEM BEING ACTED UPON BY
THE PITCHING OR ROLLING OF THE SHIP OR VESSEL," to be as follows:-
My improvements in impelling shots or shells are intended to supersede the
necessity of using guns or mortars for purposes of war, and this object I attain
by causing the actuating power to reside entirely within the moving body, as
in an ordinary rocket, and to be of a nature that shall be comparatively con-
tinuous in its action, this principle being essentially different from the nature
of a projectile in which the whole quantity of motion is produced from the
action of a violent and momentary force,exerted independently of and against
which the projectile makes a resistance.

page_text: My improvements in carrying this principle into effect are, that of affixing
to the shot or shell a strong wrought-iron case or cylinder,in which a powerful
elastic gas is generated from the combustion of a compressed column of meal
gunpowder, or other combustible compound, secured inside the case, and
compelled to move with it during the whole time of its burning. This com-
pressed column of composition is made of less diameter than the inside of the
iron case, so that an annular or annulus space is left between the compressed
compound and the iron cylinder, into which space the elastic gas expands
when the compositionisinflamed and exerts itsforce; the shell is made of larger
diameter than the iron case, and another annular space is formed between the
outer diameter of the shell and the outer diameter of the case, and is intended
only that the gas being admitted therein through openings at that end of the
case next the shell may be caused to escape from the annular space so formed
in a direction aft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell, and thereby to
produce an onward or rectilinear propulsion of the whole body. Au additional
propelling force is also at the same time given, in consequence of the direct
escape of the gas, also from the opposite end of the annular space at the after
end of the case. By this arrangement the gas generated in the cylinder has
free egress at both ends simultaneously, and is made to escape from the entire
body in one direction, and that in lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
shell; thus the whole force exerted by the pressure of the gas acts upon the
shell in the contrary direction, and gives an onward motion to the entire body,
similar in effect to that which is produced when a shell is fired from a gun or
mortar. If the whole weight is so proportioned that the centre of gravity of
the entire body is in some plane between the escape of the gas from the
annular space in the shell,and that from the after end of the cylinder, rotation
may be dispensed with, but if not, to prevent the shell turning over in its flight,
and to insure a longer range, I secure three or more short planes in the annular
space between the shell and the case at an angle to the shell's longitudinal axis,
so as to produced by the escape of the gas from that end a rotating motion
upon the whole body. To prevent the premature bursting of the shell from
the effects of the heat produced bythe burning of the compressed composition,
a disc of wood or some other non-conductor of heat is placed between the
shell and the burning body.
The object of my improved apparatus for directing the flight of my improved
shells when used in board of ships is to keep the shell in an unaltered position,
while the vessel is rolling or pitching in a heaving sea, and this I effect by
hanging or suspending the rest or frame which supports the shell on centres
connected to a pendulum with a mechanical arrangement for regulating the

page_text: oscillation,so as to prevent its moving beyond the gravitating point or line of
gravitation, whereby the action of the sea is compensated, and the rest and,
shell retained in the same relative position until it is fired and takes its flight
This is done by affixing to a suitable frame a curved railway corresponding to
the arc described by the end of the pendulum intended for the
of
purpose
receiving a roller, which is so connected to the pendulum that they cannot
move independently of each other; the weight of the roller, however, is allowed
to rest only on thorailway without having any support from the pendulum,and
thereby the alternating motion of the pendulum is prevented by the counter-
acting friction of the roller upon the railway; thisapparatus is equallyapplicable
to guns or mortars when firing projectiles from shipping by suspending the
gun or mortar (in place of the shell rest) on the trunnions as centres having
the other parts of the apparatus affixed thereto in which case the gun or
mortar will be preserved in the same uniform line of elevation or nearly so not-
withstanding the motion of the sea.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HALE, of 6, John Street, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Herreign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Hale, Her special licence that I, the said William Hale, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Hule, 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 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
IMPELLING SHELLS OR SHOTS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THEIR FLIGHT
PROM SHIPS OR VESSELS, WHICH APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE TO GUNS OR MORTARS
USED ON BOARD SHIP, FOR PREVENTING THEM BEING ACTED UPON BY THE PITCHING OR
ROLLING OF THE SHIP OR VESSEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,

