Improvements relating to Firing and Vent-closing Devices for Ordnance.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Firing and Vent-closing Devices for
Ordnance.
I. FREDERICK HALL SNYDER, of 12 Magnolia Avenue, Jersey City, County of
Hudson, New Jersey, United States of America, Attorney at Law, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to firing and vent-closing devices for ordnance and is designed
to improve the construction of the same.
An important feature in my said invention consists in providing suitable means for
exploding the charge of gun-powder, or other explosive material in the powder
chamber of a gun, by the heat engendered by suddenly compressing the body of air
contained in the vent-hole of the said gun into a small compass.
By my invention moreover I provide for closing the said vent-hole when the
discharge takes place and thus preventing the escape of any gas therefrom.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I form the upper portion of the
vent-hole of considerably larger diameter than the lower portion thereof, or that
portion leading into the powder chamber of the gun. Into this larger portion of
the said vent-hole I fit a plunger or piston, provided at its lower extremity with
a conical or other suitably shaped portion adapted to bear, (when the said plunger
or piston is in its lowermost position) against a correspondingly shaped seating
formed upon the lower extremity of the said enlarged portion of the vent-hole.
In some cases I provide upon the lower extremity of the said plunger or piston a
projection or extension adapted to fit a certain distance into the reduced portion
of the said vent-hole leading into the powder chamber of the gun.
The above described plunger or piston is combined with a spiral or other spring
in such a manner that when the said plunger or piston is raised to its highest
position, by means of a lever or other device provided for that purpose, the said
spiral or other spring will be compressed so as to tend normally to force the said
plunger or piston into the enlarged portion of the vent-hole. A suitable detent is
provided for retaining the said plunger or piston in its highest position, and a
trigger, lever, or other suitable means for causing the release of the said piston
or plunger when desired. In some instances I provide a hole through the said
piston or plunger, or through a portion thereof, for permitting the insertion of
priming into the said vent-hole, and for admitting air to the latter when the plunger
or piston is raised.
A suitable catch or catches are moreover provided for retaining the piston or
plunger in its lowest position upon its seating, and thus preventing the back
pressure taking place upon the gun being discharged lifting the said piston or
plunger from its seating, and thus permitting an escape of gas to take place through
the vent-hole.
To explode the charge of powder or other explosive material placed in the powder
chamber of the gun, the piston or plunger which has been previously raised so as
to compress the said spiral or other spring, is released, and is caused by the action
of the said spring to descend suddenly into the enlarged portion of the vent-hole,
thus driving or forcing the air therefrom into the reduced portion of the said
vent-hole. The compression to which the air is thus subjected engendering sufficient
heat to explode the charge of powder or other explosive material in the gun.
In some instances I place in the lower extremity of the enlarged portion of the
vent-hole a pellet of fulminate of mercury, or other suitable detonating compound.
This pellet is preferably of sufficient dimensions to prevent it from passing down

page_text: the reduced portion of the vent-hole, until forced down by the compression of the
air in the enlarged portion of the said vent-hole by the descent of the herein before
mentioned plunger or piston therein.
To prevent any escape of air past the said plunger or piston, when the latter
descends into the enlarged portion of the said vent-hole under the action of the
hereinbefore mentioned spring, I sometimes provide the upper portion of the said
vent-hole with a suitable stuffing box and gland, or other means for forming a tight
joint round the said plunger or piston, or round the stem or rod thereof.
When the piston or plunger is at the bottom of its stroke, and bearing against its
seating in the vent-hole, it is held firmly in that position by means of a suitable
catch or catches thus completely closing the said vent-hole and preventing any escape
of gas through the latter."
By my invention I provide very advantageous means for exploding the charge of
gun-powder or other explosive material in a gun, and moreover obviate the danger
of accidents occuring from particles of smouldering material remaining in the vent-
hole, should the latter not be properly wiped out after each discharge.
Although I have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice, it is obvious that I can somewhat modify
the construction of my improved device without departing in any way from the nature
of my said invention.
Dated this 10th
Ր T11000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
:
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Firing and Vent-closing Devices for
Ordnance.
