IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE FOR THROWING SHELLS OR BOMBS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED TIEREWITH
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE FOR THROWING
SHELLS OR BOMBS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED TIEREWITH" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mortars and apparatus connected therewith.
The said invention comprises a mortar-barrel, which, in combination with a
spherical or nearly spherical casing, forms a cover for the space occupied by the
gunner and can be moved in all directions without uncovering the said space. It
also comprises various novel features of construction as hereinafter set forth.
The said barrel and casing are in some cases formed in one piece, that is to say,
a sphere or globe is bored through, and provided with grooves. In other cases,
the barrel and casing are formed of two parts which are attached by means of bars
or pieces which surround the trunnions, and together with the barrel are introduced
into the spherical casing. These bars or pieces are secured in the said casing by
means of pins or cottars. In other cases the barrel is held in the casing by means
of a hoop arranged upon its muzzle. And the barrel is sometimes provided with
projections which are arranged to form a kind of bayonet-joint. These forms of
construction are only described by way of example.
It is not always necessary that the barrel should be flush at both ends with
the surface of the sphere or globe; it may, if required, project out of the same su
that the casing may serve for the barrel of an ordinary weapon designed to be
always fired with more or less elevation.
The sphere or globe is preferably made of chilled cast iron, as a harder surface
is thus obtained which forms a sure protection against projectiles that may fall
upon it.
The mounting of the mortar-barrel and casing is effected in the following
manner, that is to say :-In the lower part of the sphere or globe are two circular
rails which are used in order to obtain a rotary motion of the said sphere or globe
upon the frame, and the centres of which are in a line perpendicular to the axis of
the barrel and passing through the centre of the said sphere or globe,

page_text: The said frame is composed of a pillar capable of revolving upon a pivot and
provided at its upper part with two rails concentric with the aforesaid rails.
Between the two pairs of rails are placed, in order to reduce the friction, a number
of rollers the axles of which are connected in a similar manner to the links of a
chain. By means of a rod the position of the sphere or globe upon the lower rails
and the elevation of the barrel can be altered, whilst the weapon can be adjusted
horizontally by rotating the said pillar by means of rods provided for the purpose.
The sphere or globe rotates in the circular aperture of a ring or shield, which
aperture it approximately closes in every position of the barrel. The aforesaid
pivot has a head formed with quadrangular sides, upon the broadest of which rests
the said pillar.
When the weapon is fired it recoils and comes against the edges of the ring or
shield but returns by gravitation to its original position.
When the mortar is designed for use on ship-board, the sphere or globe, instead
of resting as above describel upon a pillar, rests upon a support provided with
a weight, which support is suspended in a frame or casing wherein it can be moved
by a rod, a number of balls or spheres being placed between the said frame or
casing and the support. When the ship is in motion the weapon remains constantly
in the same position by reason of the said weight. When the weapon is not
in use the said weight is secured by means of a bolt inserted in a recess in the
lower part thereof.
The elevation of the weapon in this form of construction is effected by means
of a hand-wheel which actuates a worm gearing with a section of a worm-wheel
upon the sphere.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For tho Applicant.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE FOR THROWING SHELLS OR
BOMBS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH" and in what manner the
sano is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to ordnance for throwing shells or bombs, and to apparatus
connected therewith.
The object of the said invention is to provide for the working of a mortar or
gun for throwing shells or bombs, without necessitating the exposure of the gunner
to an enemy's fire. For this purpose I combine, with a mortar or gun-barrel, a
spherical, or nearly spherical, case which I will hereinafter term the sphere or
globe, and which wholly or partially surrounds the said barrel and is fixed thereon
or formed integrally therewith. This sphere or globe is arranged within an
aperture in a suitable shield so as to form therewith a cover for the space occupied