page_text: the said William Hale, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Hale, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
My improvements in impelling shots or shells are intended to supersede the
necessity of using guns or mortars for purposes of war, and this object I
attain by causing the actuating power to reside entirely within the moving
body, as in an ordinary rocket, and to be of a nature that shall be com-
paratively continuous in its action. This principle being essentially dif
ferent from the nature of a projectile in which the whole quantity of motion
is produced from the action of a violent and momentary force exerted
independently of and against which the projectile makes a resistance.
My improvements in carrying this principle into effect are, that of affixing
to the shot or shell a strong wrought-iron case or cylinder, in which a powerful
elastic gas is generated from the combustion of a compressed column of meal
gunpowder or other combustible compound secured inside the case, and com-
pelled to move with it during the whole time of its burning. This compressed
column of composition is made of less diameter than the inside of the iron
case, so that an annular or annulus space is left between the compressed com-
pound and the iron cylinder into which space the elastic gas expands, when
the cotaposition is inflamed and exerts its force. The shell is made of larger
diameter than the iron case, and another annular space is formed between the
outer diameter of the shell and the outer diameter of the case, and is intended
only that the gas being admitted therein through openings at that end of the
case next the shell may be caused to escape from the annular space so formed
in a direction aft and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell, and thereby
to produce an onward or rectilinear propulsion of the whole body. An addi-
tional propelling force is also at the same time given in consequence of the
direct escape of the gas, also from the opposite end of the annular space at the
after end of the case. By this arrangement the gas generated in the cylinder
has free egress at both ends simultaneously, and is inade to escape from the
entire body in one direction, and that in lines parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the shell; thus the whole force exerted by the pressure of the gas acts

page_text: upon the shell in the contrary direction, and gives an onward motion to the
entire body, similar in effect to that which is produced when a shell is fired
from a gun or mortar. If the whole weight is so proportioned that the centre
of gravity of the entire body is in some plane between the escape of the gas
from the annular space in the shell, and that from the after end of the cylinder,
rotation may be dispensed with; but if not, to prevent the shell turning over
in its flight, and to insure a longer tange, I secure three or more short planes
in the annular space between the shell and the case at an angle to the shell's
longitudinal axis, so as to produce by the escape of the gas from that end a
rotatory motion upon the whole body. To prevent the premature bursting of
the shell from the effects of the heat produced by the burning of the com-
pressed composition a disc of wood or some other non-conductor of heat is
placed between the shell and the burning body.
The object of myimproved apparatus for directing the flightofinyimproved
shells when used on board of ships is to keep the shell in an unaltered position
while the vessel is rolling or pitching in a heavy sea; and this I effect by
hanging or suspending the rest or frame which supports the shell on centres
connected to a pendulum, with a mechanical arrangement for regulating the
oscillation, so as to prevent its moving beyond the gravitating point or line of
gravitation, whereby the action of the sea is compensated, and the rest and
shell retained in the same relative position until it is fired and takes its flight.
This is done by affixing to a suitable frame a curved railway corresponding to
the arc described by the end of the pendulum, intended for the purpose of
receiving a roller, which is so connected to the pendulum that they cannot
move independently of each other; the weight of the roller, however, is
allowed to rest only on the railway, without having any support from the
pendulum, and thereby the alternating motion of the pendulum is prevented
by the counteracting friction of the roller upon the railway. This apparatus is
equally applicable to guns or mortars when firing projectiles from shipping, by
suspending the gun or mortar (in place of the shell rest) on the trunnions as
centres, having the other parts of the apparatus affixed thereto; in which case
the gun or mortar will be preserved in the same uniform line of elevation, or
nearly so, notwithstanding the motion of the sea.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
"
Figure 1 represents an external view of a shell, which I ter.n a comet
shell," constructed according to my improvements; Figure shews a section
of the same, with the compressed column of composition secured inside the
cylinder or iron case, complete for firing, but the shell at the upper end is

page_text: shown empty or uncharged. a. 7, shows the shell, having a screw ping in the
head for closing the opening through which the charge is introduced; b,b,the
iron case fixed to the shell; d is a bolt screwed into the shell and extending
through the centre of the compressed column of composition, for the purpose
of securing it centrally in the iron cylinder, and so as to leave an annular
space call round the compressed composition e, e, which is constructed in a
mould of less diameter than the inside of the cylinder, forming a chamber for
receiving the gas generated when the composition is infl uned. The column
of composition may be made of meal gunpowder, or of any other suitable com-
position, consolidated into a compact hard mass by means ofhydraulic or other
powerful pressure. The end of the bolt d is screwed into the shell, and it is
formed with a passage d', which is drilled down centrally to receive fuse com-
position, and a hole de is also drilled laterally to open a communication with
the passage containing the fuse composition; by this means when the column
of composition e, e, has burnt to the bolt d,so as to expose and ignite the fuse
composition, such composition will burn for a certain time and then explode
the shell. is a disc or end plate of the same diameter as the column of com-
position e,e,with three projections or distance piecesg,g, which cause the plate
or disc to fit the end of the cylinder leaving three passage ways directinto the
annular space between the outer surface of the composition e and the interior
of the cylinder; a hole is drilled through the centre of the plate to receive the
after end of the boltd, which plate or disc by means of a nut h presses the
composition tightly and securely against the disc of wood, which is placed
between the shell and the composition to prevent the premature ignition of the
charge in the shell by the heat produced from the burning of the composition;
the disci inay be made of compressed paper saturated with alum, or of any
other material that is not a conductor of heat. The curved openings between
the end plate and the inside of the cylinder are to be of equal capacity, in
order that the exit of the gas generated from the composition when inflamed
shall escape in equal quantities from each passage. j, j, are holes formed
through the cylinder, producing a free communication between the aubular
space around the composition and the annular space between the end of the
shell and the outside of the cylinder; these hides added gether should bein
sectional area at least equal to the sectional area of the altar spaces eg og
around the composition. Ashell thus constructed is ready to be fired, which
may be done by applying a lighted port fire to a length of quick match passing
through the annular opening in thesbell into the annular space in the cylinder,
whenthewhole surface of the columnof composition becomes instantly inflamed,
and a very powerful elastic gas is generated in the annular space in the