I, FREDERICK HALL SNYDER, of 12 Magnolia Avenue Jersey City, and County of
Hudson, State of New York United States of America Attorney at Law, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improved firing and vent-closing devices for ordnance.
An important feature of my said invention consists in providing for the explosion
of the powder charge in a gun by means of heat engendered by the sudden compression
of a body of air contained in the vent-hole or in an enlargement thereof.
I provide moreover for closing the said vent-hole when the discharge takes place,
and thus preventing the escape of any gas.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan of part of a muzzle-loading gun showing one form of my.
-improved firing and vent-closing device.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line y, y Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are similar views to Figure 2 showing the parts of the said device
in different positions.
Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section showing a slight modification of the said'
apparatus.
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal central section drawn to an enlarged scale
showing another form or modification of my improved device or apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the barrel of the gun, B is the powder-chamber thereof, C is the vent-hole.
The said vent-hole C is made with its upper portion C₁ of considerably enlarged
ḍiameter and a plunger or piston D is arranged to work freely in the said enlarged
7

page_text: portion C¹. The lower end of this plunger or piston is made conical as at D¹ or of
other suitable shape and is adapted to bear, when the said plunger or piston is in its
lowermost position as shown in Figure 4, against a corresponding shaped seating C² at
the lower end of the enlarged portion of the vent hole C. A hole or passage D* is
provided in the piston. or plunger D to permit the insertion of priming and the
admission air into the vent-hole when the said piston or plunger is raised. A stuffing-
box is provided, as at E for forming a tight joint around the piston or plunger D.
F is a bracket secured by means of screws or otherwise to the barrel A, and
provided with a suitable bearing or guide F¹ for the reduced portion D2 of the piston
or plunger D. G is a spiral spring which surrounds the reduced portion D² of the
piston or plunger D, and the upper extremity of which bears against the said bracket F
and the lower extremity against a collar D³ formed on or firmly attached to the said
piston or plunger D. H, H are spring catches or detents for retaining the piston or
plunger D at the upper end of its stroke or movement as shown in Figure 2, and
keeping the spiral spring G compressed as hereinafter described. I is a forked lever
pivoted at I to a lug F2 provided upon the bracket F. J is a sleeve surrounding the
spiral spring G and provided with gudgeons or trunnions J¹ which engage in
elongated holes or slots I in the fork of the lever I. D' is a square or other suitably
shaped head which is firmly attached to the upper extremity of the reduced portion D'
of the piston or plunger D, and which, when the said piston or plunger is in its
lowermost position (as in Figure 4), rests upon or is in close proximity to the upper
surface of the bracket F. When the long arm of the lever I is depressed the short
or forked arm thereof and consequently the sleeve J, will be raised. Upon the
sleeve J are extensions J2 which, when the said sleeve is raised, will enter holes F³
in the bracket F and engage with the head D₁ as shown in Figure 5, and whereby
the piston or plunger D may be raised and the spiral spring G compressed. I make
the lower extremity of the sleeve J conical or taper so that when the long arm of the
lever I is raised and the said sleeve J consequently lowered, the said conical or
tapered portion will act upon the spring catches H and move them outwardly, thus
disengaging them from the collar D³ and permitting the sudden and rapid descent
of the piston or plunger D under the reaction of the spiral spring G. K, K are
other spring catches or detents adapted to engage with the head D₁ of the piston
or plunger D when the latter is in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 4, and
thus retain the said piston or plunger upon its seating C
The said catches or
detents K will be released from the head D', when it is desired to raise the plunger
or piston D, by the extensions J2 upon the sleeve J which are tapered or cut away
for the purpose as shown in the drawings, and which bear against the said catches
and remove them from the path of the said head as shown in Figure 5 during the
upward movement of the piston or plunger D. It will be seen that, by the above
arrangement, the operations of cocking or elevating, and of releasing the piston or
plunger D are both performed by means of a single handle or lever, thus reducing the
number of parts of the device and simplifying the construction thereof.