page_text: by the gunner, and so that the mortar or gun can be adjusted either in a vertical
or in a horizontal plane, without uncovering the said space. The said invention
comprises various other novel features of construction as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shewn how my invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of apparatus made in accordanco
with the said invention, some of the parts being shewn in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1, a part of the sphere or globo.
being shown in elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan of the said apparatus.
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional elevations illustrating different methods of securing
the sphere or globe upon the barrel.
Figure 6 is a vertical transverse central section shewing my apparatus
adapted for uso on board of a ship, part of the sphere or globe being shewn
in elevation, and
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the said apparatus, partly in section on the
line y, y, Figure 6.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the barrel, and B the sphere or globe. C is the shield which is formed with
an aperture C¹ to receive the said sphere or globe.
In the apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the barrel, and the sphere or
globe, are formed in one piece, that is to say, a hollow sphere or globe is cast with
a central tubular or solid corc, which coro is bored to form tho barrel and is
preferably rifled as shown. In Figure 4, the barrel A and sphere or globe B are
shewn formed in two parts which are attached by means of bars or pieces a which
surround the trunnions a¹ formed on the barrel B, and, together with the said
barrel, are introduced into the said sphere or globe. These bars or piecos are
secured in the said sphere or globe by means of pins or cotters b. In Figure 5,
I have shewn the barrel held in the sphere or globe by means of a hoop or collar A'
provided upon its muzzle-end. And in Figures 6 and 7, the barrel is shown
provided with projections A and the sphere or globe with slots or grooves B¹
so as to form a kind of bayonet joint. These forms of construction are only
described and illustrated by way of example.
It is not absolutely necessary that the barrel should be flush at both ends withi
the surface of the sphere or globe, as shewn in the drawings; it may, if desired,
project therefrom at one or both ends.
The sphere or globe is preferably made of chilled cast iron, as a hard surface is
thus obtained.
To facilitate the rotation of the barrel A and the sphere or globe B upon a
horizontal axis at right angles to that of the barrel and passing through the centre
of the said sphere or globe, I form upon the latter two circular rails c. In the
apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sphere or globe B is mounted upon
a pillar or support D capable of revolving upon the pivot d carried in the step or
bearing d. This pillar or support is provided at its upper end with two rails e
concentric with the rails c. To diminish the friction, I insert between the rails c
and c a series of rollers f, the axles of which are connected by links f¹ so as to
form a kind of chain. The position of the sphere or globe upon the rails e, and
consequently the elevation of the barrel, can be altered by means of the rod or
bar g; whilst the said barrel and sphere can be adjusted horizontally by rotating
the pillar or support D upon its pivot d by means of the rods or bars h. The
sphere or globe is free to rotate within the circular aperture C' of the shield C,
which aperture it approximately closes in every position which it occupies. The
pivot has a head formed with quadrangular sides, upon which head the pillar
or support D is fitted.
When the gun is fired, it recoils against the edge of the shield C, but returns by
gravitation to its original position.

page_text: In Figures 6 and 7, C represents part of the deck of a ship, which, in this
instance, forms the shield. The sphere or globe B, instead of being mounted upon
a pillar as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, rests upon the supporting piece E, which is
preferably made of cast iron and is provided with the weight F for the purpose
hereinafter explained. This supporting piece is carried by the frame or casing C,
the weight being suspended within the said frame or casing. The said supporting
piece can be rotated on its vertical axis by the rod or bar i. In order to diminish
the friction, a number of balls or spheres jare placed between the said frame or
casing G, and the supporting piece E. When the ship is in motion and the gun is
in use, the sphere or globe, and the piece E, are maintained in their proper position
by the weight F. When the gun is not in use, the weight F and supporting piece E
can be secured by means of a bolt which is adapted to enter a recess or cavity F¹
in the under side of the said weight.
In this form of construction, the gun can be adjusted to give it more or less
elevation by means of a hand-wheel which actuates a worm or endless screw m
geared with a section n of a worm-wheel upon the sphere or globe B.
Taving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
1 claim is =-
First. The combination, with a mortar or gun-barrel, of a sphere or globe wholly
or partially surrounding the same and arranged within an aperture in a shield
so as to form a cover for the space occupied by the gunner, for the purpose above
specified.
Second. The combination, with the said barrel and the sphere or globe, of a
pillar or support for the same, capable of being rotated upon a pivot, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, for the purpose
specified.
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Third. The combination, with the said barrel and the sphere or globe, of a
inovable supporting piece suspended in a frame or casing and maintained in its
proper position by means of a weight, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings
and operating as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 14th day of October 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.