page_text: cylinder, and a violent force is exerted upon the shell as the gas escapes from
all the openings at the same instant; by this arrangement the whole of the gas
is made to escape both from the curved openings at the end of the cylinder and
from the annular opening at the end of the shell in lines parallel to the axis of
the cylinder, as shown by the arrows. Figure 2, and in a direction posterior to
the shell, consequently the shell is impelled forward by the pressure of the gas
without any rotation; but to insure a greater range, and to obviate the con-
sequences of inaccuracy in manufacture, I give rotation to the whole body by
affixing in any convenient way three or more short planes in the annular space
formed between the end of the shell and the cylinder, at an angle to the longi-
tudinal axis of the shell and cylinder, so that the gas impinging against the
angular planes inescaping from the openings of the shell will be constrained on
leaving the shell to take an angular direction, and thereby give a rotatory
motion to the whole body. 0, 0, 0, (Figure 3), shows three short planes by
dotted lines in the annulir space in the shell for producing the rotatory motion,
or if desired, the passages at the end of the cylinder may be formed on an
incline, so that the passage of the gas may cause the desired rotation.
Figure 4 shows another arrangement for affixing the cylinder to the shell,
in which the cylinder at its upper end has pieces cut out next the shell, for the
purpose of making an open way into the grooves k, k, formed in the end of the
shell. If these grooves be parallel with the axis of the cylinder there will be
no rotation, unless the openings at the end of the cylinder be inclined to the
central axis. If rotation be desired to be given by the gas as it rushes out
through the grooves k, k, these grooves must be inclined to the axis of the
cylinder. The end of the shell has eight passages, each of the form of a seg-
ment of a circle, extending as far up the shell as the cylinder. The cylinder
is rivetted to the shell between the segment passages, as shown.
Having described my improvement in impelling shells and shot, I now pro-
ceed to define my improvement in apparatus for directing their flight when used
on board shipping, which apparatus is also applicable to guns or mortars when
used in gun boats. a, Figure 5, represents an ordinary gun carriage; b, the gun;
c, a pendulum formed of two flat bars fixed together, but with a space between
them; the upper end of the pendulum hangs upon the trunnions of the
gun, and
the lower end has a slot to receive the axle of the roller d. yet admit of the axis
moving freely; e is a semicircle on which the two ends of the gun rest, free to
move in a slot formed through a distance piece or cross bar e', fixed between
the flat bars of the pendulum. In the distance piece e'is the tightening screwf,
for fixing the desired elevation of the gun, and when the screw sets the semi-
circle fast the pendulum cannot move independently of the gun. The roller d

page_text: is weighted to suit the weight of the gun; g is a curved railway forming an
arc described by the end of the pendulum, and affixed to the frame h, h, which
forms part of the gun carriage a; the roller d rests upon the curved railway,
and no part of its weight is allowed to bear upon the pendulum; a groove is
turned in the periphery of the roller to suit the edge of the railway. The frame
and pendulum thus constructed and fixed to a gun carriage will, on the firing
of the gun, recoil altogether as one body. The wheels of the gun carriage i, i,
rest upon the deck of the vessel, shown by the dotted linek, k; an opening is
forined in thedeck for the pendulum and frame to pass through, and sufficient
in length for the recoil of the gun; a plank may be fixed to the frame for the
purpose of covering the opening formed in the deck. When the "comet"
shells or shot above described are to be fired from a gun boat or vessel, the
"comet" shell frame used for land purposes, shown in Figures 6 and 7, would
replace the gun shown at Figure 5, and the effect of the action of the sea
upon the shell or shot so placed would be counteracted by the friction of the
roller d.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hale, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM HALE. (L8.)