To explode the charge of powder or other explosive material placed in the powder-
chamber B, the apparatus is operated as follows, viz. :-The piston or plunger D is
first raised by means of the lever I and sleeve J so as to compress the spiral spring G
and permit the catches H to engage with the collar D³. Air then enters the vent-hole
through the hole or passage D*. When the gun is to be fired the long arm of the
lever I is raised, thus depressing the sleeve J and disengaging the catches H from the
collar D³. The piston or plunger. D.is thus released and is, by the reaction of
the spring G. suddenly and rapidly depressed thus driving or forcing the air from the
part of the vent hole into the portion thereof of smaller diameter. The high
degree of compression to which the air is thus suddenly subjected engenders sufficient
heat to explode the charge of powder or other explosive material in the powder-
chamber B of the gun. When the piston or plunger is thus depressed the catches K
engage with the head D* and hold the said piston or. plunger against its seat C², thus
effectually preventing any escape of gas through the vent-hole, and preventing the

page_text: forcing upward of the said piston or plunger by the pressure generated by the explosion
in the gun.
In some instances I place in the lower extremity of the enlarged portion (" of the
vent-hole a pellet of fulminate of mercury or other suitable detonating compound.
This pellet may be inserted through the hole or passage D* in the piston or plunger D,
and is preferably of sufficient dimensions to prevent its passing through the vent-hole
into the powder-chamber of the gun.
The lower extremity of the plunger or piston D is sometimes provided with a pro-
jection or extension D³, Figure 6, adapted to enter the portion of the vent-hole of
smaller diameter. When the piston or plunger is thus constructed, it. will act very
efficiently to explode such pellets. And I may effect the explosion of the powder-
charge in a gun either by means of the compression of air as above mentioned or by
means of a detonating pellet with or without the simultaneous generation of heat by
the compression of air in the vent hole.
In another form or modification of my apparatus illustrated in Figure 7, the
part D² of the piston or plunger D is formed with screw-threads D (preferably
double threads) adapted to work in a correspondingly screw-threaded hole in the
bracket F, or in a nut secured in the said bracket. The spiral spring G is in this
case secured at one extremity to the part D2 of the said piston or plunger D, and at
its other end to the bracket F. D' is a handle by means of which the said piston or
plunger D can be turned about its axis so as to raise it to the position shown, and at
the same time coil or wind up to a greater or less extent the spiral spring G and thus
store up energy therein for returning the said piston or plunger suddenly and rapidly
to its lowermost position. D8 is a tooth or projection which is provided upon the
collar D³, and with which adapted to engage, when the said piston or plunger D is
in its elevated position, a suitable catch or detent, which will retain the said plunger
in this position until released by means of a suitable trigger or lever, or other con-
venient device. When thus released the piston or plunger is moved rapidly downward
by the reaction of the spring G. The said catch or detent and the trigger or lever
for releasing it are omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my improved
device without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance I can
employ instead of the spiral spring hereinbefore described other suitable means
for causing the sudden descent or movement of the plunger or piston in the
vent-hole.
By means of my improved device or apparatus the charge of gun-powder or other
explosive material in a gun can be very effectually exploded; moreover the danger
of accidents occurring through premature explosion of the powder-charge by reason
of particles of smouldering material remaining in the vent-hole, should the latter not
be properly wiped out after each discharge, is obviated or greatly diminished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim
First. A firing device for ordnance, wherein the heat required to ignite the powder-
charge is engendered by the sudden compression of a body of air, substantially as
herein before described.
Second. A firing and vent-closing device for ordnance, comprising a piston.or
plunger working freely in the vent-hole or in an enlargement thereof, and fitted to a
seating therein, and suitable means for operating the said piston or plunger, for the
purposes above specified.
Third. A firing device for ordnance, comprising a piston or plunger working freely
in the vent-hole or in an enlargement thereof, catches for retaining the said piston
or plunger at the upper or outer end of its stroke or movement, suitable means for
disengaging the said piston or plunger, and a spring or its equivalent for depressing
the said piston or plunger when released, for the purposes above specified.

page_text: Fourth. The combination, with a firing piston or plunger arrange to operate
substantially as above described, of a catch or catches for retaining it upon its seat
during the discharge of the gun, for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The improved device or apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 5 or with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated thin 5th day of Ancil 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.